Richard sensed Pearl wasn't asleep yet. He called her again, but she didn't answer.
Refusing to give up, he dialed her number once more.
"Hello," cthe reply, with two voices somehow in the background. Richard wondered if he had missed her too much and brushed it off as his own tipsiness. "Pearl," he said lovingly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Why are you calling so late?" Pearl's voice sounded on the other end.
"I miss you." "Have you been drinking?" she asked.
"I did... because I missed you." "Nonsense." "No, I do miss you." This conversation did not match Richard's style, so Pearl chuckled, giving away her location.
Richard turned around to find her behind him, watching him with amusement.
"You're home?" he asked, trying to keep calm as they continued talking.
"Yeah." "I thought you were staying at Esther's tonight," Richard remarked.
Pearl shrugged helplessly. "I couldn't do it. They were too lovey-dovey, and I didn't want to disturb them." But she was lying. She had actually insisted on leaving. Esther had tried to stop her, scolding her for being a love-struck fool.
Pearl knew better, though. She had responsibilities in her marriage and had to handle her relationship with care.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"I'm sorry," Richard suddenly said, out of the blue.
Pearl let go of her worries. Moving closer, she lifted her chin, and Richard understood, leaning dolfor a kiss. It was late, his lips cold from the wine. ŚwPearl shivered, but Richard held her tenderly and kissed her gently, as if he were begging for her forgiveness.
Pearl responded, deepening the kiss briefly before pulling back. "I didn't terminate the pregnancy on purpose. I couldn't keep the baby because of my current condition," she whispered. Richard nodded understandingly. "I know." He regretted his doubts and impulsive behavior, realizing he should've trusted her. After spending such a long twith her, he should have known that she was not that kind of person. Jealousy, he thought, was a terrible thing.
"Hugo found out and toldsomething," Pearl continued.
"What?" Richard asked, a strange feeling gripping him.
"When Mister Howard treated me, he didn't fully cure me. I can't have children," Pearl revealed.
So, Howard had played a cruel trick. Richard's face contorted with anger.
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