Chapter 75: Chapter 75

As the car approached the grand entrance of the mansion, Val noticed the impressive wrought-iron gates slowly opening, welcoming them inside in a warm usher. A long, tree-lined driveway stretches out vastly, leading to the magnificent mansion nestled amidst beautifully manicured gardens.

The sight of the sprawling estate, with its classy modern architecture and pristine surroundings left Val in awe. The driver rode slowly and rode them closer, allowing Val to catch glimpses of the luxurious features like the grand entrance of the mansion with its ornate columns as well as the elegant fountain in the courtyard. It was truly a breathtaking sight to behold.

" Marvelous " Val mouthed, having only seen places like this online or in movies.

" Heh Heh," Bob chuckled at Val's innocence. He was amused at her praise for his place.

" You can take your time to look around later but first we must talk," Bob said as he stepped out of the car and went around to open the door for Val.

" How kind and nice" Val joked in a soft chuckle. She instantly felt the need to act rich around Bob since she noticed many gazes were on her.

Val quickly clung to Bob's arm as he led him to the mansion. She was nervous but wasn't in any way scared. It was her first time being in a mansion after all.

As they walked up to the entrance of the mansion, Val felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. The driver from earlier rushed forward before then to push open the massive double doors, causing Val and Bob to be greeted by a stunning foyer with high ceilings and exquisite chandeliers. The marble floors gleamed glossily beneath as they stepped inside and the air was filled with a sense of grandeur and elegance. Val was stunned by this as she couldn't help but look around in awe.

As they stepped further into the mansion, Val noticed that the walls were adorned with beautiful artwork. The mansion was filled with luxurious furnishings, plush carpets, and intricate details that showcased the owner's impeccable taste. It was an indescribable experience that made Val feel like she had stepped into a world of opulence and sophistication.

Just as they got in, an aged maid whose face had slight wrinkles and freckles with her brown hair tied into a bun rushed forward with a child in hand.

The child was dressed in a blue designer gown that was embedded with beads. Her long black hair and delicate yet striking facial features reminded Val of Courtney.

Val's heart dropped feeling bad for Charlotte.

" Hey, baby!" Bob called and reached for Charlotte who voluntarily moved from the maid's arm into Bob's, recognizing him to be her father.

" Dada!" The little girl called in a sweet tone that had Val smiling bitterly.

" Dada is home baby girl!" Bob embraced Charlotte with a melancholic smile. Val could tell he was really sad for Charlotte but was willing to be there for the baby. Bob considered her his own.

Val stood to the side and watched as Bob played with Charlotte and spoke with her in baby language, causing the latter to giggle incessantly. Val had a smile plastered across her face all along.

She had never felt so relieved and relaxed for a long while. Watching Bob speak with Charlotte made her rub her stomach subconsciously.

' Such a good father' Val was appalled by Bob's character.

After a while, Bob handed Charlotte back to the maid and led Val to a grand staircase that seemed to lead up to the upper levels.

They arrived at an even grander corridor and Bob took her to one of the rooms. Their discussion was meant to be private so Bob took her to one of the vacant rooms.

When they got in the room, Bob clapped twice, and brightness showered in, chasing the darkness into inexistence. Val looked around to appreciate the room that intricate wallpaper, which she guessed was a rich damask pattern bathed by the warm, soft lighting, emanating from exquisite chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling and causing everything to seem sparkly and dreamy. Plush, golden drapes frame the large windows, allowing just the right amount of sunlight to filter in.

As Val walked across the room, her boot sank into the carpeting, adding a relaxing feel to the experience. The centerpiece of the room had a grand fireplace that had been put off. Surrounding the fireplace are comfortable, oversized armchairs and a large, ornate coffee table. A bed lay across the farther part of the vast room.

The room is filled with tasteful artwork of beautiful half-naked medieval women hung on the walls.

" I don't even want to imagine just how much this whole place costs" Val expressed feeling insecure. How could one be so extravagant in their possession of such luxuries?

" Hahaha!" Bob laughed heartily.

Val didn't take offense to his laughter as she'd intended. She walked towards the bed and sat on it, ignoring the sofas and chairs.

" This is comfy" She muttered to herself.

Bob just watched everything on the side with a raised brow. Why would she be concerned about the bed being comfy or not?

" Sure is" Bob joined her in sitting on the bed. He had a lot of questions that burdened him to ask Val.

Val who had realized this stopped looking around the room and just waited in silence for Bob to ask the questions he had to ask.

" Could you tell me about Attorney Chris? I really can't forgive myself if I do not know what really..." Bob trailed off his words not knowing how to ask.

Val's emotion welled as she remembered that near unfortunate event. She recollected each moment with remnant fear in her.

" I had been so helpless and devoid of hope..." Val found the courage to speak a short while after. "

"..." Bob was silent, he let her speak however way she liked.

Val spoke about her experience, pausing at intervals to control the sad emotions that surged within her. Bob had also frowned at some point, realizing how much of a scum attorney Chris was.

" It's a relief you had acted smartly before" Bob commended in a low tone, unsure if that was the right thing to say.

Of course, Val was silent as her emotions had overwhelmed her.

" Hey, it's not you okay? If anything, you should blame me. I caused all of this" Bob held Val's chin and said convincingly, piercing a gaze directly into her soul through her eyes.

Val felt comforted but frowned. " No, it wasn't. Attorney Chris is a jerk is all" She stated unconvinced.

"..." Bob became silent and couldn't help but nod his head in understanding. Val was able to maintain her thoughts even as she was overwhelmed by the traumatic emotions just now.

Bob lowered his head in thought afterward. With the attorney's matter out of the way, Bob still had a matter in his heart that he wished to speak about. However, he lacked the way to ask without coming off too strong or annoying Val.

After Val had fallen unconscious in the car and when Bob had taken her to the hospital. Doctor Brown had said something about Val in particular, and Bob was still unable to get it off his mind till the moment.

' I can't keep cowering and not ask!' Bob steeled his mind and opened his mouth to speak,

" Val I know you're pregnant"

" Bob I'm pregnant!"

Right at that time, Val also spoke.

The two stared dumbfounded at each other, Val being more shocked than Bob. Bob wasn't expecting that Val would want to tell her such a thing. However, Val on the other hand didn't expect Bob to say what he'd said.

' He knows?! How did he know?' Val was stupefied and shocked. However, she didn't have to think too much to realize how Bob had known that she was pregnant.

Doctor Brown!

"Haha!" Bob sighed visibly. " Doctor Brown had informed me about it. I'm only curious to know who it is." Bob explained calmly seeing Val's confused expression. He hoped it wasn't Mark's child as he never wanted Val to return to such an abusive relationship.

Val was shocked when he heard Bob ask such a question. Seeing the expression on his face, Val could tell he was clueless. She held back the urge to smile as she was amused, and said instead,

" Bob, me and Mark never got intimate for almost 4 months while I was still with him" Val couldn't hold back the embarrassment and just his her face bashfully. Val didn't know how to keep a straight face in a situation like this.

Bob was first confused as to Val's words but then he thought about it more than twice before he finally realized what Val meant.

" Y-you mean!?" Bob lost his grammar.

"... Yes Bob. It was that one time " Val nodded in affirmation.

Bob was taken aback as he stared at Val who had her head lowered in shame. He couldn't believe his ears.

At first, he was nervous and excited, but he shuddered in fear remembering how attorney Chris had almost... He quickly shook that off his mind with a mental note to see to it that the attorney got more than what he deserved.

" Val. Are you being serious right now?" He couldn't help but ask. This was news that he literally couldn't bear.

Val didn't say a thing any longer. For a while, she was silent, awaiting Bob's words. She didn't try to convince him since she very well knew the child was Bob's. She hadn't been to bed with anyone after she'd left Mark, and Mark hadn't touched her for months. The nurse from before had stated just how long she had been pregnant, and Val calculated it to be that one-night stand with Bob.

Knowing Bob would have to conduct a DNA test anyway, Val didn't say anything. She was confident in her judgment.

Val understood that Bob had just gone through a phase of betrayal and emotional downcast and that the probability that he wanted to be alone for now was a likelihood. She still decided that it was more important that he knew about the situation. It couldn't be helped.

"Val..." Bob called out in a serious tone and Valerie couldn't help but look at him, her heart thumped in fear and anxiety at Bob's response.

She'd dreamt of this moment multiple times and had thought about how it'd be a lot more. Despite all of this, Val was still uncertain at the moment. Her hands shivered in anxiety and her gaze quivered as she looked at Bob who peered at her pitifully. She could already picture him refusing the child to be his.

" You're gonna be the mother of my children"

Val was about to sigh when she momentarily hung her mouth open in extreme shock at Bob's words.

" What?!" Val asked in incredulity.

" Heh heh! don't you? Believe it or not, Charlotte needs a mother. We could all be together as a family " Bob said with a smile. Even though Courtney had betrayed him as such, Bob wasn't willing to give up his responsibilities.

Val was stupefied by Bob's unfounded reaction. She expected more insults and abuse. What was this?

" Why do you look so shocked and bereaved heh heh?!" Bob chuckled.

" N-no it's just... I didn't expect that you'd accept ... us " Val stated with a melancholic expression worn on her face as she lowered her head and rubbed on her belly.

" What do you mean? He's mine" Bob lowered his head and placed a palm on Val's stomach.

" May I?" Bob asked when she saw Val's amused yet baffled face.

" Hehe!" Val laughed sweetly, feeling Bob's palm rubbing gently on his stomach. She never pictured this ever happening. It was the best moment of her entire life.

" Hahaha!" Bob laughed as well. The joy in him couldn't be explained.

They both stopped laughing at the same time and looked at each other with smiling eyes.

There was no intimacy nor lewd passion between the two at the moment. There was only pure joy and love for one another.

The two didn't need to communicate their feelings. They could both tell from each other's eyes that they were spellbound. There was no hiding it, it was glaring and clear.

They were both in love...

Val leaned close to Bob and placed her forehead against his, awaiting the final seal that would establish their deep connection.

This time, there was no alcohol nor frustration, and neither were they having a bad day.

Both were in the best of their moods and hadn't felt this happy beside someone else in a long time.

Bob whispered before he leaned closer to kiss Val.

" Let's make it work"

"..." Val only nodded as she kissed him back. Amidst the happiness that resonated through her being as she kissed the father of her children, Val remembered how he'd met him.

' What a strange encounter with a billionaire...' She couldn't help but think with an amused smile.

THE END!

...

SPECIAL AUTHOR'S NOTE!!

Thanks to all my readers for the unending support and unduly patience for this book :). I really appreciate y'all. I hope you have enjoyed reading this book and have related well enough to its characters. Not that I plan to waste your time with this note, nor am I trying to preach a sermon. I'm a writer, and just as I must entertain, it is also to educate through relatable life experiences. Surely this book is a work of fiction, but I have written it in a way that criticizes the current society, the lifestyle of people, and how the modern norms affect us entirely. With an analysis of actions and consequences, I hope that you all will be able to relate with the characters and learn a thing or two about how the consequence of their actions have generally affected a change in their lives. Maggie, Bob, Val and Mark were lucky, and reality is not always a strange encounter. Have a good life!