Geoffrey wanted to scoff. Apparently, the purpose of princess Georgina's visit was not only rekindling fond memories with his father, but also to prepare him on what Charlton would be requesting when he gets the medal of valor.

Really, he has to give it to Charlton. After stabbing him from behind, now he would want to publicly humiliate him by letting everyone know how Serena, his intended for 4 years, who he personally escorted in balls and publicly favored, would choose him over himself.

​​

Did he want to paint himself as the hero who saved the beauty from the villain? Did he want to romanticize his and Serena's betrayal as something justifiable because it was true love?

Geoffrey chuckled sarcastically as he shook his head. So, what does that make him then? Was he the antagonist who was getting in the way of their love? He clenched and unclenched his fist. It was maddening.

If he has any less control of himself, he would have tried to kill his cousin right away. However, aside from the fact that risk of failure at that moment was too high, death was too kind of a mercy for such a traitorous snake as him.

He smirked. Fine. It's also good to let them think and feel like they're succeeding now. Better to lull them with the false sense of security by his seeming ignorance then stab them at the back just like what they did to him.

When he saw the time was already midnight, he prepared to visit Serena again. Though he enjoyed kissing and touching her earlier when he visited, it was not enough. He wanted to fill her and enjoy everything her body has to offer. Besides, he needs to check the external appearance of her apex. He read that some change in its appearance may indicate pregnancy.

--

Geoffrey looked at his cousin who was currently the one speaking in the house of lords. It was Monday morning, and Charlton was again trying to show everyone his magnificence. He mocked himself for even congratulating and being wholeheartedly happy for him once.

Then, he vividly recalled the moment he told Charlton he loved Serena. It was during their first signing event. Was Charlton laughing at him that time? That he even pushed him to join Serena?

Ah, the trip down memory lane. There were many instances that he has warned his cousin, but yet, all those times, he was already fucking his intended.

Geoffrey clenched and unclenched his fist to calm himself. Although there was a rift between them politically, they were still being civil. To show his rage would only make it obvious that he already knows.

When Charlton finished speaking, he clapped his hands along with the others.

--

It was Thursday morning, the day before the Ligeti's ball. Serena paced around in her room. She felt so weird. She doesn't feel normal.

She noticed that recently, in the morning, she would feel so energized, but then, at night, when her head hits the pillow, she was dead to the world.

Then, yesterday afternoon, she shouted at one of their servants just because she heard her gritting her teeth. She was not usually irritable, but now, she was. She knew her emotions were becoming unstable. One moment she would be happy, then the next, she would feel so angry.

When she talks to Charlton, she would suddenly feel like crying because she missed him so, then the next, she would feel so depressed then irrationally jealous that maybe he was seeing someone else behind her back. When she read another news from Esquire linking Charlton to Emily, she even tore the newspaper to bits. She's not usually like that.

Then the most disturbing thing happened. Just that morning when she woke up, she felt so fuzzy and dizzy that she didn't have enough time to get up from bed and vomited all over the floor on her left.

Was she sick? What could be wrong with her?

Thank goodness that Mildred was such a kind soul and has been very patient with her. Honestly, she felt so spoiled. Beatrice was also good, but she was not even half as attentive as Mildred.

She tried to think of all the possibilities, and there was only one that seemed to click.

Could it be? Was she pregnant? But the last time she and Charlton had sex was right after her menstruation. She should not be ovulating then. Her period has a regular 35-day cycle. But then, it's not like she ever engaged in such activity with another man.

She held her still flat stomach. It was a possibility even though how miniscule. Her period should be coming in 4 days. Gods, if she's really pregnant, what does she do? She always knew that it was a possibility, but she was too confident with her calendar. They have been following it for 3 years.

There was a time when she just thought that if she does get pregnant, she'll just elope with Charlton, but now, everything he has worked for was within his reach. If she tells him to abandon everything and run away with her that instance, would he? Does she want him to?

She knew how important his family legacy was to him. There was a time when he was willing to abandon everything for her, but they were just mere students then. Now that he has achieved more, has built himself to the degree he holds himself, it's not the same anymore. Charlton would fight tooth and nail for his own legacy. He would not run away. At most, he would either tell her to wait, or he might hasten his proposal which might cause everything he worked for to crumble.

Gods, of all opportune moment, why now?

But then, if she's really pregnant, it she's calculating it correctly, by the end of the season she'll only be entering her 2nd trimester. She won't show until she was at least 4-5 months pregnant. So, there's also that.

--

TBC