Chapter 4

Alexander has been battling with the weight of the secret for weeks now. Every time he looked into his wife Elizabeth's eyes, the pang of guilt covered him, and he knew he had to tell her the truth. But every attempt seemed to end in a knot of fear tightening in his chest.

One evening, as they sat in their living room, sipping wine, Alexander felt the urge to confess. He cleared his throat, looked at his wife for the seventh time. "Elizabeth," he began, "there's something I need to tell you." His voice wavered, betraying his inner emotions.

Elizabeth looked at him, her shinning eyes filled with curiosity. "What is it, darling?"

He took a deep breath and looked down at his wineglass carefully placed on the table. The words were stuck in his throat, but he couldn't keep hiding the truth. "It's about Samantha, our maid."

Elizabeth's brow furrowed. "What about her?"

Alexander struggled to meet her eyes, fearing the disappointment he would see in her eyes. "She's been gone for some time now, Elizabeth. And... I am...." "And you're what?" Elizabeth quickly cut in. " Thinking of how to look for Samantha, since we haven't heard from her since she suddenly disappeared"

The room fell into a heavy silence. Elizabeth's eyes widened in shock, and then a mix of emotions played across her face. She was surprised, angry and finally, she raised her head. She put her glasses down slowly, her fingers trembling.

"You... Don't tell me that.  Were you the reason she left or do you have something with her that I know nothing about?" Her voice quivered with a mix of disbelief and sadness.

Alexander opened  his eyes more widely as they welled up with regret trying to hide his feelings. "It isn't that way. No! Elizabeth, I just thought of looking for her, that's all."

Tears filled Elizabeth's eyes as she tried to believe what her husband was trying to tell her . She stood up at once, her chair scraping against the floor. She turned away from Alexander, struggling to control her emotions.

"You'll betray us if she'll return here, Alexander," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "You'll betray me."

He rushed to her side, his heart aching at the pain he had caused her. "I know, Elizabeth. I but I just thought it right to help her out. But I don't want that to stand between us. I want to be there for Samantha, we both know her history. I don't want to lose you."

Elizabeth turned to him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "If you don't want to lose me, then you must protect what we have."

Alexander nodded, his own tears falling now. "I understand. Just know that I love you, and I'll do whatever it takes to make our marriage work."

As Elizabeth went to their bedroom, Alexander sank into a chair, carried away by the weight of his neared confession. He knew that mending their shattered trust would be a long and painful journey, but he was willing to do whatever it took to hold firm their marriage and family.

As the days went on, an air of tension settled over the household. Elizabeth spent much of her time in their bedroom, battling with her emotions and trying to come to terms with the shocking idea of bringing Samantha home again. Alexander, on the other hand, remained haunted by guilt and the fear of losing his wife and family.

Samantha, who had been discreetly staying with a friend since she left the mansion, occasionally sent messages to Alexander, seeking reassurance and updates on his conversations with Elizabeth. She, too, was trapped in a web of uncertainty, her pregnancy a constant reminder of the pending relationships she had unwittingly become a part of.

One evening, as the sun went down below the horizon, with its shadows in the living room, Elizabeth finally emerged from her self-imposed isolation. She found Alexander sitting by the window, gazing out at the darkening sky. His face covered with worry lines, and he turned up to look at her as she approached.

"Alexander," Elizabeth began, her voice hesitant, "I've been doing a lot of thinking."

He turned to face her, his eyes filled with hope. "Elizabeth, I... I mean...n"

She raised up her hand, silencing him for a moment. "Let me speak, please."

Alexander nodded, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "I won't deny that what you said the other day hurt me deeply, and it almost shattered my trust in you. How could you think of searching for someone who intentionally decided to run away?. But when I remembered her history, I became weakened, even if you want to extend a Caring hand to her,do it to her wherever she is."

Tears welled up in Alexander's eyes as he listened to his wife's words. "Elizabeth, I'm so sorry for the pain I've caused you. I promise to do everything in my power to make amends."

She nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "We'll need counseling, both as a couple and as a family. We have a lot of healing to do, Alexander, and it won't be easy. I'm willing to give us a chance to rebuild."

Relief washed over Alexander as he rushed to embrace his wife. They held each other tightly, their hearts heavy with the weight of their shared burden but also filled with a glimmer of hope for the future.

"Thank you darling, Alexander muttered as he gave his wife yet another peck on her forehead. I promise to make it up to you". Elizabeth loosened herself from her husband's arms, then she walked into the room.

After Elizabeth was out of sight, Alexander decided it was time to reach out to Samantha. He needed to know how she was doing and if there were any developments with the baby. It had been some days since they had spoken, and he felt a growing sense of responsibility toward the child he had to father.

With a deep breath, Alexander picked up his phone and dialed Samantha's number. He couldn't help but feel nervous as he waited for her to answer. What would she say? How would she react to his call?

Finally, Samantha's voice came through the line, firm and cautious. "Hello?"

"Hello, Samantha," Alexander said, his voice soft and earnest. "It's me, Alexander."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then Samantha responded, her tone a mix of surprise and uncertainty. "Alexander? Is everything okay?"

Alexander hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I... I wanted to check on you and the baby. It's been a while since we talked, and I've been worried."

Samantha's voice softened, and he could sense a hint of worry in her reply. "I appreciate your concern, Alexander. I've been doing okay, considering everything."

Alexander felt a wave of relief wash over him. "I'm glad to hear that. How have you been faring? Is there anything you need?"

Samantha sighed, her voice carrying a mixture of emotions. "Physically, I've had my ups and downs, but I'm managing. Emotionally... it's been a lot to process."

He nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I understand. Samantha, I want to be a part of this child's life. I want to support you through this journey, and I want to make sure the baby has everything they need."

Samantha was silent for a moment, and Alexander feared that she might reject his offer. "I really do not" she tried to say but she kept quiet again.

Alexander's heart sank when he heard Samantha's sudden change in tone. Her voice, once warm and accepting, had now turned sharp and determined. He hadn't expected such a reaction to his well-intentioned words.

"Samantha, I didn't mean to upset you," he said, his voice filled with concern. "I just want to be there for our child, to be a father to him, nothing else."

Samantha's response was firm "Alexander, until you do the needful, don't call this child yours. You need to make a decision, and it's not just about providing financially. It's about acknowledging this child openly and being there in every sense."

Her words hit Alexander like a cold wave. He knew exactly what Samantha meant. She was asking him to come clean to his wife, Elizabeth, about the situation, to openly acknowledge the child as his and to ensure that the baby wouldn't grow up in secrecy.

"Samantha, I understand," Alexander replied, his voice heavy with regret. "I will talk to Elizabeth. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and then Samantha's voice softened again, the anger replaced by a sense of  hope. "Alexander, I want what's best for our child. This isn't just about you and me. It's about their future, and I hope you realize that."

Alexander nodded, "I do, Samantha. I promise I'll take the necessary steps to ensure our child's future is secure and filled with love."

As they ended the call, Alexander knew that he had a difficult conversation ahead with Elizabeth. He had to come clean about his past actions and the child he had fathered with Samantha. It was a step he feared to take toward rebuilding trust and ensuring that their child would grow up in a family where they were openly acknowledged and loved by both their parents. " But how would I tell her?" He thought as she continued pacing back and forth in the living room.

Meanwhile, Samantha sat alone in her small  apartment, her mind filled with thousands of conflicting thoughts and emotions. The conversation with Alexander had left her feeling both relieved and anxious. While he had expressed his intention to be involved in their child's life, it was clear that the path ahead would be filled with challenges. "What if Elizabeth knows, what would her reaction be?, His family, My child's identity" All thses thoughts ran through her mind seeking for answers.

As she thought about her options, Samantha felt the weight of her situation bearing down on her. On one hand, the idea of distancing herself from Alexander and his family seemed like a reasonable choice. It would spare her from the complexities and potential conflicts that could arise from their arrangement. She could raise her child on her own terms, away from the prying eyes and judgment of others.

But on the other hand, Samantha couldn't deny the financial and emotional support that Alexander could provide. The idea of shouldering the responsibilities of motherhood entirely on her own was disturbing. She knew that having a stable and supportive presence like Alexander in their child's life could be invaluable.

As she sat there, torn between these two paths, Samantha thought about her unborn baby. She placed her hand on her growing belly, feeling the gentle movements within. Her child, innocent and pure, was at the center of this dilemma.

Samantha realized that her decision wouldn't just impact her own life but would shape the future of her child as well. She wanted what was best for them, she wished for a life filled with love, security, and opportunities. But the path to achieving that seemed uncertain.

In the midst of her confusion, Samantha made a silent promise to herself and her baby that  She would take her time to weigh her options carefully, seeking advice from trusted friends. She would consider what would provide the most stable and loving environment for her child, even if it meant facing the complexities of co-parenting with Alexander and addressing the challenges that lay ahead.

As she thought about her future, Samantha knew that whatever decision she made, it would be made with the best interests of her child at heart. Parenthood was an incredible responsibility, and she was determined to do everything in her power to ensure her child's happiness and well-being.