Ch. 86..90: The President's Pregnant, Ex-Wife Chapter 86-90

Chapter 86: Chapter 86 – Mara’s secret

Devin and Martin were about to leave Sabrina’s office when their phones beeped. The two of them checked the message at the same time and were horrified.

"It’s just as I said. They killed him," Devin shrugged after seeing what was the caption of a video from a social media page. Sabrina was disturbed by the information,

"Killed who?" She asked seriously.

Devin and Martin exchanged glances, as they did not want to show her the horrific video due to her condition. Tossing the phone into his breast pocket, Devin responded,

"Stanley. Don’t worry, there is a confession too," Devin assured her, knowing that was what she so desperately wanted.

However, Devin still ensured to watch the video to the end before deciding on what to tell Sabrina.

Gradually, his facial expressions began to change the more he watched the video. He yelled,

"What? Mara is alive?" Devin was burning with fury, and Sabrina had walked to his side, trying to catch a glimpse of the video, but he did not allow it.

"Mara?" Martin murmured. No one knew what was going through his mind, but he was very surprised at the information at hand.

Sabrina glanced at Martin, who pretended as if the name did not sound familiar before hitting his head, "Is it the girl you spoke about and said she was responsible for Sabrina’s near-death experience?"

His behavior forced Sabrina’s brows to rise, and she was forced to settle for the fact that perhaps Mara was alive but had no relation to Martin.

Maybe her father mistook him for someone else because Martin’s expression showed great shock at hearing the news.

"Yes, but I don’t understand why she targeted Matilda. I’m going to speak to Matilda for some answers," Devin said seriously.

"I’m coming too," Sabrina quickly said. She was getting confused by the whole thing since Martin had told her that he had no surviving relations. Whereas Devin felt that he might not be able to get everything out of Matilda if Sabrina was there.

"Please stay, Brina. I believe you have a lot to do."

Before Sabrina could disagree, Martin said,

"I have a few things to take care of in the office, but I would have loved to come with you to speak with Matilda."

As soon as he left and sat in his car, Mara called, "Martin, you failed me."

"Mara, why did you lie to me? What did Matilda do to you?" Martin asked seriously. This could ruin his relationship with Sabrina, so he was very careful in handling it.

"It’s because she’s a friend of Sabrina, and I wanted to break them apart."

Mara could not tell Martin the truth and used this reason. However, she also figured it was too late for her brother to help her out now.

"Mara, I can’t help you out of this. Robin has been spying on me and could expose us both. His hacker even kicked out mine while I was trying to wipe out the rumors about him and Sabrina."

With Robin involved, Mara did not want to be caught and asked, "Do you know his hacker?"

"No. His identity is well hidden," Martin responded. Mara scowled. If she had known the identity of that hacker, she would have known how to deal with him.

"Don’t worry, I will take care of it," she said calmly over the line. Martin was disturbed. If he could not do it, then how could Mara, who was paralyzed?

"What do you intend to do?" He asked seriously, thinking of ways to help her out, but Mara could not tell him this. It was her secret.

"Don’t worry, Martin. I created the mess, and I will get myself out of it."

She quickly hung up before Martin could ask any more questions and dialed a number she had not dialed in years, somehow hoping that he wouldn’t answer but also afraid of if he didn’t.

"Mara, I’ve been waiting for your call," a husky voice responded on the first dial.

Mara swallowed a lump in her throat at the thought that he knew her so well. He knew she was going to mess up and would need his help. Her teeth gritted.

"How did you know I would call?"

There was a low chuckle at the end of the line, followed by a response. "You never get out of trouble, Mara, and your brother can not help you out of everything."

"And you can?" Mara asked hopefully. If her existence was known, then she was already half-dead.

"Isn’t that the reason why you called?" The husky voice asked again. Mara had a little hope but was also afraid of his demands.

"Can you clear my name?"

"At a price, Mara, and you know what I want," the husky voice responded again, and Mara gritted her teeth. His demand was better than facing the wrath of Robin and Matilda’s father.

"Okay. I will arrange it."

Three hours later

A tired and panting man fell on Mara’s naked chest and kissed her nipple one more time before rolling to the side.

"You have to leave now," Mara said, as a tear dropped from her eyes.

"I didn’t know it was your first time, but the good news is, it was my first time, too," the man said with childish excitement. Mara’s teeth gritted once more, and she pressed a remote and said,

"The door behind the wardrobe is open."

"Call me anytime you need help," the man said, quickly put on his clothes, and left through the said door.

Mara sat up on the bed and pulled her side drawer attached to the ultra-modern bed. Picking emergency contraceptives, she quickly swallowed them and gulped down some water which she always kept at her bedside.

She had a feeling that this would happen one day and was grateful to have gotten the pills in advance.

She was about to slip on her dress when Martin walked in.

"Excuse you, I will be back," Martin closed his eyes and began to walk back since she was naked.

Mara frowned. "Why do you behave that way? Aren’t we siblings? And haven’t you bathed me a lot of times? Here, help me put on my dress," Mara held out the dress to him. Martin opened his eyes and took it reluctantly.

"We are not kidding anymore, Mara, and why did you remove your clothes?" His eyes darted around, and he frowned, "Is that an emergency contraceptive?" Martin stared at his sister with fire in his eyes.

Chapter 87: Chapter 87 – Unexpected kiss

Mara panicked. She forgot to properly dispose of the blister pack. Neither could she confess to knowing anything about it.

Her expression changed to a blend of innocence and shock, "What are you talking about?"

Martin frowned and picked up the blister pack while he stared at her. Mara could not move her lower body and definitely would not be able to have sex, so if that was the matter, then she was indeed hiding something from him.

"This is what I am talking about."

Mara was shivering internally but tried her best to be calm while she responded to the question, "I don’t know where it came from. Maybe, it’s nurse Anabelle," she nodded her head while praying in her mind that Martin would drop the matter, but he was already at the door.

"Anabelle!"

Martin instantly stepped out and called Mara’s nurse and housekeeper. She responded promptly, sensing that something must have happened.

"Master Dane, is there a problem?" She asked politely. Martin’s expression was serious whiles he asked,

"How did this get into my sister’s room?" He showed her the blister pack. Anabelle saw another opportunity to earn more money from Mara.

The girl paid her heavily to keep her secrets she couldn’t tell her brother. Anabelle looked at Mara, and the latter shook her head, signifying that she needed her help.

Anabelle forced a smile and said, "Master Dane, I’m sorry. It must have fallen from the pocket while I was cleaning. My apologies."

Martin did not instantly believe her. Anabelle was past fifty and did not have a husband. She was a single mother. "Do you still use contraceptives?"

Martin could not help probing due to the matter at hand. Anabelle blushed at how directly he asked the question and responded,

"Ah, Master Dane, I’m not too old to do it, but I don’t want to get pregnant."

Martin was a little embarrassed to have formed his own opinions. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to prob."

Anabelle smiled, grateful that she was able to help Mara. "I will be careful next time, Master Dane," Anabelle said, took the blister pack, and walked away with a smile, knowing that her salary for this month would be doubled.

Mara sighed with relief after the door shut again.

She would have loved to have a shower, but that would also make Martin suspicious since it was not yet her shower time.

"Will you help me wear my dress now?" She asked with innocent eyes, and Martin responded,

"Sure, let me help you."

While he helped her with her dress, he smelled a male perfume scent, and his brows creased. He leaned closer to her, and the scent was even stronger.

"Mara, which perfume did you use? It smells masculine."

Mara felt hot in her stomach. That man did it on purpose. She thought the scent of the perfume would have faded by now, but it was an expensive one, for which reason it stayed longer.

"Martin, you are acting strange. Should I suspect that you are accusing me of something?" Her eyes widened with innocence and hurt.

Mara was very good at it. She had rehearsed her expressions in front of the mirror severally and knew how to make them look real.

"I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you," he said with care, which made Mara guilty.

"I know, and I forgive you," Mara smiled and said, but as she looked at Martin, there was a strange longing in her eyes which made him look away as he felt that her lips were moving closer to his. Perhaps he was imagining things.

After helping her with the dress, he asked seriously, "So, how did you do it?"

Mara could feel her heart fall into her stomach as she gulped. Martin’s expression conveyed it was something important, and she hoped it was not something that would complicate her.

"Do what?" She asked with the same innocence in her eyes.

"Clearing your name?" Martin asked rhetorically.

Mara began to sweat, not knowing the explanation to give.

If she admitted that she got help, Martin would ask who, and if she even mentioned a random name, he would still ask how she knew the person.

Thinking through her options, she pretended not to know what he was talking about. "It’s cleared?"

"You don’t know? Did you not say that you were going to get yourself out?" Martin asked seriously.

When she said she was going to take care of it, he was worried since, for as long as he was concerned, Mara was not in contact with anyone except him and Anabelle.

"I didn’t have a plan. I was going to come up with something," she swallowed tightly and lied. It was the only way to escape the trap she set for herself, but it also got Martin thinking as he asked,

"So, who else has information about your accident and also forged a death certificate to clear the air?"

Martin had one, but it was different from the current trending one, which only meant that the person did not hack into his server. Mara could not tell him the truth, faking concern and saying,

"Maybe, we should start looking for the person. What if he harbors evil against me?" She pretended to be disturbed.

Martin agreed, "Yes, we have to. I want to know who has decided to be so kind to us. It couldn’t be Robin or the general, and this person could also mean evil towards you, as you said."

"I would like to know too, but I’m happy about it. I was so worried before and kept thinking of what to do," Mara smiled and quickly directed his attention so he’d forget about finding the person.

"Well, I just came to check on you, so I will return to the office now," Martin said and rose to his feet. He was sitting beside her after he wore the dress for her. Mara frowned,

"I wish you could just lay by my side, but I understand. Just kiss me before you go."

When Martin leaned in to kiss her cheek, she quickly tilted her head, and their lips met.

Chapter 88: Chapter 88 – Not related

Martin quickly pulled away and wiped his lips. "Mara, what did you do that for? He asked, greatly annoyed.

Mara has been acting strangely, but he always felt it was because of her loneliness. Whereas he always tried his best. He was always there for her every time he was not at the office.

"What?" Mara asked innocently, disappointed by how fast he moved away when it felt so good.

She had been meaning to do it for a long time but could only steal kisses when he was deep asleep.

"Mara, you just kissed me on the lips, and it’s wrong," Martin rebuked her in annoyance, and she pouted her lips,

"Martin, just pretend that we are not siblings and kiss me, please." She had hidden her feelings for so long, and it was beginning to burn her. Having sex for the first time with a man she did not want only increased her desire to do it with the man she loved.

"Mara, I think you should have your head checked. I will call a psychiatrist," Martin said seriously. His sister was insane, and he was greatly disturbed. Mara looked him in the eyes with pain. If only she could tell him the truth.

"But I have hormones. I’m an adult and a woman."

"And you are also paralyzed. If not, I could arrange for a gigolo for you," Martin stated. As a man, he has only had a few whores secretly to test his sexuality, but no one knew about it, not even Devin.

He understood that the body had needs, for which reason, he would not mind arranging a man for his sister.

Mara did not like that idea and said, "All I want is a real kiss."

"And you won’t get that from me. That is incest, Mara," Martin said seriously, wondering what had gotten into her head to be acting that way. With irritation, he walked out of the door.

As soon as he stepped out, Anabelle stepped in. "You brought a man?" She knew about Clara’s secret exit from the mansion, which Martin did not know.

It was the exit they used to sneaked in and out of the mansion without the cameras catching them.

"It was the only way to clear my name," Mara responded in a pained voice.

She never wanted to give her virginity to anyone but Martin, but that general ruined everything after releasing that video.

"And you gave your virginity?" Anabelle enquired, feeling pity for her.

"What else I’m I supposed to do?" Mara asked in an annoyed tone. She did not understand the reason why Anabelle’s words made her feel guilty.

"Your brother looks annoyed," Anabelle pointed out, but Mara was furious.

"You know he isn’t my brother," she yelled. Indeed, Anabelle knew, but for consistency’s sake, she kept it that way.

"But he doesn’t know that. Tell him the truth and let him know how you feel about him," Annabelle advised, but Mara shook her head.

"Not until Sabrina is dead. Until she is out of the way, Martin would only hate me if I told him the truth. Get someone to watch Sabrina. If she appears at any public event, she should be poisoned!"

At Devin’s penthouse.

Matilda was having a nap when a knock woke her up. She went to open the door and saw Devin.

"You are back so early. Where is Sabrina?" She asked, turning her head from side to side while she yawned.

Her plain gesture looked adorable to Devin, who smiled a little and said, "I only came to have a chat with you. Sorry to ruin your sleep."

Hearing that he came to have a chat with her, Matilda feared that he must have found out about her trip to Robin’s office and was scared but could not refuse.

"It’s fine."

"So, can we sit on the couch?" Devin asked politely. Matilda pursed her lips as the sleep cleared from her eyes.

She also realized she was just wearing hot pants and a tank top. Her cheeks reddened from embarrassment.

"Sure, I’ll just get water and change."

"You don’t have to change, and I’ll get you the water," Devin said and descended the stairs to get her water from the fridge.

Matilda went to sit on the couch whiles he brought the water to her, and she gulped down everything in the drinking glass.

Devin was amazed and exclaimed, "You are indeed thirsty."

"I was. So, what is the problem?" She asked, feeling embarrassed at how her legs were exposed to him. Devin smiled.

Being alone together, he realized how attractive Matilda was and was sure that should her father not have kept her away, she would have been married by now.

Thinking about marriage, he scowled at the idea of seeing her with somebody else. He shifted his mind from the lustful thoughts he was having about his sister’s best friend and said,

"First of all, I want you to understand that you can live here for as long as you want."

The corner of Matilda’s lips twitched, and she felt that when most people used that sentence, it always meant the opposite. "You want me to go."

Devin felt terrible for the way she misunderstood his words. "No. I hope you’d stay, but I know that your father would be looking for you to apologize."

Matilda had thought about that option as well and was only afraid that Devin would not want her to stay after her name had been cleared. It was the reason why she felt that he wanted her out of the penthouse now.

"Yes, but I don’t intend to move back into the mansion. I still can’t get over being locked there for two years. It feels like a prison there, even if I won’t be locked away anymore."

Devin felt warmth in his heart. He feared that she’d leave him. Having her with him gave him some kind of peace that she was his, but if she was away, then he’d fear that she’d be with somebody else.

"Then I’m happy to have you stay."

Matilda was somehow uneasy, perceiving that this was not an important subject to warrant him leaving the office to have this talk with her, feeling that there was more.

Chapter 89: Chapter 89 – The General’s press release.

"Thank you, but it seems there’s something else you want to say to me," Matilda discerned and spoke.

Since Sabrina was not here, she also felt that whatever Devin wanted to discuss with her would not be good.

"Yes, it’s about...." Devin wanted to say but paused. It was better she saw it for herself. "Let me show you."

Martin brought out his phone and tried to replay the video, but it was blank. His brows furrowed with confusion as he murmured,

"It was here."

"What?" Matilda asked with a confused expression. Devin kept searching through the media and all the sites the video had gone viral and realized they had been taken down.

"Stanley’s confession," he responded, while thinking of how on earth something like that could have happened when it had been there earlier. He doubted that the general was responsible for it since he was so eager to find Mara.

"Can I see it?" Matilda asked eagerly, only to be met with disappointment,

"I can’t access it anymore."

Matilda felt like all hope was lost but wished she could know what it entailed. "What did he say?" She asked seriously.

Devin responded thoughtfully, "he mentioned Mara Sula behind it, and the last time, you were equally saying something about her."

Matilda stiffened slightly, remembering how Devin had taken the news about Mara. Since it was his best friend’s sister involved, she learned her lesson.

"You won’t even believe it if I told you."

"I’m willing to listen," Devin encouraged her, so she decided to try again. If he still doubted her, it wouldn’t matter because Robin believed her and would still be watching over Sabrina, anyhow he could.

"Mara is alive, and she is Martin’s sister."

Devin shook his head but was not upset. It was the reason he did not allow Sabrina to come along, so she wouldn’t kick Martin out of her life at the thought of him being an enemy.

"You and my father seem to have some strange minds. Martin has no sister. I’m looking for Mara, but I know for a fact that she isn’t Martin’s sister."

Matilda smiled bitterly and did not try to argue. It was better for her to hold her silence in a situation like this.

"You are right. Maybe I’m just being paranoid."

Devin felt that she was angry and was about to reconsider his stand when he saw a notification on his phone. Checking it, he smiled since he had the answer to Matilda’s question.

"Stanley said she was alive, but the current news has all the proof about her death in a car accident," he said absentmindedly whiles he read the details of the capture and continued,

"Wait, that was the year, and the same day she tried to burn Sabrina. It seems karma got her, and she met her death. Perhaps there is another Mara who isn’t the one I’m looking for," he concluded.

Matilda looked at the news on his phone but did not believe it. However, she did not voice her opinion anymore. "I guess so too."

"Okay. I will leave now." Devin seemed satisfied with her response and stood up to leave. Matilda stood up, and her height stopped at his shoulder whiles she responded,

"I will see you later."

Devin walked a few steps but turned around before reaching the door. "Matilda," he called out.

"Devin," Matilda responded and turned around. Devin looked at her with complicated emotions. In the end, he gave up.

"Just forget it."

Matilda felt like he had more to say and asked, "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Devin nodded his head and responded, "Maybe we can discuss that later."

The next day, everyone was shocked by how everything about Mara was cleared overnight, and the news of her death spread forth, making people believe that Stanley lied and should not have been killed.

Now they felt that no one would know the real truth about the person behind Stanley. They also feared that Matilda’s life could be in danger if the real person behind Stanley was not found.

At the General’s mansion, he felt the need to protect his daughter since the military hackers were unable to trace whoever hacked into their systems to remove everything about Mara.

It was obvious that she was being protected by someone powerful who was also not known to them.

General Saint decided to make a public appeal through a press release. He made the video in his house and sent it to the media to broadcast.

The general sat on his luxury sofa, looking into the camera taking the video.

"Matilda Saint, I don’t know where you are, but if you come across this message, then please know that I’m sorry for not believing you. I miss you, and I want to see you soon. Most importantly, I’m holding a party for you at the Crystal hotel on Saturday evening, and everyone’s invited."

There were already comments from netizens pleading with Matilda to reunite with her father and attend the reunion party.

While Matilda watched the live stream and read the comments with Sabrina and Devin. She was still a little afraid of whoever was covering Mara.

She also doubted that Martin had such power since Robin and the general were more powerful than him. While she wallowed in her thoughts, Devin asked her,

"Have you decided yet?"

Matilda nodded her head in agreement, "I think so."

"What do you intend to do?" Sabrina asked her, hoping that she had not decided to leave.

"I will attend the party only if you all, including Lizzy, will come with me," Matilda requested. Sabrina and Devin smiled.

It meant Matilda was only going to attend the party and return with them to the penthouse. They felt that she needed them to go with her and to also bring her back.

"But..." Devin wanted to say that they were not invited when Matilda quickly added,

"He said everyone was invited."

"Then I guess we have a party to attend," Sabrina said excitedly when her phone rang.

"Martin?" She called out after answering the call since it was late.

Chapter 90: Chapter 90 - It sends the message that we are in good terms

Martin had meant to tell her before but forgot about it because of the shock Mara gave him. How could she even think of getting intimate with him, her brother? Martin was so disturbed.

However, when the video popped up on his phone again about Robin and Sabrina, jealousy would not allow him to sleep until he called Sabrina to inform her about his findings.

"Sabrina, our hacker is not able to take down the news about you and Robin. Another hacker keeps kicking him out, and though I don’t have proof, I believe that Robin is behind it."

Sabrina smiled bitterly, not understanding what Robin wanted from her. She could also not be upset because he helped her, but why does he allow such news to continue to air? Was he not afraid it would destroy his relationship with Zayla?

Sabrina was lost and did not know what else to do. She asked Martin helplessly, "So, what do I do now?"

Martin was ashamed that he could not face Robin because of the information the latter had on him concerning Mara. The only way was to use Sabrina to do the job he should have done as the boyfriend he claimed himself to be.

"I believe that if you tell him, he will instruct for it to be pulled down," Martin said. He knew that Robin was in love with Sabrina, for which reason he would do as she said but did not make it known to her.

Sabrina did not want to get in touch with Robin for whatever reason, but neither did she want the video to continue trending, for which reason she said, "Alright, I will try."

Hearing the helplessness in her voice, Martin’s heart ached, and he felt useless because of his inability to go against Robin. "Sabrina, I’m very sorry."

"It’s alright. I’ll just call him," Sabrina forced a smile and spoke. At the same time, she ended the call.

"What is the problem?" Devin asked, seeing her sullen look. He already knew that she was talking to Martin.

"It’s the video about Robin and I. Well, he just helped me, but most people might think there was something between us," Sabrina shrugged, but there was helplessness in her eyes.

Devin was equally helpless because the hacker had informed him about his inability to pull it down.

"It looks romantic," Matilda said with a smile, and Devin frowned in annoyance. He hated anything that had to do with Robin, and even if the latter helped Sabrina, it was still not worth Devin’s gratitude.

"It also sends the wrong message and should be taken down," Devin insisted. Matilda did not agree, but she could also not defend it, lest her seeking Robin’s help became suspicious.

"That’s what Martin is saying that he couldn’t take it down. I will just call Robin," Sabrina spoke in a deflated tone. Matilda was not happy about it and thought she should not ruin Robin’s mood, for which reason she suggested,

"It’s too late. Why not call him in the morning?"

Looking at the time again, Sabrina agreed with Matilda and said, "I think you are right. I will call him in the morning."

As soon as Sabrina got to the office the next day, met with her usual morning flowers from Martin, she ensured to have breakfast before she called Robin on the phone.

Seeing a strange number, Robin frowned and ignored it. Then he saw a text message. ’It’s Sabrina. We need to talk.’

Robin smiled and decided to tease her a little. Since they had a collaboration, only Sabrina’s office number was on the documents but not her personal number.

Now, he was happy to have gotten it from her and could not help that he wanted to see her.

’Then come to my office.’

Sabrina scowled when she saw the message. She would be damned before she went to his office again. ’I mean on the phone,’ she texted back.

Robin was slightly disappointed but returned her call. It was great that he at least had her new number directly from her and could call her at any time on it. As soon as Sabrina answered the call, she said,

"Robin, there is a viral video about us. Do you mind taking it down?" She did not ask how he was faring and only stated her demand. Robin was saddened.

Gone were the days when Sabrina would call to check on him or ask what he would eat, and he would get annoyed every time, but now, he was longing for it.

"It doesn’t look bad. It sends the message that we are on good terms," he stated, trying to convince her that it was alright, but Sabrina was not hearing it.

She wanted nothing to do with him and did not care if it sent the wrong message about their relationship.

"No, Robin, it brings out the notion that you are cheating on Zayla with your ex-wife. Are you not afraid that the news would affect her since she’s pregnant?" Sabrina hammered on his soft spot.

She felt that if she went all pushy and demanding, he would be upset and refuse, for which reason she chose that way.

Robin wanted to say that it did not matter because it was Zayla spreading the news, but there was no need. That was between him and Sabrina. If it made her sad, then he had to take it down as much as he loved the trending news.

"If it worries you so much, then I will take it down."

"Thank you, Robin," Sabrina said with relief.

This was one of the difficult things she did today since she did not want to ask or beg Robin for anything, but this was necessary for her sanity.

When Robin hung up, he called Daniel on the phone, and as soon as the latter answered, he spoke hastily,

"Robin, I’m on my way to your office. Something terrible happened.