Chapter 1 – His Second Chance Love: The Freezing Silence

Sienna POV

Six weeks along, I was stunned, frozen in place by those three words glaring back at me from the ultrasound report. How could this happen? It was just a one-time thing! How did I end up pregnant?

What now? Should I spill the beans to Anthony? Will he use this as an excuse to drag out our divorce even longer? Nah, doubt it. He’ll probably think I’m scheming, using this baby as leverage.

Pushing down the frustration gnawing at my insides, I crammed the report into my bag and trudged out of the hospital.

Outside, a Maybach idled with a window cracked open. A good-looking man sat behind the wheel, his expression icy. A sight like that would turn heads for sure.

Anthony Featherstone, the poster child for wealth and charm. I’d grown accustomed to the stares over the years. Ignoring the gawkers, I slipped into the passenger seat.

As the man, eyes shut, sensed my movement, a crease formed between his brows. Without looking at me, he grumbled, “All sorted?”

“Yeah,” I mumbled, handing him the signed contract, adding, “Dr. Ludwick sends his regards.” I had planned to handle the paperwork solo today but bumped into Anthony on the way. For some unknown reason, he offered me a ride, claiming it was on his route.

“You’re taking the lead on this one.” Anthony was always a man of few words. He didn’t take the contract, just gave me my marching orders before revving the engine.

I nodded, keeping my thoughts to myself.

Obeying him and carrying out his orders seemed to be the only two things that I knew how to do.

The car drove toward the city center. It was already evening now, so I was confused as to where he was headed if not back to the villa. Although I felt puzzled, I never took the initiative to ask him anything. I simply remained silent.

The ultrasound report was at the forefront of my mind, but I didn’t know how to broach the topic with him. Caught in a dilemma, I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. As usual, he exuded a cold and distant aura, his sharp and ruthless gaze focused straight ahead.

“Anthony!” I blurted out. My palms grew a little clammy as I clutched my bag; it was probably due to my fraying nerves.

“Speak.” This single syllable was barked out without a trace of emotion.

He had always treated me like this anyway. After a good few seconds, the tension gradually left my body as I calmed my nerves. Taking a deep breath, I announced, “I’m…” Pregnant.

I had merely two words to confess, but I swallowed the second word that was on the tip of my tongue the moment his phone abruptly rang.

“Rylee, what’s wrong?” Some people only reserve their gentle and loving side for one person.

Anthony’s gentle side was only reserved for Rylee Lorraine; it was plain to see from the way he conversed with her.

Rylee’s words over the phone caused Anthony to abruptly hit the brake as he spoke to her in a soothing tone, “Alright. I’ll be over in a while. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

As soon as the call ended, his icy expression slipped back into its place. Glancing at me, he ordered in a clipped tone, “Get out.”

His order left no room for discussion.

This was not the first time that he had kicked me out of his car. Seeing as such, I nodded and shoved the words I had planned to say down my throat before opening the car door and getting down.

My marriage with Anthony came about due to a twist of fate, but love was never in the equation. Anthony already had Rylee in his heart, so my existence was redundant. Perhaps, it could even be considered an obstacle.

Two years ago, George Featherstone, Anthony’s grandfather, suffered from a heart attack. While he was hospitalized, he forced Anthony to marry me. For his grandfather’s sake, Anthony reluctantly did so. During the two years that his grandfather was still around, Anthony disregarded my existence but otherwise did nothing else. Now that his grandfather had passed on, he couldn’t wait to get a lawyer to draft the divorce papers for me to sign.

The sky was already dark when I returned to the villa. The enormous house was empty, resembling a haunted house. Perhaps it was because of my pregnancy that I didn’t have an appetite. Hence, I went straight to my bedroom to wash up and call it a night.

In my drowsy state, I heard the faint sound of a car engine being switched off; it was coming from the courtyard.

Is Anthony back?

Isn’t he supposed to be with Rylee?

The bedroom door was abruptly pushed open before I could ponder any further. Slightly drenched, Anthony headed straight for the bathroom without sparing me a second glance. Following that was the sound of running water.

His return made it rather impossible for me to continue sleeping, so I got up and put on some clothes. I took out a set of his pajamas from the wardrobe and placed it by the bathroom door before going straight to the balcony.

As it was the monsoon season, it started to drizzle outside. The sky was dark and the sound of the rain pelting on the bricks could be heard vaguely.

Sensing the sound of movement behind me, I turned and saw that Anthony had emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was damp and the droplets of water dripping down his muscular body created an enticing sight.

He probably noticed my gaze, so he glanced at me with a slight frown. “Come here,” he commanded in a voice void of emotion.

I obediently walked over and caught the towel that he had thrown toward me. He then demanded, “Dry my hair.”

I had long gotten accustomed to his domineering ways. Just as he sat on the edge of the bed, I climbed onto it and kneeled behind him to wipe his hair.

“Grandpa’s funeral is tomorrow. We should head over to the family home earlier,” I reminded him. I wasn’t trying to make conversation with him. Rather, I was worried that he would possibly forget about it as his mind was rather occupied with Rylee.

“Mm,” he grunted out a response and said nothing further.

Knowing very well that he didn’t want to interact with me, I kept mum and focused on drying his hair. After that, I lay on the bed once again, ready to sleep.

I realized that I had been feeling rather sleepy lately, and attributed my behavior to my pregnancy. Anthony would usually head to his study after he showered and would stay there until midnight. Given that was the norm, I was befuddled when he got under the sheets after he put on his pajamas.

With reasonable effort, I managed to withhold my questions even though I was utterly confounded. In spite of that, his arms suddenly wrapped around my waist as he pulled me in toward him. Then, a feather-light kiss brushed across my lips.

I raised my eyes to gaze at him in perplexity. “Anthony, I’m…”

“Unwilling?” he questioned. His obsidian eyes flashed, a hint of wild desire swirling within them.

I lowered my gaze. Indeed, I was unwilling, but it wasn’t for me to decide.

“Can you be gentler?” The fetus was only six weeks old and the risk of a miscarriage was high.

His brows furrowed, and without a word he rolled over and started ravaging me roughly. My body curled from the pain and I could only do so much to protect the child from harm’s way.

The rain started to pour heavily in tandem with his rough movements. Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder boomed right after that, causing the room to be illuminated every time that happened. After a long while, he got up and went into the bathroom.

Drenched in a cold sweat from the pain, I had the urge to get up to take some painkillers. Nevertheless, I dismissed the idea as soon as I thought of the child.

All of a sudden, the phone on the bedside table rang. It was Anthony’s phone. I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was already eleven o’clock.

---