Chapter 27 — Kiera
~Six Months Later
My belly was unmistakable now, and my body had changed in ways that I found rather disturbing. I’d gained a lot of weight and no longer looked as attractive as I did months ago.
My cheeks were chubby, my legs were swollen, and I could barely take five steps before stopping to catch my breath. Nobody had told me about the side effects of pregnancy and how unbearable it could be.
Little things upset me these days because it turned out my emotions were heightened. Everyone treated me like an egg—too delicate and fragile. The staff tried all they could to get me whatever I craved in the exact proportion I asked for.
Nial had given strict instructions that I wasn’t to be stressed at any point during this period. Everyone at the mansion worked together to make sure that I was properly taken care of. Not just because they feared their boss. But because they’d grown to respect me as a person.
Sometimes, I could be annoying—a real pain in the ass—especially when having one of my mood swings. Yet, through it all, the entire staff stood by me.
A part of the reason I was easily upset and irritated was because every part of my body hurt. My waist ached badly, my joints always felt like they were about to snap, and my mind was never quiet.
I was tired all the goddamn time, feeling useless rather than pampered. And to make matters worse, I felt like I was alone in this mess.
Nial was always present from the beginning, running my late-night errands, massaging my body, and simply keeping me company. However, for the last two months now, the attention he once showered me with had drastically reduced.
I barely saw him these days anyway.
He would always leave so early, before I woke up. And he wouldn’t return until late at night, after I’d fallen asleep. This change in his behavior had me worried, even though I knew he was only leaving for work.
Maybe if I didn’t know that he was capable of being present in my time of need, it might’ve hurt less. However, I didn’t only believe that to be a fact; I’d witnessed it. And because my emotions were already heightened, I’d begun thinking of so many reasons why he would abandon me like that.
The most logical reason I could think of was that his recent behavior was because I was no longer as beautiful as I used to be. Honestly, that hurt me so much. Deep down, I know there was a huge chance that I might be wrong.
But that hurt was the only thing that I could hold on to. Being mad at him for something I had no proof of seemed like the best way to feel close to him.
That was strange even for me.
Despite all the kind-hearted staff around me, I still felt as though something was missing. His attention. There was an emptiness inside me that nobody could fill—a space only he could occupy. And every hour that I spent without him only fueled my anger.
So, one night, I decided not to fall asleep no matter what, that I was going to wait for him. I took a couple of energy drinks to keep me awake simply because I didn’t want to fall asleep before he returned.
At almost one o’clock in the morning, the door opened gently, and he walked into the dark room, his shoes silent against the floor.
Seated on a sofa, I flicked on the table lamp on the stool beside me, the warm glow illuminating my figure.
Nial paused in his tracks, a hint of shock in his eyes. “Keira?” he called softly.
“Surprised to see me awake?”
He shed his jacket. “Yes, actually. You’re supposed to be asleep.”
“And you’re supposed to be around when I need you,” I snapped, my voice cutting through the stillness.
For a moment, he seemed short of words, oblivious as to why I was mad at him. “Kiera…” he began, pinching the bridge of his nose, a gesture that indicated exhaustion.
“Does my question bother you?” I kept a straight face, my gaze unwavering.
“What? No.”
“Then why’d you make that face?”
“What face?” He spread out his arms, confused.
“Don’t yell at me.”
“I’m not. I’m just trying to understand what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, so I’m speaking gibberish now?” I struggled to my feet, straining as my scowl deepened.
“Jesus Christ!” he exclaimed softly, looking as confused as a lost deer.
“Don’t drag him into this—this is between me and you.” I managed to stand, hands on my back.
He drew closer, wearing the expression of a tired man who desperately needed an explanation. “What’s going on, little lawyer?” His tone softened, his eyes flickering with concern.
“I should be asking you that.”
He let out a quiet exhale, reaching out to hold my hand. “Please, explain to me what you’re talking about because I’m in the dark here.”
“Well, in that case, allow me to shed some light on your darkness.” I broke free from his hold, frowning at him. “You haven’t been here for me in months. You’ve prioritized your work over me, and in doing so, you’ve proven that you don’t care about me anymore.”
He listened in silence, watching me vent out all my frustrations.
“What did I do? Why are you avoiding me? Is it because I look like an ogre? Do you no longer find me attractive? Is that it?” Tears streamed down my cheeks. “It’s not my fault—it’s the pregnancy; it changes people. And if you can’t deal with it, then maybe you’re not cut out for this.”
His arms wrapped around me in a heartbeat while I was still talking. And just like that, all that anger and frustration began slowly dissipating into thin air.
He held me close, refusing to let go. The longer I remained in his arms, breathing in the scent of his cologne, the calmer I became. When he decided to let go, he raised my chin and looked into my eyes.
“I didn’t realize how my actions were hurting you,” he said, his voice dripping with sincerity. “Work has been crazy these past two months, and I’ve barely even had a proper rest. It’s been one catastrophic incident after another.”
The exhaustion in his eyes melted my heart.
He continued, “I swear, with the system I had in place to make sure you never lacked anything, I thought I was leaving you in good hands.”
No hands are better than yours.
I swallowed hard, taking notes of the faint bags under his eyes and the tiredness etched in his gaze. This man had been working harder than before; it was obvious now. And it was taking a toll on him too.
I’d been so focused on myself that I’d forgotten he was a human being as well.
“I should’ve paid more attention to you,” he said, voicing my own thoughts. “You’re my wife. You’re carrying my child, and you should come first. Always.”
At this point, I didn’t have it in me to be angry anymore. I was just emotional. So emotional that I started crying for no reason.
God, I hated this aspect of pregnancy!
It made me weak, and I didn’t like it at all.
“I’m sorry,” I whimpered, drying my tears. “It’s just harder when you’re not around.”
“Shhhh.” He wiped the remaining tears I didn’t get off my cheeks. “I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere.”
We stared deeply into each other’s eyes, and I felt a familiar warmth spreading through my body.
He pulled me closer to himself and breathed me in. “Hmm. You smell so good.”
My cheeks flushed at his remark, my lips curling into a genuine smile.
He placed his hand on my swollen belly, his touch gentle and reverent. “How’s our baby doing?”
I glanced down. “It kicks…a lot.”
“Really?” He bent over, his ear against my stomach, as if listening. “I don’t hear it.”
I chuckled lightly. “That’s because it isn’t happening right now.”
Nial straightened, his eyes locked to mine.
“You look stressed out,” I said, my fingers undoing the buttons of his shirt.
“A quick nap can fix that,” he answered.
“Maybe.” I shrugged my shoulders, my teeth grazing my lower lip. “But I can think of other things that can fix it even faster.” My hand slid down to his groin.
“Uuuuhhh.” He groaned, his neck rolling in a massaging motion. “I want this, but I’m worried about your condition.”
“Shhhh. I’m pregnant. Not handicapped.” I dipped my hand in his pants and began stroking his cock. “Besides, all you have to do is tell me to stop, and I will,” I whispered, holding his gaze.
He groaned, deeper this time.
My hand was still in his pants when I continued stroking his length, refusing to take my eyes off his face. “Go ahead. Tell me to stop,” I dared him, knowing full well he wouldn’t be able to do so.
“I’m just…I’m just worried about you,” he murmured, basking in the euphoria of my touch.
“I’m fine, so you can worry about something else.” I crouched before him, settling on my knees. “Like the nasty things I’m about to do to you.”
He looked down, catching my eyes. “You’re insane.”
My lips curled into a mischievous grin. “I know.”
A moment later, I pulled his pants down and began caressing his cock, watching him moan in ecstasy. I lifted his stick and dipped my head, my lips wrapping around his shaved sac.
“Oh, fuck.” His body stiffened.
I glanced up at his face, my smirk retained as I worked on him with my hands and mouth. I sucked on his balls while my fist rolled along his erection.
Nial’s legs trembled when I swallowed his cock, dipping my face in and out of his groin. He pressed his hand against the back of my head so delicately, as if afraid I might choke to death.
How considerate.
I pulled out from his groin, my glassy eyes still locked on him. I sucked in air through the small gap between my upper and lower teeth as I continued stroking his length.
He threw his head back, groaning in pleasure as I worked on him. “So good. So relaxing.”
“That’s it,” I whispered. “Release all that stress.” I tapped his cock over my mouth before swallowing it again. “Hmmm. Mmmm.”
He took a handful of my hair, his waist grinding against my face. His cock was deep in my throat. I choked. Gagged. And eventually pulled off with a gasp.
“Fuck,” I whispered as a thread of drool lingered off my mouth. “That’s nasty.”
“Hot,” he answered, leaning down to kiss my lips.
I took off my top, revealing my breasts, swollen and heavy. Pregnancy had made them bigger—fuller. He spread out his legs and bent over with his cock between my curves.
My hands pressed my breasts against him, creating a tightness worth sliding through. We locked eyes as he fucked my titties with a steady rhythm.
“God, you look so hot,” he said, staring down into my eyes, his fingers in my hair.
Those words sparked something fierce inside me, something that killed the idea of him not finding me attractive anymore. I took his cock in my mouth again and resumed sucking, fiercer than before.
“Fuck, you’re gonna make me come,” he said, his voice deep and urgent.
“Come on my breasts,” I said, locking eyes with him. “I want you to come on my breasts.”
His face contorted in pleasure as he groaned while stroking his length faster by the second. I lifted my chest, breasts positioned, ready to receive his load.
“Oh, fuccckkk!” He exploded, his cap pink with sheer pleasure.
“Yesss, Daddy.” I pressed my boobs together. “Give it to me—gimme all of it.”
He released all over my chest, his thick load trickling down my skin. His legs trembled as he stumbled backward, almost losing his balance. The look of satisfaction and awe in his eyes prompted a smile on my face.
I grabbed my top from the floor and used it to wipe his load. “Still feeling stressed out?”
He straightened, struggling to catch his breath. “I feel much better now…thank you.” The slight pause came when he stepped forward and helped me to my feet.
“Glad I could help,” I whispered.
“Listen to me.” He cupped my face in his hand. “Don’t ever think less of yourself. You’re just as beautiful as you’ve always been.”
A flutter rose in my chest, and my head lowered to hide my blush.
“Pregnant or not, I’ll always find you attractive,” he said, raising my chin. “That’s the difference between love and lust.”
“Love?” I stared at him, confused, my brows furrowing. In my chest, my heart was pounding as I awaited his response.
“I’m just as shocked as you are, little lawyer,” he answered, one arm going around my waist. “I never planned to fall for you…but I did.”
Tears stung my eyes, and soon they began flowing like a river. “Don’t say things to people if you don’t mean them.”
He wiped my tears, looking right into my eyes. “I love you, Kiera.” His fingers toiled with my hair. “And I mean every single word.”
A mix of fear, longing, joy, and satisfaction exploded within me, my heart swelling with something unnamed.
“I love you too, Nial.” My lips curved into a genuine smile—bright and broad.
He kissed me on the forehead and held me close, one hand on my protruding belly. I felt safe in his arms. Happy.
For the first time since this saga began, I knew exactly who I was to him. The confusion was over. I was no longer the woman he was forced to marry for the sake of his unborn child and the image of his family.
I was something more.
Not just a wife.
A partner.
In the stillness of the room, I realized this was the start of something new—something terrifying and beautiful at the same time.
It was the beginning of a future I hadn’t known I wanted.
Was it what I’d envisioned for myself?
No.
But it was all I had.
Was my story going to have a happy ending?
Maybe. Maybe not.
I guess we’d find out.