Chapter 6 You're Talking Too Much

As William burst into the living room, Renee clutched tightly in his arms, he barked out an order to the maid. "Get Dr. Newton on the phone, now."

The maid, clearly shaken, fumbled with the phone as her voice quivered. "What's the matter, sir? Is Mrs. Mitchell ill?"

Renee, equally confused and slightly disheveled from the abrupt entrance, demanded, "William, what the heck are you doing?"

Ignoring her, William dropped her carelessly onto the plush sofa, struck a match, and lit a cigarette. He inhaled deeply, the smoke wreathing around his head as his piercing eyes fixed on her. "You're due for a check-up," he stated flatly.

"A check-up for what?" Renee's voice rose, a mix of anger and bewilderment coloring her tone.

William's eyes narrowed into slits, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Why else would you sneak off to the hospital so early in the morning?"

She blinked, taken aback by his mention of the hospital, and rolled her eyes in frustration. "Oh, to catch you red-handed with her, of course," she retorted sharply, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The room tensed as her simmering anger reignited. Staring him down, she accused him. "William, we agreed to maintain our facade while leading separate lives. And now Sylvia's pregnant? What if people find out? How utterly disgraceful for me and my family!"

William, seemingly unfazed, continued to draw on his cigarette, his gaze never wavering.

After a moment, he crushed the butt between his fingers and dropped it into the ashtray. "Don't worry. I'll handle it," he muttered.

He didn't deny the paternity of Sylvia's child, his silence hanging heavy in the air between them.

Renee had clung to a thin thread of hope that William wasn't the father, but deep down, she knew she was deceiving herself.

Her voice was steady, betraying none of the turmoil within as she confronted him. "If you insist on keeping her child, then I can't stay. I want a divorce."

Her eyes blazed with the same fierce determination that had driven her relentless pursuit of him over those five years.

William met her gaze, and the resolute look in her eyes told him she was serious-she was truly prepared to end their marriage.

His response was dispassionate, almost detached. "I see."

Now, bereft of any lingering affection for William, Renee felt a desperate need to sever all ties.

That evening, as soon as William stepped out, she hastily dialed Ryland's number.

Ryland answered with his usual dramatic flair. "Oh, darling, tell me! Did you get him?"

Brushing off the topic, she stated flatly, "Call that escort from last night. I need to meet him at our regular spot. I'm set on getting pregnant tonight. It's not like it's rocket science."

Ryland gasped, his voice climbing an octave in a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "Are you serious? You want to get back at William this way? But isn't having a random man's child taking it a bit too far?"

"Why would I get back at him? Motherhood just suddenly seems intriguing and all I want now is to have children-octuplets, to be precise."

Renee's declaration was so bizarre, Ryland couldn't help but burst into uproarious laughter, convinced she was messing with him. Yet, much to his astonishment, Renee actually turned up at the bar later that evening.

Ryland was there, arms linked with two burly men who perfectly matched his usual tastes.

As he glanced up, he caught sight of Renee, clad in simple attire, her face free of makeup. Her natural beauty shone through, giving her an effortless charm seldom seen on others.

"Where's the guy?" Renee asked, cutting straight to the chase.

With a dismissive gesture, Ryland sent the two muscular men on their way and offered Renee a cigarette, his smile dripping with flattery.

"You're serious about this? I thought you were just kidding around."

Taking the cigarette, Renee rolled her eyes in exasperation. "What makes you think I'm kidding?"

Ryland scoffed, his voice dripping with disbelief, "You never seemed serious before. Everyone assumes you surrounds yourself with gigolos, but none of them realize you've never actually been with any of them. I have to wonder-is that some kind of weird kink of yours, or are you just putting on a performance for William?"

Renee exhaled a thick plume of smoke, her gaze piercing as she replied, "Why would I do that? I just don't want him to think it has to be him."

"So what's stopping you from having some fun with others?"

"You're really talking too much, Ryland. Now stop wasting my time; bring that man from last night here. Immediately!" Frustration bubbling over, Renee delivered a swift kick to Ryland's butt.

He winced sharply, the pain flashing across his face, yet he hurried to make the phone call.

Shortly thereafter, the male escort walked into the bar, his attire a striking camouflage. Both Ryland and Renee gaped in astonishment.

"F-fuck! William?" Ryland stammered, his voice laced with disbelief.

Approaching with a calm dignity, the male escort nodded courteously. "Ms. Carter, Mr. Flynn." He greeted them, his voice smooth and respectful.

Ryland, unable to contain his surprise, nudged Renee playfully, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Is this why you chose him? He's the spitting image of William!"

Caught off guard, Renee blinked, her thoughts scrambling. She hadn't seen the resemblance the previous night, simply struck by a fleeting, favorable impression. But today, with his shorter, crisply styled hair and the military-themed outfit, the likeness to William was uncanny.

"What's your name?" she managed to ask, her voice a soft murmur.

"I'm Michael Swain. Please, call me Michael; and can I call you Nene?" he replied, his choice of the pet name sending an unexpected shiver through her.

Renee's heart fluttered, echoes of intimacy resonating with the name "Nene"-a name William had used in their intimate moments, but never in the cold light of day.

Michael's casual use of it felt like a deliberate tease, or perhaps an accidental allure. Staring into his face, so reminiscent of William's, she felt a mix of nostalgia and new interest stirring within her.

With a slight tremor in her voice, she declared, "You're with me from now on."