A Woman's Empire

XXIX

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Thousands of thoughts were running through Audrielle's mind while they waited for the results. It had been three days since the doctor got back to Leo and Audrielle and over those days, Audrielle spent her days with Leo.

Leo was a lot nicer to her, but she knew that it was only because there was the possibility that she was pregnant with his child. With one hand on the steering wheel, and the other on Audrielle's thigh, the couple sat in silence on the drive back to the manor, where the family doctor was waiting with the results.

"I like the name Hades." Leo suddenly spoke up and Audrielle's eyes blinked open.

"Of course you do." Audrielle muttered into her hand. She was dreading what would happen next and it didn't help that she didn't get much sleep either.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Leo decided to drop it even though he didn't like the attitude she was giving him. The car slowly came to a halt outside of the manor's steel gates. After winding down the window, the guard opened the gates and Leo put his foot down on the accelerator, zooming up the paved driveway. Audrielle was nervous. So was Leo. They were about to find out if they were going to have a child, a little human being that will be the first Harrington-Amour.

They didn't waste any time walking to the doctor's office. Leo didn't bother knocking on the door, he walked straight in, holding the door for Audrielle. Audrielle didn't bother thanking him, she was in a sour mood and she was too nervous. Sitting down in the two arm chairs by the desk, they both waited for the doctor to come in which wasn't long.

"Mr and Mrs. Amour! It's lovely to see you both again. How are you, Audrielle?" The doctor smiled warmly as he pushed up his glasses that were sliding down his nose.

"Let's just get straight to the point shall we?" Leo suddenly suggested, loosening the tie around his neck. He was nervous too and Audrielle couldn't help but let a small smile crawl onto her face. She found it comforting that he was showing some emotion too.

"Yes, very well then." The doctor took a seat in his chair and began shuffling through papers until he stopped and pulled one out of the binder.

"Well Mr. and Mrs. Amour, I don't know if this is good news or bad news but..." he started explaining. Audrielle was on the edge of her chair waiting to hear the two words that she's pregnant.

But they never came.

"... Mrs. Amour, you're not pregnant." Audrielle was relieved and leaned back into the chair. She wasn't ready to become a mother and Leo didn't show any attitude that he wanted to be a father except for when they were in Italy and he saw his little sister.

Unfortunately, Leo didn't take the news well. "No. There must be a misunderstanding. She was vomiting the other morning and she said she's missed her period for a couple of weeks now. I mean, I'm no doctor, but she is showing symptoms that she is pregnant." Leo exclaimed. The doctor and Audrielle were surprised by his sudden outburst.

"Mr. Amour, although those may be signs that she's pregnant, doesn't mean she's actually pregnant. I can explain to you why she's missed her period, and it is completely normal for it to happen. One, it is either late, which is common, or two, she's been under a lot of stress lately that she didn't have it. Audrielle, have you been under some stress lately?" The doctor asked and Leo's head snapped towards her. He looked angry but Audrielle didn't care. She nodded her head slowly and the doctor sent her a sad smile.

"Oh enlighten me, Audrielle. What's been so stressful for you?" Leo grumbled as he rolled his eyes.

"I-I'm scared." Audrielle spoke up, fiddling her thumbs on her lap.

"What are you afraid of Audrielle that's causing you so much stress?" The doctor asked kindly, keeping his voice gentle.

"I-I'm scared L-Leo will hit me again." Audrielle blinked, a tear falling down her face.

Silence.

Leo didn't respond. Instead, he ushered for Audrielle to sit back down, as if he was embarrassed and suddenly realised that his wife was afraid of him. The doctor was the one to break the awkward silence by clearing his throat.

"Well, um okay. Leo, I suggest you treat Audrielle more kindly because if you want to have children, her mental health plays an important role when it comes to carrying a baby. And Audrielle, it is not good for your mental wellbeing to bottle your feelings, which is probably a large factor to the stress that's been on you. I suggest not hiding your emotions will ease some of it, but Leo, you need to step up. If you want to become a good father, you must become a good husband first."

—————

After their consultation with the doctor, Audrielle saw a change in Leo's behaviour. Although he wasn't as kind to her as he was in Italy, Audrielle understood it was because of his work. She had heard some rumors that there was no use of Leo going to the meeting in Japan because the Japanese had already made up their minds and betrayed the Amours.

Leo tried his best to not take his anger and frustration out on Audrielle but there were a few times when he would be distant, as if she wasn't there.

It was a Saturday morning, meaning Leo didn't have to go into the office which also meant they could both sleep in and not wake up to the annoying sound of the alarm clock.

But suddenly Leo's phone started to ring and he quickly got out of bed to answer it. Audrielle's eyes slowly started to open as she listened to Leo on the phone.

"Yes. We'll be down in a second." Leo said, his voice husky from just waking up.

"Who was that?" Audrielle asked, pulling the bed sheets closer to her chest as she watched Leo pull on a pair of sweatpants.

"It was a maid. They said your mother is on the phone and is wanting to talk to you." He replied walking over to Audrielle and placing a small peck on her lips. Audrielle quickly returned it but was more occupied with the fact that her mother was ringing.

After putting on her fluffy robe and slippers, Leo and Audrielle made it down stairs to the manor where a maid was waiting with a phone.

The maid handed it over to Audrielle before quickly scurrying away to give them some privacy.

"Hello?"

"Audrielle, it's your mother here, I'm ringing with some bad news." Maria said through the phone in a worried voice.

"Yes, mother?"

"It's Grandfather Charles. He's had a severe heart attack and has sadly passed away."

Audrielle couldn't believe what her mother had just said. Her grandfather, who was healthy and fit passed away? She didn't feel said though and that's what surprised her.

"Oh."

"Yes, it's a hard time for us all but I am just ringing to let you know that the funeral is this Tuesday. Your father and I are expecting to see you and Leo there, yes?" Audrielle's mom asked, sniffling a little bit like she had been crying.

"No. You will not be seeing us there." Audrielle replied, her voice firm.

"W-What are you talking about, young lady?!" Her mother replied and Audrielle could tell she was angered by her answer.

"I will not be going to his funeral. I have no respect for that man. Not once, out of my twenty one years of life, has he ever smiled or said something nice to me. He has always belittled me and bullied me. Therefore, you won't see me there."

Audrielle had surprised her mother so much that she was left speechless and the only sound that could be heard was the humming of the phone.

"You're kidding right?"

"No mother, I am not. I will not be attending his funeral and I am sorry to hear about your loss. I send my condolences to you, father and grandma. Goodbye." Audrielle said abruptly before hanging up.

"What was that all about?" Leo asked, puzzled by the situation.

"My grandfather just died."