The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Victor walked through the front door of Powell Villa carrying Leon, looking absolutely exhausted. Eliza hurried over to meet them the moment they stepped inside.
She took one look at Victor's worn-out face, then glanced down at Leon in his arms, who looked just as tired. Her eyes darted past Victor's shoulder, clearly searching for someone else. When she didn't see anyone there, she finally allowed herself to relax.
"Vic, what took you so long? Why didn't you call me?" Eliza asked, her voice full of concern.
Victor barely acknowledged her question, his thoughts still completely consumed with Serena. "Leon was abducted. A lot happened, so I didn't have time to call."
The word "abducted" made Eliza's face go pale instantly. She'd been terrified that Victor might actually bring Serena home with him. If that had happened, everything she'd worked for would have been completely ruined.
When Victor didn't mention Serena at all, Eliza felt a wave of secret relief wash over her. She kept her expression neutral but grabbed his arm, her voice filled with worry. "Are you hurt?"
Victor gave her hand a gentle pat. "I'm fine, really. Everything's okay now. Look, I'm standing right here, aren't I?"
Eliza's eyes softened with sympathy. "That's good to hear. But what about Mrs. Powell?"
"She's not coming back," Victor said, irritation creeping into his voice.
Eliza's lips twitched upward for just a moment before she forced the smile away. 'He didn't bring Serena back. Thank goodness,' she thought.
She spoke to Victor in a gentle, soothing tone, trying to comfort him. Her eyes quickly shifted to Leon, who was dozing in Victor's arms. "Vic, Leon looks completely wiped out. You should take him to his room so he can get some proper rest."
Victor glanced down at Leon, who was curled up against his chest, and nodded with a rough voice. "Yeah, I'll take him upstairs right now."
Eliza held onto his arm gently, her voice full of concern. "Go ahead and get Leon settled first. I need to talk to you about something later."
Victor didn't say much in response. He just tightened his grip on Leon and headed toward the stairs. Eliza watched him walk away, a faint smile crossing her lips before she quickly hid it. She gently rubbed her belly, lost in thought.
After getting Leon settled in his room, Victor came back downstairs and walked over to Eliza. He rubbed his temples, looking completely drained. "You said you wanted to talk to me about something. What's going on?"
Eliza looked up at him, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of the prenatal checkup report. She took a deep breath and slowly handed the paper to Victor. "Vic, I'm pregnant. The baby is yours."
Victor froze completely. He mechanically reached out and took the report, his eyes locked on the word "positive." His mind went completely blank, and his expression shifted from shock to complete confusion. "This... how is this even possible?" he stammered.
Eliza watched Victor's face carefully. There wasn't even a hint of happiness—no excitement about becoming a father. Her grip tightened on the pregnancy report as she forced herself to smile. "Vic, aren't you happy about this?" she asked quietly.
Victor's hand started shaking. He tried to speak but could only open and close his mouth without making a sound.
Victor instinctively stepped back, his eyes locked on the report. He swallowed hard, his breathing becoming shallow and rapid. Before he even realized it, his palm was slick with cold sweat as he gripped the pregnancy test results. "This..."
Eliza watched him quietly, then stood up and moved closer. Her voice was soft and gentle. "Vic, this baby is our flesh and blood. Don't you think you should give me and our child a real place in your life?"
Victor's mind was spinning. His emotions were all over the place, and he couldn't think straight. After what felt like forever, he finally managed to speak, his voice rough and strained. "Ellie, I... I need some time. I really have to think about this."
Eliza bit her lip and reached out to tug gently on his sleeve. "Vic, I get how you're feeling, and I know you're exhausted. But I don't want our child to grow up with people whispering behind their back or making judgments about us."
Victor closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. He pinched the bridge of his nose, completely blindsided by Eliza's pregnancy. Marrying Eliza used to be everything he wanted, but now, everything had changed.
"Ellie, I understand what you're saying, but I really need some time to process this," Victor said, his voice barely audible.
"Vic! Even if you don't want to give me a real place in your life, this baby is innocent. I just want to fight for everything our child deserves," Eliza pleaded, her voice shaking.
Victor felt his chest tighten, and his hands started trembling. He stared at Eliza, his mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.
When Eliza saw him hesitate, she gently leaned her face against his shoulder. Her voice was thick with tears. "Vic, I just need you to know—no matter what you decide, all I want is for our child to have a real family."
Victor suddenly pushed Eliza away and stumbled backward. "Ellie, just rest. I need to think about this." He spun around and rushed to the door, his hand shaking as he grabbed the handle. He yanked it open and bolted out.
Victor fumbled for his car keys, his fingers trembling as he hit the unlock button. He jerked the car door open, collapsed into the driver's seat, fired up the engine, and slammed his foot on the gas.
The car screeched to a stop in front of the Powell Manor. Victor shoved the door open and climbed out, then headed straight for the study. He raised his hand and knocked softly on the door. Albert's deep voice came from inside. "Come in."
Victor pushed the door open and stepped into the study. The room carried the faint scent of sandalwood, and Albert sat behind his rosewood desk, practicing calligraphy with smooth, practiced strokes.
Victor approached the desk and stood quietly with his hands at his sides, watching the tip of his father's brush move across the paper. He stood there for what felt like forever, struggling to find the right words.
Albert stopped mid-stroke. He looked up at Victor, immediately sensing something was wrong. "It's late. What's going on?" he asked, his voice steady and calm.
Victor pressed his lips together, his nerves getting the better of him. "Dad, I need to tell you something."
Albert set down his brush, and a drop of ink spread across the paper. He didn't say anything right away. Instead, he picked up his coffee and took a slow sip. "I'm listening," he said quietly.
Victor's palms were slick with sweat. He clenched his fists, trying to calm his racing heart and steady his breathing. "Ellie's pregnant," he finally managed to say.
Albert paused mid-sip, his eyes scanning Victor's face. He slammed his coffee cup down on the desk with a sharp crack, sending coffee splashing across the surface.
"That woman just won't leave us alone!" After a moment of tense silence, Albert suddenly stood up and strode toward the window, his face dark with anger.
"How do you plan to handle this?" Albert demanded.
Victor hung his head, his throat tight. "I just found out myself."
"Just found out?" Albert let out a harsh laugh and spun around to face him. "Has that woman got you wrapped around her finger so tight that she can blackmail you with something like this?"
"Dad, it's not what you think. Ellie, she..." Victor started to explain, but his voice trailed off under Albert's withering stare.