He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

Richard looked at Roxanne, his expression calm despite the tension that had settled over the room. "What do you think?" he asked.

Roxanne glanced at Libby, her eyes dropping to the phone in Libby’s hand, where Cara was still waiting. For a moment, she said nothing.

Cara had suddenly appeared with an ultrasound and a story that could turn their lives upside down, but she was not going to give her what she wanted.

Roxanne slowly lifted her gaze back to Richard. "Ignore the call," she said.

Libby blinked.

Roxanne turned to her. "Tell her Richard is busy."

Libby’s brows pulled together. She looked at Roxanne, then at Richard. Her expression made it clear she had expected Richard to refuse. Cara was not someone they could simply ignore, especially after the news that had already started spreading.

Her fingers tightened around the phone. "Sir?" she asked, silently seeking his permission.

Richard didn’t hesitate. He gave a firm nod, his jaw tightening. "Do as Roxanne instructed."

Libby swallowed. "Yes, sir." Then she turned toward the door, but she paused for a second before leaving. She glanced back at them, as if she still couldn’t believe they were going to ignore Cara’s call. Then she quietly said, "Please excuse me."

The door closed behind her. The sound of the lock seemed louder than it should have been. For a few seconds, neither Richard nor Roxanne spoke.

Richard finally shifted his gaze back to Roxanne. "Do you know what will happen now?" he asked.

Roxanne met his eyes. Of course, she knew what he meant. Cara would never accept being ignored. She would probably call again, and if that failed, she would find another way to get Richard’s attention.

Roxanne sighed and gave a small shrug. "What?" she asked. "The worst she can do is show up here."

Richard nodded slowly. "I’m glad you know."

Something about his tone made Roxanne pause. She studied his face. His expression was calm, but his shoulders were slightly stiff, and there was a faint crease between his brows.

"You sound like you don’t want that to happen," she said.

Richard looked at her. "You’re right. I don’t want that." His answer was simple, without any hesitation in it.

Roxanne narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why?"

Richard was quiet for a moment. He looked down at their hands before looking back at her. "Because I know what she’s trying to do," he said, his voice low. "And I don’t want her bringing that mess in here. More importantly, I don’t want her upsetting you."

Something warm moved through Roxanne’s chest, but she tried not to let it show.

Richard had always been protective, but there was something different about the way he was acting now. He wasn’t trying to control what she did, he wasn’t telling her what decision to make.

He was simply worried about her.

"If you don’t want her here, then she doesn’t have to come," Roxanne said.

Richard exhaled slowly. Then he reached for her hand, his fingers closed around hers, warm. "I don’t want her here," he said. "I don’t want anything that will upset you." His thumb moved lightly across the back of her hand. "I’d love to save you the trouble, Roxanne. But I also need to respect your choices."

He paused, his eyes searching hers. "So tell me what you’re planning."

A small smile slowly touched Roxanne’s lips. "We need to leave some instructions at the entrance," she said.

Richard frowned. "Instructions?"

"Yes," Roxanne said.

"What instructions?" Richard asked.

Roxanne didn’t answer. She simply sighed and looked toward the closed door. Richard followed her gaze, understanding that she had already started thinking several steps ahead. He looked back at her.

Then he nodded slowly. "All right. What do you need from me?"

"Nothing. For now." Roxanne squeezed his hand once before letting it go, but she didn’t move away. There was still something bothering her, something she needed to settle before she left.

She looked directly into his eyes. "I need to know something, Richard."

His expression changed immediately, concern lacing his voice. "What?"

Roxanne hesitated. She didn’t want to ask the question, but she needed the truth. "Is there any possibility that you’re the father of that child?"

Richard’s face hardened.

Roxanne watched him carefully, her mind racing. "Did you have any kind of sexual relationship with Cara recently?" she continued. "Maybe just before I came into the picture?"

The question hung between them.

Richard said nothing at first. And that made Roxanne’s stomach tighten.

She knew she had every right to ask. Still, a small part of her was afraid of his answer. If he admitted that there had been something between him and Cara, even something that happened before their relationship became serious, everything would become more complicated.

Richard finally sighed and shook his head. "No." His answer was firm. "I meant every word when I told you I haven’t had anything with Cara in years," he said as he held her gaze. "Not even something casual."

Roxanne watched his face, looking for any sign that he was lying. There was none.

"I believe she forged that ultrasound," Richard continued. "Or she’s pregnant by someone else." He paused, his jaw tightening. "Either way, that child isn’t mine."

Roxanne lowered her eyes. Or maybe she isn’t pregnant at all. The thought had crossed her mind more than once. The whole situation felt wrong.

She looked back at Richard. "I believe you," she said.

Richard’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

"But do you trust me?" Roxanne asked him.

He looked at her as though the question surprised him. "Of course I do. I wouldn’t have asked you to stand beside me if I didn’t." The answer came immediately. Then a small pause followed. "But I’m worried."

Roxanne’s heart skipped a beat. "About what?"

"That all of this could spiral," he said, his tone softer as his gaze dropped briefly to her stomach. "I don’t want anything to affect you. Or the baby."

Roxanne followed his gaze, her hand instinctively moving to her belly. "I know."

And for one brief moment, his fear became her own. What if Cara caused a bigger scandal? What if the pictures spread further? What if people started questioning her own baby? What if this became something they couldn’t control?

Roxanne pushed the thoughts away. She couldn’t let fear decide her next move. "Even if you’re right, you can’t always fight for me," she said, rubbing her belly gently. "And if I can’t stand up for us now, when will I?"

"I understand." Richard’s eyes softened, reaching for her hand again, his fingers resting against her belly. "But I will not let you face any of this alone." He paused. "And don’t worry," he added. "I won’t interfere with your plans."

Roxanne looked up at him, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Thank you."

Richard lifted his hand and touched her cheek, his thumb moving slowly across her skin.

Roxanne leaned into it for half a second before straightening. "Well, I need to get to my office now," she said. "I’ll talk to you later."

Richard’s brows pulled together. "And Cara?"

Roxanne stopped, looking over her shoulder. "We wait."

Richard frowned. "Wait for what?"

Roxanne turned fully toward him. "We both know she’s going to come. But she won’t expect our response when she gets here," she said, her eyes hardening slightly. "Right now, she’s the one making the moves. She thinks we’re going to panic because of the ultrasound and the pictures."

Roxanne shook her head. "I’m not giving her that."

Richard watched her closely. "So what do we do?"

"Nothing. For now," Roxanne clarified. "We let her make her move first."

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