Chapter 4
Then came Lily's voice, trembling with barely contained anger as she vented her frustration.
"You're finally back. If you'd stayed out any longer, the Miller family's reputation would have been ruined."
Next was Steven's voice, sounding a bit tired.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Do you have the nerve to ask me that?"
Lily's voice turned sharp and shrill all of a sudden.
"Your precious wife is pregnant. And not just with one, but three babies at once!
"Explain yourself. How did this even happen?"
I heard Steven drop his briefcase outside, the sound of fabric shifting echoing through the door.
An awkward silence stretched on.
I clenched my fists, bracing myself for his judgment.
Would he trust me, or would he, just like his mom, think I'd betrayed him?
Our marriage was already as fragile as thin paper.
Now, a dark stain had been spilled on it.
Whether he'd tear it up or try to salvage it, it all came down to his decision.
After what felt like forever, Steven finally spoke, his voice still calm.
"Where's the ultrasound report?"
"It's on the table! See it for yourself," said Lily.
Another moment of silence hung in the air.
I could almost picture him picking up the ultrasound report, and for once, his calm, emotionless face finally showing a crack.
"Have you talked to her?" Steven asked.
"Talk? What's there to talk about?" Lily's voice dripped with contempt.
"A woman who cheats behind your back. What's there to discuss? Just tell her to pack up and get out.
"The Miller family can't afford to be humiliated like this."
"What evidence do you have?" Steven asked, his voice cool and steady.
"What more do you need? Neither of you can have kids. Her being pregnant is all the proof you need."
Lily retorted, sounding utterly convinced.
"Doctors get the misdiagnosis sometimes," Steven replied calmly.
Lily snapped, "A misdiagnosis? Seriously? What are the chances? One mistake, fine, but two?
"Are you out of your mind, Steven? How can you even put up with this?"
"Mom," said Steven.
Steven's voice now carried a warning edge.
"Let me deal with this. Don't say another word," he said.
Lily retorted, "How could I stay silent? This is about the Miller family's reputation.
"I'm going straight to Dexter tomorrow. He needs to see for himself what kind of wife he found for you."
"Enough!" Steven's voice cut through.
It was the first time Steven had ever raised his voice.
His tone carried an authority that brooked no dissent.
The living room went quiet all of a sudden.
I heard footsteps coming toward my room.
Then, there was a knock at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Not too loud, not too soft, like his usual restraint.
I took a deep breath, walked over, and opened the door.
Steven was standing there.
The hallway light reflected a cold gleam off his gold-rimmed glasses.
His face was blank, showing no emotion at all.
He was holding the ultrasound report, all crumpled up in his hand.
We locked eyes.
His gaze was deep, like a bottomless well. I couldn't read a thing from his expression.
"Let's talk," Steven said.
I nodded and stepped aside to let him in.
He walked in and stood by the desk, not bothering to sit down.
I closed the door, blocking out Lily's attempts to listen in from the hallway.
"Is it true what she said?" Steven asked, giving the ultrasound report a little shake.
"It's written clearly on the report," I replied.
"When did you find out?" he asked.
"This morning. I found out at the hospital," I said.
Steven fell silent.
The air in the room felt like it had frozen solid.
I looked at him, whom I'd been married to for three months, yet he felt even more distant than a stranger.
All of a sudden, I didn't want to keep wondering.
"Do you believe me?" I asked.
Steven looked up at me.
"I only trust the medical reports," he said.
He paused, then went on.
"I'll take tomorrow off. We'll go to the best hospital in the city.
"You'll get another checkup, and so will I.
"We'll get to the bottom of everything."
He handled it so logically that it was almost icy.
He didn't ask, didn't comfort, didn't show a single emotion.
Steven acted like this was another complicated work problem, not his own wife and unborn kids.
But I actually felt a wave of relief.
At least he didn't jump to conclusions and blame me, as his mother did.
He actually gave me a chance to clear my name.
"Okay," I said, nodding.
Right then, Lily started dialing her phone.
She must've gone back to her room to make the call.
But her booming voice blasted right through two doors, loud and clear in our room.
"Dexter, get home right now. Something big just happened.
"Your so-called perfect daughter-in-law got knocked up by someone else."
Steven's brow creased slightly, betraying a subtle tension.
He took out his phone and called Steven, his father.
The call went through right away.
Steven said, "Dad, don't listen to Mom yet.
"Naoimi is pregnant.
"It's a bit complicated, Dad. Just come home, and we'll talk face to face."
After hanging up, Steven turned to me.
He said, "My dad's coming home tonight.
"We're having a family meeting."
I nodded, feeling calm inside.
The storm was bound to come, sooner or later.
Let it come.