Claiming her babies

NICHOLAS POV

THE NEXT DAY

“So you are telling me Ethan was at that house yesterday and I didn’t know,” Anthony asked for the fifth time since we left the conference meeting room and came into my office.

I told him about Ethan’s strange visitation yesterday and he couldn’t believe that he wasn’t aware until now.

“For the fifth time Anthony, yes” I responded as I entered the elevator that took me to my office floor.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“How come I didn’t notice? How come no one noticed?” He asked, walking behind me as we both stepped out of the elevator and walked to my office.

“Because you were busy with the food in the dining,” I said, slowly getting annoyed with his numerous questions.

“What do you think he wants?” Anthony asked, sitting on the office chair across my seat.

“I don’t know man. I didn’t have a good night’s sleep yesterday because I couldn’t get my mind off his sudden visitation” I responded, sighing as I relaxed fully on my seat.

“What if he found out about that kid?”

“I don’t think that’s the case because if it was, then he wouldn’t have asked the moment he came,” I said.

“You have a point there, Nicholas,” Anthony said.

There was silence for about five minutes before Anthony broke the silence with a question I wasn’t expecting “When are you going to put a ring on her finger?”

I stared confusingly at him as I thought deeply about who he was talking about “On whose finger?” I asked, my eyes narrowing as I stared at him in confusion and interest.

“On Monica’s finger of course,” his reply made me laugh hard as I found his statement amusing.

“But we are already married? Aren’t we?” I asked Anthony who wore a deep frown on his face

“I’m not cracking a joking Nicholas so I don’t know why you’re laughing hard. I’m stating a fact here” Anthony uttered and I laughed even harder.

He sighed as he drummed his fingers on my table, glaring at me. When I was done laughing, I adjusted my suit jacket and looked at Anthony “So what were you saying?” I asked, my words laced with mockery

“Your marriage to Monica is fake

Remember?” He said as the smile on my face gradually evaporated as I began to see sense in his words “You love her don’t you?” Anthony asked, his voice calm.

“Of course I do,” I said with certainty.

“Then I suggest you propose and marry her. You’ve succeeded in proving your love to her so what is keeping you from making a lifetime promise to her?” Anthony said, his statement-making more captivating with each passing second.

“But isn’t that sudden? Proposing to her now is quite sudden seeing we are just getting to know each other ” I said.

“Getting to know each other? Bro, you’ve been living with Monica for more than eight months now and you call that getting to know each other” Anthony uttered, staring at me in shock and disbelief “Look man, Monica is a beautiful lady and a perfect match for you. Marry her and love happily with her. I see the way she makes you smile and I want that to be permanent” Anthony said and I could feel his sincerity through his words.

“What about the contract?” I asked, suddenly remembering the reason why we both started living together in the first place.

“Cancel it. There’s nothing to lose if you cancel it. Nobody on about the contract except you, me and Monica. Marry her and you’re automatically the kid’s dad” Anthony’s words seemed to open my eyes every second.

“But how do I do that? I don’t know how to start or what to do” I said finally realizing Monica was going to be the first woman I proposed marriage to

“Don’t worry about all that. I will help you with how to go about it but_”

“I’m so sorry guys. I had to put Macy and Mason to sleep. It was pretty difficult to do all that and I apologize that I’m late. Is Ethan here already?” Monica walked into the office and her presence startled us as we both looked at her, frozen in our seats. “What’s with the surprise look? You two look like you had just seen a ghost” Monica said and we instantly composed ourselves as we awkwardly stared at each other.

“Have you been standing outside? Did you hear anything?” Anthony asked.

“Hear what? Why will I stand outside in the first place? We are all here to see Ethan who isn’t here yet so why would I stand outside?” Monica asked, looking interchangeably at me and Anthony in suspicion.

“Nothing at all. Just asking” I said quickly, trying to end the topic. My office line rang and I picked up instantly

“Sir Mr Ethan is here and he says you’re expecting him” my secretary’s voice rang from the other side of the line.

“Let him in” I replied then ended the call, placing the telephone back on the table. “Ethan is here ” I announced to both Monica and Anthony and in no time, Ethan was sitting with us in my office.

“So let’s get to the business of today Mr. Ethan,” I said, trying to take his useless gaze off my woman as a feeling of possessiveness washed all over me.

“I came here to apologize to Monica. I know I treated you badly and horribly and I’m sorry about that. I had some results done in the hospital some days ago and I found out that I had a 5% chance of getting a woman pregnant” Ethan said and I looked at Anthony in shock.

“What!” Monica exclaimed, her eyes fully opened. “So that means it wasn’t my_” Monica tried to speak but he interrupted her, gradually avoiding her eyes.

“Yes Monica, it wasn’t your fault that we never had kids. It was all my fault. I couldn’t get you pregnant and I blamed you for it. I’m sorry about my past actions and every day of my life, I regret sending you out of the house” Ethan’s words trembled as he sniffed, trying to hold back his tears. “I also discovered that Mia’s pregnancy was never mine but she only got pregnant just so I could send you out. I’m deeply sorry Monica. For the pain, tears, humiliation, and everything I’m sorry”

“Wow that’s a lot from karma for one person ” Anthony’s uttered and I agreed with him. Indeed karma was teaching Ethan a bigger lesson.

“I forgive you Ethan and I’m sorry about what has been happening to you recently,” Monica said, her hand on his shoulder as she tried to comfort him.

Ethan teary eyes sparkled with an emotion I was very familiar with: Regret and longing. I frowned deeply as he stared at my wife, my woman in a way that didn’t sit right with me.

“Can I hug you for just one time? I just need a sincere hug” Ethan asked and I glared at him.

“Honey?” Monica said, asking for my permission. I was glad that she even considered asking me for permission because I didn’t know why Ethan would want to hug my wife. If he needs comfort, he should go hug a teddy and not my woman.

“Okay, Mr Ethan. Thank you for coming over to tell us how you felt. Monica here has forgiven you and I think you should leave. It’s already getting late” I said quickly as I rose to my feet and stood between him and Monica, breaking his gaze on her.

“Thank you for your time, Monica, and thank you for forgiving me. I don’t know if I would have been able to forgive myself if you hadn’t forgiven me now. Thank you” Ethan said as he rose to his feet to meet my cold, distant eyes “Thank you for allowing me to speak to her”

“You’re welcome ” I replied, my face wearing no expression as we all watched him leaving the office.