Chapter 80

80 80. Pillow Talk

“You are penniless?” Paula’s brows furrowed.

William nodded, gulping for fear that Paula would kick him on the spot because she realized she was making love to a homeless man. He was like a hobo now. The remaining savings he had were not much to support his life for the next few years because he already used it to pay for detective service and the expensive luxury trip to Tokyo.

“What happened?” asked Paula curiously, her lips curled into a smile because what William said was a little funny to hear.

William then told Paula how his father fired him. Alex even asked him to forget about inheritance. Even though he still remained his father’s child, it seemed, it made no difference. It was like Alex also fired him as a child.

“So your parents dislike me now?” Paula asked, she turned her body so that her chest was on William’s. “Did I do something wrong? Is it because I misunderstood that Lea was pregnant with your child?”

William shook his head quickly. “How could they hate you for something like that?”

“Then, what made your father forbid you to see me?” asked Paula curiously because previously her relationship with Alex and Lisa was fine.

William’s face suddenly turned red. He was embarrassed to have to tell Paula of his failure to convince Mark of his business plan.

“Tell me, what are you trying to hide from me?” Paula asked exasperatedly, looking her husband in the eye.

.....

Later, William told Paula how he tried to convince Mark and how he decided not to continue the business deal with that famous business tycoon. Embarrassedly, William glanced at Paula, afraid that she would burst out in her usual rage. However, what William got was a stunning stare with no comment from Paula.

“You, didn’t scold me?” William asked, in an astonishing way.

Paula shook her head slowly. “I guess you’re just unlucky to learn about how Gaby really thinks about you. Well, I don’t think Gaby’s opinion is entirely correct,” Paula finally commented. She played a finger on William’s chest as she thought further.

William caught Paula’s hand because he didn’t want his desire to be aroused again when their discussion started to get serious. “I didn’t think you would defend me.”

Paula laughed lightly. “Gaby looks jealous of Alan’s presence. She was afraid that Mark would treat her daughter unfairly because of the presence of the new heir. So far, Gaby has been desperately trying to show how a woman deserves to be an heiress so that her daughter can lead the company in the future. However, Alan’s presence ruined her plans. You said that Mark always wants a son, no?”

William laughed lightly. “Gaby is a professional woman. She couldn’t be jealous over something as trivial as that.” William objected because his impression of Gaby was not a whiny woman who would involve feelings for business. “She’s just like you.”

Now, Paula laughed out loud. “Indeed, I feel that Gaby is like me. That was why I said that she is jealous of Alan’s presence.”

Paula then sat down and leaned against the headboard. He looked at William with a meaningful look. “Imagine if we keep our marriage, then suddenly you find your child with Lea in our sixth year of marriage. Of course, I’d be jealous, wouldn’t I?”

William’s face blushed. He knew Paula would be jealous because she loved him. William’s chest warmed, causing him to pull Paula back into his arms and kiss her forehead.

“I’m glad we didn’t have a problem like Mark and Gaby’s,” William whispered, stroking Paula’s messy hair.

“Right, so I think that Gaby is attacking your weakness to get Mark to cancel his big investment. That will make her feel that Mark can still be fair to his children,” Paula explained. “But, it also means that your plan is not excellent.”

Paula burst into laughter, as well as William. They cuddled up, teasing each other’s erogenous spots to set the mood.

“Do you think Gaby loves Mark?” William asked suddenly.

“Most likely. Didn’t you say she wanted Mark to do what you did to me at the hotel?” Paula asked, smiling. “I don’t think Mark is considerate enough about his wife’s feelings.”

They both laughed together when they realized that they were gossiping. After a while, Paula said, “I was thinking to ask my father to help you by threatening your father about the investment,” Paula laughed for a moment then continued, “but I don’t think your pride will accept it, will you? You wouldn’t like it if your father had to take you back because he was threatened.”

William simply replied with an increasingly loud laugh, nodding at Paula’s words. “I ask you again, If I am jobless, will you still be willing to be with me?”

“Of course!” replied Paula with a sweet smile, looking at William with conviction. “My money is enough for both of us, isn’t it? You can take care of our baby at home, I can work for our family. How does it sound?”

“Hey, am I that bad in your eyes?” William complained. “I thought you’d ask me to help you work in your company.”

Paul laughed. “Then who will take care of our child later? Isn’t housework just as important? You can be a stay-at-home dad. I would love it.”

William disagreed about Paula’s ideas. He didn’t mind sharing the chores with Paula. However, if he had to stay at home all day, it would be too much for him.

Exasperated, William tickled Paula’s feet. Of course, Paula screamed at that, she couldn’t stand being tickled at the foot. After that, there was no more laughter from the two of them. Only moans and groans, as their touch continued into the second and third rounds of passionate lovemaking.

***

Meanwhile, in New York, Clara was seen walking down the hospital hallway languidly. She was holding up the test paper which stated that she was indeed infertile.

All this time, she had lied to Dave about taking the pills. She wanted to get pregnant with Dave’s child as soon as possible so that he would marry her as soon as possible. However, even if she had been trying for a year, she had not gotten pregnant.

Frightened, she still thought that it wasn’t herself that was barren, but Dave. She loved him very much. She even considered adopting children if he was barren. However, the fact that Lea was pregnant with his child proved who was the one having infertility problems. Clara was barren, not Dave.

Clara looked for a place to sit because she could no longer walk in this desperate state. She was infertile, and would not be able to give children to Dave. She knew how he wanted a child.

Dave’s betrayal did make her angry. However, Dave kept trying to reach her and apologized. Likewise, with Lea, she explained how it wasn’t Dave’s fault. If Dave hadn’t been drunk back then, he certainly wouldn’t have agreed to do it with Lea.

Clara was still in love with Dave. She couldn’t deny that feeling. One night’s mistake was not enough to erase all her love for her fiance.

“Clara?”

A voice startled Clara from her thoughts. She lifted her head and found Lea standing not too far from her.

“Can I sit next to you?” Leah asked awkwardly. She wasn’t sure Clara would want to see her. However, she would try any means to bring Clara and Dave together again.

“Sure! This is a public place,” Clara whispered. She folded the paper in her hand and tucked it into her white coat.

“Are you taking a break?” Lea asked pleasantly. Clara just nodded in response.

“I ... just visited my mom,” Lea said in a low voice, hoping that Clara would chime in when she talked about anything other than her pregnancy and Dave’s betrayal. Unfortunately, Clara doesn’t look like she’s going to respond in the slightest.

Lea glanced at Clara who had a grim face. Her chest tightened seeing Clara’s current state. Back then, she had treated Paula the way Clara treated her now. Perhaps, this was what you called you reap what you sow.

“I’m sorry for everything I did to you and Dave.” In the end, Lea chose to stick with what she should have discussed. “You guys nurtured a love for so long, don’t sacrifice just one night’s mistake that anyone can get caught up in.”

Hearing Lea’s statement defending Dave, Clara turned and gave her a sharp look. “Don’t lecture me!” She then turned again, facing the wall plastered with heart health posters.

“I know you’re angry. However, maybe you’ll understand if I say this. Even though I was drunk, I remember when Dave did it with me, he said your name,” Lea said, swallowing hard. “To me, that’s enough to explain how much he loves you.”

Clara looked disdainfully at Lea, unable to believe Lea would tell her such a thing. However, at the same time, tears fell off her cheeks. She also knew that Dave didn’t really want to betray their love.

“Clara, Dave and I just have a child together. Nothing more than that. I hope you don’t escalate the issue and can accept him back,” Lea said in a low voice, her eyes pleading with Clara. “He is suffering without you.”

Lea’s last sentence made Clara burst into tears. Not only Dave would suffer. “I also feel like I can’t live without him ....”