Chapter 4

Aaron got up early in the morning the next day. He planned to start packing his bags today. However, the moment he emerged from the study, he heard the sound of someone cooking in the kitchen. This was really unusual. Jane Oswald was on leave today, and Esther normally wouldn't cook. The more Aaron listened to the sound of ingredients being chopped, the weirder it felt to him. Could it actually be Esther? Nevertheless, before he could walk to the kitchen to see who it was, Russell emerged from within with an apron around him. He was even carrying a steaming hot serving of breakfast in his hands. "Mr. Blackwood?" They both noticed the flicker of shock in one another's eyes when they made eye contact. More than that, Aaron couldn't believe that Esther actually brought Russell into their home so blatantly. He turned livid. "What are you doing here?" Feeling rather diffident, Russel's hands shook. Even so, he smiled at Aaron right after, saying, "Esther said that you've left home to go to work, so I—" "Just because I'm not at home, you can barge in as you wish?" Aaron stared at him intensely. "Get out." Perhaps Russell was intimidated by Aaron's presence, so he took a step back. Aaron repeated, "Get out." But this time, Russell no longer cowered. He looked Aaron straight in the eye with a fearless expression on his face. "Mr. Blackwood, you're not the one who has the final say in this house, are you? Even if you want me to get out of here, you should first seek Esther's opinion." Aaron took a step forward. With a threatening look in his eyes, he said, "I will not repeat myself. You'd better bugger off while I'm still patient." Russell was stunned. The next second, a hurt expression came across his face. He turned and looked toward the second floor. "Esther, Aaron seems to have misunderstood…" The rustling sound of Esther's genuine silk nightgown brushing against the railing of the stairs became louder as she approached them. Esther walked down the stairs with fresh hickeys around her collarbone. She attempted to cover the red marks on the side of her neck with a blue scarf. "What's with the argument? I asked Russell to come by. Why are you letting your anger out at him? Plus, you're older than him. Don't scare him." As Esther said that, she placed a wide, silk shawl over her shoulders. Aaron noticed that she seemed to have gained a little weight. Her lower belly was protruding a little, and her beige-colored nightgown was cinched slightly at the waist, seemingly to intentionally create a loose effect. "Why did you get him to come over?" "To cook," Esther lied without batting an eyelid. "Jane isn't around, you've got to work, and I can't cook. So, I called Russell to help me with making breakfast. We can also talk about the partnership between our corporations. Who would've thought that you didn't go to work today?" Aaron knew about the partnership between their corporations. Butterfield Group and Stringer Group began their partnership around half a year ago. In other words, Esther's affair with Russell very likely started then. Aaron was reminded of the notice he received two days ago about changes in equity. Stringer Group had increased their stakes in Butterfield Group by 2%. "Get him to leave," Aaron ordered with a frigid look on his face. Esther was clearly a little displeased about his unyielding attitude. "Aaron, what are you doing? Russell is a guest. Moreover, he's like a younger brother to me. You shouldn't embarrass me like this, should you?" Deep down, Aaron sneered. He shouldn't embarrass her? Why was she embarrassing him, then? Right at that moment, neither of them refused to back down. At this moment, Russell approached them with a miserable look on his face. "Esther, I reckon I should leave. My presence is only going to affect your relationship with Aaron. I don't want to put you in a tight spot either." As he said that, he started to walk away. However, Esther grabbed onto his wrist. "Don't go." Glaring at Aaron, she said, "Just look at how understanding Russell is, then look at what you're doing. You're suspicious all the time. Who's going to put up with you if you're going to continue acting like this?" Expressionlessly, Aaron said, "Fine. I'll leave, then." However, Esther became flustered. "Stand right there!" She let go of Russell's hand and said, "Forget it. Go and wait for me in the car, Russell. I'll just have a quick chat with him." Russell nodded obediently. Looking a little reluctant, he replied, "Okay. I'll wait for you." Esther gave him a comforting smile, then watched him as he walked out of the manor. Aaron and Esther sat down facing one another at the dining table. He figured that he could make things clear with Esther today. Nonetheless, the first thing Esther said really took him by surprise. "I'm pregnant. I'm over two months along." Esther placed her hand on her small bump. "I just received my report yesterday." She pulled out a test report, and the HCG levels indicated on it were so glaring to Aaron's eyes. His mind flashed back to the board meeting two months ago. Because of a project, Esther and he had a huge argument. "When did you become the decision-maker of the company? Get out!" That night, she locked her office from within. After that, the surveillance footage showed Russell's Mercedes-Benz leaving the basement at 2:00 am. Meanwhile, Aaron flew overseas. In order to get their hands on a precision instruments factory in Winzerland, he brought a team to the Winzer Alps, where they spent 23 days there. During that time, Russell's Facebook posts pinned his location at Palicat Island. The photos he posted were all photos of Esther having fun at a beach in a bikini. "We have an heir now." Smiling, Esther took Aaron by the hand, pulling him back into reality. Aaron realized that she had slipped her ring back on her finger. "So, I hope that we won't continue fighting. Let's live happily together moving forward, okay?" Aaron pulled his hand back forcefully. Looking completely perplexed, Esther asked, "What's wrong? Haven't you always wanted to start a family? Now that we finally have a baby, aren't you happy?" Aaron clenched his fists tightly, and there seemed to be fury burning in his eyes. "Esther, I was in Winzerland two months ago. We haven't slept together in these two months either." He did not expose her outright because he wanted to see how long she could keep this act up. However, not a tinge of diffidence could be seen on Esther's face. She said, "Yeah, that's why the baby is more than two months old. Have you forgotten about that night two and a half months ago when we were on the couch at home—" "I haven't forgotten," Aaron interjected. He did not want to think back to the past. Even so, that didn't mean that the baby was his. Moreover, because Esther was afraid of pain and did not want to have a child, he had always used protection. So, this child might be… "I want to look at the nuchal translucency test report." Aaron's request made Esther's mind freeze. She was momentarily stunned, then she started guffawing. "Mr. Blackwood, you even want to examine the data from a pregnancy check-up? Don't cross the line, Aaron! What's the matter? Are you suspecting that this child isn't yours?" "Why else would I ask?" Aaron questioned back. Esther's face fell. In the next moment, tears fell from her eyes. "Aaron, you're a jerk!" She grabbed a packet of tissues and flung it at Aaron's face. "Whose child could this be if not yours? I'm your wife! How could you say something so heartless? Are you actually seeing another woman out there? Tell me!"