Side Story 1

“Pregnant.”

The doctor placed the stethoscope down and gave the diagnosis.

“……Pardon?”

“It’s been three weeks now. Congratulations, Madame.”

Helen’s mouth fell open at the unexpected news.

The doctor, with a sharp gaze, scanned the speechless patient up and down. She looked about thirty, her appearance ordinary, but her clothes and shoes were refined. She seemed to be a noblewoman on vacation. A noble lady in such a rural backwater—if things went well, it might be a chance to make a good connection.

Eyes twinkling, the doctor asked slyly,

“Did your husband come with you?”

“Ah… no.”

Helen stammered and sprang up from her seat. The doctor, awkwardly rising as well, tried to stop her.

“If you’ll let me know where you’re staying, I can come visit your villa…”

“No, I’ll come back myself.”

He wanted to continue the conversation, but she seemed too dazed by the news of her pregnancy. Clicking his tongue, the doctor gave a faint smile.

“Understood. It’s still early, so please be careful, very careful. If you need anything, send word anytime.”

He didn’t forget to open the door for her, hoping that being kind to a high-status patient might be advantageous.

* * *

Upon leaving the clinic, Helen was greeted by the coachman who had been waiting.

“Madam, you’re out.”

“Did you wait long?”

“No, I was just sitting and resting.”

The coachman smiled and opened the carriage door.

“What did the doctor say?”

“Ah…….”

Helen lowered her gaze and answered briefly.

“Just a mild cold.”

“That’s a relief.”

Inside the gently rocking carriage, Helen silently drew the curtain aside.

It was a peaceful tropical resort, the emerald sea shimmering outside.

She had come here with Raymond and his mother, Charlotte, whose health had recently declined, to rest and recuperate.

But pregnant?

She was still stunned by the news, unable to process any thoughts. She barely remembered how she’d left the clinic.

“Still, Raymond should be the first to know… the very first…”

Helen murmured, placing her hand over her flat stomach. Was there really a life growing inside her? It didn’t feel real.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Lost between dream and reality, Helen barely noticed as the carriage slowed at their destination. The horses stopped before a white villa perched atop a sheer cliff, overlooking the crashing sea.

“Sister-in-law!”

As soon as the coachman opened the carriage door, Henry, who had been waiting, was the first to greet Helen.

“Henry.”

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Yes.”

Helen smiled and patted his small head. Henry, enjoying the gesture, suddenly pulled away, as if he’d come to his senses.

“Oh, come on, I’m fourteen now.”

“Already?”

“Yes, so I’m not a kid anymore.”

Time had flown by. It had already been a year since Helen and Raymond married. In that time, Henry had grown so much that he now reached her chest. Seeing him grow day by day filled Helen with both joy and a touch of sadness.

Henry, noticing her complicated expression, bit his lip and asked,

“But if you want, I can act a little younger.”

“What?”

“You like babies, don’t you?”

“Cough…”

Helen felt as if he’d hit the mark. She coughed, caught off guard. Before she could recover, a shadow fell behind her.

“Who… who…”

Startled, Helen turned her head sharply, only to find familiar arms wrapping tightly around her slender waist.

“That’s right, Henry.”

Raymond, as if claiming ownership, naturally pulled Helen into his arms.

“You really don’t need to grow any taller.”

“Brother?”

“If you get any bigger, it’ll be creepy. Can’t you just stop there?”

“Brother!”

Henry’s face flushed red and blue in an instant. Raymond was teasing his much younger brother in a way that didn’t suit his age. Helen, letting out a sigh mixed with laughter, tapped the hand Raymond had wrapped around her waist.

“Enough.”

“Helen.”

He let go and turned her around, showering kisses from the crown of her head to her forehead, nose, and both cheeks.

“Raymond!”

Helen, flustered, tried to push his shoulder, but it was no use. Henry shook his head at the sight.

“You never change, Brother…”

He was like a big dog drooling over a snack, unable to leave his wife’s side. Or maybe a loyal dog, overwhelmed with affection for his owner.

“That’s enough now… ah!”

“Up we go.”

Only after Henry escaped the affectionate scene did Raymond’s lips leave Helen. Without giving her time to catch her breath, he lifted her up in his arms. Helen, startled, wrapped her arms around his neck and asked nervously,

“The bank—did it go well?”

“Yes, the bank manager held me up a bit, so I was late.”

Raymond, hugging her tightly, pressed his slightly trembling body against hers.

“I sent the promised money to Father and his wife. Through Mr. Glen, I even drew up a legally binding agreement. They won’t contact Henry or come to Groene Hall again.”

“That’s… really good.”

Helen replied softly, calming her startled heart.

Raymond and Henry’s father.

He was the main reason Charlotte’s condition had worsened. After spending time at the villa with his wife without a word, he suddenly returned to Groene Hall claiming he’d run out of money.

Charlotte, who had been improving, suffered a seizure as soon as she saw the Earl, and even after Raymond drove his father and stepmother out, the atmosphere at the mansion remained tense for some time.

Raymond hurriedly opened the bedroom door. The two maids cleaning inside greeted politely and quickly left.

Helen barely had time to recover from the embarrassment. Raymond, with his shameless face, gently laid his wife on the bed.

“You’ve been under a lot of stress, haven’t you? I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

Helen shook her head. Before her back touched the soft bedding, he was already looming over her. As she closed her eyes at his approaching lips, his skilled hand swept over her skirt and up to her lower belly, making her instinctively turn her head away.

“…Helen?”

“I don’t think I can.”

The baby.

The presence she still couldn’t quite grasp was on her mind. The doctor had said to be careful in the early stages, so she couldn’t let things go any further.

“Are you sick? You said you weren’t feeling well lately…”

While she hesitated, wondering how to bring it up, his warm forehead touched hers. Raymond, with a worried face, checked her temperature as if he’d rushed over.

“You said you were going to the hospital this morning, didn’t you?”

“Oh, that…”

Helen swallowed dryly. Even when the weather was gloomy, he was always gentle with her.

Gathering courage, she opened her mouth. But just then, something fell from Raymond’s pocket as he removed his coat. Helen reached out quickly, only for him to stop her hand.

“…Raymond?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It looked like a letter.”

It was brief, but she was certain. Helen narrowed her eyes.

“Show me.”

“…….”

His avoidance was suspicious. Helen sat up and held out her hand.

“That’s my letter, isn’t it?”

“Well…”

Raymond smiled awkwardly and tried to slip away.

“You look tired today. You should rest. I’ll just…”

“Raymond Campbell Somerset.”

No chance. Helen grabbed his arm and questioned him seriously.

“Didn’t I tell you I hate lies most of all?”

Her stern expression was like a teacher grilling a student, and Raymond pursed his lips. He knew he couldn’t win against his wife at times like this.

He swallowed and finally surrendered.

“…Here.”

Helen’s eyes widened as she received the letter.

“It’s from Adora?”

“…….”

“Why were you hiding it?”

“Well…”

Raymond forced a smile under her quiet questioning. He didn’t mind his wife exchanging letters with friends. He’d do anything to make her happy.

But Adora Roderick.

She was the only exception. Had she not appeared at their wedding as a guest, in Ayden’s stead, claiming work at the academy kept him away? Raymond remembered her smiling face, her words that had quietly needled him, and his head throbbed.

—Congratulations on your marriage. Taking the woman I’d picked as my sister-in-law. You’re really lucky, Earl.

—…Thank you for coming, Lady Roderick.

—No need to thank me. It’s nothing. I’m actually much more persistent than I look.

—…….

—You know divorce isn’t such a big deal these days, right?

—What do you mean…?

—I wouldn’t care if Helen got divorced three times.

She wasn’t just warning him—she was outright challenging him. He was briefly flustered by her words in front of the newlywed groom, but he answered with a smile.

—Only three divorces? I wouldn’t mind if Helen had three children already.

—Oh, really? Well, what do you know—I wouldn’t mind if Helen had five children…

—Darling!

If Lord Roderick hadn’t hurriedly interrupted, who knows what would’ve happened.

But Raymond’s discomfort with Adora Roderick wasn’t just for that reason. More than anything, she was Hayden Gaither’s sister. He hoped Helen would have no further connection with him.

“…Sorry. I didn’t realize. I thought it was my letter. I get so much mail these days.”

Even now, when he didn’t show it openly, Helen sometimes struggled with his possessiveness. Knowing that, he was trying to restrain himself, but anything related to Hayden Gaither was especially hard to control.

The desire not to make her suffer and the wish to have her all to himself were at odds.

Raymond steadied himself and changed the subject with a gentle smile.

“More importantly, what were you going to say earlier? What did the doctor say?”

“…He said I’m pregnant.”

“What… what did you say?”

“Raymond.”

His blue eyes shook without focus. Raymond swallowed a trembling breath. His heart raced, and heat surged through his body.

But before he could react to the good news, a bolt of lightning struck over his head.

“We’re sleeping in separate rooms for a while.”