Pregnant... and So Is His Mistress!

Chapter 2

Max rarely got home before 9 PM.

When I saw the unopened medicine in the trash, I frowned slightly.

"Seriously? Throwing such a big tantrum over something so small?" Max muttered as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

I didn't even look up from my phone.

"I'm not angry," I said, trying to sound calm.

He scoffed, glancing at the discarded fertility meds.

"Throwing away the medicine isn't being angry? Whatever. It's not like I'm the one desperate for a baby."

I was about to pull out the pregnancy test results when Max tossed something onto the table. It was a dark shoebox.

"It's from Chloe," he said with a dismissive wave. "The girl's new to this whole adulting thing. She freaked out, thought you'd be mad, and got you a gift to apologize."

I opened the box. Inside were a pair of YSL high heels. But they were clearly worn, scuffed soles, chipped paint on the heels.

"Just take them. They're not cheap. Chloe barely wore them. She's been saving up, you know, so... it's a big deal for her to give these to you."

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Just half an hour ago, Chloe had posted a Snap showing off her brand-new Chanel slippers.

"Thanks for the love, bro!" she had written. "Best brother in the world!"

Max noticed I wasn't accepting the shoes, and his mood shifted.

"Karla, what's going on with you? She's young, what's the point of bullying her for not knowing better?"

Without another word, Max tossed the shoebox at me, and it hit me right on the head.

I let out a small groan, covering my forehead as my eyes stung with unshed tears.

His face shifted from anger to panic.

"I didn't mean to, are you okay?" he asked, rushing toward me.

I pulled my hand away from my forehead, forcing a weak smile. "I'm fine."

But when he pried my fingers apart, revealing the swelling, his expression darkened.

"Does this look fine to you?" he snapped, his voice tight with concern. "Wait here. I'm going to get an ice pack."

Before I could respond, his phone rang.

The screen flashed Chloe's name.

Max stiffened.

"Chloe, what's wrong?"

Chloe's frantic voice came through the phone.

"My stomach hurts so bad, and I got on the wrong subway. I don't know where I am. I was going to go to the ER, but now I'm totally lost."

Max's frown deepened.

"Why didn't you call me? We talked about this, if you need to go to the hospital, I'll take you. You know that."

Chloe hesitated, her voice wavering. "I didn't want to bother you guys. I didn't mean to upset Karla. I know she's been through a lot."

Max's voice softened. "Chloe, you're my sister. No one comes before you. Send me your location. I'm coming to get you now."

"Please don't, Max. I can figure it out on my own. I'm fine, really."

But Max's tone was firm. "No way. It's your health. I'm coming to get you, send me the location. Don't forget, today's Karla's ovulation day... You should try to be there for her so we can have a little niece soon!"

Max chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, but I could hear the tension in his voice.

"Come on, don't be silly. One more try won't guarantee a baby. Just send me your location, now."

After hanging up, Max turned toward me, shooting me a look full of accusation.

"You heard that, right? She cares so much about you, and you're always suspicious of her."

"Don't worry. I'm taking her to the hospital, and I'll pick up an ice pack on the way back," he added, grabbing his car keys and heading for the door.

I called after him. "Max, wait."

He paused, exasperated. "Karla, when will you stop with this? This is about two lives, you can't be so petty over something like this!"

I said nothing, turning toward the closet to grab the card with Chloe's insurance details from Max's pocket.

"Chloe's insurance info. Don't forget it," I said, handing it to him.

Max stared at me, taken aback. For a moment, he just stood there, then he took the card from my hand.

"Thanks," he murmured, looking like he wanted to say something more, but I cut him off.

"Drive safely."

I adjusted his collar, just like I always did when he left.

This was the last time.

He paused, gazing at me with something unreadable in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me.

"Karla, I'll be back soon. Wait for me."

But I didn't wait for him.

I sent a text to the lawyer I'd been consulting earlier and went to bed early, my mind made up.

At 1 AM, my phone buzzed, pulling me from a restless sleep.

Max still wasn't home.

I opened the text from Chloe, she'd sent several messages.

"My adopted brother is so cute!"

"I swear, I wanna eat him up while he's asleep, waaah!"

Along with the messages, Chloe had attached a photo of Max sleeping on her bed, his messy bangs falling across his face, lips slightly parted.

Then I saw the typing indicator at the top of the screen, and seconds later, Chloe quickly typed and sent another message.

"I meant to send that to my bestie, not you, sis! Max fell asleep on my pillow and I was messing around. Please don't be mad."

She probably expected me to call Max and start a scene like I always did. But I had nothing to say to him anymore.

I blocked her, turned off my phone, and went back to sleep.

The next morning, Max and Chloe arrived at the office together. Chloe was clutching her stomach, looking pale, but Max just scooped her up and carried her in, his face a mixture of concern and irritation.

Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck and shot me a smug look.

The office buzzed with gossip.

"Little Chloe can't even tell a copier from a shredder. How did she manage to get an assistant position?"

"The boss isn't really into her, is he?"

I didn't care. I was too busy texting my lawyer.

"Maybe," I said, absentmindedly.

As I turned, I heard a familiar voice.

"Karla, come with me."

I looked up to see Max standing behind me, his cold eyes locking onto mine.

Nobody at the company knew we were married. Max had strict rules about office relationships, so we'd always kept it under wraps. To everyone else, I was just his long-time employee, nothing more.

Max's expression darkened as he motioned for me to follow him. "Now."

I followed him into his office, where Chloe was lying on the couch in the next room. Max closed the door behind us, then stepped toward me, his face softening.

"Are you still mad?" he asked, his voice low.

I pulled my hand away when he tried to touch me.

"I told you, I'm not mad," I replied.

Max's anger flared, and before I could react, he gripped my shoulders, forcing me to face him. "You're still being stubborn?"

"You didn't come home last night. You didn't even text me. And now you're telling me you're not mad?"

I wasn't in the mood to argue, so I just stared at him.

"Isn't Chloe your assistant? She's supposed to take care of you, right? So what's the big deal?"

Max's eyes narrowed as he took a step closer, his grip tightening. Then, without warning, he shoved me onto the couch.

As I tried to steady myself, I pulled something from between the cushions. It was a pink lace bra.

Max froze, his face draining of color.

"That's not..." he started, but I didn't want to hear it. I tossed the bra back at him, voice flat.

"If there's nothing else, Mr. Williams..."

I stood up and walked toward the door.