The shadow wife

I stood frozen, my mind reeling with the news. Lyra, pregnant? It couldn't be. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

The doctor's words kept echoing in my head. "Lyra's test results show that she's pregnant." Pregnant. The word was like a bombshell, exploding all my preconceived notions about Lyra and our relationship.

I thought back to all the times Lyra had been tired or unwell. I had assumed it was just stress or exhaustion from her duties as a maid. But now, it all made sense.

I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me - shock, confusion, concern. What did this mean for Lyra? For me? For our lives?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I needed to be strong for Lyra, to support her through this.

But as I looked at Lyra's pale face, lying motionless on the hospital bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty. What did the future hold for her? For us? I was thrown into utter confusion.

Lyra's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at me with a mixture of confusion and fear. I smiled calmly and took her hand in mine.

"Hey, Lyra, everything is fine," I reassured her. "You're safe now."

Lyra's gaze locked onto mine, and I could see the tension in her body begin to ease.

"Sir, what...what happened?" she stammered.

I gently squeezed her hand. "You fainted, but the doctor says you're going to be okay."

Lyra's eyes widened slightly, and I could see the fear creeping back in.

"Is everything okay, sir?" she asked again.

I smiled softly. "Yes, everything is fine. But I do need to ask you something."

Lyra nodded, her eyes fixed on mine.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Lyra?" I asked gently.

Lyra's face went pale, and she shook her head. "No, sir."

I nodded, trying to process this new information.

"Lyra, the doctor told me something," I said slowly. "Something that I think you should know."

Lyra's eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the fear and uncertainty there.

"What is it, sir?" she whispered.

I took a deep breath. "Lyra, you're pregnant."

The color drained from Lyra's face, and she looked like she had been punched in the gut. She stared at me, her eyes wide with shock and devastation.

And then, she broke down in tears.

I was taken aback by her reaction. Didn't she know? Hadn't she suspected?

"Lyra, didn't you...didn't you know?" I asked, feeling a pang of hurt and confusion.

But Lyra just sobbed, her body shaking with grief. I felt a surge of compassion and empathy, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

"It's okay, Lyra," I whispered. "I'm here for you. Everything will be okay."

Lyra pushed me away, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "I need to be alone, sir," she whispered.

I nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment. I wanted to comfort her, to be there for her. But I knew I had to respect her wishes.

I stepped outside the room, hovering in the hallway as I tried to process everything that had just happened. Lyra's pregnancy, her reaction...it was all so overwhelming.

Just as I was starting to get lost in my thoughts, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw my mother's name flashing.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Anderson, where are you?" my mother demanded. "You need to come home instantly."

I hesitated, unsure of what to do. I wanted to stay with Lyra, to make sure she was okay. But my mother's tone was urgent, and I knew I couldn't ignore her.

"What's going on, Mother?" I asked.

"It's an urgent family meeting," she replied. "You're needed here now."

I felt torn, caught between my loyalty to my family and my desire to be there for Lyra.

I took a deep breath and made a decision. I would go to the meeting, but I would make sure to come back to Lyra as soon as possible.

I slipped back into Lyra's room, gently taking her hand in mine.

"Lyra, I have to go," I whispered. "But I'll be right back, I promise."

Lyra looked up at me, her eyes still red from crying. She nodded slightly, and I could see the faintest glimmer of trust in her eyes.

I smiled softly, feeling a sense of determination. I would do whatever it took to be there for Lyra, to support her through this difficult time.

And with that, I turned and left, speeding home to attend the urgent family meeting.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the door to my father's study. The room was dimly lit, with only a few lamps illuminating the space. My family was seated around the large mahogany desk, their faces serious.

My father, Jameson Smith, looked up at me with a warm smile. "Ah, Anderson, glad you could make it. Please, take a seat."

I nodded and sat down in the empty chair, trying to compose myself. My mind was still reeling from the shock of Lyra's pregnancy, but I knew I had to put on a neutral face for this meeting.

My father cleared his throat and began to speak. "I just wanted to start by saying how proud I am of both of my sons. You've both worked hard to get where you are, and I don't tell you enough how much I appreciate your contributions to Smith Industries."

My mother, Catherine Smith, nodded in agreement. "Yes, you've both done an excellent job. But now, let's get down to business."

She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing. "As you know, the Richardson family has been struggling to keep their business afloat. Their son, Reginald, has made some... questionable decisions, and it's put their entire empire at risk."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. What kind of decisions could Reginald have made that were so bad?

My mother handed me a folder filled with documents. "It seems Reginald has been embezzling funds from their company, and they're on the verge of bankruptcy. But they're trying to keep it under wraps to avoid a media scandal."

I scanned the documents, my eyes widening as I took in the scope of Reginald's misdeeds. This was big. The Richardson family was a major player in the business world, and their downfall could have significant repercussions.

My mother leaned forward, her eyes locked on mine. "We've been presented with an opportunity to buy out their company and add it to our own business chains. It's a risky move, but it could also be a huge advantage for us."

I felt my mind racing, trying to process the implications of this move. But I knew I couldn't let my personal life interfere with business. I had to stay focused.

"What's the plan, Mother?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

As I flipped through the documents, my eyes widened in horror. There were pictures of women, battered and bruised, with notes detailing Reginald's abuse. I felt a wave of disgust wash over me.

My mother's voice cut through my thoughts. "These documents, combined with the information we've gathered from the bugs Lyra placed in Reginald's house, will give us the upper hand. We can use this evidence to blackmail the Richardsons into doing our bidding."

My father nodded in agreement. "This is a great opportunity for us to eliminate the competition. By loaning them money or buying out their shares, we can gain control of their company and solidify our position in the market."

I tried to focus on the conversation, but my mind kept wandering back to Lyra. Why had she been investigating Reginald? And what did she hope to achieve?

As I turned the page, my heart skipped a beat. There, among the pictures of Reginald's victims, was Lyra's face. I felt a wave of anger and shock wash over me.

"Mother, what is this?" I demanded, my voice shaking with rage.

My mother's expression didn't falter. She kept a straight face as she glanced at my brother and then at my father. "Son, I can explain—"

But I cut her off, my eyes blazing with fury. "What is Lyra's picture doing here? What does she have to do with Reginald?"

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Lyra's picture, among the victims of Reginald's abuse? It couldn't be. I thought back to the day Lyra had asked for time off, claiming she had a family emergency. I had assumed it was just a personal issue, but now I realized she must have been sent to follow Reginald, to bug his house and gather evidence. So it was really Lyra I saw at the club that night.

"How did this happen?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger. "When did Lyra...?"

My mother's expression was unyielding. "Collateral damage, Anderson. Sometimes these things happen."

I felt a surge of outrage. Collateral damage? Lyra's safety, her well-being, reduced to nothing more than a minor inconvenience?

"But you're going to make sure she gets justice, right?" I pressed, my eyes locked on my mother's.

She nodded curtly. "Of course. And we've already taken care of Lyra financially. She's been compensated handsomely for her... troubles."

I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine. Compensated? Was that all Lyra's suffering was worth? A paycheck?

I slammed my fist on the table, making everyone jump. "You're just going to sit there and talk about collateral damage?" I yelled, my anger boiling over. "Lyra's not just some pawn in your game, Mother. She's a person, with feelings and rights."

My mother's face turned red with anger, but I didn't care. "Anderson, calm down," she snapped.

But I wasn't having it. "No, I won't calm down. You're so focused on your precious plan, you don't even care who gets hurt in the process."

My brother, James, stood up, his face twisted in a scowl. "That's not fair, Anderson. We're just trying to protect our family's interests."

I turned on him, my anger raging out of control. "Protect our family's interests? By sacrificing Lyra's well-being? Her future?"

I took a deep breath, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "Lyra's pregnant, Mother. And it's possible the father is Reginald Richardson."

The room fell silent, with all eyes on me.

My mother's face went white, but she quickly regained her composure. "Anderson, we'll deal with that later."

I laughed, a bitter, sarcastic sound. "Oh, sure. Because putting someone's daughter's future on the line for your selfish reasons is just collateral damage, right?"

My father slammed his hand on the table, making me startling me a bit "Anderson, that's enough! Find your manners and sit down!"

"What business do you have with that Lyra girl?" My father asked angrily

"My relationship with Lyra is none of your business," I spat, still seething with anger. "But what I am upset about is that you lied to me, Mother. You told me you had nothing to do with Lyra going to Reginald's house that night, and then you had the nerve to try to paint her as some kind of whore."

I turned to my mother, my eyes blazing with accusation. "You know how much Lyra means to me, and yet you're trying to manipulate and destroy her. You're willing to sacrifice her well-being for your own gain."

My father's face turned red with anger, and he slammed his hand on the table again. "That's enough, Anderson!" he bellowed. "You will not speak to your mother like that."

He stood up, his eyes flashing with warning, and slapped me across the face. "Keep your mouth shut and show some respect."

I angrily stood up, ready to storm out of the room, but my father's voice stopped me. "Sit down, Anderson. Now!"

I reluctantly returned to my chair, my heart still racing with anger.

My mother continued to outline their plans, but I tuned her out. "I'm not interested in whatever you have to say," I muttered.

My mother's eyes narrowed. "You need to be interested, Anderson. This affects our entire family."

I whispered under my breath, "Then I don't wanna be part of this family."

My father's eyes snapped to mine. "You don't mean that, Anderson. This is just because of some girl."

I just shook my head. "May I be excused?"

My father looked at my mother, then back at me. "Let him go," he said calmly.

I pushed back my chair and stood up, my heart still heavy with anger and resentment. I needed to get out of there, to clear my head and figure out what to do next.

Lyra's POV

I felt like my world had been shattered into a million pieces. The news of my pregnancy still lingered in my mind like a dark cloud, refusing to dissipate. I was devastated, scared, hurt, and confused all at once.

How could this have happened? I thought I had been so careful, so cautious. But now, I was faced with the harsh reality of carrying a child conceived through violence and rape.

The father of my child was a monster, a beast who had taken advantage of me when I was most vulnerable. The thought of carrying his child inside me made my skin crawl.

I didn't know what to do next. Part of me wanted to keep the baby, to give it a chance at life despite the circumstances of its conception. But another part of me was screaming to get rid of it, to erase the painful memories and move on.

And then there was my mother. How could I tell her? She would be heartbroken, devastated by the news. I didn't know if I had the strength to break her heart like that.

I felt trapped, stuck in a nightmare from which I couldn't wake up. The weight of my secret was crushing me, suffocating me. I didn't know how much longer I could keep it inside.

I wailed and cried, wishing with all my heart that it was all just a terrible nightmare. But deep down, I knew it wasn't. This was my reality now.

The thought of facing Reginald, of telling him about the baby, made my stomach turn. What if he denied it? What if he didn't want anything to do with me or the child? And what if he did want to be involved? Would I be forced into a marriage with him, trapping me in a life of misery?

I felt so alone, so lost. I had no one to turn to, no friends, no family. It was just me, facing this impossible decision by myself.

I thought about reaching out to Anderson, but I didn't know if I could trust him. He had been so angry when he found out about the baby... what if he didn't want anything to do with me either?

I was completely and utterly alone, with no idea what to do next.

As I lay in bed, tears streaming down my face, the door creaked open and Anderson slipped inside. Without a word, he opened his arms,gathering me into a warm hug and this time I didn't resist.

I sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder, my body shaking with grief. Anderson held me close, whispering reassurances into my ear.

"Everything is going to be fine, Lyra. I'm here for you. I'll care for you and your child, no matter what decision you make. I'll be here to support you every step of the way."

I pulled back, my eyes searching his face. "But what about your family, sir? They won't approve."

Anderson's expression turned resolute. "I don't care what my family thinks. All I care about is you and what you want. I want to be involved in your life, Lyra."

I shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt. "You can't be involved in my life,sir. We're not...we're not on the same level."

But Anderson wouldn't let me finish. He gently placed his hand over my mouth, his eyes locked on mine.

"Status doesn't matter right now, Lyra. The only thing that matters is humanity. We're both human beings, and we both deserve compassion and care."

His words struck a chord deep within me, and I felt a sense of gratitude toward him. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone after all.