Chapter 98 98
Vanessa's POV
"Will you be okay here?" Ethan asked, stopping in front of the gate. I nodded at him before getting out of the car.
I wanted to surprise Richard before he got back from the gym. I heard he went to the gym out of town. I wasn't going to prepare an elaborate meal, just something simple and sweet.
To say I wasn't nervous will be a big lie. I still didn't know how to put out this information to him. I don't know how he'll even take it.
"Hi Mateo." I smiled at him and he returned it briefly.
"Are you good?" He asked me, looking at me skeptically.
"Since when did you start caring about me this much, Mateo?" I laughed, patting his shoulder lightly before going inside.
Quickly, I brought out all the ingredients and began to cook. I was working with time so occasionally, I'll check the time to see if I was on track.
Just when I was cleaning my hands off breakfast, I heard the door open. I smiled at Richard when my eyes met his. He didn't look too happy to see me.
A hug would do, I thought.
"Why are you here?" He asked, startling me. His hands were partially on my back. It was barely touching me.
"Why am I here?" I raised my eyebrow at him inquisitively. "That's what you say to your girlfriend that you've not seen for a month?"
He forced a smile onto his lips. Something was wrong. "Sorry. Hi"
"I guess someone made you angry from the gym" I rolled my eyes, moving away from him. I wasn't going to let his attitude wreck my vibes today.
"I'll go freshen up. I can see that you prepared something nice" He pecked my temple before going.
"Okay, I'll be waiting" I smiled brightly, waving at him before running into the kitchen to arrange the food for serving.
Few minutes later, Richard was done bathing and was seated at the dinning table with me. I watched as he ate the food. He didn't utter any word of appreciation to me as he ate quietly.
"Are you good?" I asked, my eyes watching him closely.
"Is there a reason why I shouldn't be okay?" He raised his eyebrow at me.
"There. You're doing it again" I pointed at him.
"What am I doing?" He asked, dropping his cutleries.
"You certainly ain't good. Did someone make you mad outside here?" I asked again, losing my appetite.
"Thank you for the food" He stood up, ignoring my question.
I followed him, dumping my uneaten food. "You know I put in much love in preparing this, only for you to come in here and give me attitude."
"I guess we don't always get what we want?" He threw himself on the couch, looking at the blank TV screen.
"Tell me, what's the problem. Please" I sat close to him.
"You said you have something to tell me?" He sighed, looking at me.
"Yes, but I need you to be in a good mood at least" I scratched the back of my neck.
"I'm sorry, I'm just stressed. Tell me, please" He smiled at me, holding my hand.
That was the Richard I knew.
"Let me get something from my bag." I smiled, running to the island where I dumped my bag. When I got back, I handed him the envelope, smiling down at him.
"What's this?" He eyed the paper suspiciously.
"I don't know how you'll take the news but ..."
"You're pregnant?" He stood up, staring at me blankly.
I bit my lips, nodding my head slowly. "Yes. I'm carrying our baby" I smiled brightly at him.
Now that I said it out, it sounded so sweet.
The next word he said, made my stomach twist. "You must be joking"
My heart began to beat rapidly in my chest as I looked at his face. He looked like he didn't believe me.
Oh, I understand.
"No, hunnie. It's real" I laughed, stretching my hands to touch him.
"What do you think I am, Vanessa? You think I'm a fool?" He scoffed.
"A fool? I never called you a fool" I arched my eyebrow at him, confused.
"You think you can just fuck around with any man and pin that bastard of a child on me?" He scoffed, throwing the test results on me. "It won't work"
"Excuse you?"
"Wait here. I'll show you that you're not smart." Richard said, running towards the direction of the room.
"Richard?" I sat down, shaking my head.
Did he just call my child a bastard? That means he's denying the pregnancy?
Now, he's the ones joking.
"Take a look at your shameless self." He ripped open an envelope, aggressively shoving the pictures in my hand.
I picked up the picture, looking at them one by one. "These are pictures of my colleagues and I having a business meeting"
He scoffed. "Of course, you'd have something to say."
"This... This isn't me!" I shook my head at a picture of me half naked, laying beside a man who was half naked too.
"Liar! It's right in front of you so stop lying!" He screamed.
"This is bullshit. Whoever sent this for you ... Richard please, tell me you don't believe it" I stood up, holding his hands.
"I believe every picture" He scoffed, pushing my hands away.
"So what... What are you saying?" I stuttered, tearing clouding my vision.
"That you are a big fat liar and that bastard child is not mi-" I landed a hot slap across his cheek. I wouldn't let him say that to my face for the second time.
"Don't you dare." I warned, the tears slipping down my eyes. "I gave my body to you and you alone! How dare you accuse me of infidelity?"
His nose flared in anger as he glared at me through his lashes. "Oh please! Tell me how you're 1 month pregnant when I was away for work then? What, did my spirit do the impregnating?"
"What are you saying?" I screamed at him. "Have you forgotten that we had a dinner before you travelled?"
"That doesn't guarantee shit! Besides, I always use protection with you!" He screamed in my face.
"What if you didn't use, this time!" I screamed back at him.
He laughed, shaking his head. "You know the funniest shit, you might've thought you spent your night with me but YOU MAY HAVE FUCKED ANOTHER MAN!"
What?
"Stop... Don't blame me for cheating! I came out for you. I may not remember much about that night cos I was wasted but I know I spent it with you!" I poked his chest.
"I fucked Paula by mistake and you fucked someone else. Our cards were switched and we ended up in the wrong rooms!"
Paula.
"This is Paula's doing." I cried, my heart beating fast.
"Paula is also a victim in this. Stop blaming her for shit." He frowned at me. "Accept the fact that you fucked another man"
I raised my hand to land another slap on his face but he blocked it by holding my hand. "Let me go!"
"Here are the pictures from Lux Dinner." He chucked another picture in my hand. Even though my eyes were teary, I could see how intimate Paula and Richard looked.
"This is your plan, right?" I moved back. "You've been hooking up with her and this is how you want to introduce it to me, right?"
"Are you listening to yourself?" He asked, shaking his head
"Did you listen to yourself when you accused me of fucking another man. Oh GOD!" I cried, falling to the ground. "Please just end this, Richard. You're hurting me"
"Please just leave. I don't want anything to do with you" Richard said.
"You don't have the right to treat me..."
"Like a whore? Of course I do! The pictures are evidence of you whoring around!" He gripped on his hair hard.
"Enough!" I screamed, closing my ears. "It's enough"
"I hate this" Richard sat on his couch. "I hate that you've been lying to me all these while"
"Like you're one to talk. You know, I regret ever knowing you!" I spat, picking up my bag
"Yeah, whatever. It's not like I don't regret knowing you too. I'm happy I haven't engaged you yet because that would've been a slap to my face for being married or almost married to a whore who has had almost all her 'colleagues' dick in her vagina." He kept on slicing deep into my injury.
"Is this a wrong time?" Paula said, making her presence known. Since I was backing her, I quickly wiped off my tears, shuffling my bag for my sunshade.
I wasn't going to let her see me defeated. I brought out my phone texting Bryan to come over and Becca, to see me when she returned from work.
"What's your own problem this time?" Richard groaned. "Can't you both just leave me alone?"
"I'll have someone come pick my few belongings here" I said, shoving past Richard.
Before I could even reach the door, I heard Paula say, "I am pregnant for you, Richard."