Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

“Let’s forget these hair-pulling worries,” Luzia waved her hand, nonchalantly saying, “We should enjoy this rare free time.”

Speaking of enjoyment, Luzia crawled out of Vivian’s embrace, the blanket slipping off her, revealing her cute bear-print pajamas. “We should find something fun to do.”

“How about going to the movies?” Luzia exclaimed with excitement. “There’s a mini theater in the villa, I know where the snacks are, and I’d like a cola. What movie do you want to watch?”

Luzia felt regret once again. “If only we could go dancing, I haven’t been to a bar in ages.”

“Shelley would be thrilled to hear you want to go dancing,” Vivian sighed, “But I can’t accompany you right now.”

“I know, Alajos has restricted your movements.”

“No,” Vivian shook her head, denying Luzia’s accusation against Alajos.

She lifted the blanket, revealing her slightly swollen belly under loose pajamas. “I’m pregnant.”

Luzia’s eyes widened in shock, exclaiming, “What did you say?”

Luzia couldn’t believe her ears; she thought she must have misheard.

Yes, she was sure she misheard.

Of course, her certainty in mishearing was not because she hoped Vivian was infertile, but because she had overheard Alajos telling Auntie that he didn’t want Vivian to get pregnant.

The situation in Houston was too dire; Alajos could not accept his own weakness at this time, a fragile child was enough to drag Alajos down.

But no matter how much Luzia refused to believe it, Vivian’s swollen belly was telling her the absolute truth-she was pregnant, and Alajos was going to be a father.

“Oh my goodness!” Unimaginable shock was followed by unimaginable delight. Tears welled in Luzia’s eyes; she was happier than if she had been the one pregnant. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

Vivian was infected with joy by Luzia, watching her happily waving her arms in the room, laughing gently. “Yes, you’re going to be an aunt, no doubt about it.”

“But you need to keep it quiet, don’t let anyone find out; this is our secret,” Vivian said. “Not many people know.”

Luzia calmed down a bit, but only in that she lowered her voice. “Does Alajos know?”

As soon as this question came out, Luzia knew she had asked a foolish question; how could Alajos not know?

Sure enough, Vivian nodded. “He knows.”

“Simpson, Mare, Emmert, Doctor Yoshiye who did my check-up, Nirupama who helped me with measurements for clothes,” Vivian counted the people who knew she was pregnant. “And now, you.”

“Oh, and Nirupama wants to invite you for honey pancakes. If you’re free, we can go have coffee with her,” Vivian didn’t forget to extend an invitation from Nirupama.

“As long as Joseph is busy with his work, he can’t control my time,” Luzia accepted Nirupama’s invitation. But now she was more interested in the fact that Vivian was pregnant.

Luzia cautiously placed her hands on both sides of Vivian’s swollen belly, feeling a bit excited and a bit scared, her hands trembling.

“You can feel him,” Vivian said. “He moves occasionally. But he prefers Alajos; he moves more when Alajos is around.”

Gently touching the belly, the warm sensation conveyed nerves. Luzia didn’t feel the baby’s movements, but she still felt a sense of wonder. “How far along is he?”

“25 weeks,” Vivian touched her belly.

Luzia did the math herself. “So, he still needs about 25 more weeks to come out, right? That’s a long time. How long can you keep it a secret?”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“We’re trying to delay the time as much as possible,” Vivian felt uneasy too, but they had their reasons for doing so. “You have to keep this secret for us, Luzia, absolutely do not let Joseph know.”

“Why?” Luzia asked. “I know Joseph is a complete devil, but this is his nephew; he’s going to be an uncle.”

Vivian shook her head. “You don’t understand him enough, Luzia. He doesn’t understand family ties, to him, anyone who obstructs him is an enemy.”

“Do you know how this child came about?”

The answer to this question was embarrassing, and Luzia didn’t know how to respond.

But Vivian wasn’t embarrassed. She said, “My father told Alajos that I was on birth control.”

Luzia was puzzled for a moment, not understanding Vivian’s meaning.

Vivian was on birth control? Thenwhy did she get pregnant? Did she take fake birth control pills? No, perhaps Vivian never took birth control pills at all. Luzia felt like she had glimpsed a secret.

“He was lying?” Luzia saw Vivian nod, unable to believe it. “Why?”

“That’s what Alajos and I want to figure out,” Vivian shook her head, “You know, Alajos actually didn’t want a child, right?”

Luzia wasn’t surprised that Vivian knew; since they knew Bryson was talking, they must have communicated.

“Of course, Alajos wouldn’t allow anything to make him vulnerable. That’s also why he’s afraid to love you. Love is a weakness, whether it’s love for a wife or love for a child; it can easily kill a person.”

Luzia sighed, burying herself back in the covers. “Bratva is trying everything to get close to Alajos. If they can’t kill him in the turmoil, they send spies, send assassins, targeting people around Alajos. A child is the best choice.”

“I can’t see through my father,” Vivian said disheartened, “I can guess that he gave up on me, but I can’t determine the real reason for his actions. Kill Alajos, and then what, replace him?”

“Houston may be weak, but its army still maintains strong combat capability. If Alajos dies, there’s still Simpson, there’s their cousins, the Hargrave family will always have someone to take the Capo’s position.”

Luzia couldn’t figure it out either; she was naturally optimistic and couldn’t engage in too much complicated thinking.

“All of this is what Alajos should consider. You shouldn’t think about it,” Luzia said.

“I’m happy to have a child,” Vivian slid down and lay shoulder to shoulder with Luzia under the covers, they looked up at the canopy together.

“I’m also afraid of having a child,” Vivian quietly expressed her worries. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect him, that he’ll be kidnapped, dismembered, and his fingers and toes will be placed in front of Alajos and me. I’ll collapse.”

“No, Alajos will protect his child,” Luzia leaned her head against Vivian’s, comforting her softly. “You have to believe in him.”

“I hope Alajos is trustworthy,” Vivian turned off the bedside lamp, and the bedroom fell into darkness. She could feel Luzia’s hand on her arm. “Let’s go to sleep, Auntie will take us apple picking tomorrow.”

“I’d rather have cherries,” Luzia sighed, “But Auntie doesn’t grow cherries well, and she doesn’t like having a gardener take care of the fruit trees for her.”

“Mrs. Yazmin is a stubborn woman,” Vivian’s voice gradually softened.

“You should call her Auntie, Vivian,” Luzia corrected Vivian’s address.

Vivian’s answer was the gradually calming and lengthening breaths.

Vivian fell asleep.

Luzia closed her eyes for a moment and curiously touched her belly.

It seemed that this child still favored Alajos; she didn’t have the luck to feel the baby’s movements.

“Goodnight,” Luzia said.