The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

---- Chapter 183: Pregnant Again ~ Calum ~ Calum hadn't been able to visit Sage in two weeks, all thanks to the troubles with Rose's fashion line. There was even a time when he and Rose stayed overnight at her boutique just to review the numbers. He pressured Rose to release new designs, making her pull several all-nighters. He took command, putting previous clothing lines in the front rows of both shops in Cedar Heights. Aside from that, Calum personally reached out to his contacts, inviting them to shop at Maison de R.

His efforts paid off a little, at least most of Rose's previous designs sold. But the new ones? The ones that cost thousands upon thousands of dollars barely made a sale. It frustrated Calum. For one, he still couldn't get over the fact that Luca Valmont rejected his office. To relieve himself of the stress, Calum returned to the Montclair estate for a while. He meant to stay away from Rose and simply... reflect. On a Friday, he sent his daughter to school. During the ride, Sage said softly, "Mommy came to see me, Daddy." Her voice was quiet and reflective. She turned to him with sad eyes.

"She said she can't see me as often as she used to... because our family is different now. So, you, me, and Mommy -we were a family, right?" Calum gulped. He reached for Sage's hand and said, "Yes, we were." "So, did-" she paused, teary-eyed. "Daddy, does that mean ---- Aunt Rose broke our family?" Calum felt a lump in his throat. He swallowed hard and said, " It's not like that." "So... we weren't a family, Daddy?" Sage clarified. "We were, but-" He didn't know how to explain it. He couldn't blame Soraya either, not after learning she was innocent all along.

"Sometimes, it's difficult for adults to stay together. | think... | think it was my mistake." Sage fell silent next, but Calum feared his daughter was starting to put two and two together. He knew he was bound to explain it to her one day. Because the truth was, he and Soraya had been married, yet he chose to have a relationship outside of it. In everyone's eyes, it was still wrong-especially since he and Soraya shared a child. "I'm really sorry, Sage. | really am." Calum embraced his daughter, and as he did, he caught sight of his driver's reflection in the rearview mirror.

The driver shook his head quietly. Calum didn't need to be a genius to know that even the driver thought it was a shame for Sage to grow up witha broken family. The weight of it all made Calum feel uneasy again. It was a mix of guilt and regret. He badly wanted some time for himself. But just as he was returning to the old Montclair mansion, he received a call from Rose's father, Reginald. "Where are you, Calum? Rose is feeling unwell. We're out of town.

Please, take her to the hospital." ---- Yes, Rose had called him earlier, but he let it go to voicemail However, with his father-in-law calling, it was a different story. Looking at the driver, he ordered, "Turn around. Go to Rose's apartment." Rose had been vomiting. They thought it was an upset stomach, but when they arrived at the hospital and had several tests done, the doctor informed them, "Mrs. Montclair is pregnant." 'Pregnant. It echoed in Calum's head like a plague. It was the same doctor as before, Dr. Gilbert. He shared the news too dryly, as if he knew it wasn't entirely good.

And truth be told, Calum wasn't thrilled. If only he had refused Rose. But then again, the pressure from the Beckets had driven him to be intimate with his wife shortly after her miscarriage. "I'm pregnant." Rose smiled, turning to Calum. "Did you hear that? My business may be struggling, but we still received a blessing. I'm pregnant!" "You're very lucky, Mrs. Montclair. Despite your condition, you managed to conceive again. | recommend special care and regular prenatal check-ups," Dr. Gilbert said. "I'm sorry, what exactly is Rose's condition?" Calum asked.

The last time he'd been at the hospital, he only knew the previous pregnancy was risky, but his mind had been too occupied to care as to why. "That | got pregnant right away despite having miscarried just over a month ago," Rose said. She cleared her throat and quickly dismissed the doctor. "Thank you, Dr. Gilbert." ---- The doctor nodded, giving Calum one last glance before leaving. Calum shifted to Rose, torn and speechless. He sat on the chair beside the hospital bed, staring at nothing in particular. Then he closed his eyes and took deep breaths. There was no going around it.

Calum had no choice. Because Rose was pregnant again, he had to try to make the marriage work, even if every bone in his body was telling him not to. But because he couldn't stand being alone with Rose, he said, " Okay. I'm moving Sage back with us." "Really?" Rose reacted. He wasn't sure if she was happy or uneasy about his decision. "How-how will you do that? Will your mother agree? Your mother might get mad at me again." "Ill speak to Mom about it. Besides, Sage hasn't fully agreed to stay with Soraya," Calum said with a gulp. "A house with just the two of us feels too empty.

| feel better when Sage is around. I'll bring her nanny, too-Belinda. Mom will likely agree if we bring Belinda. We'll stay at the apartment so it's closer to work and Sage's school." "I'm warning you, though." Calum leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Be careful how you speak of Soraya from now on." "| won't," Rose said softly. "The issue with Soraya is all in the past." "Good." Calum believed he had made the right choice. After all, ---- when the days ended in silence and regret, it was Sage who ran to him with open arms.

She was his daughter-the one thread holding his world together. Yet in seeking comfort, Calum had unknowingly set in motion the distance that would one day stand between him and his daughter.