Chapter 113 Steps
Chapter 113 Steps
Scuff. Scuff. Scuff.
Agatha dragged her feet along the stone path. She leaned her palm against the stone railing, which felt cold against her skin. Her balance was completely off. Her protruding belly pulled at every muscle in her spine. She had to stop every ten steps to catch her shallow breath.
"Ugh," Agatha groaned softly.
She felt a strong movement from her womb. One of the babies kicked right at her lower ribs. Agatha rubbed the hard lump under her thick gown. A thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead despite the cool evening air.
"Don't just stand there like a statue, Agatha. Pierre said you have to keep moving, not become a garden ornament."
Agatha startled. She turned toward the wooden bench under the oak tree. Frans sat there, playing with a small knife in his hand. He looked relaxed, with one leg crossed over the other.
"You startled me, Frans," Agatha said. Her voice was slightly breathless.
"That is because you are too focused on your breathing. You sound like an old steam engine," Frans replied. He stood up and approached Agatha with light steps.
"Where is Xavier? Why are you the one here?" Agatha asked. She resumed her slow pace.
"Your beloved husband is busy at the main office. There is a problem with the logistics shipment at the northern port. He could not just leave it. Besides, a company does not run on love alone," Frans walked beside Agatha, matching her slow gait.
"I know he is busy," Agatha murmured.
"Your grandfather, the honorable Don Cardios, is in the basement. He is dealing with some rats trying to steal from his upper and lower business granaries. So, you only have me this afternoon," Frans continued in a mocking tone.
Agatha let out a long sigh. "Where is Mom?"
"She is in the kitchen. I saw her busy cutting beef and preparing various nuts. She said it was a nutritious snack for you and those three very troublesome babies," Frans chuckled.
"They are not troublesome, Frans," Agatha protested. She winced as she felt pressure in her pelvis.
"Oh really? Look at yourself. You walk like a stuffed duck. Your hips sway right and left irregularly. If I recorded this and showed it to Xavier, he would surely laugh," Frans teased.
Agatha stopped walking. She looked at Frans with narrowed eyes. "You are very annoying today."
"I am only speaking the truth. You know I am not a man who likes to lie," Frans flicked the small knife between his fingers skillfully. "Come on, keep walking. You have only been moving for five minutes. Pierre said thirty minutes minimum."
"My feet are very swollen, Frans. Can't you see?" Agatha showed him the tops of her feet. They looked rounded, the skin stretched tight.
"I see. They look like bread fresh from the oven. Very bloated," Frans said without guilt.
"Frans! Stop comparing my body parts to food or animals!" Agatha yelled, annoyed.
"You are just so funny when you are angry. Your cheeks turn red and your nose flares. It is a very entertaining sight in the middle of this boring house," Frans laughed, showing his teeth.
Agatha huffed and resumed her walk. She tried to ignore the chatter of the man beside her. The sound of her slippers against the garden gravel was the only sound she wanted to hear.
"By the way, Agatha," Frans's voice rang out again.
"What now?" Agatha replied without looking back.
"How does it feel to carry three people in your stomach? Do you feel like you are carrying a very full grocery bag?" Frans asked. He was now walking backward in front of Agatha so he could see her face.
"It feels incredibly heavy but also amazing when they move," Agatha answered honestly. "Sometimes I feel like the skin of my stomach will not be able to hold them much longer. It feels very tight and itchy."
"Maybe they want to come out soon and hit me for teasing their mother," Frans smirked. "If they are all boys, I will teach them how to hold a weapon properly."
"No. I do not want them to be crude men like you and Xavier," Agatha said firmly.
"Hey! Xavier is a very gentle man when he is in front of you. You just do not see how he is in front of his enemies. He can be a very different person," Frans shrugged. "But do not worry. I will be a good uncle to them."
"An annoying uncle, you mean," Agatha retorted.
"Call it whatever you want," Frans stopped walking backward and returned to Agatha’s side. "Come on, straighten your back. You are starting to slouch again."
"I can't, Frans! It is very heavy in the front!" Agatha stopped again. She held her waist with both hands. "Mmh. It feels like my spine is going to snap."
"Here, take my arm," Frans offered his muscular left arm.
Agatha hesitated for a moment but finally gripped Frans's arm for support. "Thank you."
"Do not thank me. I am only doing this so Xavier does not cut my salary for letting you fall," Frans said in a flat tone, though he let Agatha lean fully on his arm.
They continued walking past rows of rosebushes with leaves still damp. The evening sky began to turn a purplish blue. The garden lights began to turn on one by one, giving a soft yellow glow to the path.
"Frans," Agatha called softly.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think Xavier is truly happy with this pregnancy? I mean, he has looked very stressed since the bleeding incident yesterday," Agatha asked. Her eyes stared straight at the roses in front of her.
Frans fell silent for a moment. He did not answer immediately. "He is terrified, Agatha. He has never been afraid of anything in this world, but seeing you in pain yesterday made him realize he has no control over your life."
"I just want him to be less anxious," Agatha murmured.
"That is an impossible request. To Xavier, you are the center of everything now. If the center wobbles, his entire world will collapse. So, your job now is just to stay healthy and deliver those three brats safely," Frans explained. His tone was a bit more serious than before.
"I will try," Agatha said firmly.
"Good. Now keep moving. We still have ten minutes before Melynda screams for us to have dinner," Frans pulled Agatha’s arm to keep her moving.
"I am so tired, Frans. Can I sit for a moment over there?" Agatha pointed to a metal chair near the fish pond.
"No. One more lap to the side door, then you can sit," Frans refused firmly.
"You are so cruel!" Agatha complained.
"I am only following Pierre’s orders. If you are angry, blame that old doctor," Frans laughed softly while continuing to pull Agatha along.
"I will report to Xavier that you forced me to walk when I was about to faint," Agatha threatened.
"Go ahead. He will actually thank me for keeping his wife fit," Frans stuck his tongue out at Agatha.
Agatha tried to pinch Frans's arm, but the man quickly dodged. "Hahaha! You are too slow, Madam!"
"Frans! Stop teasing me!" Agatha yelled.
"Come on, catch me if you can! Your penguin steps will not even touch the hem of my clothes," Frans jogged a few steps in front of Agatha, deliberately provoking her.
Agatha stomped her foot on the ground in annoyance. "I am really going to tell on you to Xavier tonight! Just wait and see!"
Frans stopped running and turned to face Agatha. He folded his arms across his chest with a mocking smile still on his face. "Try it if you dare. I have many secrets about Xavier that you do not know. We will see who ends up cornered first."
Agatha stunned. She stopped right under a flickering garden lamp. "What secrets do you mean?"
Frans did not answer. He simply pointed toward the second floor balcony with his chin. There, a silhouette of someone stood behind the closed curtains, watching the two of them.
"Frans, who is that?" Agatha asked, her voice beginning to tremble.
"That is what I have been trying to show you," Frans whispered. The smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by a very sharp and alert gaze. "Do not look back now, Agatha. Just keep walking toward the side door calmly."
"Why? Is there someone else here?" Agatha asked, her breath hitching with fear.
"Just walk, Agatha. Do not ask questions," Frans commanded in a low, pressing voice.
Agatha gripped her fur cloak tightly. She began to walk again with feet that felt incredibly heavy, heavier than before. She could feel her own heart thumping in her throat. Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.
Suddenly, a very fast sound of footsteps came from the bushes on their left. Sruk. Sruk. Sruk.
"Agatha, run!" Frans yelled suddenly.
"What?" Agatha’s eyes widened. She was about to ask when she saw a black shadow leap out from the darkness of the garden, heading straight for her.