The Billionaire's Bride and Her Lover's Baby

Her eyes opened slowly, vision blurred, unfocused, and hazy. She could picture a masculine face before her. She wasn't sure who it was, but his facial features were symmetrical, with a strong jawline and well-proportioned.

This is not the time to process information; she couldn't process anything.

"You are safe now", he murmured, pressing closer to her bed.

She struggled to keep her gaze steady and have a clearer vision.

She knew who he was, that voice!

Eden!

Her lip curled with a tiny smile. She knew he would always care; he was always there.

The thought of him being around lifted her mood; she felt excited, and her stomach rumbled.

The Baby...

She moved her hands slowly down her lower abdomen and under her breast and settled on her tummy. A surge of excitement ran through her.

This is my world! She exclaimed in her thought, and Eden is the father of my unborn child.

She allowed herself to be drowned in the urethra of the moment.

"Are you okay"? He interrupted, studying the sudden change in her body movement.

She studied his gaze for a while and immediately retrieved her hands from her stomach.

She wouldn't disclose the pregnancy to him yet, she thought, not this way. The situation was already too messy; telling him would worsen it.

Eden would fight for his child no matter what, and that would be messy. He will ruin everything. She would have to figure out the right way and time.

Eden is a resilient, self-aware, and emotionally intelligent young man, but he also possesses a dominating and assertive personality. He was fearless and would go to any length to reclaim what was his and what had been stolen; that was her belief.

" I'm okay, Eden", she replied, her voice weak but soft and distracting.

"You know you shouldn't be here, she teases him, if Brian comes in....

"Ish...." he stopped her from finishing the sentence, tipping his index finger between her lips.

"I can't imagine my life without you, Abigail, he murmured, inching nearer to her. She could feel his breath breezing down her lungs; his scent clouded her mind. It reminded her of how much she had missed him, and she wanted more of him. She closed her eyes as he moved closer, his lips brushing gently on hers, and she couldn't help but surrender to his gentle touch, allowing him to wrap her in a warm, tender kiss. Everything around her melted away, leaving only their sweet moments and the thrums of their heartbeats.

Eden threw his arm around her neck, gently supporting her as she lay on the bed, and their kiss deepened. As they went on, a rush of excitement filled the room, and thoughts of how they wanted more of each other filled their hearts.

Eden pulled her closely, moving his palms around her as if his life depended on it. He moved from her breast to her stomach, to her thigh, and just then, the door swung open.

It was a nurse.

"Good morning," Mrs Williams, the nurse, greeted hurriedly, her look showing disappointment.

"I'm, erm, good morning nurse", Abigail struggled to reply, feeling so embarrassed as she tried to arrange herself. Eden quickly steadied himself, his movement swift and fluid as he regained his composure. He was not ashamed; he was neutral, adjusting his clothes. His eyes met the nurse's, and he gave her a slight nod as a gesture of response to her greeting. She threw her face away, ignoring his nod.

She wouldn't acknowledge him, she thought to herself, not after what she had just seen. She was only here to attend to Mrs. Williams. And hadn't Mr. Williams just called the hospital, telling them to take good care of his wife? So who was he? She dismissed the thought; it wasn't her place to worry about it.

"I can see you are awake, ma'am," she stated rhetorically. Mr. Williams phoned to check in on you. he said his busy schedule won't allow him to visit the hospital today.

Abigail felt a sense of relief; she wasn't expecting him to come. He didn't care; he had never cared.

"Okay", she said with indifference, facing the nurse.

The nurse softly grasped Abigail's hands, "I need to take your vitals now, ma'am." She then turned to Eden and requested, "Sir, would you mind waiting outside while I attend to Mrs. Williams?

"Okay", he muttered, his eyes flickering back at Abigail. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, allowing her to focus on him. A thin smile formed on his face, a subtle curve of his lips that hinted at his love and commitment. They both stared at each other for a while, acknowledging the unspoken understanding between them. He suddenly broke the tension that was beginning to rise in the room as he stepped out into the hallway, leaving Abigail and the nurse alone.

As she watched the nurse take her vitals and administer fluid to her body, Abigail couldn't help but wonder what could be going on in the nurse's mind. What does the nurse think of her?

"A two-timing wife?"

She was nowhere near that!

She could never cheat on anyone, not on her husband! Her case was different, but the world would never understand. No one freaking cares!

She had to suffer the torture, the pain, the hate. For what exactly?

She could remember how happy and peaceful her life was before she became a Williams. She had dreamt of being the best bride to Eden, her man.

Her life was shaped by tough circumstances. Her father had gotten into lots of debt, and the Williams' wealth was the way out. But it meant giving up on her dreams.

She felt trapped. Like her life was no longer hers. Her father's mistake had become her problem, and she was paying the price. Her heart fell heavy, weighed down by the responsibility of fixing her family's financial mess.

She sighed silently as she wondered what her life would be like if she had a chance to make her own choices.

Happier, peaceful, and uncomplicated, she thought.

3 MONTHS EARLIER

Noah Oliver could barely feel at ease on his living room couch; the couch was dimly lit, with only a sliver of sunlight peeking through the curtains. The air was stale, and the upholstery creaked softly as he shifted his weight. The steady whir of the ceiling fan above created a soothing background hum, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing in his mind. The weight of his situation bears down on him, his mind racing with thoughts of what could have been done differently.

As Abigail entered the room, she noticed her father's distant expression, his eyes fixed on some unseen point. She walked over to the windows and drew the curtains open, allowing warm sunlight to flood the space.

"Dad, what's wrong? You've been sitting here for hours", she murmured as panic started to set in. She hadn't seen him in such a state before.

He turned to face her, forcing a smile, but his lips betrayed him.

"Nothing Abi", how long have you been here?

You can't fool me, Dad, I know something is bothering you", she said, walking closer to him.

"Nothing to worry about", he reaffirmed, drifting his gaze from her.

Of course, there is everything to worry about, Dad, she said angrily, but controlled. The rumours are all over the place....I overheard someone talking about you owing so much debt and something about bankruptcy on my way home... is it true?

Noah's gaze drifted back to her, and for a moment they just stared at each other in silence, then he sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Where did you hear that"?

Abigail's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why didn't you tell me, Dad? "Why did you hide such a thing from me"? I had to hear it from strangers. Is it true?

Noah nodded, feeling a mixture of guilt and frustration. He couldn't bear the thought of Abigail being entangled in his financial woes. The weight of Andrew Williams' proposal hung over him like a dark cloud. Marrying Abigail off to his son as a settlement for his debt. His mind recoiled at the idea of his daughter's future being bartered away. He wanted to shield her from the consequences of his actions, to protect her innocence and freedom.

The pain crawled into him effortlessly; he was going to tie his daughter to a life she didn't choose, and she wasn't even aware of it. The thought was unbearable.

"How can I help?" she said, sensing that he didn't have the strength to go into details. That hurt her even more; he was going through so much alone. She wanted to help, to do something.

Noah kept mute.

Frustrated that she couldn't get into his thoughts, she held his hands reassuringly, " Look, Dad, I'm done with my diploma, I will get a job and pay every debt you owe, all of it."

"You can't, Abi. It's a lot."

"Then let me try," she yelled, bursting out in pain. "I won't let you treat me like a bystander; we are in this together."

"I want to fix this with you," she murmured, feeling exhausted.

Noah stared blankly, his eyes unfocused as his thoughts churned. He struggled to find a way out of the darkness that seemed to be closing in around him.

The knock on the door broke the tense atmosphere. Noah's eyes met Abigail's, a flicker of surprise and perhaps a hint of unease crossing his face. His expression turned questioning, his gaze piercing as he wondered who could be visiting him at such a moment. Since his business collapsed, he had been restless. The thought of those he owed coming to mess him up was a constant fear.

"Are you expecting anyone?" He whispered with so much fear.

A surge of pain ran through Abigail's chest. Seeing her dad frustrated like this was unbearable.

No, she swallowed hard. I will get the door, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke.

She made her way to the door, her heart was a bit tense because of the confusion in her father's eyes.

She paused at the door, exhaled before opening. As she opened the door, her eyes caught sight of the familiar figure standing on the porch.

Eden.

His eyes were warm and gentle, but cringed with concern as he looked at her worried face.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes searching hers.

"I didn't know you were coming. Let's talk inside," she said, gesturing for him to follow.

Eden entered the living room, sensing the tense atmosphere.

"Dad, it's Eden, Abigail announced.

Noah sighed in relief but didn't acknowledge him.

Good evening, Sir, Eden greeted, criss-crossing his hands behind his back and bowing slightly as a sign of respect.

Noah gave him a nod and remained seated. His expression was neutral.

An awkward silence filled the air, coupled with unspoken tension. Noah turned towards the window, a mix of emotions swirling beneath the surface. Eden was like a son, and he had thought one day, he would perhaps be his son-in-law. He could see how much they loved each other, and he trusted Abigail with Eden.

But not anymore... Eden being around now would complicate his daughters' lives even more.

The Williams were his antidote, the solution, his hope. They are very influential; they get whatever they want and frustrate whoever is in their way. He couldn't risk it. He couldn't risk losing everything! Not his house, the only asset he had left was inherited from his great-grandfather. That was a generational asset, one he must preserve.

Noah stood up, his movements stiff with tension, "Excuse me, guys," he muttered, leaving the living room.

As he exited the room, the silence grew thicker. Eden's eyes followed Noah, sensing the complexity of emotions that drove him away.

He turned to look at Abigail, filled with concern. "Is everything okay?" his voice was gentle.

Abigail's gaze met his, her voice barely above a whisper,

"I don't know Eden, he wouldn't talk to me, his business his struggling and it's taken a toll on him."

Eden's expression softened, and he leaned in slightly, "I'm sorry to hear that, honey, what's going on with the business?"

Abigail sighed, her shoulders sagging, "I'm not entirely sure, Eden, he wouldn't tell me the details, but I can see the weight of it all bearing down on him. She couldn't withhold the tears running down her cheeks as she spoke.

Eden immediately grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug, pulling her close. "It's okay, honey, everything will be fine."

Really? How? She questioned calmly under his embrace. "Things had never gotten this bad, I had never seen my Dad broken and withdrawn...he was going through so much and I couldn't help, I didn't even know. She lost control of her emotions and allowed herself to sob quietly in Eden's arms.

Eden held her tight, trying to pacify her, " I'm in this with you, Abi."

She pulled herself from his arm and stared directly into his eyes.

"You are?"

He nodded. "Yes, baby."

Her eyes met his with gratitude in their depths. "Thank you, Eden, that means a lot to me," and she meant it. He pulled her to himself again in a warm embrace. The warmth of his body enveloped her, and she felt a sense of comfort wash over her. She hugged him too and allowed the tension in the air to dissipate, replaced by the warmth of their bodies.

Eden gently combed his fingers through her hair, sending a spark of electricity that ran through her body, directing shivers down her spine. She felt the soothing sensation, and it helped her calm her frazzled nerves.

Why don't we hang out tonight? He whispered, his voice low and hypnotic, sending a shiver down her spine.

The words hung in the air for a moment.

Abigail's heart skipped. "Now? I can't! The words slipped without her processing them.

"Baby, I know you are not in the right state, but I think it's even better for you. It will help you lighten your mood, and perhaps we could brainstorm on ways to help out repay your father's loan and secure his business," he knew the right words to say to Abigail.

Abigail kept silent for a moment, taking time to think over his words.

Was it right to go out with Eden, considering her father's current struggles? Would it be selfish of her to hang out while her dad was drenched in pain?

But on a second thought, why not?

Eden had told her their meeting was to brainstorm on ways to revive her father's business, and that was all she wanted to do.

"Okay," she said finally.

"Great," Eden replied swiftly, leaving no room for her to reconsider. "I'll wait while you get dressed."

Abigail nodded and excused herself to her room.

As she made her way to her room, she peeked into her father's room to check on him. His gentle snores reached her before she caught sight of him; he was fast asleep. She quickly stepped back and tiptoed into her room.

She browsed through her wardrobe, seeking a casual outfit. She settled on a sundress with understated accessories, perfectly reflecting her mood: calm, yet polished. She styled her hair in loose waves, added a light touch of makeup, and slipped into a comfortable pair of sandals.

She skipped checking herself in the mirror; she simply left the room and hurriedly joined Eden in the living room.

When Eden saw her, he was captivated by her effortless elegance.

"Wow, you look stunning," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

"Thanks, Eden," Abigail's cheeks flushed slightly.

Eden rose from the couch, a charming smile spreading across his face. "Ready?" he asked, offering his arm.

Abigail took it, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, let's go."

He escorted her to his modest sedan, a practical vehicle that suited his humble lifestyle as a 9-to-5 worker. He opened the passenger's door, inviting her to settle in, and walked around to the driver's side. He turned the key in the ignition with a smooth, practiced motion, and the engine purred to life. He shifted into gear, and the car glided away from the curb, merging seamlessly into the evening traffic.

Abigail was surprised to see that the location was a quiet seaside. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the waves.

The atmosphere was peaceful and serene, with the sound of the waves gently lapping at the shore. It was a spot where lovers and couples often came to enjoy a romantic evening, but it also felt like a great place for a casual dinner and conversation.

They walked towards a secluded thatched hut, nestled among the palm trees. The hut was one of several scattered along the beach, each one situated about a mile apart. The structures were designed to accommodate only two people, making them the perfect retreat for couples seeking solitude and romance.

Eden led her into the hut, and they sat down quietly on the neatly arranged mats, which were adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

Abigail's thoughts turned to Eden, wondering if he had intentionally chosen this location. She glanced at him, trying to read his expression, but his face was neutral. The surroundings seemed to be at odds with the purpose of their meeting, leaving her feeling slightly uncertain about how the evening would unfold.

"Eden," Abigail called softly, breaking the silence.

"Yes, baby?" Eden replied, moving closer to her.

Abigail maintained her distance, wary of being swept away by his charm. "Do you think we can work something out?" she asked, steadying her gaze on him.

"Work it out?" he replied ignorantly, before quickly recalling their earlier conversation. "Oh, yeah, sure," he said, attempting to sound convincing.

Abigail swallowed hard, her eyes locked on his. "Do you have a plan?"

Eden's thoughts whirled in a frantic search for ideas. "Yeah, I do," he said, avoiding eye contact. "I'm looking into getting you hired at my workplace; I'll discuss it with my supervisor tomorrow to check for an opening."

Abigail's eyes sparkled with hope. "Really?" You'd do that for me?"

"For us, Abi," he replied assertively. "Once your job is secured, we will start paying the debt together," he assured.

Abigail's face lit up. "You're joining me to pay off the debt?"

"Yes, baby." He nodded, Anything for you."

"This means a lot to me," she wept, as she flung herself into his arms, pressing her face into his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her hair with his fingers.

This was it -the perfect moment he'd been planning. He'd carefully chosen this secluded spot for its romantic vibe, hoping to create an unforgettable experience with Abigail. But when he arrived at her house, the tension was palpable. Still, he'd manage to persuade her to join him, and now was his opportunity.

He knew Abigail had a soft spot for him, and he knew exactly how to influence her to do what he wanted, because she was deeply in love with him.

"Abi, I know this isn't the best time," he said, subduing her with his gaze.

Best time for what? She turned to face him, searching for a clue, but he was unreadable.

He took a deep breath and squeezed her hands gently,

"This fight with your Dad's company..."

"Yeah?"

"I want to face it with you."

Abigail's face glowed with gratitude. "Oh, Eden, you've said so before, am so lucky to have you, I can't thank you enough."

Eden held her firmly, allowing her to feel the impact of his grip, while he held her spellbound with his gaze, his eyes locked onto hers. "Yes, baby, but I want us to face it together, as a family. I want us to get married."

Get married? She repeated, her eyes widened with surprise.

"Yes, baby, I want to be with you in your trying days, to love and protect you. To cry and laugh with, I want to raise a family with you and build a home with you."

Abigail stared deeper into his eyes, her expression reflected a mixture of shock, excitement, and vulnerability. She couldn't believe this was happening.

Eden was proposing to her...

The only thing missing was a ring. An engagement ring. But it doesn't matter; she loved him, and his words were perfect; he was perfect for her.

She tried to say something, but she couldn't move her lips; her eyes just kept searching his face as if trying to process the sudden revelation.