CHAPTER 49: HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE YOUR HUSBAND?

Rian's POV: "Rian..." I looked at Gelo who has a phone in his hand, showing me that Belle's name is on the screen... again. She's been calling Gelo's number since last night, but I told him not to answer any of their calls, Belle, my friends, and especially my husband. Even Jordan, Eric and Franco called him this morning, confirming if I am with him, but he denied and said no. I wasn't in myself yesterday when I started to drive my car away from the building of Smith Corporation. I wanted to go to Cari or Gavin, or even Belle but I know they were the first person that Alex would ask about me. I went to the park, to the church, until my wheels brought me in front of Gelo's house. He and his wife accepted me and let me stay without even asking. They asked me to eat and to take rest, but I can't. My mind was always drifting to the things I've heard from Alex's office. The voice of the woman and the cries of the little boy that she said was Alex's child kept on dancing and swirling in my head the whole night. And I've been crying till four a.m, but still, I tried to get up early to check if someone from my family and friends were calling Gelo again. And I was right, Belle is so persistent to talk to Gelo. The call has ended after continuous ringing for three minutes. He seated beside me and patted my hand which rested on the armrest of the couch. "Can you now share to me the details of this escaping and hiding of yours?" he asked me in a low and concerned voice. "Since I can't talk to you yesterday because you've been crying the whole time, maybe I can ask you now some questions?" I take a deep breath before I started to tell him what was really happened yesterday, and why did I ask them not to answer any calls from anyone who would possibly ask about me. "Are you okay?" he asked me after telling him the whole story. I smiled. "I don't know. I just feel numb." "Wait, why don't you eat first?" "I can't Gelo. My stomach can't accept any types of food right now." "But it's not for you, it's for the baby, Rian. I know you're in pain right now, but please... don't let your baby suffer from all of these. He or she still doesn't know about the happenings in the outside world." With that, I brought my hands over my belly and smiled. I gulped and tried to blink the tears that are now forming again in my eyes. I almost forgot that I am now carrying a new life in me. And that I am going to be a mother, a mother of Alex's child... Alex's another child. "Please, just eat something and try to calm yourself. Talk to your baby. Do you know that the baby can also feel whatever the mother's feelings?" I looked at him and shook my head. "Please Rian, eat something. Even just a sandwich."  I nodded and he immediately stands up and unwrapped the tuna sandwich which was made by his wife earlier. "Thank you." I said and take a bite. "Try to smile. You're going to be mother. You should be at least... happy." I looked at him pouted. "I can't... I mean, I'm happy that I'm going to be a mother, but with this situation... I can't even smile, Gelo." "Well, I know some ways how to make you smile." he said wiggling his eyebrows. And because of that, I found myself chuckling when I realized what those ways was he's talking about. "Oh my God! Please Gelo, do everything.. just don't dance in front of me! You looked like a roaster when you're dancing!" he also laughed and playfully glared at me. "Oh! Until now, you can't appreciate my way of dancing. That's the combination of arts and my talent!" "No! Your talent is only in singing and not in dancing!" I argued with him while laughing.  "Thank you, Gelo." I said seriously after a while and after I finished eating my sandwich. "For the food? Come on, it's just a sandwich." "No, I mean not just for the food but for everything. Thank you for letting me stay in your house. Although I know that I am a big disturbance------" "Disturbance? What are you talking about?" he cut me off and glared at me. "You're not a disturbance, Rian! Don't ever think of that! We're friends, and a real friend should support each other during this kind of situation. And I'm glad actually, that I was the one who you've run into." I sighed and smiled at him. "Yeah, I wasn't in myself yesterday, thank you. And also to your wife, she's been nice to me although it's our first time meeting each other." "Yeah, don't worry. She's very understanding. And about the help that you're talking about, of course anytime I will help you. What are friends are for? Anyway, what are you planning to do next?" "Uhm.. I still don't know. But, can I stay here for one or two days while thinking what should I do next?" "Of course, no problem! You don't have to ask. You can stay here anytime you want or as long as you want." "Thank you, Gelo." "Don't mention it. But you know, anytime your husband can find you and barge in here. Especially that Belle hasn't stop from calling." and he showed me again his phone. I just shake my head when I saw Belle's name on the screen. "Why don't you ask him first about this thing, Rian? Why don't you confirm personally from him the truth?" I chuckled bitterly. "Why? Do you think if I ask him, it will change the truth? It will change a single thing.. and a fact that he lied to me all these past years?" "But you said, you didn't hear him verbally accepted the child? What if the child wasn't his? What if the woman was just lying?" "Then what would be her reason to lie and to create this mess in someone's life?" "It's simple, Rian... for money!" "For money?" I repeat, confused. "Yes, unless you forget that your husband is a billionaire! Rian, let me remind you, you're married to one of the richest person in the City, who owns almost 60% of business states in Los Angeles." I bite my lips and closed my eyes. "If you're going to hide like this and escape your problems, you can never solve anything, Rian. You also wouldn't know the truth behind that issue. Request for a DNA. You're legally married and you also have the rights to decide on this matter." "And what if it's true? And hypothetically the results were positive?" "Hypothetically the results were positive? Then it's yours, the ball is in your court." he shrugged his shoulders. "How much do you love your husband?" I chuckled again with his question. "Gelo, that's one of the question that shouldn't need to ask. I love him so much, that's why I felt disappointed and hurt when I heard that he has a child from another woman." the hot tears are now forming again in my eyes. "Rian, I don't know how much of the pain, you're going through right now, but listen to me. He's just a man, a man who has needs and everything. I'm not telling you this to defend him or just because I am also a man, but because I want you to know and to realize how much love do you have in you for your husband. Everybody makes a lot of mistakes in their life. Nobody's perfect, even you.. even me.. and even your husband. Ask him, Rian, ask him for an explanation because you deserve that." He said and he holds both of my hands. "Yeah, it's cheating, it happened in his married life. But it also happened during those years that you're not in a stable relationship, those times that your marriage was still based in a contract as you said. And if it's true, does it changed now the love you have for him? Because if it's yes, then you need to decide which one do you feel is heavier and greater for you. Is it the pain, the hurt, disappointment, his mistakes... or your love for him? Because whatever your decision will be, it's going to be your foundation to face your future." I couldn't form any words after that. I was left in dazed even after Gelo exited the room. I smiled while the tears were flowing down my face. I love him and there's no doubt about my feelings for him. But it also hurt to know that this love I have for him caused me to be broken and left shattered in pieces. And what if it's true, Dino was his real child? Does it really change the love I have for him or does it will?