Happily Never After

Chapter 37

I was sat on the floor in the staff bedroom, for what felt like ages. The sounds of smashing, rummaging around and heavy walking filled the house and soon overtook the sound of my staggered breathing. I didn't know what to do other than sit on the fall, curled up as best I could and wait for Carter to come home.

I don't know if Carter will have told his dad or any of his family but I just pray and hope he's here soon.

The loud and heavy sound of footsteps running down the stairs from the first floor to the lower ground floor, makes my head snap up and pay attention as to what will happen next. My eyes fix on the closed bedroom door. Carter, where are you?

Banging on the locked door I first stepped through, makes me uncurl my body and try to move closer against the wall at my back. Please don't. Please. The banging gets louder and louder by the second, making me close my eyes, bow my head and cover my face with my hands.

Carter, please hurry.

After five long and terrifying minutes of constant banging, the house falls silent once more. I raise my head and look back at the door, waiting to see the if the handle goes down or not. Seconds pass and nothing happens.

Gingerly, I get to my feet and walk to the door, each step having me on edge as I get closer. When I finally reach the door, I stand behind it, a few feet away, and take a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

I reach my right hand out for the door handle but stop when is see it go down from the other side. I pull my hand back and scurry away from the door.

"Sarah," Carter breathes heavily as he opens the door and comes rushing into the room.

My hand flies to my chest at the door opening but I sigh in relief at the sight of my husband standing by it. "Ca-Carter."

Carter's eyes lock on me before he comes rushing to my side. I hold onto his tightly, my hands fisting into the back of his suit jacket, as he takes me in his arms and runs his hands up and down my back.

"It's okay," he soothes. "It's okay. I'm here."

I breathe in his scent that's filled with a mix of the Bleu de Chanel aftershave he had put on before he left and the alcohol he'd been drinking before I called him. I instantly felt safe in his arms and knew he'd protect me no matter what.

"Did-" I start, trying to find my words to speak.

"Phillip is dealing with the two men in the house. I came in through the door next to the garage," Carter informs.

I nod against his chest but pull back a little when the baby kicks. I remove one of my hands from his jacket and place it over the spot where the baby had kicked.

"Did the baby just-" Carter starts, looking down at me. I nod. "They've never done that before now."

"Must have known I was in danger and that their dad is here now," I joke.

I look up at Carter as he smiles, one of his hands moving to sit over mine on my stomach.

"Sarah, I am so sorry I wasn't here. I shouldn't have left you here all alone," he starts apologising. "I don't know what I would've done if they got to you. I was beside myself the entire drive back here. Ask Phillip, he'll-"

"Sshh, Carter." I untangle my hands from their different positions and place them both on either side of his face. "I believe you."

"Just-"

"Carter, don't blame yourself." I lick my dry lips and continue, "How were you to know that this would happen? You weren't and it was just one of those things that-"

"Sarah, this just doesn't happen to anyone!" He snaps, pulling away and looking at me in disgust. "This is a private estate with very high security. I put that security alarm on and asked Ben to keep watch on you which he obviously wasn't doing. This was setup and I will not stop looking for the reason as to why it happened."

"Carter-"

"Someone other than our exes are out to get us and I will find out who they are. When I do, I will not be held responsible for my actions."

"Carter, please..."

"Someone is trying to hurt my family and break me. I will not let that happen."

With that said, he turns and walks out the bedroom.

That was a completely different side of him that I had never seen before. It wasn't the Carter I know and fell in love with. He seemed long gone and didn't look to be coming back to me anytime soon.

The house didn't seem to be in any kind of state when I finally found the courage to go back up to the ground floor. Nothing was out of place, nothing was lying on the ground, nothing looked to be missing. It just seems like the two men were looking for something but didn't find it in time.

As Carter had told me, Phillip took care of the two men and was currently at the local police station with them to make a statement. The security guards at the entrance to the estate had been questioned as to why the car got access without me or any of the neighbours authorising it.

The company responsible for every house's security systems, sent a group of men out to check every system installed. Turns out, the power supply for the systems had been tampered with and when the alarms went on, the systems failed to register it. Leaving every house and occupant vulnerable to an attack or robbery. Hence, the easy access for the two men in the car.

Carter's brothers and dad arrived soon after the police were done asking me questions. They didn't care about Carter's adamant protest about wanting them to leave. They just cared about my safety and the baby's.

As we wouldn't be able to get a new security system fitted till the morning, Ayden and Landon offered to stay the night in our house. More to protect me than for Carter as they sensed he wasn't in the right frame of mind to be the one protecting me. Gotta agree with them on that.

After sitting at the vanity table in the master bedroom for well over an hour, just thinking about what happened today, thoughts of what could have happened cloud my mind.

What if they found me? I know I wouldn't be sitting here right now. What if they hurt me to a point that I ended up losing the baby? Carter and I would probably reach our breaking points.What if that's what they were actually after? The baby.

He or she is going to known as the child of the famous Carter Romero. People will take and stop at nothing to get pictures and glimpses of our baby. Maybe they were wanting to put a stop to that happening. Or maybe they were wanting our baby so they could call all the shouts and get a way into the Romero business by blackmailing us.

So many different possibilities and yet, nothing really makes any sense.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a hand sit a white baby grow down on the vanity table next to me. I look down at it and sigh.

"I went back down and got it for you," Carter whispers heavily.

I nod lightly, my lips drawing together to form a tight line. "Thank you."

I hear Carter move away from me before I reach for the baby grow and hold it in my hands. Blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall from eyes, I get to my feet and look at Carter. He now sits on the edge of the bed at the bottom of it - elbows resting on his knees with his head in his hands.

He no longer wore his suit jacket or tie, simply just his black leather shoes, black trousers and white shirt that had the long sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows.

I take in the sight of my worn-out husband. For all he didn't and doesn't show it, I know he's hurting at the thought of something happening to me and our child tonight. I walk over to him, place the baby grown next to him on the bed and place my hands on the back of his bent head.

He didn't move or flinch at my act to try and console him in some way. I gently run my fingers through his soft hair and wait for him to make the next move. I wasn't going anywhere when I know my husband is breaking inside.