When Love Hurts

"Congratulations, ma'am. You are six weeks pregnant!" said the smiling doctor as he handed me the pregnancy test result.

My hands shook as I held the piece of paper and looked at the words I could make out on it. I had only slept with him once. How could I get pregnant?

What should I do now?

If I told Elliott about this, would he be happy and continue with the marriage because of the baby?

Of course not! The Elliott I knew would most likely accuse me of trying to trap him with a baby. He was definitely not going to change his mind about divorce.

Sadness and confusion beclouded me. I stuffed the report in my bag and left the hospital.

There was a shiny black Maybach parked outside the hospital building. The window was partially open. The handsome and cold face of the man in the driver's seat was visible for all to see.

As always, this man commanded attention because of his attractiveness. Some women-old and young, even swooned over him as they went about their affairs.

This man was none other than Elliott Crawford, the man responsible for my pregnancy. He was rich and handsome. If there was anyone who knew best how charming he was, that would be me. I had gotten used to this scene after so many years. Turning a blind eye to the women who were winking at him, I got in the passenger seat.

Elliott, who had been resting with his eyes closed, frowned slightly. Without opening his eyes, he asked in a low voice, "Are you done?"

"Yeah." I nodded and held out the contract signed by the director of the hospital. "Mr. Kershaw sends his greetings."

It was initially planned that I came here alone to get the contract signed. But I met Elliott on the way. To my surprise, he gave me a ride without me asking.

"You are responsible for this project from now on." Elliott wasn't a man of many words. But whenever he spoke, his words were authoritative, leaving no room for argument or suggestions. He started the engine, showing no intention of taking the contract.

I nodded awkwardly and withdrew my hand.

Silence was my watchword whenever I was with Elliott. It had taken me Herculean effort to get used to it. With time, I became very obedient as I worked for him.

Elliott didn't drive back to the villa. Instead, he drove downtown. It was already evening. Where was he taking me? Although I was curious, I didn't dare to question him. I remained silent like I always had whenever he did something out of the ordinary.

When my mind went to the pregnancy test result in my bag, I felt a boulder settle in my gut. I didn't know how to break the news to him. I stole a glance at him and saw that his cold eyes were fixed on the road.

"Elliott..." I finally broke the silence as my hands which were holding my bag became sweaty. Beads of sweat appeared on my head and also went down my back.

"Spill!" Elliott commanded coldly, already sensing that I had something to say.

It wasn't surprising at all that he was this way. He had always treated me like this. Although it upset me when we first met, I gradually got used to it. I took a deep breath and muttered, "I am..." The words I wanted to say were simple.

It was only three words. However, his phone rang out of the blue, causing me to shut up and continue fidgeting.

"What's up, Olivia?"

Some people were capable of loving just one person in their lifetime. They gave this special person all their love while treating every other individual like trash.

Elliott was one of such persons. His tenderness was only for Olivia Tucker. I could tell just from the way he spoke to her.

I didn't know what Olivia said to Elliott, but he suddenly hit the brakes and said comfortingly, "Don't cry, okay? I'll be there soon. Just stay at home and wait for me."

The moment he ended the call, his face turned cold and stern as if he flipped a switch. He looked at me and uttered, "Get off!"

It was an order without any room for negotiation.

This was not the first time he left me by the roadside. I nodded, swallowed all the words, and got off before he could repeat himself.

My marriage to Elliott was an accident and also a destiny, but it had nothing to do with love. The woman Elliott loved was Olivia. I was just a woman who stood in his way of love; someone he couldn't wait to throw away once he got the chance.

Two years ago, Elliott's grandfather, Lorenzo Crawford, suffered from myocardial infarction. As he lay on his sick bed, he ordered his grandson to marry me. Elliott didn't want to. However, he had no choice. Our marriage was hell from day one. He treated me as if I didn't exist. Now that Lorenzo had passed away, he couldn't wait to divorce me.

It was already dark by the time I returned to the villa. This big and empty house always gave me chills. I couldn't stop thinking of it as one of the haunted houses they showed in horror movies. I had no appetite. Perhaps it was because of the pregnancy. I just took a shower and went to bed.

I was just about to doze off when I heard the vague sound of a car parking in the front yard.

Was Elliott back?

Wasn't he staying the night with his beloved Olivia?

Lying still under the covers, I held my breath in waiting. The bedroom door soon opened and Elliott walked in all wet. He made a beeline for the bathroom without looking at me. The pattering sound of water came a few seconds later.

Now, I was wide awake. I got up and put on a sleep shirt over my silk nightdress. Afterward, I took out Elliott's pajamas and put them on the cabinet beside the bathroom door. Then I went to the balcony.

It was rainy season. The rain started with a drizzle. Now, the sound of heavy raindrops hitting the closed windows and walls could be heard. I watched as a tree swayed as if it was dancing.

Suddenly, I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and saw Elliott walking out with a bath towel wrapped around his waist. Droplets of water dripped from his hair to his body. His hard chest and chiseled abs were shiny now. He looked like a Greek god. I couldn't take my eyes off him.

When Elliott noticed that I was staring at him, he looked at me with a frown. "Come here." His tone was emotionless.

I walked to him obediently. He threw a small towel at me and commanded in a low voice, "Dry my hair."

There was a hair dryer in the bathroom, but Elliott hated using it. He always asked me to dry his hair and I was already used to it. He sat on the bed. Without hesitation, I climbed onto the bed, got on my knees behind him, and began to dry his hair with the towel.

"Since your grandpa's funeral is tomorrow, we have to go to the old mansion early." It wasn't my intention to strike up a conversation with him. However, since Elliott only thought about Olivia, I was afraid he would forget about the funeral if I didn't remind him.

"Okay." He nodded and went silent again.

Taking the hint, I didn't utter a word again. I just did what I was asked to and lay on the bed, ready to sleep.

In recent times, I had felt so sleepy. I yawned and curled up on my side of the bed. Elliott was fond of staying in his study until midnight after taking a shower. But for some reason, he just changed into his pajamas and lay beside me.

Just as I was trying to figure out what was going on, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me hard.

Out of breath, I looked up at him in confusion. "Elliott, I..."

"What? Don't you want it?" he asked, his eyes turning icy and wild.

I averted my gaze uncomfortably. Although I didn't want him to have sex with me, I had no right to say no to him.

"Can you be a little gentle?" The fetus was only six weeks old. If Elliott was rough like the last time, the baby might get hurt.

Elliott frowned and said nothing.

The rain was getting heavier by the second. Thunder struck occasionally, accompanied by lightning that illuminated the room. The groans and sound of flesh thumping hard didn't stop until after a long time. My head was in a muddle. Before I came to my senses, Elliott got up and went into the bathroom as if nothing happened.

My stomach and private parts hurt so much that I broke out in cold sweat. I reached out for the bedside drawer to take out some painkillers. But when I remembered the baby, I gave up eating them.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound pierced the still silence in the room. Elliott's phone was vibrating on the bedside table. I looked at the clock on the wall, only to see that it was already 11 o'clock.

No one would call Elliott at this ungodly hour except for Olivia.

The pattering sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Wearing a bathrobe, Elliott wiped his hands and picked up the phone. I tried to listen to what the caller said, but I couldn't make out a word.

"Stop acting like a child, Olivia," Elliott said with a slight frown.

The next second, he sighed deeply and hung up the phone. He threw on some clothes, preparing to leave like he had done many times in the past. I usually turned a blind eye to his late-night outings. However, something pushed me to grab his hand and beg, "Don't go. Please can you just stay here tonight?"

Elliott looked at me as if I had two heads. A second later, a hint of coldness and displeasure appeared on his handsome face. "Are you being clingy just because we fucked?"

His words were cold and ironic.

That question took me aback, but I couldn't help laughing. Bold of him to assume that. I looked up at him with an expressionless face and said, "Your grandfather's funeral is tomorrow. Remember that we have to set out early. Even if you miss her so much, you know the right thing to do."

"Is that a threat?" Elliott's eyes narrowed to slits. He grabbed my chin suddenly and looked into my eyes. Then he said in a cold voice, "Gianna Happer, you have gotten bolder."

Despite knowing that Elliott was a stubborn man, I still had to give it a try. An idea popped in my head. I looked at him and said, "I agree to the divorce but on one condition. You have to stay here tonight and accompany me to the funeral tomorrow. I'll sign the divorce papers immediately after the funeral."

A mocking smile reached Elliott's dark eyes as he squinted. He said, "Then please me."

He let go of my chin and whispered in my ear, "Gianna, if you want something, you have to earn it."

His clear voice dripped with desire and naughtiness. It was obvious what he was asking for. Without batting an eyelid, I wrapped my arms around him and raised my head to look at him. He was way taller than I was.

I knew that it was pathetic of me to use this technique just to make the man I loved stay with me.

Just as I was about to slip my hand under his shirt, he stopped me. I looked up and was surprised by the amorous hint of wanting in his eyes. I heard him say, "That's enough."

I didn't know what he meant. As I stared at him in bewilderment, he got undressed and put on his grey pajamas.

It took me several seconds to understand his actions. He was staying!

I smiled brightly, but my happiness was short-lived. A woman's voice suddenly came from outside the window. "Elliott..."

For the umpteenth time within the last few minutes, I was stunned. Elliott went to the balcony and looked down. In a flash, he came back, grabbed his coat, and left the room without sparing me a glance.

Curiosity drove me to the balcony. I saw Olivia standing in the rain, wearing a thin dress. She was shivering, making her look so weak and pitiful.

Elliott suddenly appeared. He draped his coat on her shoulders. He was just about to scold her when she hugged him and began sobbing like a child. He began to pat her back lovingly.

This scene proved to me again that I was no match for Olivia. That woman still had Elliott wrapped around her little finger even though he had been married to me for two years.

Elliott held Olivia in his arms and brought her into the house. I stood at the staircase and glared at the two drenched lovers, blocking their way.

"Get out of my way!" Elliott roared, looking at me with disgust in his eyes.

Was I sad that he was bringing another woman in with no regard for me? Maybe...

The sight just hurt my eyes more than it did my heart. After all, which woman would be glad to see her cold husband treat his mistress like a queen?

"Elliott, I know you don't have any respect for me, but don't you respect your grandfather anymore? Remember that you promised him that you would never bring her here as long as I still lived under this roof."

It was very insulting that Elliott wanted to bring Olivia inside my matrimonial home. This was the only place where I didn't have to compete with her. I let her have him for countless nights. How dare she show up here and make him break his promise?

"Huh!" Elliott suddenly sneered. He shoved me away and remarked, "You think too highly of yourself, Gianna!"

Those words drove a thousand knives into my fragile heart. I stood there as Elliott took Olivia into the guest room.

It appeared that this night was cursed.

Olivia was always sickly. Since she got drenched in the rain, it didn't take long before she caught a cold and had a high fever. Elliott was worried sick. He changed her clothes and dried her hair as I watched them after sneaking my way into the guest room.

Perhaps he felt uncomfortable or disgusted with my presence. After tucking his lover in bed, he cast me a cold glance and said, "You can go to my family's old mansion and stay there tonight. Olivia is having a fever, and the night is far spent. I can't send her home."

The nerve of him! He knew the night was far spent, but he was sending me to the old mansion. Was that how much he hated me? Ha-ha!

It was my fault. I shouldn't have come in here.

Staring at his back for an indeterminate time, I pondered on how to remind him how far the old mansion was from here and how dangerous it was for a woman to be out and about at this late hour.

He seemed to forget that I was standing there. He brushed Olivia's red cheeks as he stared at her with worried and loving eyes.

It was clear that my safety didn't matter to him. However, I managed to say calmly, "I will just stay in my bedroom. I can't go over to the old mansion at this time."

Never would I put myself in harm's way just because he wanted some alone time to take care of Olivia.

Cursing those two in my mind, I left the guest room. In the corridor, I saw Colton Blake hurrying over. He was wearing black pajamas and a pair of flip-flops. It appeared he was previously asleep and came over as fast as he could.