An Arranged Marriage - Episode 53

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Kane. 

Something is wrong, I know it, I can feel it, she's not eating dinner.

"What's wrong?" I whisper, not wanting to get the attention of the others.

"Uh?" She lifts her head, dark circles under her eyes.

"You are not eating" I say, pushing away from the table to tune into her.

"Oh.. I. . I. Don't have an appetite, I think I might be a little sick" She says, her voice scratchy.

"Do you have a flu? Do you want me to call the doctors?" I ask,she shakes her head, standing up from the table and walking towards the stairs.

My eyes follow her, I rise to follow but stop when a hand holds me down.

"You should let her be, maybe it's pregnancy hormones or something" Linda says and I nod, unconvinced but I go back to my meal.

 

When I finish I make my way to my room to see her curled on the bed.

"Ani?"

"Uh..?" She mutters sleepily, I get into the bed, kissing her shoulder.

"Is the baby giving you a hard time?" I ask, not waiting for an answer I move to her stomach.

"Hey, little one, try to be still, I don't want you disturbing my wife okay?" I say to our baby before kissing her stomach.

I raise my head to look at her, her eyes are filled with tears and I tilt my head.

"What is wrong?" I ask, alert

"No.. No.

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. Nothing.. It's.. You were being sweet just now" She says and I smirk, wrapping a hand around her, we stay like that for a while before she speaks.

"Kane?"

"Uh?"

"Do you have anything you want to tell me?"

"Like what?" I question.

"Anything at all, I promise to understand and to listen if you do" She says and I tense.

"What are you saying Ani?" I ask, looking into her face.

"Nothing... But please just tell me if there is anything..." She says, her face desperate, I have no idea what this is but I shake my head, giving her a smile.

"No baby, nothing, I promise to tell you if there is" I say and her face shuts down but she nods, tucking her head into my neck before holding me tightly.

"Ani? Is everything okay?"

"I don't know Kane"

"Do you want to tell me?"

"No.. No, I just want to sleep"

"Sleep babe" I say, she doesn't reply and soon her body relaxes and I go to sleep too.

****

4 days later. 

I kiss her thigh as she comes down from her high, grinning at her when she moans.

"Kane.." I frown, she never calls me Kane, not when are are intimate.

"Oh my God Kane.."

"Caspian baby" I whisper into her ear.

"What?"

"Call me Caspian" I say and her face locks down, I frown, she's been doing that a lot lately.

Closing herself off from me.

"Ani.." 

"Happy birthday baby "She says and I realize it's my birthday today,i temporarily forget about the lack of emotion on my face when she kisses me.

"Thank you "

"I've got things planned to make it wonderful "She says.

" I hope you didn't stress yourself "

"No, never "She says but the dark circles under her eyes says she's lying.

I let it slide as she stands, pulling me up.

"What do you have prepared " I ask, wrapping a hand around her waist as I nip her ear.

"Birthday pancakes, there's nothing like sugary pancake on one's birthday "She says and I want to argue that I don't need pancakes but I don't as she throws me a sweet smile.

It's been a while since she smiled like that.

She pauses for a moment before turning to me.

"Kane? "

"Baby? "

"Do you have anything you want to tell me? I promise to understand" She says and I frown at the similarity with the question she asked me four days ago.

"No baby" She nods before pulling me out of the room.

 

***

I decided not to ruin his birthday, I will do what I have to do after his birthday, I owe him that much, I and my family owe him and his that much.

Guilt niggles at my gut as I think about all the woes that befell him and his family because of mine. 

Pain goes through my stomach at the fact that he chooses to lie to me every single day. 

I want him to tell me by himself, but he won't, I shudder to think of the things he would have done to me if he had gotten his revenge. 

Linda smiles at me as I serve her pancakes but I don't smile back because I'm reminded of the fact that she was aware her brother married me for revenge.

Yes, I found everything our from my father, I went back and he told me every little detail, it wasn't hard to piece the other information together.

Kane married me because he wanted the box my mother stole from his.

I try to hide my tremble.

He married me for an heirloom, he was going to use me.

I didn't deserve what he threw at me.

I almost gasp as pain run through my stomach but I swallow it.

He smiles at me when I serve his finally, kissing my cheek.

I settle into my seat and pick at the pancakes.

I haven't had a bite for 4 days now and my body is trying to eat itself by itself.

I clench my fist as pain runs through my stomach.

 

"Are you okay?" Aroofa asks and I smile at her.

"You look really tired" Aroos says.

"Morning sickness" I say, my eyes finding Kane's as his runs over my face.

"Oh.. Sorry about that" Linda says and I nod, glancing at Cash who looks aloof as always.

They all knew.

They knew why their brother approached me.

Was..

Read " Salvation (An Arranged Marriage ll) " by the same author ( Bebe Ernest )

. Was all the things he said false?

Were they even close to being true?

I sway, my hand grabbing the table, they turn to me.

"Ani.."

I clutch my stomach as I stand.

"I'm fine.. I'm.. Fine.. I. Need to lie down.. Enjoy your breakfast.." I say but stop when they continue to look at me with horror, even Cash looks upset.

"What?" I ask but freeze when I feel moisture running down my leg.

I look down to see that I'm standing in a puddle of blood.

Oh. My. God.

"Kane.." I whisper.

"I'm calling the doctor" Cash says, immediately on the move.

"Kane.."

"You need to seat down babe" He says, standing up.

"No, no, no, I'm. Not... I'm not moving... Oh God Kane.."

"Babe.."

"Kane..my baby.."

"I've got you" He says but I begin to sob when pain runs through my stomach again.

Oh lord.

Please, I beg you, I beg you, I beg you.

"Let's get you comfy baby" His voice says in a whisper but I tune him out as I feel the world go black.

 

AN