Chapter 85 Uninvited Guest
Natalie’s POV
“The pain stopped, right?” Freda asked as she continued examining my belly.
I nodded. “Yes. What does that mean? Is there something wrong with my child?” I asked, my voice full of concern.
“It’s just the symptoms before labor. They are normal and beneficial for the mother; ninety percent of women experience them,” she explained. “These small waves of pain help the womb prepare for labor.”
I glanced at Rafael and stifled a laugh at his expression. He was staring wide-eyed at my bloated, naked belly.
When our eyes met, I let out a sigh of annoyance, ignored him, and looked away.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“So, do you want to know the child’s gender?” Freda asked.
“Yes! Please,” Rafael suddenly snapped.
Freda and I both stared at him. I questioned, “What does this have to do with you?”
He approached, and I tried to sit up. Freda gently pushed me back onto the bed and said, “Natalie, please. Don’t move.”
I glared at him furiously and snapped in a warning tone, “Stay away from me and my child!”
As if he were deaf, he said, “Please, doctor. I want to know the baby’s sex.”
She looked at me hesitantly, then at the screen before her, and asked with a grin, “As you’re the father, do you prefer a boy or a girl?”
He smiled happily. I couldn’t deny the genuine happiness in his eyes and voice when he said, “A girl. I would love to have a girl just like her mom.”
I rolled my eyes at this trite dialogue. The same sentence every husband says to his pregnant wife.
At the mention of the word “wife,” I tensed up. How can I force him to sign the divorce papers?
“Natalie!” Freda said with a tone of concern.
I raised my eyes and looked at her. “What?” I said as I blinked.
“I called you several times, and you didn’t reply. Are you ready to know the baby’s gender?” she asked, indirectly seeking my confirmation.
I let out a sigh and nodded. “Yes!”
I hadn’t thought Rafael would be with me when I found out the gender or when I gave birth. I had deleted him from my life; why was he back?
Freda’s words snapped me out of my thoughts. “It’s a boy!”
I smiled tenderly, touched my bare belly gently, and whispered, “Hey, little boy.”
“Can I touch?” Rafael asked, fixing his gaze on my belly.
“No!” I snapped instantly.
I sat up as I asked, “Are we done here, doctor? I need to go home!”
She helped me wipe the cold blue jelly off my stomach, and I left the room without delay.
I didn’t want to be with him under the same roof. I couldn’t repeat the same story over and over. He was a page in my life, and I had turned that page full of sadness and pain for good.
Rafael tried to follow. “Nat, please wait,” but I shot him a warning glare. “You have no right to be here. Out of pity, I let you in. Just go away!”
I said that, hoping he would leave me alone, but I knew him too well to believe he would.
I opened the door and saw Maya and Daniel. Once they saw me, they rushed in, their faces etched with concern. “What happened? Was everything okay?” asked Maya.
“Yes, take me home, please,” I said, feeling exhausted.
I didn’t look back, but I could feel his gaze on my back.
Once I entered my apartment, I threw away my high heels, and they cracked on the floor. I felt the apartment cold and depressing. No matter how hard I tried to make it warm, I couldn’t. I smiled sadly, comforting myself that once I gave birth to my boy, the place would feel more welcoming.
I took off my clothes and sat in the bathtub filled with hot water. I needed this to relax after all the tension and incidents.
I closed my eyes, and a wave of undesirable memories of intimate times with Rafael flooded my head. I shook my head to erase these memories.
I can’t rest until I take my revenge on Debbie. I stared at my arms, looking at the bruises caused by her attack. Even though the wounds had healed, leaving only traces, my heart and soul still felt the pain of losing my child and the fear and sorrow I felt when I saw the blood that night.
All her schemes to take Rafael didn’t affect me, but hurting me in such a way and leading to my miscarriage made my heart hold a grudge against her.
I wrapped a towel around myself and went straight to my room. After I put on my pajamas, I heard my phone ringing.
It was Rafael, so I ignored the call and went to sleep.
Five days have passed since I last saw Rafael at the hospital. It seemed he finally listened to me and went back to the USA.
I had just finished work, and before I got into my car, a blue car was parked nearby. I didn’t pay attention until I heard a voice behind me saying, “Mademoiselle Natalie?”
I turned around to see a handsome tall man in his late thirties. When I stared at him in confusion, he smiled apologetically and mumbled, “Pardon me, I’m William Relbson!”
“Hey, Mr. Relbson!” I greeted him politely.
He didn’t comment or move, so I frowned and inquired, “Mr. Relbson?”
He blinked, wiped the back of his neck, and said with embarrassment, “Sorry, I didn’t think you’d be so beautiful!”
His words made me stare at him in confusion. He laughed, his face as red as a tomato, and said, “Oh, God! I ruined everything from the first second.”
I held my laugh. He didn’t seem like a stalker or playboy, though.
“Can we start from the beginning?” he asked awkwardly.
“Okay!” I replied with a gentle smile.
He offered his hand and said, “I’m William Relbson. I’m so happy to meet you.”
I shook his hand and mumbled, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Relbson. I’m Natalie Roswen.”
He cleared his throat and asked, “Can I invite you for a cup of coffee?”
Even though I didn’t like hanging out with strangers, I thought one cup wouldn’t be a big deal, especially since he seemed to suffer from embarrassment.
He opened his car door for me, and before I refused, he said, “Please, let me take you in my car.”
I smiled a tight-lipped smile and got into the car.
The place he took me wasn’t just a normal cafe serving afternoon coffees; it had a view of the top of Paris. The view was incredible, with games and activities available.
Once we entered, a waiter approached us immediately and said politely, “Mr. Relbson, please follow me. Your table is ready.”
He offered me his arm, and at that point, I didn’t feel comfortable. It was supposed to be a cup of coffee in an ordinary place. Now it looked like a date. A blind date, maybe?
As we walked behind the waiter, William said in a low voice, “I’m sorry, it seems you didn’t like the place!”
I didn’t look up at his face; all I gave was a small, tight-lipped smile.
William was a big shot; any woman would dream of him, but not me. I didn’t know why he and his mother chose me in the first place. Maybe because I was pregnant, they considered me the ideal person to play the mother role for his kids.
And as I expected, the man adored his kids; he genuinely loved children.
All our conversation was about his kids and their lives. What they loved, hated, and everything in between. I felt jealous for my child. Would Rafael be a good father?
Rafael and I didn’t feel the love of our fathers. Could we still give our child the love he needs?
I sighed and placed my hand on my belly, frustrated by the thought that Rafael shouldn’t be in my life, yet his son would need him.
“Are you bored?” William asked, snapping me out of my negative thoughts.
“No! I like hearing you talk about your kids; you’re a great father,” I said honestly.
“Do you think so? I feel otherwise,” he sighed. “Being a father isn’t easy!”
I patted his hand gently and said, “Don’t worry, I’m sure your kids love you very much!”
“Would you like to try some games?” he asked.
I blinked. Was he serious?
I shook my head with laughter. “No, I’m afraid if I did, I’d give birth here!”
But that didn’t stop him from insisting on taking a tour around the place and buying me some baby boy’s clothes.
After three hours, I got out of his car before going to my apartment. He opened the door for me and smiled. “It was an incredible night.”
“Yes, it was. Thank you for everything,” I said.
“I’ll help you take these boxes inside,” he offered.
He held them and said, “I insist!”
I waved my hand in surrender, knowing he wouldn’t stop until I said okay.
We took the elevator, and I unlocked my apartment door. I stood beside the door and said, “Thank you, Mr. Relbson, for all of this.”
He placed the small boxes on the table, turned to me, and said in a low voice, “Please, call me William.”
Then he bent down, and without warning, he kissed me.
The moment he placed his lips on mine, I froze. Not because of his kiss, but because of the familiar tall figure and the cold eyes that met mine.
Rafael was here!