"Were not yet through, my wife," he spoke in a rough voice, making sure he has control over me.
"Please just fucking let go off me..." I thought it would come out as a hard tone, but it came out almost like a whisper in the wind.
"I know you've been dreaming of me last night, every fucking minute of your night. I know deep there inside, you wanted this much to happen as much as I want you..." His soft tone vibrated all over my nerves.
"No. I don't... I can't!" I sterntly said. Tears formed around my eyes but I didn't let it fall.
"As much as I wanted to be near you or being with you. I just can't... I couldn't, Hezekiah." I slowly shook my head.
"It's not that easy. Alessandra is alive and your child... your child you chose over me!" My voice already cracked but I still my managed myself.
"No, Sweetheart," he whispered softer now.
"Please..." I struggled to get off of his hold but he didn't let me.
"Just one more chance, sweetheart... please?" He embraced me into a hug, it was so tight... as if there was no tomorrow. My tears finally fell. I couldn't pull away when I felt his shoulders shake while hugging me.
"I love you... I still love you," he murmured and buried his face deep in between my shoulder and neck.
I love him... I always do, but I can't give him what he wants yet.
I shut my eyes close, "Just... give me some time to decide." Those were the only words I uttered.
*****
It's been months since Hezekiah and I last talked. I can move around well now because he flew to Manila to take care of some businesses there.
I also told him not to send me flowers anymore. A few months later, I'll give birth to my baby and I'm already done with the craving phases. I haven't answered the thing he always ask on me because I want us to be just like this. Although I'm considering this set up just for the sake of our baby. Even if I know he wants more.
"Your check-ups? Our child needs to be monitored. And don't forget your vitamins."
"Hey, I'm fine. Thank you..." I cut him off and chuckled.
I heard his heavy breaths from the other line, "I'm just being paranoid. I know what you're about to say, Mrs. Grant."
"Foul word!" I rolled up my eyes but the smile on my face grew more.
"You are still my wife, sweetheart." I can hear him chuckling.
I blushed and twisted my lips a bit. He knows how to flatter my heart, and that's what I've been trying to avoid. I'm not yet ready, there's still one thing I want to do before making a decision.
"Okay, bye... call you later..." I quickly dropped the call and faced my secretary who knocked on my door.
"Your meeting with Alessandra Dimafelix is set at 2:00 this afternoon. I already readied the room for the guests."
I nodded at my secretary before she left.
A smile appeared on my lips while caressing my stomach, "Surprise! You are gonna meet your brother, baby..."
I glanced at wall clock. It's already thirty minutes past one in the afternoon. I prepared myself for my meeting with Alessandra.
From afar, I could already see her sitting in a corner of the restaurant. She waved at me which I returned with also a wave.
"Hi! How are you? Your baby?" She greeted me.
"I'm fine... I'm better now." I said with a timid smile.
"You?" I raked my eyes on her. I noticed that she lost weight. His cheekbones were prominent and her eye bags were evident.
"Much better now, this little creature is just so active since he's starting to move around." She made the baby face me, "Say hi to Tita Emory," she told her child.
"Hi, little kido?" I waved my fingers on him.
He didn't respond but he just stared at me. He looked more like her Mommy Alessandra, but he got Hezekiah's eyes and lips.
"It's his christening next month. I hope you can join us?" Her voice were low and timid. She can't look at me in the eye ever since I arrived.
"Yes, of course, but I think I can't go because it's also my due month next month."
Her eyes went down to my big baby bump and smiled.
"It feels good to have a baby. A lot had changed in me ever since Uno arrived in my life."
"Uno? Nice name." I commented.
"Yes, because he's my only son." I saw her eyes softened while caressing the head of her oblivious son.
Something pinched inside of me when I remembered how she went critical while giving birth to her son. She can't have another baby because her heart may not take it anymore.
"Hezekiah told me he's going to Uno's christening," she said while looking at her child.
"He agreed on... giving his... surname to Uno. I hope it's fine with you?" she said, I hinted pleading in her voice.
I pursed my lips tight. I gulped and processed what he said and smiled after.
"Yes, of course..."
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment. I flinched when she held my hand that was resting on the table.
"I know you haven't fixed things with Ga—Hezekiah yet. I also know that we're the reason why."
I shook my head. As much as possible, I don't want to burden her more. It's hard to take care of a child alone and I don't want us to fight because of her situation.
"No, don't say that. All of us have our faults here, so even if we do everything to fix it, we can't bring back everything to how it was before. History taught us over and over again, so what we should do now is move on and start anew." I smiled as I was saying the word that cut through my heart.
"He did not choose us, he never will, Meredith. He's not there when I gave birth. We called him a few times but he never arrived." Her eyes dropped to her son and caressing his hair.
"He went a few days after I delivered Uno." She paused and bit her lower lip. I noticed a tear escape from her eyes before she looked away.
"But he promised to give his name to his child. That's what I only wish for. For him to recognize the child as his after everything." She lifted her gaze at me again. A pearl of tear pooled at the corner of her eyes. I know those tears meant a lot of things. But just like me, she managed to hold it back.
"He loves you so much, Emory. I hope you give him the chance to be a father to your future baby." She then finally said the words that cut right through her heart.