In the months that followed, Marie and Welder began the process of transitioning into new roles within the company. They worked closely with their team to ensure a smooth handover, focusing more on big-picture strategies and long-term goals rather than the daily grind of running the business. It wasn't an easy process—both of them had spent years pouring their hearts and souls into the company—but they knew it was the right decision for them.
Their life at the estate became their sanctuary, a place where they could retreat from the world and focus on each other. They spent lazy weekends gardening, hosting friends for dinner, and exploring the surrounding countryside. The peace and quiet of their new life was a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city, but neither of them missed it.
And as time went on, the idea of starting a family became less of a distant possibility and more of a tangible dream. They talked about it often, discussing their hopes and fears, and eventually, they made the decision to try.
It wasn't long before Marie found herself standing in front of a bathroom mirror, staring at a positive pregnancy test in disbelief. Her heart raced as the reality of the situation hit her. She was going to be a mother. They were going to be parents.
With shaky hands, she walked downstairs to find Welder. He was in the garden, tending to the new flower beds they had planted together. She stood there for a moment, watching him, her heart swelling with love for the man who had become her partner in every sense of the word.
"Welder," she called softly, her voice trembling slightly.
He looked up, his brow furrowing in concern when he saw her expression. "Marie? What's wrong?"
She smiled through her tears, holding up the pregnancy test. "I'm pregnant."
For a moment, Welder just stared at her, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Then, in an instant, he was at her side, pulling her into his arms and lifting her off the ground in a whirlwind of joy and laughter.
"We're going to be parents," he whispered, his voice filled with awe.
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace, the future stretched out before them—bright, beautiful, and filled with possibility. They had built a life together, a home filled with love, and now they were embarking on the greatest adventure of all.
Mariee and Welder were on cloud nine after the news of the pregnancy. Their lives seemed like a perfect picture, a beautiful future unfolding before them. The company was thriving, the estate was everything they had ever dreamed of, and the idea of starting a family filled them with joy and excitement. Marie was still processing how everything had changed, but she felt ready—more ready than she ever had in her life.
A few weeks after the pregnancy announcement, Marie and Welder hosted a small gathering at their estate to share the news with close friends and family. The atmosphere was warm, the air filled with laughter and congratulations. As the evening wound down, Marie found herself standing by the large windows in their living room, gazing out at the moonlit garden.
She had always been independent, fiercely protective of her career and personal life. Now, she was on the brink of a new chapter, one that felt both exhilarating and terrifying. As she stood there, lost in thought, Welder approached her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You look pensive," he whispered, kissing her cheek. "What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?"
Marie smiled softly, leaning into his embrace. "Just thinking about how much has changed. How quickly everything's moving."
Welder turned her gently, so they were face to face. "Is it too fast for you? We don't have to rush anything. We can take this one step at a time, just like we've always done."
She shook her head, her fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. "No, it's not that. I just—sometimes, it feels like it's all happening so perfectly, you know? Like I'm waiting for something to go wrong."
Welder frowned slightly, pulling her closer. "Nothing's going to go wrong, Marie. We've built this together. We're strong."
His words reassured her, but something in the pit of her stomach told her there were still things left unresolved—things she hadn't fully confronted yet. She pushed the thought away, trying to focus on the happiness they had built.
Two months later, life threw them the first unexpected curveball. Marie was at the office, wrapping up a meeting with one of their senior executives, when her assistant rushed in, her face pale with concern. "Marie, you have a visitor. She says it's urgent."
Marie blinked in surprise. "Who is it?"
The assistant hesitated. "Her name is Jessica Shaw. She says she knows Welder."
Marie's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the unfamiliar name. She didn't recall Welder ever mentioning someone named Jessica Shaw, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions. She nodded, signaling for the assistant to let the woman in.
Moments later, a tall, elegant woman entered the office, her posture confident yet tense. Marie immediately sensed the woman wasn't there for a casual chat. She was strikingly beautiful, with sharp features and a calm composure that spoke of someone who had lived through difficult experiences. Her eyes, though, held an intensity that made Marie's stomach tighten.
"Marie Santos?" the woman asked, her voice cool and controlled.
Marie stood, extending a hand. "Yes. And you're Jessica Shaw?"
Jessica ignored the handshake and instead fixed her gaze on Marie. "I need to speak to you about Welder."
At the mention of her husband's name, Marie felt her pulse quicken. "What about him?" she asked, her voice careful but firm.
Jessica took a deep breath, and for a moment, her confident exterior seemed to crack. "I didn't want to come here. Believe me, this isn't something I wanted to do. But I need you to know the truth."
Marie's heart raced as her mind scrambled to make sense of the situation. "What are you talking about?"
Jessica's eyes softened slightly, and she sighed. "Welder and I… we were together. A long time ago, before he met you."
The words hit Marie like a punch to the gut. Her mind reeled, trying to process what Jessica was saying. Welder had never mentioned any serious relationships before her, and while she knew he had a past, they had never delved too deeply into it. She swallowed hard, keeping her expression neutral.
"That was in the past," Marie said, her voice even. "What does this have to do with now?"
Jessica hesitated, glancing down for a moment before looking back up at Marie with a heavy expression. "Because there's more. I didn't come here just to dredge up old memories. Welder and I… we had a child."
Marie's blood ran cold.The room seemed to tilt slightly as she tried to wrap her mind around what Jessica had just said. A child? Welder had a child?
"That's impossible," Marie whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. "Welder would have told me."
Jessica's expression remained firm but sad. "I'm not lying to you. Our son is five years old now. His name is Ethan."
The air in the room thickened, and Marie felt as though the walls were closing in on her. It was impossible. Welder would never have kept something so monumental from her—especially not after all they had shared, especially not now that they were about to start a family of their own.
"Why are you telling me this now?" Marie demanded, her voice tight with emotion. "Why wait five years to say anything?"
Jessica's expression grew more strained, and she shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't want to interfere in Welder's life. I didn't even tell him about Ethan until recently. But now… things have changed. Ethan's been asking about his father. He deserves to know who Welder is."
Marie's heart pounded in her chest, her mind spinning in every direction. She didn't know what to say, what to think. This wasn't just about Welder's past anymore—it was about a child, a child Welder had never mentioned, and the implications of that secret tore at her.
"Does Welder know?" Marie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jessica nodded. "I told him a few weeks ago. He's still processing everything, but I felt you deserved to know as well."
Marie's legs felt weak beneath her, and she sank into her chair. "He didn't tell me," she murmured, the reality of it settling heavily on her shoulders.
Jessica's expression softened with sympathy, but there was still a steely determination behind her eyes. "I'm not here to break up your marriage, Marie. I just want my son to have a relationship with his father."
The door to the office creaked open, and Marie's heart nearly stopped when Welder walked in. His eyes immediately locked onto Jessica, his face paling as he realized what was happening.
"Marie…" Welder began, his voice strained.
Marie stood, her body trembling with emotion. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Welder looked pained, regret clear in his eyes as he stepped closer. "I was going to. I didn't know how to bring it up, and everything's been happening so fast with the pregnancy, the house—"
"So, you just decided to keep it a secret?"Marie's voice was laced with hurt, her anger bubbling to the surface.
"I didn't want to hurt you, Marie," Lucas said, his voice soft and pleading. "I'm still trying to figure out how to handle this myself."
Marie stared at him, feeling like the foundation of her life had been pulled out from under her. She was pregnant with his child, and yet he had kept something so important from her—something that would change everything.
"How could you not tell me?" Marie whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "We're supposed to be building a life together, Welder. No more secrets, remember?"
Welder reached for her, but she stepped back, the distance between them growing more than just physical. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice cracking. "I didn't know how to do this right."
Jessica, sensing the tension, took a step back toward the door. "I'll leave you two to talk," she said quietly. "But Welder, we need to have a serious conversation about Ethan."
With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Marie and Welder standing in the silence that followed, the weight of the secret pressing down on them both.
Marie looked at Welder, her chest tight with confusion and betrayal. The man she loved, the man she thought she knew inside and out, had hidden a part of his life from her—and now, everything felt uncertain.