He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

Richard’s brows furrowed, the line between his eyes deepening into a sharp crease. "Why would you think that?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.

Roxanne’s shoulders slumped under the crushing weight of the question. "I don’t know," she whispered, her pulse thundering against her ribs. "God, I hope not. I pray not."

Richard exhaled slowly, a controlled release of air meant to anchor them both. "We need to stay calm, Roxanne."

Instead of calming down, she stepped out of his reach, turning on her heel to pace the carpet again. Her mind whirled into overdrive as he watched her in silence.

Her thoughts scrambled, desperate to calculate dates and stitch together the foggy timeline. The last time I was with Christian was—

She abruptly cut her stride, staring blankly at the floor before resuming her restless path. She could barely recall the details. He didn’t touch me last month. Not the month before that, either. The last time was over four months ago; that’s if she even got that right.

A sudden realization struck her, making her heart skip a beat. I need a scan. That is the only way to know for sure.

Before she could take another step, Richard moved into her path, his broad frame cutting off her frantic pacing. He reached out, his warm hands gripping her shoulders firmly to lock her in place.

He looked down into her eyes. "No matter what happens, no matter how this turns out, I am right here with you."

Roxanne stared up at him, her heart stopping. Seventeen days late. The words echoed through her mind like a ringing bell.

The charity gala was roughly five weeks ago. The first time they had sex. The night they shared in the ladies’ room. Her eyes widened as the realization settled over her like a wave.

Richard’s expression shifted, his gaze darkening with concern. "What is it?"

Roxanne placed a hand over her mouth, a sudden mix of fear and relief crashing through her. She pulled her trembling fingers away from her lips. "The gala was five weeks ago, Richard."

Richard kept his steady gaze locked on hers, waiting, though a muscle in his jaw flexed tightly.

"I was right in the middle of my cycle that night," Roxanne swallowed, her throat dry, her chest heaving as the truth hit her like a thunderbolt. "The night in the ladies’ room."

Richard swallowed hard, his brow remaining drawn. "I’m not sure I follow what you’re trying to say."

Fresh tears brimmed in her eyes, spilling over her lashes. "I could be carrying your child," she whispered, her voice cracking. "The timeline. It could be yours."

Richard simply stared. His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. For several endless seconds, the man who commanded boardrooms without hesitation stood completely frozen.

He couldn’t answer. His breathing had slowed, his eyes searching hers. Five weeks. The gala. The ladies’ room. Slowly, the realization reached him.

Richard’s lips curved into a smile he couldn’t stop.

Roxanne frowned, her heart thumping wildly against her ribs. "Why are you smiling?" she asked, flustered.

Richard reached out, wrapping his hand securely around hers, his touch steady and warm. "Because if the timeline is right," he swallowed. "Then that’s our baby, and that doesn’t scare me."

A small, breathless scoff escaped her lips. "Are you seriously handling this calmly?"

"You should, too," Richard replied smoothly, stepping closer. "I don’t see why you should be stressing this much." He paused, searching her eyes. "Tell me what you’re really worried about."

"What if I fail as a mother?" Roxanne blurted out, the raw fears spilling past her lips in a rush. "What if your family hates this baby because of me? What if history repeats itself?"

"None of that will happen," Richard stated firmly.

Roxanne shook her head, her wild pulse refusing to settle. "What if this causes another scandal?"

Richard let out a soft sigh, bringing her hand up to press a lingering kiss to her knuckles. "Please, listen to me. There will be no scandal surrounding our child. I promise you."

"No," Roxanne said, pulling her hand back slightly. "You can’t promise something like that, Richard. You can’t control everything."

Richard studied her pale face for a long moment, recognizing the exhaustion in her eyes. "Alright," he murmured softly. "Tell me what you need right now."

Roxanne looked up at him, her chest rising and falling softly. "I need five minutes alone. Just five minutes."

Richard nodded without hesitation. "I’ll be right outside the door if you need anything." He turned and slipped quietly out of the room, letting the latch click softly into place behind him.

The moment the room went still, Roxanne turned to the nightstand to grab the remaining test kits. Her brows pulled together when she realized there were only three sitting on the wood. She looked back at the door, then her gaze dropped to her stomach.

She reached out, gently pressing her palm flat against her stomach. "I’m actually pregnant," she whispered into the quiet room, her voice trembling as she sank onto the edge of the mattress. "After everything. After all those agonizing years."

Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. "All those years Christian made me believe I was broken. There was never anything wrong with me."

She exhaled a shaky breath, her fingers softly caressing her belly. "Now I am finally carrying my own child," she whispered. "I love Richard so much, but how am I supposed to bring a child into one of the most powerful families in the country when his mother despises me?"

She rested both hands over her belly, letting the tears fall freely as she allowed herself to feel the terrifying reality of the new life growing inside her.

—

Out in the quiet hallway, Richard leaned against the wall, staring down at the two plastic test sticks he had secretly taken.

A father. The title settled into his chest, heavy.

"I’m going to be a father," he whispered to the small screens glowing in his palm, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. "And with the most extraordinary woman in the world."

He stood up straight, pushing off the wall as a sudden burst of nervous energy took over, sending him pacing down the corridor. "What is the first step?" he murmured, running a hand through his hair. He stopped abruptly, looking toward the door. "Should I propose right now? Buy a ring today?"

He shook his head, resuming his stride. "No, she’s not ready. She needs time. So what do you do, Richard?"

In his entire life, he had never been in a situation where he had no clue. He had always known exactly what to do in every boardroom, every negotiation, every crisis. Yet standing outside that bedroom, he had never felt so completely unprepared.

He stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the closed bedroom door. The realization hit him.

"You idiot," he muttered softly to himself. "You don’t stand out here. You stay by her side."

Swallowing down the sudden tightness in his throat, he walked over and knocked softly on the door. He turned the handle, pushing the door open, only to find Roxanne already walking toward him from the bed.

Richard didn’t hesitate for a single second. He stepped across the threshold, closing the distance instantly and opening his arms to catch her as she leaned into his broad chest.

His arms wrapped securely around her waist, holding her tight, anchoring her to his strength.

"I’m terrified, Richard," Roxanne murmured against his chest.

"We will be fine," Richard whispered, holding her even closer. "You’re not carrying this alone. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere."

Roxanne drew in a shaky breath before looking up at him. "We’re really going to be parents."

They both chuckled softly.

Richard smiled, his eyes shining. "I can’t wait to build that life with you."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!