Chapter 4 Divorce

Ariana was caught off guard by Theodore's suggestion of aborting the baby, leaving her stunned for several moments.

Darian nearly blew his top. "What in the world are you talking about? That's our family's future!"

"The family has plenty of future. This one isn't essential. If you're dead set on keeping it, I have means to ensure it never sees the light of day!" Theodore's words struck Ariana like a sledgehammer, filling her with uneasy panic.

"You bastard!" Darian spat angrily, pointing a shaking finger at Theodore. "How dare you say that! Do you even recognize me as your father?"

Theodore sneered. "Father? Darian, do you have what it takes to be one?"

With a crash, Darian knocked over the glass lamp on the bedside table.

Ariana stepped back quickly, fearing she could get hurt.

The tempers of the three Anderson men were like a powder keg!

Facing Darian's boiling rage, Theodore didn't flinch, as if he'd seen it all before. He casually picked up a glass of water nearby and took a sip.

The standoff continued. Eventually, Darian softened his tone and backed down. "It's no use arguing now. Ariana just had the procedure today. We'll have to wait a month for the check-up to confirm the pregnancy. In the meantime, you two can work things out. Maybe by then, you'll want this child. Let's talk about divorce one month later."

With his last sentence, Darian emphasized his words, shooting a sharp look at Theodore.

Theodore sneered, not about to respond. Even with his illness, his presence was as formidable as Darian's, if not more.

"Think about it!" Darian said, losing interest in the argument and storming out in a fit of anger.

Ariana awkwardly stood by, debating whether to say something to ease the tension.

After all, she and Theodore were married, and she could be carrying his child. If they could at least keep things civil, it wouldn't be so bad.

After some thought, she realized Theodore was in a pitiful state, disabled at such a young age and with a bad temper.

Ariana decided to try to mend their relationship, taking care of him more in hopes of gaining favor. Perhaps it could even speed up her revenge plan.

She took a few steps forward, standing by the bedside, nervously gazing at Theodore's face.

"Um... Theodore, I'm Ariana Edwards, your wife..."

But under Theodore's icy stare, Ariana's voice faltered as she introduced herself. She could be his wife by law, but Theodore refuted it outright.

Before she could utter another word, Theodore seized her wrist and drew her into his embrace.

A chilling yet oddly enticing breath escaped Theodore's nostrils, his closeness palpable.

Ariana was momentarily taken aback, attempting to extricate herself, only to find his grip around her neck unyielding.

A sense of imminent peril gripped Ariana, her heart racing with fear.

"Do you even deserve to bear the title of my wife? Such matters are not for the faint-hearted in my world!" Theodore's voice dripped with disdain as he murmured into Ariana's ear, "You seem terrified of me. Is it because you've been up to mischief behind my back?"

His eyes bore into Ariana's, his fingers leisurely playing with the collar of her shirt, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

Ariana trembled, her senses on high alert. It was a seemingly innocuous gesture, yet it left her feeling utterly chilled.

She dared not even draw a deep breath, her body trembling as she replied, "No..."

Theodore chuckled softly, akin to a predator toying with its prey.

The reverberations of his laughter only served to intensify Ariana's fear, her mind spiraling.

What did he imply?

Suddenly, she felt Theodore's grasp around her neck tighten incrementally, as though he intended to throttle her then and there.

A pallor of fear washed over Ariana's face, the air growing thin in her lungs, tears welling in her eyes.

His grip around her neck felt akin to an unbreakable shackle, as though it would only relent once its mark was indelibly imprinted.

At that moment, Theodore's voice cut through the silence, cold and menacing. "Last night, I caught a glimpse of you cozying up to Jasper right under my nose. Was that satisfactory and exciting?"

With a sudden surge of force, Theodore tightened his hold on Ariana's neck, the air in her nostrils seeming to deplete in an instant. Like a trapped prey, Ariana found herself devoid of even a sliver of opportunity to resist.

Ariana was startled to learn that Theodore had woken up the previous night and seen Jasper approaching her on their wedding night!