"I'm eight weeks pregnant, and it's Mr. Luke's."
"You've been married to Mr. Luke for three years yet have no children. How dare you say that you're his wife?"
......
A pregnant woman in a loose-fitting dress, adorned with exquisite makeup and high-end brands all over, looked down at Adrienne Simons.
Adrienne sat quietly on the couch, glancing at the woman before her and sighing silently.
"What's your name?" asked Adrienne.
Marian Lewis blinked, probably not expecting anyone in Cambridge City not to recognize her.
Her face was well-known within her circle.
"I'm Marian Lewis," she replied, her tone somewhat cold. "Mrs. Luke, be wise, sign the divorce papers, and stop clinging onto Mr. Luke."
She looked at Adrienne, whose eyes seemed extremely glazed over and lazy; Adrienne showed complete disregard for her threat.
With that, Marian became unsettled. Before she could say anything more, she saw Adrienne rise and smile at her, though it didn't reach her eyes.
Adrienne walked up to Marian. "Miss Lewis, in the past year, more than thirty women have told me they are pregnant with Carlos's child."
Marian's facial expression changed.
"You're not the first, and you won't be the last," Adrienne continued to smile.
Adrienne's smile frightened Marian. She calmly placed her hand on Marian's belly, causing Marian to instinctively take a step back out of fear.
"What are you doing? Don't think about hurting the child in my stomach. Don't think I don't know what you're up to," Marian said, anxiously protecting her belly.
"Are you sure this child is Carlos'?" Adrienne smiled again.
"Of course, it's Mr. Luke's," Marian affirmed.
"Fine," Adrienne said, smiling. "Miss Lewis, you probably don't know Carlos had a vasectomy to avoid trouble. Since you are sure this child is Carlos's, why not give birth to it? After all, the Luke family wants a grandson; they won't treat you unfairly."
Those words caused Marian's facial expression to change.
"However, if your words aren't actually true, you know the consequences, don't you, Miss Lewis?" Adrienne's tone grew cold.
Her initial laziness seemed to turn sharp, and she stared straight at Marian, who began to tremble.
"Kindly remind you, Miss Lewis, Carlos hates betrayal the most," Adrienne said, standing firm before Marian.
Marian quickly lost her earlier frailty and turned to leave hastily.
Adrienne knew she could make Marian disappear from Cambridge City even without Carlos' help.
......
Adrienne watched Marian leave and sighed silently. In her opinion, she was playing her role as Carlos' wife quite well.
Those trouble-making women initially terrified Adrienne to the point of confusion, but currently, she could deal with one in less than ten minutes. It didn't make her feel accomplished anymore.
Her eyes lowered in contemplation and seemed thoughtful, but soon, she spotted Carlos Luke, who was standing at the turn of the staircase.
He had seen and heard everything, yet he had watched the commotion so nonchalantly, as if he wasn't involved.
Adrienne silently sneered. Suddenly, someone tugged harshly at her waist, and she fell onto a solid chest.
Her nose picked up on the mature scent of a man, mixed with the smell of tobacco. Without looking up, Adrienne knew that it was Carlos who was hugging her.
"Hey," Adrienne called softly.
Carlos grunted, "Did you visit mom today?"
He was referring to Adrienne's mother, Miranda Simons, whose health had been declining. She was staying at Blessing Hospital.
Adrienne nodded.
In an instant, Carlos flipped her around. As he asked that question, his thin lips fell onto Adrienne's. Adrienne did not resist, letting him kiss her.
With Carlos's movement, Adrienne subconsciously hugged his neck. She felt rather spineless, a typical case of the body being brutally honest while the mouth said no.
The atmosphere changed.
"Adrienne, how come I didn't know I had a vasectomy?" Carlos asked, biting Adrienne's lips.
Adrienne stammered, somewhat embarrassed. "It had to be dealt with, right?"
After three years of marriage, Adrienne was Carlos's tool to please the elders of the Luke family and deal with the women who clung to him.
They were married in name, and their chemistry in bed was a match made in heaven.
"Are you displeased with me lately?" Carlos asked again.
Adrienne paused and said, "I wouldn't dare."
"You don't like dealing with those women?" Carlos continued kissing her.
"Not really; it's just not challenging anymore," Adrienne answered vaguely.
Carlos laughed, biting Adrienne harshly.
The bite was a little painful, and she couldn't help but open her mouth. "With so many women outside, why do you come back to torment me?"
"Jealous?" Carlos looked at Adrienne.
Adrienne was frustrated, so she stopped talking altogether, and Carlos asked nothing more.
In the master bedroom, their passion was at full force. Autumn in Cambridge City still carried a hint of stifling heat.
It was another long session.
......
Afterward, Carlos released Adrienne and went straight to the bathroom.
"Honey," Adrienne called out to Carlos.
Carlos's footsteps stopped, waiting for Adrienne to finish speaking. Adrienne bit her lip, looking down in thought, and Carlos didn't rush her.
Finally, she said, "Let's get a divorce."
His previously relaxed eyebrows furrowed in an instant. Looking at Adrienne again, his tone sank. "Adrienne, what did you just say?"
"Carlos Luke, let's get a divorce," Adrienne said, calling him by his full name.
Carlos didn't speak; he merely turned and began to walk towards Adrienne. He was born with an intimidating presence, and his aura almost left one breathless.
However, Adrienne stayed calm.
Only when Carlos's tall figure stood in front of Adrienne did she calmly open her mouth and ask, "She's back, isn't she?"