淑女的欲望

"Is he still sleeping?" Scarlett mumbled, attempting the call once more. This time, it finally connected, bringing her some relief.

"Hey there, my beautiful wife," Xander's cheerful voice resonated through the phone. However, despite his upbeat tone, Scarlett's expression remained tense as she sat on the edge of the bed. "How's everything on your end, baby?"

"Xander, I..." Her voice faltered, trailing off uncertainty.

Xander's tone shifted to concern as he sensed the sadness in her voice. "What's wrong, baby?"

Scarlett struggled to convey the sad news to him, yet whenever she tried to speak, her words seemed to make a U-Turn down her throat, leaving her speechless.

"Baby, please don't make me worry. Tell me what happened?" Xander's voice held a note of urgency, sensing that something might be seriously amiss with his wife.

"I need you here, Xander," she managed to utter a word. Her voice trembled, revealing her vulnerability, but still, she couldn't bring herself to reveal the full extent of what had happened.

A brief silence hung in the air as if Xander was processing Scarlett's unusual attitude. Her behavior was far from her typical self.

"Babe, I'll fly over, but can you give me a hint about what's going on? You sound really upset," Xander asked, growing increasingly curious by her unexpected request for him to return to Royal City.

Another moment slipped by without Scarlett's response. He took a quiet breath and attempted another question to lighten the mood, "By the way, babe, Logan mentioned that Zara's staying at our place... Are you guys having fun?"

However, Scarlett didn't reply to his question. Instead, she said, "Xander, I saw Doctor Tiffany this morning, and…" Her sentence remained unfinished once more, her emotions seemingly tangled.

She longed to share her thoughts, but the words wouldn't come out. She was afraid that revealing the truth might lead to Xander's disappointment.

Xander was stunned. He knew her appointment with Doctor Tiffany was scheduled for tomorrow. Why had she seen her today? A sense of concern and fear welled up inside him, realizing that something must have transpired concerning her pregnancy.

"Babe, I understand," Xander's voice sounded gentle as he tried to steady his emotions. However, his mind was racing to understand the situation. "I'll fly there as fast as I can. Just take care of yourself there."

"I will," Scarlett replied, mustering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

After Xander hung up, Scarlett turned off her cell phone and sought solace under the covers. Mentally drained. All she wished for now was to close her eyes and escape from the memory of her conversation with Doctor Tiffany. 

Scarlett desperately hoped that all of this was just a bad dream, and when she woke up, the sad news of her pregnancy would prove to be just a figment of her dreams.

****

The Next Day.

Scarlett had canceled all her activities from yesterday through today, even her meeting with Seven, settling for a video call instead. At this point, she only wished for solitude in her room, waiting for Xander. She had her food delivered to her bedroom, avoiding the first floor entirely and confining herself to her bedroom and computer room.

Most of her hours were spent in the computer room, developing programs and assisting Seven with required data. Today was no different; she attempted to find solace in a tasteless breakfast while watching a comedy movie in the living room outside her bedroom. Regrettably, the movie failed to lift her moods, and she watched the entire movie with a strained expression.

Her emotional state remains gloomy. At this moment, it seemed that sleep was just the solace she needed. Just as she was about to go to the bedroom, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed, heading towards the second floor.

"Xander?" she whispered.

Gazing at the staircase, her eyes locked onto her handsome husband as he ascended. Without a second thought, she rushed to him, seeking comfort in his warm embrace. She found herself crying, letting her grief flow, without words escaping her lips.

She simply cried.

Scarlett gradually began to feel much better after shedding tears in Xander's comforting embrace for a brief while. Slowly, she released her grip on him, looking up to meet Xander's gaze. He offered her a warm smile as his fingers tenderly brushed away the tears from her cheeks.

"X-Xander..." she murmured softly.

"I've missed you so much," Xander confesses, his voice filled with genuine longing. He gently wiped away the traces of her tears, then tilted his head to kiss her gently on the lips. After their lips parted, he asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

Scarlett, still struggling with her emotions, managed to nod while trying to smile at him.

Eventually, they made their way to their bedroom, where she nestled into his embrace as they cuddled on the soft sofa. 

Scarlett began to share the news she'd received from Doctor Tiffany. Xander listened attentively, maintaining a supportive silence that allowed her to express her thoughts freely. Although he had already gathered the details from Doctor Tiffany, he had called her as soon as his plane touched down, showing his unwavering concern for Scarlett's well-being.

"I'm sorry... I can't take care of our baby, Xander," Scarlett's voice trembled as she spoke, tears streaming down her cheeks once more. She buried her face in his chest, unable to face Xander's gaze. 

Xander pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, his arms embracing her tenderly. "I had a conversation with Doctor Tiffany before I got here," he revealed, his voice soothing. Scarlett lifted her tear-streaked face from his chest, surprise mingling with her surprise as she looked at him.

"You already knew?" she managed to utter, her voice cracking.

"Hmm," Xander affirmed. "Doctor Tiffany explained everything to me. She made me understand that this isn't your fault or mine. It's not something we could have controlled..." He spoke with a comforting softness, trying to mend the pieces of her broken spirit. 

"My dear wife, please don't blame yourself. We're both still young, and I truly believe that we'll be blessed with a child in the future." Xander's words carried a warm reassurance, his gaze full of affection.

****

Author notes: 

This marks the END of Volume 2 ( The Truth). Volume 3 (Flower Path) will continue the next day.