Chapter 21 She Might Be Pregnant
Malcolm ordered two more dishes before closing the menu and
handing it to the waiter. He added, “That’s all for now. Bring a bottle. of red wine.”
Wine? For just the two of them? Charlotte glanced up at his cold face.
“Do we… drink wine?”
Malcolm didn’t answer.
Charlotte couldn’t tell what had angered him today. They were fine yesterday. She failed to figure out the reason.
Soon, the waiter brought the wine and poured it for the two of them. Charlotte didn’t drink alcohol and stared at the red wine.
Malcolm picked up the goblet, swirling the wine while staring at her.
Clutching her dress, Charlotte finally whispered, “I can’t drink alcohol.”
Malcolm said flatly, “It’s up to you.”
Charlotte sat there thinking for a while before saying, “Mal, I came today to pay you back.”
She pulled a card from her pocket and slowly pushed it toward him.
Malcolm sat motionless in his chair and looked at the card on the table, his face calm and expressionless.
Charlotte added, “I can’t keep your money.”
Unruffled by her words, Malcolm leaned back. fingers tapping the table edge. “Fine.”
Picking up the card from the table, he glanced at it. “I respect your choice.”
He had been swirling the goblet, but he didn’t drink the wine at all.
Malcolm said nothing until the dishes were served, and he didn’t pick up his fork.
Charlotte wondered if she’d said something wrong. Feeling the tension in the air, she awkwardly took two forks of the dishes closest to her.
Malcolm asked curtly, “Done eating?”
Charlotte quickly swallowed the food and dropped her fork.
“If you’re done, let’s go.” His tone was stern.
Charlotte stared at him with slightly widened eyes, confused by his coldness today.
Malcolm put down his goblet and removed the napkin from his lap, summoning the waiter. “Check, please.”
Charlotte wanted to say she would pay for the dinner but swallowed her words after glimpsing his stony face.
Malcolm rose from the chair and looked at Charlotte. “Where are you going? I’ll drive you.”
He looked detached under the white lights.
11
In the car, Charlotte sat stiffly beside Malcolm in a disturbed mood. It was raining heavily again. A stifling silence fell upon them.
After a long time, she asked tentatively, “Mal, did I upset you?”
Malcolm gave her a glance and frowned. He denied, “No.”
She nodded, not daring to press further. Soon, she added, “I’ll just take a cab back.”
When Charlotte reached out to unbuckle her seatbelt, Malcolm
grabbed her arm, yanking her back. She nearly crashed into his chest, her hair brushing his sharp nose.
Charlotte stared at him, stunned.
Malcolm said sternly, “In this downpour? Where can you get a cab?”
His grip tightened on her shoulder, and his hands tugged at her collar. Her chest heaved, and the white lingerie strap he’d bought was vaguely visible.
They were too close. Her scent lingered in his nostrils. Tension crackled as their breaths tangled, and they looked at each other.
Charlotte didn’t move, waiting.
She expected him to take action like before.
To her surprise, he abruptly pulled away and said, “Sit properly.”
The rain had stopped by the time they reached the school gate.
In her daze, Charlotte wandered into the campus. When she stood at the track field, Natalia popped up behind her, slapping her back.
“Where’ve you been all day? I was looking for you everywhere!”
Charlotte didn’t expect to run into Natalia. When she was about to reply, nausea churned her stomach.
She shoved through the crowd and squatted at the roadside, bending to
retch.
Natalia rushed up to pat her back. “You okay? Sick?”
After retching for a while, Charlotte felt better. Her face turned red because of the retch, and her eyes turned misty. She shook her head and said, “I don’t know. I suddenly feel sick. Perhaps it’s carsickness.”
“Did you get carsick before?”
“Yes.”
Charlotte nodded, freezing.
She abruptly looked up at Natalia.
All of a sudden, she turned pale.
She realized two things. Firstly, her period was late.
Secondly, she might be pregnant.
