Chapter 76: Soft Smiles Hiding Sinister Truths
Nora’s POV
As I stepped into the sunlit dining room of Claflin Estate, my breath caught at the sight of Alexander already seated at the head of the table, impeccable in a tailored navy suit. It wasn’t his presence that threw me off—it was the unexpected warmth in his piercing gaze as it locked with mine.
“Morning, Nora,” he greeted, rising with a gentleman’s grace as I neared. “Sleep well?”
I froze for a split second, scouring his face for the familiar sneer of contempt. Finding none, I slid into my seat warily. “Fine, thanks.”
Edward appeared beside me to pull out my chair, while Mary, the kind-eyed housekeeper, approached with a silver coffee pot, offering a fleeting, sympathetic glance.
“Orange juice?” Alexander asked, reaching for the crystal pitcher before Edward could intervene. “I know it’s your morning go-to.”
I stared, dumbfounded, as he poured with deliberate elegance. This was... bizarre. Alexander Claflin, the ruthless tyrant of Kingsley City, playing the doting husband? “Thanks,” I muttered, taking the glass.
He gestured to the spread on the table. “I had Mary whip up your favorites—avocado toast with poached eggs, and those blueberry scones you once mentioned.”
“How thoughtful,” I forced a smile, suspicion gnawing at me. “What’s the occasion?”
“Does there need to be one?” His smile held, but a calculated glint flickered in his eyes. “I just want to take better care of my wife.”
I bit into the toast, the flavors turning to ash in my mouth despite their perfection. Something was off. Alexander never played nice without a hidden agenda.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said after a pause, setting down his coffee cup with precision. “About our future.”
My grip tightened on my knife, hovering over the plate. “Oh?”
“I’ve booked the best private clinic,” he continued, voice smooth as silk. “We can schedule the termination for next week. I’ve cleared my calendar to be there with you.”
The glass slipped from my hand, shattering on the pristine tablecloth with a deafening crash.
Edward materialized instantly, dabbing at the spill. “Allow me, Mrs. Claflin.”
I barely noticed him, my eyes boring into Alexander’s impassive face. “Termination?” I whispered, the word choking me.
“Of the pregnancy,” he clarified, as if discussing a trivial business deal. “Top doctors, utmost comfort. Your recovery will be my priority.”
My hand instinctively flew to my stomach, a protective shield I couldn’t suppress.
“And by year’s end,” he pressed on, his gaze flicking to my gesture, “we’ll plan for a true Claflin heir.” The word ‘true’ sliced through me like a razor.
Shock morphed into a wildfire of rage, blazing through my chest. I shot to my feet, the chair screeching against the hardwood. “No!” The word erupted from me. “I will NOT end this pregnancy.”
Alexander’s expression remained unchanged, though his eyes turned to steel. “Nora, sit. Let’s discuss this like adults.”
Adults? I wanted to scream, to hurl the remaining juice at his smug face. But I reined myself in. Here, in Claflin Estate, I was powerless. Every servant, every guard answered to him. If I wanted to protect my baby, I had to outsmart my fury.
I sank back into my seat, hands trembling. “There’s nothing to discuss. This is my body, my choice.”
“It’s not just about you,” he countered, voice deceptively soft but unyielding. “It’s about the Claflin legacy, our future.”
“The baby doesn’t need your name,” I shot back, grasping at straws. “Chuck Rodriguez can raise the child. I just... I can’t do this, Alexander.”
Mentioning Chuck made his jaw clench—a tiny, bitter victory in our verbal duel.
“This child is innocent,” I softened my tone, pleading to any shred of humanity in him. “Termination could destroy me, physically and emotionally.”
I leaned forward, swallowing my pride, voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll honor every term of our marriage from now on. Just... let me keep this baby. Then I’ll do whatever you ask.”
Alexander studied me, his face a mask of stone. Then, to my shock, he nodded slowly. “I see how hard this is for you. Maybe I’ve rushed things. Take time to weigh your options.”
I gaped at him, stunned by this sudden concession.
“But Nora,” he added, a warning edge creeping into his tone, “think about what this child might inherit from Rodriguez. His... flaws. His inferior traits.”
I bit back a retort about the Claflin traits—arrogance, cruelty, manipulation—and nodded. “Thank you for understanding.”
He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got calls before the office. Take your time with breakfast.”
As he left, suspicion drowned my fleeting relief. Alexander Claflin didn’t yield without a catch. Never.
Compelled by a gut feeling, I followed him after barely touching my food. The manor’s plush carpets silenced my steps as I trailed him to his study. The door stood ajar, his voice seeping into the hall.
“Leo, reach out to Chuck Rodriguez,” Alexander commanded, all warmth stripped from his tone, replaced by icy authority. “Yes, about taking the infant. West Coast, ideally—far enough she’ll never track the location.”
My blood turned to ice. The duplicitous bastard. While feigning empathy, he was already plotting to rip my baby from me.
Back in our bedroom, rage and resolve hardened within me. I’d been naive to hope for mercy. He never intended to let me keep my child—whether by termination or theft after birth.
Staring into the vanity mirror, I barely recognized the woman glaring back. The meek Nora who’d entered this marriage as a sacrificial lamb was dead. In her place stood a fighter, ready to battle with everything she had.
“You wanna play games, Alexander?” I hissed at my reflection. “Fine. But I’m done being your pawn.”
I needed an ally, someone with sway over him. Only one person came to mind.
By the time Alexander found me in the main hall, I’d recomposed myself, the dutiful wife’s mask back in place. “I thought we could visit your mother today,” I suggested, adjusting my handbag strap. “I’ve never properly paid my respects.”
His brow arched in mild surprise. “That’s... considerate of you.”
“I picked out some gifts for her,” I added, nodding to the wrapped packages by the door. “I hope they’re fitting.”
He scrutinized me, then nodded. “She’ll appreciate it. I’ll reschedule my morning.”
In the limousine, Alexander tapped away on his phone, reshuffling his day. I sat beside him, hands clenched in my lap to hide their trembling.
“I’ve freed up my whole day,” he said, catching me off guard. “Morning with Mother, then maybe an afternoon just for us.”
I nodded, heart pounding. “Sounds nice.”
As we pulled up to Camilla’s elegant townhouse, nervous sweat slicked my palms. Alexander’s mother waited at the door, stunning in casual chic, her smile radiant as she greeted us.
“Alexander, my darling!” She hugged him, then turned to me with genuine warmth. “Nora, such a delight to meet you.”
“Mrs. Hayes,” I started, voice already wavering.
“Call me Camilla, dear,” she insisted, clasping my hands.
Alexander’s hand rested on my lower back. “Nora insisted on gifts for you, Mother. She’s been eager to meet you.”
Camilla’s eyes—identical to her son’s striking green—gleamed with approval. “You’ve finally learned to cherish your wife, Alexander. I’m impressed.”
I felt him stiffen beside me, though his smile held.
At the threshold, I halted, the weight of my next move paralyzing me. Both turned, puzzled.
“Nora?” Camilla’s voice brimmed with concern.
I met her kind gaze, then Alexander’s guarded one, tears spilling down my cheeks. “I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I can’t drag this out anymore... Camilla, there’s something you need to know.”