Chapter 8

Tessa’s POV

"This matter isn’t urgent."

Evander’s cold, impassive voice cuts through the air, and the reaction is immediate.

Mira’s eyes widen slightly.

Carol purses her lips and looks down.

Madeleine glances over at me, smiling ever so slightly.

And I’m frozen in my seat, trying to decipher exactly what his words mean.

Does he mean that he would like to take it slow with Mira? Because he’s certain they’ll have a great time knowing each other and gradually falling in love?

Or Maybe it’s because of me. Maybe Evander doesn’t want to rush things with Mira because of me.

Or is it that just a naive, foolish hope of mine?

This matter isn’t urgent.

Just four words, and I’m completely and utterly preoccupied.

Evander raises an eyebrow, clearly noticing the shift in the room’s atmosphere.

"I’ve got things under control," he continues coolly.

Mira does her best to smile, but when she does speak, her voice is tinged with annoyance.

"Usually when Fated mates meet at a ceremony they get engaged within the week," she says carefully.

"I’ve already made my decision," Evander replies, clearly detached.

A tense silence overtakes the room, as heavy and threatening as a loaded gun.

Mira clears her throat. "I understand Evander’s situation," she begins graciously in a clear attempt to salvage her dignity. "And Tessa’s condition is indeed… special. I can wait for you to settle everything before we get married."

She pauses, selecting her words delicately.

"But during this time," she continues, "I’d like to stay at your house to get to know you better and build a stronger connection."

Evander tilts his head briefly, thinking the offer over before nodding briskly. "Okay."

I watch the exchange anxiously, gaze flicking between the two of them.

The divorce hasn’t been finalized.

He’s hesitating.

And I am pregnant with his child.

Maybe there’s hope for us yet.

Just then, a group of Omega servers shuffles out of the kitchen and begins to serve us our food. As everyone at the table oohs and ahhs at the prepared feast, I let myself fade to the background once more.

The conversation carried out is tense, impersonal, and polite, and I don’t offer up a single word.

That night, I’m sitting in my nightgown staring up at the ceiling as I lose myself in my own thoughts.

My hand settles over my stomach. What’s next for me? What am I even supposed to do in this situation? I have absolutely no idea where the future holds–

Creak!

I look up just in time to see the door swing open.

Evander walking in, dressed in nothing but a towel tied loosely around his waist, like he normally does every night.

Usually, the next thing would be sex.

I try not to stare this time–it’s nothing I haven’t seen before, but the sight of him bare-chested and glistening from the shower, hair spiking up as it dries, and the sharp V of his hips visible just above the towel’s hem…

I clear my throat and do my best to look away.

To try and ignore the fact that his very presence is unbearably magnetic, and that he’s so handsome it actually hurts.

"Are… are you planning on sleeping here tonight?" I ask Evander tentatively.

He furrows his brow, lost in thought for a moment. "I suppose so, this is my room," he replies. "But sleeping only. Nothing else."

My face flushes. "Right, I–no, of course."

I want to ask if he choose not to marry Mira immediately because he is hesitating. If so, I wonder if he’d consider staying married.

Now that we have a baby, he could reject Mira, and I could remain his wife.

It’s a lovely fantasy.

One potentially no more than a question away from reality.

I start to gather my courage.

But just then, there’s a knock on the door.

Evander quickly reaches for a T-shirt and tugs it over his head. A moment later, Mira sweeps into the room, gaze locked on him like a snake eyeing a rodent.

"The light in my room is broken," Mira says, lips twisted into a flirty pout. "And it’s an unfamiliar house, and… I’m scared. I don’t suppose I could get some company?"

"Of course," Evander says quickly.

She grins wolfishly and loops her arm through his.

Evander glances back at me as the two of them leave together, but then the door slams shut, and he’s gone.

Hours slip by, and it’s late into the evening by now. I can’t read my novel any more. My mind is endlessly tangled up in the tension of this situation, and I’m even more hung up on my unanswered question.

I decide to ask anyway.

For myself, and for our unborn child.

I rise up from my armchair and cross my bedroom, then slip into the hallway.

I don’t know exactly where Mira’s staying, but we only have so many guest rooms in this house.

I wander down the hallways until I see a door with lights coming out from the bottom, and hear familiar voices speaking.

I know it’s wrong, but curiosity gets the best of me, and I hesitate a moment before knocking.

"Why don’t you just divorce her already?" Asks Mira, voice sickly sweet.

Evander’s reply is as cold and detached as ever. "The merger of Tessa’s father’s back and business hasn’t been completed yet," he tells her. "If Tessa and I were to divorce now, it would cause complications that would make things worse for all three of us."

"So we have to wait?" Mira asks.

"Not for much longer," Evander assures her.

And just like that, my heart bursts.

So it’s not about me. It’s not about me at all. The hesitation, the waiting–

It’s all because of our stupid business arrangement.

I can’t listen to this anymore.

I pull away from the bedroom door and tiptoe silently back to my own room.

As soon as the door is shut behind me, I collapse into my own bed, tears of frustration and despair welling up in my eyes. The full weight of the situation crashes down on me over and over again, waves of agony I can’t seem to escape.

The divorce is inevitable. There’s no turning back now.

I place my hand delicately over my stomach. There’s no sign of pregnancy yet, but I know my baby’s in there.

No one will take my baby away.

And I know what I have to do.

I’m going to keep my pregnancy a secret until after the divorce is finalized.

And leave with my child forever.

I cannot wait for too long though. I have to leave before my pregnancy starts to show.

If Evander is planning on stalling until all the financial cards line up, I probably need to be the one who initiates divorce.