Billionaires with Benefits

47 47. A Blessing in Disguise

William could feel Lea’s pain just from her teary gaze-feelings of disappointment at being treated unfairly.

“I’m sorry that you wasted your precious youth for a good-for-nothing man like me,” William whispered. After all, he was indeed at fault from Lea’s point of view. Supposedly, if he still loved Lea, he should have rejected the marriage arrangement with Paula from the start. It would be fair for everyone.

“I thought we could start all over again. I thought, if I forgive you, you’ll forgive me too,” Lea continued, looking at William with her glistening eyes. She shook his body demanding an answer ... a fair one.

“I’m sorry, Leah! However, the current me also has other responsibilities,” William said in a bland voice.

“And why do you choose Paula, Will? Why do you choose a woman who just came into your life? Not me who you’ve been with for years?” Lea’s sobs turned heavy, staring at William with deep hatred. She bit her lip, trying to stop crying. However, her heart clenched tightly recalling her past with him.

The time when William showered her with overflowing love. The time when they discussed how many children they wanted to have. The time when William promised a future together.

“If only this baby didn’t exist, would you still be able to love me sincerely as you used to, Will?” Leah asked then, staring at William intensely. “Is it because of this baby that you changed and chose Paula over me?”

“What do you mean, Lea?” A bad thought flashed through William’s mind. It sounded to him that Lea planned to get rid of the baby.

“Should I abort this baby, Will?” Lea’s cries grew heavier. The woman could no longer hold the pain in her chest.

.....

“Lea, don’t think nonsense!” William said frantically. “Don’t do anything bad to the baby. He or she is innocent. You will regret it later!”

“What do you say, Will? You don’t love me like you used to anymore. You chose Paula. Then what about me? Will you just throw me away as you live a happy life with her?” As time went on, Lea’s chest felt even tighter. “I should have realized why you were always hesitating when your parents were discussing our marriage. That’s why you always refused me to stay in your house.”

“Lea, listen to me! The baby has a father. And I need to know who he is before deciding our problem. That’s why I didn’t say anything about our ... marriage,” William grabbed Lea’s shoulder and tried to understand her. “Dave needs to know the truth, Lea. Regardless of what he and you decide to do later. You need to discuss the baby’s matter with him.”

Lea’s eyes narrowed. “Dave?” She wiped her tears in a hurry. She suddenly stopped sobbing out of shock. “So ... you already know who this baby’s father is?”

“Sorry, Lea! I had to know it. You kept this problem a secret from me. So I tried to find out for myself,” William said in a low tone. This was indeed proof that William didn’t trust her anymore.

Willam tapped Lea’s shoulder. “Go back to your room and rest,” William said in a low voice. He guided her and led her out of the room after making sure that no one else was around them.

Leah obeyed in silence. She no longer wanted to continue the argument. It was very clear to her that William was out of her reach. She didn’t know for sure if it was because of the baby in her womb ... because of Paula ... or both.

However, when Lea thought deeper about it, things were supposed to change. William had touched another woman. A woman who was not her.

So did Lea. She had chosen to take revenge on William. She had a one-night stand with another man.

How could everything go back to the way it was? Impossible.

In the meantime, William realized that he was at fault. However, he wanted to set up a better future. All this mess must be rearranged to reach new happiness. Happiness that they had never thought of before.

***

After escorting Lea out of the room, William went back into his room. His right hand was still throbbing in pain. However, he was also not in the mood to bandage his wound. He then opened the cupboard to find a clean towel and bandaged the wound with the towel so that not much blood came out.

He sat on the couch, unable to bring his body to the bed. How could he sleep in this situation?

He wronged Lea, the girl that used to be with him forever. He started to doubt himself.

Was being a faithful husband a mistake?

Was he at fault for choosing his wife over her lover?

Was it a sin to fall for his wife?

He rested his back against the couch. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm his mind.

While his eyes were closed, his other senses took over. He heard the sound of the wind moving the tree branches outside. He could smell the scent of blood wafting throughout the room. However, William also smelled something else. Not the smell of Lea’s vanilla perfume, but the soft smell of roses.

“Come out! I know you are here!” William shouted, somewhat annoyed. He thought his sister was asleep. But, she didn’t.

Timidly, the girl in fluffy pink pajamas came out from behind the curtains and walked over to William with small steps. “Sorry. I just wanted to borrow an iPhone charger because I left mine in France. Then ... then, I found that your room was unlocked. Then, I came in.”

“Since when did you come into my room?” William scolded his sister. His face didn’t show a hint of a smile at all.

“Just-just now,” Vanessa lied. She looked down at the floor, unable to face her brother.

“If it was just now, why are you hiding behind the curtains?” William commented, annoyed. It was clear that his sister had been eavesdropping and witnessing the embarrassing incident earlier.

“You are trespassing my privacy, cupcake! Never do that again!”

Vanessa gulped. What else could she do? She wanted to go right away when she found out the half-naked Lea was in William’s room. However, the tense atmosphere made her curiosity want to know more. She finally chose to sneak in, hiding behind the curtains of her brother’s room.

“Ah, you’re hurt. I’ll take the bandage,” Vanessa said, distracting her beloved brother from his anger.

William only watched his sister leave without saying anything. When he thought about it again, what a terrible sight Vanessa witnessed earlier. Suddenly, shame and regret for not locking the door crept into William’s heart.

“Crap!” He cursed at himself.

Vanessa quickly returned to William’s room with the first aid kit box in her hand. Quickly, she cleaned William’s wound and bandaged it. Unlike William’s work, Vanessa’s was neat and quite fast.

“You are good at treating a wound,” William commented, amazed to see Vanessa’s treatment.

“I always wanted to be a doctor. Did you forget?” Vanessa replied with a smile.

Silence filled the room again as Vanessa tidied up her work. Vanessa then said, “I’m not going to tell mom and dad. I promise!”

“Thank you. You’d better keep it a secret because it was so embarrassing,” William whispered. His eyes looked at Vanessa in sadness.

Vanessa smiled faintly. “But you were so cool, Will. What a heroic scene! I hope I can find a loyal man like you.”

William choked, hearing his sister’s comment. He felt ashamed because he was not a good and responsible man from the start.

“I’m not a good man. I don’t want you to get a man like me,” William explained, exhaling deeply. He leaned back on the couch to rest his tired body ... and mind. “If only I were a strict and assertive man, from the start I would have refused an arranged marriage with Paula and fought for my love with Lea. Poor Lea, she gives her love to a jerk like me instead of a fine gentleman. This is what she got in return for waiting for years. How unfair!”

Vanessa was silent because she agreed with William’s words. She closed the white box with a red cross and sat down next to her brother. “You are a jerk for Lea, but you’re a loyal and loving husband for Paula. Maybe you and Lea weren’t meant to be together.”

William nodded. His baby sister was wise enough for a girl her age.

“Have you ever heard of a blessing in disguise?” Vanessa asked, patting William’s arm lightly. “Perhaps all this mess is about rearranging the wrong order. Lea will also find her happiness later.”

William rubbed Vanessa’s head in exasperation. “You have your problems, don’t you? Tell this to yourself, pumpkin!”

Vanessa giggled. She then teasingly said, “Can I hug you, my dear brother?”

William laughed and opened his arms widely for Vanessa. They weren’t blood-related, however, at a time like this, William had no one else besides Vanessa.

“Thanks, Vanessa! I feel better now.”