ELEANOR
(unedited)

I found it funny how life always worked in mysterious ways. The sole reason Robert had decided to marry me was because he needed an heir. He did not trust anyone else but me to carry his child. I'll admit, at the time, it made me feel like the luckiest world. However, after three years of trying, I failed to fulfill my end of the contract. Gabriela always blamed me for our failed attempts. She would call my body useless and shame me every chance she could. With each negative, Robert would also drift further apart from me. He'd visit my room less and less. I knew a child would be the only way to fix my broken marriage. But that was then. Now, a child would only complicate things. That was why I found it funny how life worked.

"Are you sure you want to do this now?" Ethan's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

The worry in his eyes caused my stomach to churn with nerves. I wanted to tell him I wanted to go back home and forget the past few days had happened, but that was not a choice. It was too late to go back.

"I know it isn't the best place to tell him, but he hasn't answered my calls, and Daisy has made it impossible to visit his office," I replied. "This is the only chance I have to talk to him."

"Well, I will be here for anything you need," Ethan assured me as he squeezed my hand. "The only thing I do not get is why you wanted to arrive separately from your family."

"If Robert was able to get on the list for Naresh's wedding, there is no doubt other New York socialites will also be there. I do not want anyone to know my real identity. They'll crowd me like hungry vultures if they find out."

"Tell me about it," Ethan chuckled.

"We have arrived, Your Grace," the chauffeur announced. "Shall I escort Lady Eleanor out first?"

Ethan turned to look at me. "Are you sure you do not want me to go in with you?"

"Yes, I am sure." I nodded. "If they see me arrive with the famous Prince Ethan, my cover will be blown. I need the least amount of attention."

"Alright," Ethan sighed. "Promise to find me after you've talked with Robert?"

"I promise," I replied as I locked our pinkies. "Now, wish me luck."

Ethan held onto my arm before I could reach for the door handle. I looked back and locked gazes with him.

"Know that no matter what happens or how he reacts, you have your family and me by your side now."

I gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Ethan."

Ethan smiled back and placed a gentle kiss on the back of my hand. He slid away from the door before the chauffeur opened the door for me. I gave the limousine one last glance before walking toward the flashing lights.

I was able to walk down the blue carpet unnoticed by the tabloids. They did not care about Eleanor Evans, the insecure wife of a New York socialite. They were here for the foreign royals that had arrived for the wedding of the year. It was a rare occasion for the tabloids to see so many blue bloods.

The interior of the venue was as extravagant as I had expected. It was the wedding of an Indian prince, after all. Colorful decorations hung from the tall walls, and live performers stood on pedestals around the large ballroom.

"Ellie?" I froze when I heard a familiar voice. I turned around and found my best friend staring at me with shock in her eyes. "Oh my goodness, you look gorgeous!"

"Thank you." I smiled shyly. "You look wonderful as well."

"I got to admit, I did not think that little troll had it in him to get you back, but here you are."

My eyebrows furrowed together with confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Robert didn't tell you?" Isla asked back, confused as well, and I shook my head. Her confusion grew with my response. "Isn't he here with you?"

I opened my mouth to answer her question, but commotion erupted among the guests. Everyone crowded near the entrance. I watched as Ethan walked in, accompanied by my family and his. The Hastings and the Maxwells were literal royalty. Both families had generations of blue blood aging back to the Elizabethan era. It was no surprise their arrival had stirred such a commotion. Ethan's eyes locked with mine for a split second, and he gave me a subtle wink.

"I never knew Prince Ethan was that handsome," Isla mumbled as she gazed at Ethan.

"Yeah, he is," I whispered.

Handsome and with a kind soul, I thought to myself.

"Elle, you're here." Fredrick, Robert's best friend, approached Isla and me with a surprised expression.

"Why wouldn't she be? Her husband had an invitation," Isla snapped.

"But he arrived—"

"Fred, have you seen Robert?" I asked, cutting his sentence short.

"Yes, he was near the balcony the last time I saw him, but—"

"Thanks, I will see you guys later." I waved a hasty goodbye at them and walked toward the balcony.

My chest burned with anxiousness as I grew closer. My palms had become sweaty, and my legs were close to turning into jelly. I tried to calm myself down, knowing it was not good for me to be anxious.

My heart involuntarily skipped a beat as I found Robert leaning against the balcony railing with a drink. I placed a hand on my abdomen as I stared at the familiar figure whose back was to me. The carpeted floor silenced my heels as I walked toward the man I had loved for three years, who had broken my heart but who'd also given me the greatest blessing.

"Robert," I called out gently.

I watched as my husband's body tensed up at the sound of my voice. He slowly turned to look at me. His eyes held a mixture of shock and relief, but it morphed into angry darkness.

"I should've figured you'd be here," he said sourly. "Do not worry, I already signed the papers. You should receive a call from your lawyer soon enough."

"What?" I gasped. When had he signed the divorce papers?

"Don't look so surprised," Robert scoffed. "Isn't that what you wanted? To divorce me so you'd go be with your little side piece?"

"What are you talking about?" I was utterly confused by his words.

"I know that you've been sleeping with Ethan Maxwell, Eleanor. The private investigator I hired exposed all your lies. Is that why you wanted to go live in Long Island so bad? To be close to him?!" Robert drunkenly stalked toward me. I clutched my hand protectively over my stomach and took a few steps back. "How long was your little affair going on, huh?"

"Affair? Really? You're one to talk," I spat back. "I'm not the one who stepped out on our marriage, Robert. You did!"

"Me?!" Robert let out a sour laugh. "I have been nothing but a good husband to you, even when you did not keep your end of our contract."

I glanced down at the hand clutching my belly. If only you knew.

"I always wondered why we hadn't been able to get pregnant after three years of trying. Now I see why. It was all because you had been acting like a low-class whore—"

My hand collided with Robert's cheek before I could stop myself. Robert looked up at me with shock as he clutched onto his burning skin.

"Do not dare call me a whore! I gave up everything to be with you, Robert, and how did you repay me? You gave your love to another woman." I swallowed back the tears threatening to fall. "As for Ethan, yes, I went to stay at his place, but it was after I found out what you and Daisy had been up to. He was only being a good friend and nothing more."

"You expect me to believe your lies?" Robert asked with a bitter grin. "Daisy and I have never had anything other than a beautiful friendship. But, I admit, she'd make a much better wife than you ever were. Who knows? Maybe I'll marry her after the divorce, and she'll give me the child you never gave me."

The blood rushed all over my body as Robert's words fueled the hatred I had been willing to bury for the sake of the life growing inside me. I had finally fulfilled my end of the contract, but he did not deserve the right to know. I would not give my child such an a**hole of a father.

"I wish you two the best," I muttered without shedding a single tear. "From this point, you're dead to me, Robert."

Robert's expression shifted for a split second. A glimpse of regret flashed through his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak, but I walked away before he could say anything else. He was officially dead to me and my baby.

I marched through the ballroom and walked straight up to Ethan. I did not care that the whole ballroom was staring at us, and Ethan did not seem to care either. With one look at me, he knew what I needed. He grabbed my hand and led us out of the building.

"I got you, Precious. Don't worry."

I had been such a fool. Part of me hoped the child I carried would save my marriage. For so many years, I held onto that belief. But I could not save a marriage without love. All that mattered now was the baby in my womb.

"Sweetie, what happened? We saw you two rushing out of there," my dad asked with concern.

"Did that bastard do something to you?" Thomas cracked his knuckles with an angry frown.

"Robert is not worth us spending another thought on him," I replied. "I decided not to tell Robert about the baby. I will go home to England and resume the responsibilities I have neglected these past three years. Mamma, papà, I also wish to assume my title and privileges as Duchess of Veneto."

My mother and father looked shocked at my sudden decision but nodded in agreement.

I would no longer let anyone walk over me again. I was no longer Eleanor Evans, a lowly girl who got lucky for marrying a billionaire. I was Eleanor Hastings, Duchess of Veneto, heir to the Veneto Dukedome. No one would make me look like a fool again.

Word Count: 1786

Author's Note: Hi my lovelies! Here is the chapter as promised. Things are really starting to heat up! ELLIE IS PREGNANT! Do you think Robert will ever find out? Do you think he deserves to know? Will Eleanor ever forgive him? Are you ready to see Ellie become Duchess of Veneto?? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I hope to have another update this coming week so stay tuned! Thank you so much for reading!