The next morning, the atmosphere in the house felt tense. Scarlett hadn't slept well the entire night, her mind swinging between joy and anxiety. The pregnancy brought with it a storm of questions and uncertainty. What was she supposed to do now? Should she tell Asher more, or should she handle this on her own without involving him? Those questions haunted her every step, making her feel trapped in a situation she had never imagined.
Asher, on the other hand, appeared calmer. He hadn't shown much emotion when he first heard the news of Scarlett's pregnancy, but she could feel the tension between them. Since their conversation the previous night, Asher had thrown himself into work, seemingly avoiding any further discussion about the pregnancy. But Scarlett sensed that this was his way of processing things—of collecting his thoughts and trying to find the right solution. After all, this wasn't something that could be taken lightly.
Days passed without another word between them about the pregnancy, and Scarlett felt increasingly isolated. Even though they still lived under the same roof, the distance between them grew colder. Asher remained focused on work, but Scarlett knew their marriage—though born from a business agreement—was shifting into something different. A seed of emotion had begun to take root in her, and she could no longer ignore the fact that she might be starting to feel more than just a contractual bond with Asher.
One evening, after a long and exhausting day, Scarlett decided it was time to talk to him again. She knew delaying it would only make things worse. A decision had to be made, and she had to face the truth. She needed to know what Asher truly wanted. Was she just a pawn in a business game, or was there something more?
When Scarlett entered Asher's study, he was seated behind his desk, focused on the scattered documents before him. He looked up when she walked in, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, though he quickly masked it.
"Is there something you want to talk about, Scarlett?" Asher asked, his voice steady, but with a trace of curiosity.
Scarlett took a deep breath, summoning her courage. "We need to talk about this, Asher," she said, her voice firmer than she felt. "I can't keep living in this uncertainty. I'm pregnant, and I don't know what happens next."
Asher stared at her silently for a moment, then set down the paper in his hand and stood up. He walked over to the large window that overlooked the dense New York skyline. Scarlett watched his movements, her gaze filled with doubt. She knew this was the moment to finally hear what Asher truly felt.
"Asher, I know neither of us planned this. We agreed our marriage was just business, and I understand if you feel trapped by this situation," Scarlett continued, her voice softening. "But I need to know what you're feeling. Are we just going to keep pretending this is only about a contract, or is there a chance… this could mean something more?"
Asher remained quiet for a long moment, staring out at the night sky. Scarlett could see the weight of the situation reflected in his face. Beneath his composed exterior, he was hiding so many unspoken thoughts.
"I don't know what's going to happen, Scarlett," Asher finally said, his voice low. "I never expected this. Our marriage may have started as a business deal, but I can't ignore the fact that we're both part of this now. I feel a responsibility I can't walk away from."
Scarlett frowned. "Responsibility? Asher, I'm not just a business deal or an obligation you have to fulfill. This is about us—about what's been happening between us beyond the contract."
Asher lowered his gaze, as if searching for the right words. "I… I don't know how you feel about me, Scarlett. And I don't know how I feel either. I've kept my emotions locked away for so long, but this feels different. We're tied by more than just a contract. I don't want you to go through this alone. I want us to figure it out together."
Scarlett felt her heart beat faster, though doubts still lingered. "What do you really want, Asher? Do you just feel responsible, or is there something more? Can this become something real, or is it just something we have to deal with because we're stuck in this situation?"
Asher looked at her with an intensity he could no longer hide. There was something stirring in him, even if he hadn't fully acknowledged it yet. "I don't have a clear answer, Scarlett. But I want to try and see where this leads us. I don't know what the future holds, but I can't ignore the fact that we're in this together—and that it's becoming more than just a deal on paper."
Scarlett found strength in his words, though the tension between them remained. "We both have a lot to think about. But I also know we can't keep living in this uncertainty."
In the end, their conversation didn't lead to a clear resolution. The major decisions still lay ahead, and their future remained uncertain. But one thing was clear—their journey was becoming more complicated. Asher and Scarlett would have to confront their evolving emotions and choose whether to move forward together into something real, or stay bound by the agreement that once defined their relationship.
Scarlett's pregnancy became the turning point in their relationship. The tension between them grew stronger, and Asher was forced to face the truth that he was no longer dealing with just a contract marriage—but with feelings that could change both their lives forever.
Their marriage, which began as nothing more than a business arrangement—a mutually beneficial contract devoid of emotion—was slowly transforming into something far deeper. What was once seen as a formality for personal gain was now starting to reveal signs that their bond was never meant to remain confined to paper.
There was something inexplicable, as if fate had long written that they were always meant to be together. No longer just a contractual wife or a pretend husband, but two souls brought together by a connection more sacred—stronger than any business deal.
Perhaps they didn't realize it at first, but slowly, feelings began to grow in the quiet moments they shared, in the silence of the night, in the small gestures that were never asked for, and in the protection that came without condition.