43. Surprised!

One week later. It was a bright sunny afternoon. Clarice, together with Grandpa Eliezer and the rest of the inhabitants of the farmhouse, went to the lake for a family picnic because Clarice, Lorey and Caden are going to relocate to another house after two days. Alpha Callum has not arrived at the lake yet. While the group were enjoying the turquoise-looking water in the lake, a car pulled up in front of the farmhouse. A woman exited the car, walked to the front door and was about to knock on the door but saw the padlock in place. She rummaged through her shoulder bag and fished out the spare key to the house. "Where is Grandpa?" Luna Viviana asked, looking around the area. She successfully opened the padlock with her key, grabbed the doorknob and stepped inside the quiet house. She opened the windows in the living room to let the fresh air in, then settled on the sofa. She's not planning to stay long in the farmhouse, she just wants to thank Grandpa because when she underwent an examination in one of the fertility clinics in Australia, their test results came out positive. She got pregnant because of the fertility medicine that Grandpa had specially created for her condition. She wanted to thank him first before revealing the good news to her husband. After thanking the old man, she will proceed to the mansion to see her husband. Callum will be super delighted to hear the good news. Her pregnancy will finally fill the void in their marriage. It would finally complete them as one happy family. She was sure of that. She felt over the moon. She has been walking on cloud 9 ever since she learned about the good news. Her heart was bursting with joy because of her miracle pregnancy finally taking place inside her womb. She went to the window and looked heavenward, thanking the Moon Goddess for her valuable gift. She looked upstairs. Maybe she could take a nap in one of the rooms while waiting for the old man to arrive. Nah, she was too excited to stay in one place. She just wanted to share the good news with Grandpa. She can't wait for him to arrive. But where is he right now? She stood up. "Where could he be at this time? Tending to his vegetable garden? Or feeding the animals? Maybe he went fishing in the lake?" she asked aloud. She left the house and put the padlock back in place. Then she went to the vegetable garden and to the animal shed, but no one was there. "I'd better go to the lake now and find the old man," she said excitedly. She turned around and began walking on the path leading to the lake, humming a happy song while walking, grateful for the gentle breeze caressing her skin. A few minutes later, she was getting closer to the lake, and she heard sounds of laughter echoing in the air. "Hmm, it looks like grandpa had company. Who are they?" she muses, getting curious as she walks briskly to reach the clearing near the lake. When she finally arrived at the clearing, she saw a picnic blanket, tables and chairs and people she hadn't seen before frolicking in the water. She saw Grandpa Eliezer talking animatedly to a boy about five years old. They were sitting beside each other under the shade of the tree. Luna Viviana's face lit up in happiness and gratitude while rushing to his side. "Grandpa, I'm back!" she announced her presence merrily. Grandpa Eliezer froze after hearing Luna Viviana's voice. Oh, no! She's back! Meanwhile, Clarice saw the scene unfold before her very eyes. Who is that woman who approached Grandpa Eliezer? She nervously got out of the water, wanting to see the woman up close because her heart was beating rapidly in her rib cage, warning her of an incoming danger. Back in the clearing... Grandpa Eliezer slowly turned around and faced Luna Viviana nervously. "Welcome back, dear!" "Grandpa! I have good news for you! I was about to undergo fertility treatment at an Australian fertility clinic, and they were shocked to see my test result. I'm positive. I'm pregnant with Callum's baby. It's all possible because of your medicine. It's effective. Finally, I'm pregnant. Thank you so much, Grandpa!" Luna Viviana blurted the news happily. Meanwhile, Clarice was already out of the water and approaching the woman from behind. Grandpa Eliezer smiled brightly upon hearing the good news. "Congratulations dear, I'm happy for you," he said, his eyes glued to the approaching Clarice trying to give her a signal to run and hide, but she failed to get his signal. She kept advancing towards them. He groaned in dismay. Oh, no this is not going to end well! Caden looked up. "Grandpa, when is Daddy Callum coming here? Why is he not here yet?" he asked impatiently. Grandpa Eliezer failed to cover Caden's mouth on time, but it was too late now. Damn! The truth is out! Whaaaaaat!? Luna Viviana's eyes widened in shock and surprise. Why did the boy call Callum his daddy? Grandpa Eliezer groaned. What am I going to do now? This scene should not have happened at all. The two women can't see each other. This will change everything! Luna Viviana froze for a minute and blinked several times after hearing the boy casually mention her husband's name. Suddenly, her world collapsed after realizing the severity of the boy's statement. She quickly grabbed the boy by his shoulder and asked, "Is your father's name Callum? Does he come here frequently to be with you?" she asked between clenched teeth, her blood boiling. Clarice faltered in her step after seeing the woman talking to her son. "Yes, my father's name is Callum. He's the best father ever!" Caden replied with a smile. Grandpa Eliezer tried to intervene. "Luna dear, let's go back to the farm house," he suggested. "No," Luna Viviana vehemently shook her head. "Kid, what is your mother's name? Is she here?" she continued interrogating the boy, wanting to get as much more information from him as she could. When Caden was about to point his hand at Clarice standing behind Luna Viviana, grandpa Eliezer quickly scolded Caden. "Stop intervening in adults' conversations, okay?" Caden looked at his grandpa quizzically. "She's just asking questions, Grandpa. I'm just answering her," he answered smartly, then he faced the woman, meeting her fierce gaze. "Who are you?" he finally asked, confused. "I am Alpha Callum's wife! I'm your Daddy's wife!" Luna Viviana answered vehemently, spitting venom. "And who are you? Who are these people?" she asked, looking at the people still frolicking in the water, unaware of what was going on in the dry land. Then her eyes landed on the woman behind her. Her wet hair was plastered all over her face. "Mommy! This woman is asking about Daddy!" Caden rushed to his mother. Clarice lifted her son swiftly into her arms and turned around, looking for a way out. "You! Stop there! Are you the boy's mother? Let me see your face clearly!" Luna Viviana commanded in a menacing tone. Clarice didn't listen to Luna Viviana's commands as she moved forward. She didn't look back. She continued walking without thinking about where she was going. She just wanted to leave the place and avoid having a face-to-face confrontation with Callum's wife. Luna Viviana was livid with anger and jealousy when the woman refused to face her. Dammit! The woman refused to obey her commands. She felt insulted and disrespected. The truth was screaming in her face. The woman was her husband's mistress and the boy was their son. The child was the younger version of her husband. It's clear now. Her husband cheated on her with the woman! She ran after the woman, wanting to interrogate her further. Grandpa Eliezer groaned. He placed his palm on his face. Ugh! Difficult times need a desperate solution. He ran after Luna Viviana, who was already a few steps away from reaching the panic-stricken Clarice. He extended his right hand towards Luna Viviana and unleashed his hidden power, freezing the enraged woman. Luna Viviana's body was frozen on the spot, but her mind was not. She tried to move her body parts but failed miserably, confused about why she could no longer move any parts of her body. What's going on!? She began panicking. Grandpa Eliezer touched the frozen Luna Viviana's arms and said, "Go to sleep dear," he said, and chanted the spell, putting Luna Viviana's consciousness to sleep. She drifted into a deep slumber. Grandpa Eliezer was still holding Luna Viviana's arm and addressed the visibly shaken Clarice. He starts giving instructions in a calm voice, "Stop running, dear. You are safe now. Change into dry clothes and stay there with the rest. Don't go anywhere. I will come back with a solution. I will bring Luna Viviana to the house first. She will be unfrozen in a few minutes." "Copy, Grandpa," Clarice replied in a trembling voice. Her body was still shaking due to nervousness and shocked at being found out by Callum's wife on such a happy occasion. After he finished giving instructions, Grandpa Eliezer activated teleportation in his mind and, together with Luna Viviana, they vanished from the lake in the blink of an eye. Lorey rushed to Clarice's side. "Luna, is that Alpha Callum's wife?" she asked nervously, frightened to the core. "Yes, she is," Clarice replied despondently. "This is scary. Luna, we should leave this place now!" Lorey said, panicking. "No, we should stay here and wait for further instructions from Grandpa," Clarice stated calmly, lowering herself to the ground as her knees wobbled, unable to support her weight any longer. The world crumbles around her, pressing her down to the ground. Clarice tightly closed her eyes, trying to stop tears from leaving her eyes. She can't cry, and she can't lose her mind today. She must rise up and stay strong for everyone, especially for her son. It's not the first time she has experienced this kind of difficult situation. She survived the first time, and she will survive again the second time around. She quickly established a mind link with Callum. 'Where are you? Your wife arrived here unannounced. We are all taken aback by her presence. She's super mad. Grandpa froze her and took her back to the farm house. We are still here at the lake. I don't know what to do. I'm devastated and scared! I need your help!'