Chapter 5 HEARTBROKEN

CRISTINA'S POINT OF VIEW

After he left me in the car, I let the tears that had been brewing in my eyes roll down. I sniffed continuously while trying to stop its incessant flow. The ache in my heart was almost unbearable.

The fact that he had denied or accepted that he married me because he wanted an heir left me clueless and heartbroken. But deep down, I knew I won't be able to bear the heartbeat if he finally told me the truth to my face.

I hurriedly wiped my tears with the back of my hands when I realized the driver was giving me pitiful stares through the rearview mirror. I yanked the car door open and got out. With Jnr settled comfortably in my arms, I took in the sight of the spacious compound that was my home.

Nothing had changed, save for the new species of flowers that were now blooming around. Alexandro's love for those colorful and sweet-smelling plants was out of the world.

Sucking in air, I walked into the house. The shocked expression on the faces of the staff when they saw I and Jnr was priceless. I know, right? The fugitive wife was back, and with a baby. The wonder of the century.

"What are you all mopping at? Take the baby from her!" I heard a familiar voice order. On turning, I saw Eliza, the head of the housekeepers, walking towards me.

Instinctively, my grip on Jnr tightened. What does she mean by her order? Had Alexandro asked them to take my baby from me?

I was lost in thought until she tapped my shoulders lightly. "It's good to see you back, my lady. I will lead you to your room now," she said, smiling. At the same time, one of the housekeepers, a face I have not seen before, stretched her hands to take Jnr but I ignored the gesture.

"Don't worry, he has a phobia for strangers," I said, and as if on cue, Jnr quickly threw his face away and snuggled closer into my arms.

"Oh, that's right. He is in a new environment," Eliza said, stroking his hair. I found the gesture cringy and wished I could ask her to stop. "I will lead you to your room now," she sat and led the way.

I heaved a sigh of relief and followed her. I was surprised when she took the hallway that led to the wing in which Alexandro's bedroom is located.

"I think you are making a mistake, Eliza. My room is located on the other wing," I said, halting.

She turned to offer me a small smile. "I know. Your husband asked that you be moved to the room interconnected to his. Your son's nursery is in this wing too," she replied.

My mouth fell open at her words. I will be sharing a room that is demarcated by just a door with Alexandro? Why? Before I fled to France, we never shared a room or stayed in the same wing of the building, so why the sudden change of mind? What was Alexandro up to?

"This is your son's nursery. Wait until you get inside and see how heavenly it looks. Your husband employed the service of a home interior designer and shopped for all the toys himself," Eliza explained, as we got to a door.

He did all that? Even before he found us? Isn't he full of surprises? I opened the door and gasped at its look. It must have cost a reasonable amount of money to get the room to look the way it did. The well carved wooden baby cot screamed wealth and perfection. And for the first time since my trip to France, I felt guilty.

Even before meeting his son or even knowing his gender, he had gotten a place ready for him. He had been optimistic about finding us. Who knows the efforts he must have put in to find us.

I was beginning to feel sick by the sudden growth of guilt from the depth of my stomach. I turned to Eliza and said in a low tone, "can you lead me to my room now?"

"Oh, yes. Come on,"

I followed her out of the nursery, and she led me further down the hallway. She stopped in front of a large door and pushed it open to reveal a beautiful and well furnished bedroom.

"This is your room, my lady. Everything you need has been made available," turning to point at the intercom on the table, Eliza continued. "If you require anything, don't hesitate to ring the housekeepers and your needs will be met. Once again, welcome home," she gave a slight now.

"Thank you," I replied, and walked over to the bed to lay Jnr.

No sooner had she left than a knock sounded on the door. I walked over to it and opened it to find a young lady in a uniform.

"Good day, my lady. My name is Anabella, and I am your son's nanny," she sat, her words laced heavily with an Italian accent.

Barely an hour after our arrival, Alexandro had already employed a nanny? Or, had he employed her before our arrival? Was he in such a hurry to strip me off my motherly duties to Jnr?

"Ohh, okay," I finally said, at a loss on what to say.

"I presume that's him on the bed," Anabella said, peeking into the room to look at Jnr on the bed. "You just arrived from a trip and will be needing a cool bath and food too. Your son is not an exception. So, while you take care of yourself, why don't I take care of him as his nanny? Give him a bath, change his diaper..."

"That's right," I said, cutting her short. "I will fetch him," I added, and sauntered to the bed. I picked up Jnr and walked back to the door.

"What a lovely baby he is," she said, taking him from me. I felt empty when he left my arms and almost demanded that she handed him back to me. Instead, I said, "You can go on and do your job."

She nodded, inclined her head in a farewell gesture before walking away. I slammed the door shut and walked back to the room. I was in no mood for a tour, so I gently stripped off my clothes and walked to the bathroom.

After a cool bath, I walked to the closet. It was filled with all manners of clothes that I had a hard time making a choice. I finally settled for a black chinos short and beige polo. I loosened my hair from its braids and combed it into soft curls.

Done, I walked out of the room searching for my son. I got to the nursery and found the door open, and on getting to the doorway, I was shocked at the sight before me.

Alexandro was in a compromising position with Marianne. The hell? What was she doing here?

"What's going on here?" I asked, and they quickly let go of each other.

"Exactly what you saw," Marianne said and walked out.

"Are you sleeping with her?" I asked and walked into the nursery fully.

"Shut the fuck up!" He snapped.

"Of all places, in your son's nursery? Where is your shame, Alexandro?"

"I said fucking shut up!"

"No, I won't. You make it seem like I committed a hideous crime by not letting you know about Jnr's pregnancy and his birth, but you have been doing worse yourself. How can you be screwing your ex even after you got married?"

I must have upset him because he gripped me and I bumped into his chest forcefully.

"I said, fucking shut up! When I give an order, you follow it. If I say jump, your reply should be, 'how high?' You don't talk back."

"No, I won't!"

"Then you leave me with no other option," he said, and all of a sudden, his lip was on mine.

I stiffened. The kiss was really different from the way he used to kiss me. He kissed me with so much love and care in the past, but with this kiss, I felt like my mouth was a dumping site for his frustration.

Despite how tough it was, I shamefully felt my womanhood engorging as I went wet. Several months apart and my body still reacted to him like it used to.

Get a grip on yourself, Cristina!

Fortunately, Jnr's cry rescued me. We quickly pulled apart and walked over to his cot to pick him up. As I leaned over to carry him, I heard Alexandro's voice.

"Look, I'm sorry. I promise not to touch you again," and with that, he was gone from the room.