Chapter 101

Chapter 101
When Trey arrived home, it was a few minutes past 2 am.
As he stepped into the dimly lit living room, he noticed a figure perched at his bar.
He made his way over and settled into a chair beside the figure and inquired,
"What's keeping you up at this hour?"
Trey couldn't shake the foreboding feeling, as his mind raced with reasons for Antonio's unexpected wait.
Could it be related to his refusal to let Martina take the kids with her? Was Antonio planning to persuade him to change his mind and take the kids away himself?
These thoughts consumed him as he tried to make sense of the situation.
"I stayed up to talk to you," Antonio revealed. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm concerned about you and Martina. I thought everything was settled between you two?" Antonio inquired.
"I thought the same until I woke up and found out she was planning to leave while I slept. I didn't want to stay here when she would leave; I didn't know what I might do."
Trey ran his hand through his hair, a look of frustration on his face as he spoke.
"Martina hasn't left; she's sleeping now. She was running after you. I had to stop her. You didn't notice since you were far away," Antonio explained.
"What?" Trey said, surprised.
"Yes, and she kept crying. My wife and I had to stay by her side until she finally fell asleep. She said she pushed you away," Antonio continued.
"Why was she chasing after me? She told me she wanted to be far away from me, so why was she crying? I don't understand why she's acting like that. She's confusing me. I'm trying to be understanding, but she said she wanted to leave, so I decided not to stop her. Maybe she needed a break from me, I thought. Maybe I was forcing her to reciprocate my love," Trey said.
 "Let me make one thing clear. When I learned Lisa was Martina, I proposed to her, but she turned me down. She confessed that she was still in love with you, and I believe she still is. That's why she ran after you earlier; she loves you," Antonio stated.
"So why is she being difficult?" Trey asked, confused. 
"Perhaps there's something else going on. My wife exhibited similar behavior when she became pregnant with Michelle. She distanced herself from me and stayed at Martina's mansion for weeks. When I visited her, she would be affectionate towards me, but when I suggested taking her back home, she would change completely. It was later that I learned from Martina that she was feeling insecure. Her insecurities, combined with pregnancy hormones, were causing her to act that way because I hadn't married her yet. To make her feel better, I married her in grand style, and it worked. Her love for me was rekindled, but not her cravings and demands," Antonio explained.
"To sum it up, maybe Martina is expecting."
Trey's eyes widened at the news, but then he doubted it. After Martina's treatment, they had only been intimate a week ago, and following that, it seemed unlikely for her to be pregnant.
"I doubt it," Trey said with an uncertain expression.
“…” 
Antonio looked at him with a raised brow before replying, 
"Okay, if you are sure, I will go and be with my wife now." He stood up and patted Trey on the shoulder, then left. 
…~…
After spending a few minutes alone collecting his thoughts, Trey rose from his seat and made his way to the bedroom.
As he walked, he couldn't shake the thought that Martina might be pregnant.
Mixed emotions swirled inside him—happiness, but also uncertainty. He couldn't help but wonder about the potential challenges they might face until the baby arrived with Martina's behavior. 
Lost in contemplation, he reached the bedroom door and paused for a moment before gently turning the knob and stepping inside, ready for what the future might hold if it turned out to be true.
He's got to admit, he loved the idea of being a father to another child.
The room was enveloped in darkness when he entered. He quietly made his way inside, careful not to disturb Martina's slumber.
He proceeded to the bathroom, where he diligently brushed his teeth to cleanse himself of any lingering traces of alcohol.
Afterward, he took a soothing shower before returning to the room.
Upon returning to the room, he silently approached the bed and slid under the blanket, joining Martina in bed. 
As he reached out to pull her close, he noticed her body trembling, betraying her silent sobs.
Gently, he turned her to face him, only to be taken aback by the sight of tears streaming down her face. 
He realized Martina had not been asleep all along, her eyes wide open and filled with sorrow.
"Jade?" Trey said, sitting up. He turned on the bedside lamp and pulled Martina into his embrace, kissing her forehead. "Why are you not asleep, and why are you crying?" He asked, pulling away and wiping away her tears before cradling her face and looking into her bright eyes.
"Because I feel you don't love me anymore. You left me," Martina replied.
"Jade, I love you, and I never want to leave you. When you said you wanted to leave, I didn't want to force you to stay with me," Trey explained.
"I don't want to leave you, Trey. I just felt like I needed some space, but I don't feel that way anymore."
"Jade, what did the doctor tell you when you visited the hospital?" Trey questioned.
"She said I'm fine and gave me some contraceptives," Martina recounted her conversation with the doctor to Trey. "She also asked if I didn't break her precautions."
Trey was puzzled.
"What precautions?" he asked.
"She asked me not to engage in any intimacy before visiting the hospital," Martina disclosed.
Trey already had a feeling about what Martina's response was going to be judging by her expression, but he asked anyway.
"So what did you tell her?"
"I lied, of course," she admitted. "I didn't want her to think I couldn't abstain from sex for only 2 weeks when I was able to abstain from sex for six years."
Trey smiled, nodding in understanding, but his concern was evident as he inquired,
"Where is the contraceptive? You haven't taken it yet, right?" Trey asked, and she answered.
“It's in the nightstand drawer, and no, I haven't started taking it yet. But why are you asking me all these questions when you should be worried about me?" she asked angrily.
"Of course I'm worried about you. I think it would be a good idea for you to see a doctor for a check-up. I will take you to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up; I think you might be pregnant."
Martina looked at Trey with a stunned expression and said, 
"What?" 
"Why? Don't you want to have another child?”
"Yes, I don't. I don't want to go through that pain all over again. No way."
"I'm not sure if you are pregnant yet, but I want you to know that I will be with you every step of the way. I look forward to seeing how beautiful you looked when you were pregnant with our twins back then, and I can't wait to hold a little baby in my arms. Please don't deny me that.” Trey said, laughing heartily as he wrapped his arms around her. 
“After the check-up tomorrow, can we discuss trying for a baby if it's confirmed you are not pregnant? I promise I won't ask for another child after that. I would be happy with 3 children."
Martina smiled and nodded in agreement.
“Are you still in pain? Your back?” she asked, and Trey nodded.
“I was in pain, but with you here, by my side, it's better. I love you so much, Jade. Never forget it.”
“I love you too, Trey.” Trey nodded and sealed her lips, kissing her deeply.
After they go to bed in each other's arms.
\~~~
The following day at the hospital, Martina and Trey were seated in the reception seat as the doctor went over the test results with them. 
"I regret to inform you that the test result is negative," the doctor began. "However, there is a possibility that she is pregnant since she is showing signs of pregnancy, but the machines are unable to detect the pregnancy at this early stage. I will need to take another sample in three weeks. If she's pregnant, the result will be positive then."
Trey nodded in understanding and turned to Martina, who sat beside him with her hands gently resting on her stomach with a pensive expression.
"Are you okay?" Trey asked with concern.
Martina managed a smile and replied, 
"I'm fine. It's just that after our conversation yesterday, I was really hoping for..."
Trey interrupted her, tenderly cupping her cheek, and spoke to her in a soft tone.
"You heard what the doctor said. The test may not have proven it, but your mood swings, cravings, and other signs are indications that you may be pregnant.”
Placing his hand over Martina's hand, which was still resting on her stomach, he added,
“Inside you, the seed of our love is growing into another life. We are going to be parents to another child. A little you."
Trey's words brought a smile to Martina's face, and she nodded in agreement with the hope and joy of the moment.