CHAPTER 43: 43: STERILE WIFE

Alexander stood in front of the mirror, his cheek still faintly red.

"She slapped me." He whispered.

A twisted smile formed on his lips — confusion mixed with intrigue.

Once again, he allowed his brain to imagine that it was Adrian, who had slapped him. He knew his secretary wanted to strangle him for making his life hard, but unlike Adrienne, Adrian would never dare to do such a thing. He was too timid to do so.

"You’ve just gotten interesting, dear wife," he murmured, smirking.

He was suddenly drawn away from Adrienne’s handprint on his face when his phone started to ring.

"Mother?" He answered the phone.

"Are you still sleeping? Come join us for breakfast," His mother said.

"Sure, Mother. My wife is with you, yes," he asked.

"Yes, such a sweetheart she is," Mrs. Devereux.

"She is," Alexander murmured, touching his red cheek.

He ended the call and grabbed a shirt from his bed, heading downstairs.

Downstairs, Adrinne had changed into a hoodie and a long skirt... anything to keep her figure hidden.

She sat on the dining table with Mrs. Devereux, her fork slowly stabbing the food in front of her.

She was anxious. It was a sign for her to leave, and she needed to be already at the office by Adrian. But that morning, Mrs. Devereux seemed to want her around, she wasn’t letting her go.

Plus, she had just heard Alexander’s voice through his mother’s phone, she could tell he held a grudge from last night, and she wanted to disappear before he woke up. But, Mrs. Devereux had other plans.

"What’s the problem, darling? You look worried," Mrs. Devereux asked.

"Me? I’m fine. I’m just thinking about my mother," Adrienne replied.

She wasn’t entirely lying since Adrian was always thinking about his mother, but at that moment, Adrienne was thinking of how she was going to leave without notice... again.

Adrienne’s existence was supposed to have ended an hour ago, but here she was, sitting, smiling and eating with the family she was supposed to have abandoned.

"Don’t worry, dear child. Your mother will be just fine," Mrs. Devereux consoled.

Adrienne was about to reply when Alexander’s loud voice boomed across the living room and into the dining room.

"Good morning, my ladies," Alexander greeted, leaning down to kiss his mother’s cheek.

"Morning, son. You look happy today," Mrs. Devereux pointed out, staring at her son who walked over to greet his wife.

"I am, my wife is home," He gently placed his hand under Adrienne’s chin, tilted her face backwards, and swiftly leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead, "Good morning, my sunshine." He winked at her and pulled out a chair to sit by her side.

Adrienne froze, her fingers clenching around the fork as she fought her nervousness from showing.

"Aww, how sweet," Mrs. Devereux smiled and poured water into a glass for Adrienne.

Adrienne smiled and sipped the water to avoid any conversation they were about to have.

"I know it won’t be long till I get my grandchild," Mrs. Devereux said.

Before she could stop herself, she choked and was already sputtering water all over Alexander’s shirt as she tried to free her airways.

Mrs. Devereux’s words had not only shocked her, it choked her, too.

"Oh, dear, are you alright?" Mrs. Devereux hurried over to Adrienne with a napkin, offering to wipe her mouth with it.

"I’ve got it, Mother," Alexander smiled and took the napkin from his mother.

"Hey, it’s alright, easy," Alexander placed a hand on Adrienne’s back, patting her gently as he raised the napkin to her mouth to wipe it.

Adritook. Deep breath to steady her breathing and took the napkin from Alexander.

"Thank you, I’m fine. Sorry for wetting your clothes," she said, her eyes lowered to her lap.

Alexander scoffed, cupping her chin to look at her face. A smirk was placed on his lips as he saw how watery and red her eyes had gotten from her coughing.

"My shirt means nothing, darling. As long as you’re fine, that’s all that matters," He told her in a tender voice.

"Yes, Adrienne, as long as you’re fine. I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t talk about children so early, I mean, you just got married a few weeks ago. I know you two would need some time... I’m sorry for being so impulsive –"

"Oh, mother, it’s okay. In fact, Adrienne and I have decided to start trying for a baby... we were busy all night, right darling?" Alexander smiled, placing his arm over Adrienne’s shoulder.

Adrienne almost choked again, but she scowled her breath and schooled her features.

She looked up at Alexander, then at Mrs. Devereux, "Yes, darling. We did agree to that..." she chuckled, "You kept me up all night, I’m sure our little one must be forming inside me already –"

"Oh, heavens, what great news!" Mrs. Devereux hugged Adrienne from the side, laughing happily.

"Then why are we sitting around? Hurry up, Alexander, we need to go baby shopping and supplement shopping. She has to start taking them so my little angel will be strong and perfect, I’ll go prepare, we’re leaving in five," Mrs. Devereux kissed Adrienne’s cheek and hurried off toward her room.

Slowly, Adrienne’s stiff smile fell from her face and turned to Alexander, her eyes angry.

"Are you insane?" She murmured angrily.

Alexander smirked, looking unbuttered by her rage, "Getting back at you, darling. For slapping me also at night. You have no choice but to bear my child."

Adrienne suddenly laughed, "What are you? Kimd Alexander the first? This is the 21st century, sir, and women have the right to choose whether or not they want to carry babies in their womb. And I, do not agree to carry your baby. You can find someone else." She said and tried to stand but Alexander placed his hand above her knee.

"Let go," Adrienne glared at his hand.

Alexander slowly leaned in, locking eyes with her, "Then, I believe you would want to say that to my mother. I’m sure she’ll understand you. You have already built hee hopes high, it’s only right you crush them yourself." He whispered, frowning.

Adrienne sighed, "Actually, I might have considered bearing your child, Alexander, I mean, since it means more money for me... but, I’m incapable of bearing a child." She told him, her eyes honest.

Alexander’s frown deepened, "Incapable? Sterile?" He questioned seriously.

Adrienne furrowed her brows, ’Adrian is not sterile, but maybe Adrienne is.’

"Yes. Unfortunately, I can’t bear children. Perhaps, you can find a surrogate mother, a lot of couples do it now. At the end of the day, it’s your seed and she’s just the vessel that carries your baby for nine months –"

"I’m ready!" Mrs. Devereux returned with an off-the-shoulder hat and brown sunglasses.

"You’re still wearing that, go change, Alexander. Meet us outside," she walked over to Adrienne and held he hand, "Come on, dear, let’s go." She said and gently pulled Adrienne up from the chair.

Adrienne put her smile back on, allowing the older woman to lead her away from the dining table.

"What the fuck..." Alexander muttered, raking his fingers through his hair as he thought of how he was going to get them out of this situation with his mother.

As he climbed the stairs, he dialled Adrian’s number and was surprised when he could reach him.

Adrian was always reachable, always ready to listen and obey. This was the first time his number wasn’t working.

’Is he avoiding me because of that kiss?’ He frowned as he pulled a fresh, clean shirt to wear.

’That must be it. He must be feeling disgusted and embarrassed. After all, I did push the kiss just a little bit,’ he kept speaking in his mind as he dressed up.

He pulled his shades from his drawer and headed downstairs.

"Good morning, sir," Lawrence greeted as Alexander walked out through the door of his home.

"It’s alright, Lawrence. I’m driving," he nodded to the man and walked over to the red, flashy car in front of the house.

"Have a good day, Sir," Lawrence said as Alexander entered the front of the car.

"You alright?" Alexander asked Adrienne through the front mirror as he fastened his seat belt.

’No, I’m not okay! I need to get out of these darned silicone, I need to return to my normal life, and I need to get to the fucking office!’

"I’m fine," Adrienne smiled.

Her cheeks were starting to hurt as she had been smiling quite a lot that morning.

"To the mall, son. I have a lot I need to buy from my list," Mrs. Devsaud said as the car slowly drove out of the compound.

"Mother, you already made a list? Perhaps you would like to take things slow –"

"No slowly. You heard Adrienne, she believes our little angel is already forming in her delicate womb. We need to stay prepared. No surprises," Mrs. Devereux stated, narrowing her eyes at her son.

Alexander sighed, "Whatever you say, mother." He murmured.

Adrienne gulped, he pulse racing as she realised that she had just pushed herself into a situation that would be very difficult to come out of.

She was thinking of how she could get herself out of her predicament when Alexander’s phone on the dashboard caught her eye.

Adrian’s number was displayed on the screen as Alexander dialled it. It rang for a while, then ended.

Alexander dialled it again, again, and again.

No one answered.

’Shit. Why is he calling me?’ Adrienne bit the side of her lip.

"You’re calling someone?" Adrienne asked softly.

Alexander realised a frustrated sigh, "My secretary. I need to tell him to... just some office stuff. But, somehow, he’s not reachable. I might need to check in to the office, just to make sure things are going as they should." He replied.

He needed to check if Adrian also didn’t show up for work. If so, then he would know that the kiss last night really did affect Adrian more than he was letting on.

"Oh, your secretary seems really important to you," Adrienne smiled, grazing her fingers on her knees.

"Oh, he is. I heard he even helped my son secure a deal with Madam Xueyi. That woman is a tough nut to crack in the business world, always insisting I speak Mandarin, which I’m not good at, by the way." Mrs. Devereux said, folding her arms over her chest.

"Oh? He’s a keeper, then," Adrienne chuckled, glancing to see Alexander’s unreadable expression.

"Alexander, I want to meet your secretary. The boy is making a name for himself. Perhaps, he could be introduced deeper into the business, you know kW how I hate to see talents go to waste." Mrs. Devereux asked.

Adrienne bit her lip as she almost teared up from Mrs. Devereux’s words. She was so happy for Adrian. Finally, his hard work was going to pay off.

"Sure, Mother. Tomorrow afternoon, at my penthouse," Alexander agreed.

"Hmm, strange, he agreed without a fight. The boy must really be a keeper. Don’t get jealous, darling. After all, my son doesn’t swing that way," Mrs. Devereux chuckled.

Ot was meant to be a joke, but it got both Adrienne and Alexander into a suffocating, tight corner as their minds ran back to how they had both enjoyed that sinful kiss last night.

It was never supposed to happen, but it did, and they both knew that they wanted more. They craved more. But would they rather peel their skin than admit it to the other.