Aiden's pov
I walked in on her throwing clothes into a bag, tears streaming down her face. My chest constricted. "You said you were going to stay, you said we're doing this together, now you want to give up because of a mistake?"
She paused then shot me a glare.
"A mistake? That's all it is to you, Aiden, A mistake?" Her fists clenched tight beside her like she was trying to hold back. "You fucked my stepsister, got her pregnant, cuddled with her for nine whole months while I suffered here and all of that… " Her voice cracked. "Aiden, is a mistake?"
I took slow steps closer. "Listen baby, we can figure things out, okay? I only did it for our sake."
She avoided my hands and kept packing, even increasing her pace.
"You are right. I was willing to take it. Willing to stay but now, NO. That woman out there is a devil. She made my life a living hell, you know that more than anyone." She yelled in my face.
My jaw clenched tight.
"All of that is in the past, Kate, it's time to move on. She's changed. When I accused her of knowing who I was and still letting everything happen, she said it was for your sake. She knew your condition and wanted to help you out."
A bitter smile curled on her face, followed by a look of disappointment. "So, it's my fault, right?" She swallowed. My lips parted. She cut me off. "Forget it, Aiden, like I said earlier, I'll get the divorce papers ready. I can't cope with all of this." She walked past me. My chest tightened even more.
"Is there someone else?"
She froze.
"What!?" The word slipped out, coated in disbelief.
"I said, is there someone else?" I stepped closer, the pain doubling in my chest. Her mouth slowly parted, caught between a breath and something she was trying to say.
"This is the second time you are eager to leave me. Eager to let everything go like it's something you've been waiting for. So tell me, Kate, is there someone else? Were you really alone for nine months?"
Her gaze widened further. She must have connected the dots.
"You think I cheated on you?" she rasped, staring at me like I had grown two heads. I bit my lower lip harder, wiping off a bead of sweat that formed.
"You leave me no choice, Kate, it's the only valid reason why you'd want to leave me so bad."
Tears hung around her lashes. I bit my lower lip hard.
"You think I'm happy? That I like a third party in our marriage?" I covered the gap between us, wiping off the tears that streamed down her face.
"Of course not baby. All I'm doing is for your sake. It's hard, Kate. It's hard listening to you cry softly in the bathroom, watching you silently pray for yours, masking your discomfort at family dinners. It's hard. I can't take any of that anymore, Kate, I want you to be happy."
She pulled away. "No, no, Aiden." Her voice crashed between sobs. "I can't. I just can't."
I pulled her back into my arms, "I know you can't but we can. You are not in this alone, remember? I'm always here with you. Never forget that."
She bit her lower lip hard, wanting to pull away again but I held her in place. "I'm sorry but I choose your happiness over anything and I'm never leaving you for anyone. I'm yours and you are mine, while the child is ours. Ellen would be leaving soon and everything would go back to normal."
She wiped her tears, meeting my gaze. "You think so? We can be normal again?"
I nodded. "I know so."
A soft knock on the door divided our attention and I went for it immediately.
"Sophia."
She rolled her eyes at me.
"The lady wants to see you. I'm here for Kate." I nodded, before going back inside and planting a soft kiss on her lips. "It's time for her to leave, I'll see you later." With a soft nod of acknowledgment from her, I left.
The crowd had gotten thinner and with a forced smile at everyone, acknowledging their 'congratulations' I went into the room.
"So, you are ready, right?" Her bright smile vanished in an instant. An older figure sat beside the baby and with the undeniable semblance, I could tell it was her mom. The one she had been telling me was on her way.
"My mom's here." She paused halfway from approaching me. I nodded at the old lady before resuming my gaze on her. "It's getting late. I'll get Alex to end the party then Justin will drive—"
"What's that supposed to mean?" The old lady interrupted. I raised a brow.
"My daughter just risked her life for you and you can't wait to throw her out!?" Her voice rose. My brows furrowed.
"That was our agreement. After childbirth, she leaves. Or do you want compensation? Fine, my secretary will attend to you." My gaze met Ellen and she nodded softly at me.
"I'll handle it." She mouthed then slowly approached her with a pat. "Mom, that's what we agreed on. I've played my part." She whispered, but before anything further, the old lady pushed her off, and she almost lost balance.
"Are you okay?" My hands steadied her waist and she wrapped her hands over my neck, stabilizing herself.
"Yes."
She shot her mother a glare.
"What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?" She fumed. "How dare you agree to such terms without my knowledge!? You agreed to give out your child to another woman!? No. I'll never take that…" Her stern gaze caught my puzzled look. "The only compensation I'm accepting is marital compensation. You are getting married to her."
I scoffed. "I'm happily married and not interested."
She scoffed. "Then let your wife give birth to your children. That's one of her core duties. If she has failed in that then you need to replace her. I'm not leaving my grandson here without something formal going on."
My fists clenched tight. "She's old enough to make her decisions which she has and we are going by that."
She laughed hysterically like I wasn't making sense. "You are either getting married to my daughter and divorcing that robot or I'm leaving with my grandson."