Chapter 6

"Fine,"

Chloe huffed lightly, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.

"She's bringing broth. I'll feed it to you myself later."

Imagining her "feeding method," Rhys grinned mischievously.

"Good, I'll wait for you to 'feed me' yourself."

Chloe gave him a flirtatious look, then reluctantly pulled open the office door and left.

She didn't hurry away.

She waited until the executive elevator opened and the person inside exited before turning and walking towards the regular employee elevator.

I saw Chloe's back.

I watched silently, my face devoid of emotion.

It wasn't surprising that Rhys couldn't resist being with Chloe, even at Grandpa Hawthorne's birthday party, and now he had secretly brought the previously fired Chloe back to the office.

It was a good thing I had never believed Rhys would change.

A leopard never changes its spots.

"Sera, you're here."

Rhys saw me enter the office, happily walked towards me, and reached for the food container in my hand.

My nose wrinkled slightly. My sense of smell was very keen.

Even with the window open and much of the scent dispersed, I still caught a whiff of it.

It seemed he and Chloe had been at it again.

Fortunately, I no longer cared.

"Here's your broth. Drink it while it's hot. I'm leaving now."

I didn't even sit down for a moment, turning to leave immediately.

Rhys grabbed my wrist.

"Sera, aren't you going to stay with me for a bit? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

I turned to look at him, saying flatly, "Do you need me to?"

For some reason, Rhys felt there was a double meaning in my words, and unease welled up in his heart again.

"Sera, of course I need you to stay with me."

He put down the broth and pulled me into his embrace.

"Why don't you just stay for the afternoon?"

He lowered his head, intending to kiss me.

I thought of what he and Chloe had just been doing in the office and felt a wave of nausea, pushing him away.

"I have to go to the clinic this afternoon. I can't stay."

Rhys felt a little uncomfortable being rejected, but he rationalized that I hadn't forgiven him yet, so my unwillingness to be intimate was normal.

In fact, it meant I still cared about him, because only if I cared would I be angry.

Rhys reassured himself, then held my shoulders.

"Why are you going to the clinic?"

"A check-up. To prepare for pregnancy."

He remembered. Our families were already pressing us to have children.

We had been married for three years without a child, and the elders of both families were subtly showing their displeasure.

This year, they had been particularly insistent about us having a baby, almost bringing up the topic at every family dinner.

Actually, both my body and his were fine; it was just that he hadn't been interested in having children these past few years.

He wasn't ready to be a father, so he had been using contraception.

Of course, more than that, he wanted more time alone with me.

However, he had changed his mind now.

He needed to get me pregnant as soon as possible.

Once we had a child, the bond between us would deepen, and the Hawthornes and Sterlings' alliance would be even stronger.

Then I would never be able to leave him.

"I'll go with you after work."

Rhys offered eagerly.

I shook my head, refusing.

"No need. You're so busy with work; there's no need to take time out just for me. I won't say more; I'm leaving now."

I walked out of the office.

Rhys watched my retreating figure, and a sudden tightness seized his chest.

I was still being distant with him.

In the past, if he suggested doing something together, I would be as delighted as a child.

Unlike now, where my words were flat, my emotions muted, everything about me was muted.

Completely different from the lively, sweet woman I used to be.

Rhys clutched his chest, a sharp pang of guilt piercing his heart.

It was all his fault; he had hurt me.

Just then, the office door opened again.

Chloe walked in. Seeing him clutching his chest, her face immediately showed concern.

"Rhys, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

Rhys looked at her face, unable to stop himself from questioning. Was chasing thrills with Chloe really that important?

Was the fleeting satisfaction of physical desire truly more important than his relationship with me?

The pleasure was momentary, but that moment caused me pain, disappointment, and a lack of passion for him.

Was it truly worth it?

He asked himself repeatedly, but still found no definite answer.

"Rhys, what are you thinking?"

Seeing that he seemed less distressed, Chloe's hand stroked his chest, and she pressed her body against him.

"Don't think about it. Let's continue our 'game' from before."

She initiated, kissing him.

Rhys wanted to resist, feeling a wave of guilt towards me, but gradually, desire triumphed over reason.

He swept Chloe into his arms and pressed her onto the sofa.

At the same time.

I had arrived at the clinic.

After a check-up, the doctor said.

"Your health is excellent; you can conceive directly. You're currently in your ovulation period these few days. Have you been intimate with your husband?"

Sera nodded.

"Yes."

"You can be intimate more frequently; it will make conception easier."

I asked, "If I get pregnant, how soon can I find out?"

"Ten days after intercourse." the doctor said.

I touched my stomach. The first time with Julian last night, he used protection. The next two times, I coaxed him out of it.

This morning, we didn't use protection either. Julian looked very strong.

He didn't smoke or drink much, so his 'seed' quality should be excellent.

I hoped there was already a result in my belly.

Otherwise, in ten days, I would have to go find him again.

That evening, I went to bed early again.

Rhys, fresh from his shower and thinking about having a baby, hugged me from behind, his hand caressing my body.

He whispered into my ear, "Sera, aren't we trying for a baby? We should..."