Chapter 1 Divorce

“I want a divorce,” Marcellus said as he stood at the center of the spacious bedroom, coldly facing forward with a gloomy expression. Sumptuous fabrics, exquisite furnishings, and a delicate lighting fixture near the bed created a cozy atmosphere. The walls were adorned with artwork to give the room a unique touch. Startled, Larisa sat on the edge of their king-size bed wearing her night robe, as she inquired incredulously, "A Divorce?" Not expecting this from Marcellus so suddenly. Marcellus had forewarned her on their wedding day that this would be the outcome, and since then she had been on edge. Despite knowing that it would eventually happen, she never expected it to be this soon. Marcellus coldly declared to Larisa, "Yes Larisa, I'm done with this marriage. I have given it my all, and I want to be with the woman I love." The phrase "the woman I love" from Marcellus felt like a sharp needle piercing Larisa's heart. She had always known he had never loved her, and yet she had still hoped that he would come to love her once they were married. Larisa rose from the edge of the bed, the illuminating light fixture and the natural sunlight streaming in from the window accentuating the paleness of her skin. Her long brown tresses flowed down her shoulders and her full bust moved as she walked towards Marcellus, the pain from his last statement not preventing her from approaching him. Standing breathlessly close to him, he cast his gaze downwards to her delicate oval face, blue eyes, and rose-colored lips. In a soft tone, Larisa took hold of Marcellus's arms. "Marcellus," she implored, "Can't we stay married while you're with her? Must we divorce first before you can love her? Even in my presence, it is possible for you to love her," She spoke as her trembling lips attempted to contain her tears, and she glanced up at Marcellus imploringly. She had been in love with Marcellus since she was a child, fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming his wife and bringing his children into the world. She felt that he had loved and treasured her while they were younger, convincing her to accept his father's request and marry him. Nevertheless, the person he now loves is somebody else. Bending his head to meet Larisa's average height, Marcellus coolly commented, "I can't, Larisa - not this time. I have endured two years of marriage and succeeded in bringing Clara back into my life despite the challenge of my parents' opposition. This happened all because of you!!" Marcellus' square-shaped face and sparkling brown eyes, along with his thick lips and a neatly trimmed beard lent him a perfect visage, complemented by his tall and well-built physique as countless women swooned at his feet. Should he glance in their direction, these women were more than willing to take Marcellus away from Larisa. Despite the hurtful words he said to her, Larisa managed to smile at Marcellus, finding herself unable to deny the attractiveness of his face and body, even at this painful moment. In her sweet, alluring voice, Larisa whispered, "I still love you, Marcellus," gazing up at him with a gentle smile. Shocked by her proclamation, Marcellus snapped in anger, "Are you crazy, Larisa?! I just told you that I want a divorce, and here you are, telling me you still love me?!", the fury in his voice not provoking the usual fearful reaction from Larisa. Larisa Madison has been even-tempered and compliant since she was a child. She has always done her best to keep Marcellus pleased and content. Larisa pleaded, "Marcellus, can't we just stay married? I swear, I won't be a nuisance! I won't question you, I won't be a burden. Please don't make us go through a divorce." Tears began to stream from her eyes, the ones she had been suppressing. Marcellus, still looking down at Larisa, declared in his deep voice, "Stop with the infantile speeches and the infantile sobbing, Larisa. Don't act like a little chick attempting to get its way with a cry." Before she could get a word out, his phone started ringing on the small shelves near their king-sized bed. He walked over and smiled when he saw the name on the caller ID. He briefly glanced over at Larisa. "I'll be back soon. Think it through; I need your response soon," he said before answering the call. With a gleeful smile, he exclaimed, "Hello, Clara! How was your night? I haven't been able to stop thinking about you!" He then left their bedroom, making his way to the living room and then the courtyard. From the other end of the phone, Clara happily declared, "I can't stop thinking about you, Marcellus! Now that you're the CEO of Huxley Corporations, we can finally be together!" Marcellus beamed, his eyes sparkling with joy. "Yes, my love! My father can't prevent me from bringing you back anymore! Two years ago, he tried to conquer me by threatening to disown me and get me married to a money-hungry woman - but it won't happen again. I'm in charge now," he proclaimed confidently, causing Clara to erupt into laughter. In a gentle tone, he said, "I need to do something significant to get you back soon, but I'll fill you in later. Right now, I'm going to get busy, my love," he said as he smirked. Marcellus Huxley had always been cold, vehement, and domineering towards Larisa, whereas he had always been cordial and caring towards others including Clara and his parents. Marcellus re-entered the bedroom, prepared to obtain Larisa's response. He arrived to find her brokenly weeping, her body shaking as she sat on the bed. Marcellus stood there and gazed at her; he had never wanted to distress her, which is why he had warned her the day they got married. Moving towards his briefcase, which was located on the shelf, he posed indifferently, "What's your response now, Larisa?”, as if he hadn't noticed her sobbing. Larisa wiped away her tears and peered up at Marcellus. In a faint voice, she declared, "I'm pregnant, Marcellus."

Chapter 2 The papers

Startled, Marcellus halted in his tracks and spun around to face Larisa, his voice high with shock as he inquired, "What?! You're pregnant?!" Although he had only slept with Larisa occasionally, it was never because he loved her; it was because he experienced arousal or pining for Clara. When these feelings arose, he would conjure visions of Clara superimposed on Larisa, allowing him to use her as a substitute for his true love. Larisa was left completely taken aback as she nervously bit her lower lip, the way Marcellus responded and exclaimed, causing her to realize that he was displeased with the news. She hesitantly sought clarity on her assumption, inquiring of Marcellus inquisitively, "What if I'm pregnant? What will you do?" her eyes looking up directly into his as she so eagerly awaited his response as she breathed deeply. Marcellus glanced downwards at her, firmly shaking his head as he uttered, "You will need to abort it." His eyes remained fixed on Larisa as he intently asked, "Are you pregnant?", his expression remained emotionless as he did not blink. Confident in her realization, Larisa knew that Marcellus was willing to terminate the child for the sake of Clara. Knowing that if her suspicions were true and she was pregnant, she had to hastily act to protect both her and her unborn baby, as she had experienced telltale signs that she might be pregnant despite not having gone for a checkup or utilized a pregnancy kit. Larisa cracked a smile as she glanced up at Marcellus, then she shook her head and declared, "I'm not pregnant Marcellus, that's why I asked 'What if' remember?" Though she was lying, she tightened the grip of her hand in the hope that Marcellus would believe her. Marcellus was downcast and unsure of what he was wanting to hear, yet hoping to receive a positive answer before being able to make a decision. All he could do was look at her and give a curt nod while bringing himself to utter a soft, "That's Good, Thank Goodness you aren't pregnant" despite his true feelings otherwise. As she perched on the bed's edge, Larisa put her hand up to her mouth in a fashionable manner and offered her silent thanks to her good fortune for having lied to Marcellus, otherwise, the single true present she had acquired from Marcellus within their two years' marriage would have been an abortion. She knew all too well that when Marcellus had made up his mind about something, he was sure to execute it. Marcellus took his briefcase and removed a paper. "Here are the divorce papers, sign them as soon as possible, I cannot postpone any further," he declared while making strides in Larisa's direction. He then extended his arm, offering her the papers. While tears formed in her eyes, Larisa halted in shock while inquiring of Marcellus, "You have already obtained the divorce papers so soon?" Looking up at him, she could not believe it. Marcellus gave a nod as he replied, "I have been preparing these for several months now, so sign them, and let's finish this." Gliding his hands through his hair, he continued, "You will be granted 500 million as alimony for the divorce, so make your decision wisely. With that immense amount of money, you will be able to relish life to the fullest once we are divorced." Given that there was no way she could evade the divorce with Marcellus' unwavering position, Larisa somberly uttered, "Allow me time to consider," as she dropped her head. Marcellus gave a nod in agreement, "Yes, Larisa, that is not an issue as long as I get my desired outcome. I will be granting you three days to contemplate on your own," he declared. "During those three days, I won't be returning home either, I need to get some space to regain my clarity of mind." Raising her head and gazing up at Marcellus, Larisa nervously bit her lower lips as she stammered, "Wh-Where will you stay Marcellus?" With an upturned eyebrow, Marcellus spoke firmly, "That is none of your concern, Larisa, simply sign the divorce papers." After showering and departing the residence for his office, Marcellus left Larisa to ultimately choose her fate. He directed Mrs. Mary, their head maidservant, to ensure Larisa's safety during his absence. Despite his ardent desire to be rid of Larisa from his life, he still, in some way, wished her the best, although he was unaware of the meaning of this emotion. He muttered, "Finally," as he settled into his large, adjustable, and comfortable office chair with armrests and a backrest. Quickly signing and going through the necessary documents, he did not want to spend another second without being with Clara. "Hello, darling," Marcellus spoke lovingly as Clara answered the call. "I'll be spending time with you soon, so get ready! I'll be heading to your apartment soon! my love." She said excitedly, “I can't wait to have you around me all night! It's been two years since you got married and we've only been able to make love and cuddle during the day.” Marcellus let out a giddy laugh and said, “That's why I want us to be together all night, just cuddling!” With that, he hung up the call with Clara, contacted his secretary to arrange for the documents he had signed, and quickly left the office. He zoomed off in his luxurious vehicle, which was equipped with the most advanced features, straight to Clara's apartment. Meanwhile, Larisa had been sitting on the bed, with the divorce papers in her hands, ever since Marcellus had left the house. The head maid grew concerned and lightly knocked on the door of Larisa and Marcellus' master bedroom. When she heard the knock on the door, she called out, “Come in!” as she looked at the door, awaiting Mrs. Mary's entrance. Mrs. Mary took in Larisa's appearance and saw her eyes, red and swollen from her continuous sobbing. The maids, including Mrs. Mary, had overheard Marcellus' shouts reverberating through the house. "Mrs. Huxley, why don't you seem to be eating any of the meals that have been served? It has been hours since you were last served and you haven't touched your food. You are becoming skinnier by the day because you don't eat. Don't you think it would be beneficial to at least try and consume some of the food that has been presented to you? Your health is important and skipping meals can take a toll on you". She replied, “I'll eat soon, Mrs. Mary, I just wanted to take some time to think about my life...” As she said this, she started to sob once more. Arriving at Clara's apartment, Marcellus was hit with the pleasant aroma that filled the area. After Clara had set the dinner table, they both sat down, smiling and holding hands. Once Clara had taken her first bite of the meal, she suddenly felt nauseous and quickly placed her hand over her mouth before standing up and making her way to the bathroom. Marcellus quickly got up and followed her, standing close by her side as she puked. When she was done, he couldn't help his curiosity and nervously clenched his hands as he asked. “Clara,” Marcellus asked hesitantly, “Are you pregnant?”

Chapter 3 Pregnancy

Clara's face exhibiting shock lifted her head and stared at Marcellus. "Pregnant?" she uttered in astonishment, completely taken aback by his unexpected question. Marcellus gazed intently at Clara and said, "Yes, are you pregnant? The way you ran out of the dining room made me think so." Chuckling, Clara wiped the water off her lips and shook her head. "No, Marcellus," she answered, sighing deeply. "I just finished my monthly flow days ago. How could I possibly be pregnant if I've seen my period for this month?" Clara asked, shrugging her shoulders. Marcellus's heart sank as he stared at Clara. "Why has the word 'pregnancy' been so disappointing for me lately?" he asked himself, taking a deep breath. "I thought you were pregnant," he said. Shaking her head, Clara replied, "No, Marcellus, I'm not - I've just been feeling a bit under the weather these days, that's all." She ran her hand through her hair as she spoke. Marcellus nodded, putting on a fake smile like he always did. "Will you be able to eat now?" He questioned, pushing Clara's hair away from her face. "Or should we just close up the food?" he asked as they both headed to the dining table. Grinning, Clara said, "I can eat now - thankfully, it only made me feel better," touching her stomach as she spoke. Arriving at the dining table, they began to eat, occasionally glancing at each other. **** Rising from the king-sized bed as the morning sun shone in, Larisa felt weary and nauseated. She stayed in bed until she had enough strength to stand up again. "I'm pregnant," Larisa thought to herself, placing her hands on her stomach. "These are the symptoms I heard early pregnancy brings. I need to get a checkup to be sure," she said, standing up from the bed. After eating her breakfast, Larisa took a warm shower, then got dressed. Mrs. Mary smiled as she saw Larisa walking down the stairs to the courtyard. "Will you be back soon?" she asked. "Should I prepare lunch?" she added, glancing at Larisa. Larisa turned and smiled, revealing her white teeth. "I won't be coming back for lunch, Mrs. Mary, so don't worry yourself. Have some rest," she said as she started to leave. When She arrived at the courtyard, her driver opened the car door for her. Turning to her driver, James, Larisa said, "I'll be taking a taxi. You're free for the day." With that, she headed towards the gate. James nervously dropped his head for a moment but quickly hurried to catch up with Larisa as she walked towards the gate. "But, ma'am," he said, stopping Larisa as she turned to listen to him. "Mr. Huxley warned me before he left, that if I shouldn't let you take a taxi or leave the house alone, I might get fired," he said nervously. Larisa pointed her finger at James and said sternly, "He won't know if you don't tell him. I said you're free for the day, so don't you dare stop me again." James nodded, remaining stationary as he watched Larisa leave through the gate. Knowing her driver would tell Marcellus where she was going, Larisa refused to let him take her to the hospital. Her unborn baby's life, if she was indeed pregnant as she suspected, was more important than Marcellus and the divorce. Upon arriving at the hospital, a pregnancy test was run on Larisa. "Congratulations, Mrs. Huxley," the female doctor said with a smile, handing Larisa the test results in her office. "You are seven weeks pregnant." Taking the test results paper from the doctor, Larisa read it carefully. "I knew it," she said, her eyes welling up with tears. "My gut told me. I still can't believe there's a life inside of me," she said, patting her stomach gently - in tears of joy. After speaking with the doctor, Larisa walked to the lobby of the hospital and called her best friend, Ashley. She and Ashley had met in college and had been best friends ever since - both of them studied Business Administration. A cheerful "Hello, bitch" was Ashley's answer to the call. Larisa chuckled and responded, "Not today, Ashley. I'm tired of you calling me 'bitch.' I really can't get used to that name, so please stop using it." She smiled as she said it. At the other end of the phone, Ashley replied, "I can't, 'bitch,' get used to it!" Sighing deeply and rolling her eyes, Larisa knew she did not have the energy to argue with Ashley over the phone. "I'm on my way to your apartment now," she asked, biting her lower lip. "I hope you're home?." Ashley answered, "Yes, baby 'bitch,' I'm home, so hurry up and get here!" Shaking her head and smiling, Larisa responded, "I'll be there soon, you big 'bitch,' so get ready." She pushed back her neck and let out a giggle before ending the call. Arriving at Ashley's apartment, Larisa rang the doorbell. Ashley answered, welcoming her in. Walking into the apartment, Larisa sat on the couch and took a deep breath, gazing up at Ashley. Lowering her head and looking down at Larisa, Ashley asked, "What's wrong? Why did you take such a deep breath?" Thinking for a moment, Larisa finally responded, "Marcellus wants a divorce?" Half-yelling, Ashley asked, "What? Why? He hasn't been giving you any attention since you two got married, and now he wants a divorce?" Larisa said softly, "He said he would the day we got married. I've been expecting this for a while, but not so soon. It's only been two years, Ashley - two years!" She sighed. "He wants to start a new life with Clara now; he's the CEO now, so he can do whatever he wants. His dad can't stop him." Ashley exclaimed loudly, "What?!" Larisa sobbed, "Marcellus has given me the divorce papers and told me to sign them in three days! Ashley, I love Marcellus - I don't want to sign those divorce papers." Ashley placed a comforting hand on Larisa's back and inquired, "What do you plan to do now?" Larisa exclaimed, "I don't know what to do now, as Clara is the one he loves.""The last time I saw her at the Shopping mall she….." Larisa was still in the middle of conversing when her phone started ringing, prompting her to retrieve it from her handbag and inspect the Caller ID, only to find that the number on display was not one she had saved in her contacts. Larisa turned her attention to Ashley as she placed her phone on her ear and inquired, "Hello, who is this?". The caller responded, "It's me, Clara." Larisa was taken aback and exclaimed, "Clara?!"

Chapter 4 The call

Larisa stared in disbelief at the phone in her hand, double-checking the caller ID to make sure it was indeed Clara calling her. Ashley silently mouthed the words, "What does she want?", her expression full of surprise. Larisa shrugged her shoulders, silently mouthing the words, "I don't know.""Yes, it's me, Clara...Marcellus's one true love," Clara said. Larisa half-heartedly chuckled as she asked, "True love?" Clara had been unpleasantly arrogant and rude as of late, even going so far as to get into a heated argument with Larisa the day before her wedding, unbeknownst to Marcellus. When Marcellus's father heard of the disparity, he had to step in, ordering his guards to put Clara in confinement until after the wedding. "It would be best for all of us if you remove yourself from Marcellus's life. You're an obstruction to his joy and he never truly loved you from the start - you were merely an undesired present given to him by his father," Clara uttered from the other end of the line. "I'm the one he truly loves," she concluded. Larisa bit her lip and retorted, "If he truly loves you as you claim, why is he always moaning loudly while we make love so passionately at night?" Clara cackled heartily from the other end of the phone before asserting, "You're nothing but a stand-in for me - a substitution that Marcellus resorts to whenever he's feeling randy or missing me. That's what he told me," she said with a mischievous giggle. Larisa was speechless and at the moment she had no words to respond. She felt huge shame and guilt inside her and wished she could turn back the clock. But it was too late and she had to face the consequences. At the end Clara spoke up again and said " I suggest you better sign those divorce papers since Marcellus is determined to start a new life with me " Clara said as she ended the call. Larisa felt her heart break into pieces as she slowly put down the phone. It was at that moment she realized she was hopelessly in love with Marcellus and that he would never love her back. Ashley flicked her gaze to Larisa, her expression full of curiosity, and asked, "What did she say?" Larisa stayed quiet for a few moments before finally responding, "She said it's for the best that I sign the divorce papers, that I'm an obstruction to Marcellus's happiness, and that he never truly loved me.""What?! It should be you threatening her, not the other way around! Forget about the true love part of it, you're his legal wife, Larisa. Clara's just his mistress," Ashley said, her voice rising in her fury. "Don't tell me you're seriously considering divorcing Marcellus just because of what she said?""I think it's what I have to do, Ashley," Larisa said, blinking her eyes in rapidly. Ashley bit her lip before replying, "For crying out loud, Larisa. You need to stand up for yourself. Marcellus belongs to you now!". Larisa ran her hand through her hair, somberly admitting, "But his heart isn't mine - I've been trying for two years to make him love me, and it hasn't worked." She took a deep breath. "So you're giving up now? After two years?" Ashley asked, raising two of her fingers to emphasize her point. "Ashley," Larisa murmured, "I'm pregnant. I just confirmed it at the hospital - I need to think of my baby before I do anything. Marcellus doesn't want me to have his child, but I do, and the only way I can keep this baby is by getting a divorce," she concluded. "Wow!" Ashley exclaimed, placing her hands on Larisa's shoulders and shaking her lightly. "Congratulations! Looks like I'm going to be a godmother soon!" she said, smiling broadly. Larisa chuckled lightly as Ashley shook her. "That's why I'm considering signing the divorce papers, even though deep down I'm still in love with Marcellus," she said, exhaling a heavy sigh. **** After Larisa finished her visit with Ashley, she headed home and dozed off for two hours. The ringing of her phone shook her out of her sleep, and when she checked the caller ID, it was Anna Huxley, Marcellus's mother. Larisa picked up the call, and then Marcellus's mother gently reminded her of the promise she'd made to visit her that day. "Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry - I completely forgot," she said apologetically. "I understand, Larisa. Do me a favor and come visit me - I'm so bored," Mrs. Anna Huxley requested. "I'll be there soon, Mom. Just give me an hour to get ready," Larisa responded, hastily standing up from the bed. "I will, Larisa," Mrs. Huxley replied before ending the call. She had always held a special fondness for Larisa ever since she was a young girl, and she was overjoyed when Larisa and Marcellus tied the knot. Larisa got dressed and called on James, her driver. She headed over to Marcellus's parent's mansion, its exterior design where as elegant as her beloved Marcellus's but with more flowers in the courtyard due to Mrs. Huxley's love of flowers Larisa ventured into the living room. The walls were coated with a neutral shade and decorated with beautiful artwork, cozy throw pillows, and decorative accent pieces such as vibrant vases and sculptures. She had a lengthy chat with Mrs. Huxley that lasted hours and had to be coerced into having lunch with her when Larisa stated she wasn't feeling hungry. Larisa embraced Mrs. Huxley and kissed her goodbye before getting into the car. She was so worn out that she had to rest her head on the seat for a few moments. Larisa's eyes began to drift close, solaced by the refreshing, soothing breeze coming in through the car window, giving her skin a gentle tingle. Larisa closed her eyes and basked in the breeze, but the shrill ringing of her phone disrupted her peaceful reverie. She opened her bag and grabbed it, the caller ID revealing an unsaved number. She hesitated for a moment, pondering if it was Clara. Sighing, she picked it up, this time determined to fight back. The caller asked, "Is this Mrs. Huxley?" Larisa queried as soon as she realized it wasn't Clara, "Who are you?""It's me, Doctor Jane - you urgently need to come to the hospital immediately!"

Chapter 5 Jealous

Larisa exclaimed in surprise, "Now?!" Doctor Jane ended the call, replying, "Yes Mrs. Huxley, Now." Gently placing the phone down from her ear, Larisa turned to James and said, "Stop the car." She then took her handbag. Still driving, James asked, "What?""I said stop the car!" Larisa yelled. Pulling the car to the side of the road, James turned to face Larisa. "I'll be stopping here," Larisa said. "I need to go somewhere important; you can go home.""But Mr. Huxley said...." James was still talking when Larisa opened the door of the car, waved her hands to stop a passing taxi, quickly entered it, and drove past James as the taxi driver drove away. Dumbfounded, James had no choice but to return home alone. Upon arriving at the hospital, Larisa swiftly disembarked from the taxi, paid the driver, and walked into the hospital. She arrived at Doctor Jane's office and gently knocked. "Come in," Doctor Jane invited from inside the office. Nervously, Larisa opened the office door and stepped in. "Mrs. Huxley, you're here!" Doctor Jane exclaimed. "That was quick!""I had to come quickly; it sounded urgent," Larisa replied. Doctor Jane nodded and brought out a paper. She was silent for a while, her eyes darting from the paper. Larisa was nervous but waited for the Doctor to tell her what was on the paper. "This test result came out after you left the hospital," Doctor Jane said while raising the paper. "It's your emotional stress test results." Larisa nodded her head and rubbed her sweaty hands together. "What does it say, Doctor?" she asked, biting her lower lip. "Your emotional stress level is very high, Mrs. Huxley," Doctor Jane stated. She then paused and explained, "Emotions like stress and anxiety can increase particular hormones in your body, which can affect your baby's developing body and brain." After ensuring that Larisa had understood, she continued. "During pregnancy, emotional stress can increase the chances of having a preterm baby - a baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. In other cases, a low-birthweight baby - a baby weighing less than 5 pounds 8 ounces - can be delivered. Babies born too soon or too small are at increased risk for health problems," Doctor Jane explained. "So, Mrs. Huxley, if you want to keep this baby, set aside anything that is stressing you out for the sake of your unborn child," she advised. Larisa smiled awkwardly and gently nodded her head. She thanked Doctor Jane before taking the test result and left the hospital. Stopping a taxi at the front of the hospital, she entered it and the taxi driver drove off. Larisa arrived home and slowly entered the mansion, her mind awhirl with thoughts about the divorce and her baby. Making her way to the master bedroom, she dropped her bag on the floor and sat on the bed. "Where have you been?" a voice asked, startling Larisa out of her reverie. Looking up, she saw Marcellus staring at her. Taking a deep breath, Larisa muttered, "Good gracious, I almost lost my soul.""I said, where have you been?!" Marcellus yelled, his eyes wide with anger. "Have you been cheating on me?" he asked. Standing up from the bed, Larisa looked up at Marcellus in surprise. "Cheating on you? I should be the one saying that, since you have a mistress," she retorted." "If you haven't been cheating on me, then where have you been?" Marcellus asked curiously, waiting for an explanation from Larisa. "I went out to sort out a personal issue," Larisa said, meeting Marcellus' gaze. "What personal issue?" Marcellus inquired. Larisa chuckled and smiled. "We are divorcing soon, Marcellus, so you have no right to know." "What?!" Marcellus yelled out in anger. (Two Hours Earlier) After Larisa had left, James returned to the mansion alone and parked the car in the garage. It wasn't long before Marcellus drove in and parked his car as well. James stood and waited for him to disembark from the car. "Where is Larisa?" Marcellus asked James as he stepped out of his car. "Sir .. she.." James stammered. "What happened? Say it," Marcellus asked, his voice half-raised. Mustering his courage, James replied, "Sir, on our way back from your parent's house, Mrs. Huxley received a call from someone, she told me to stop the car, and alighted from it. She stopped a taxi, got in, and left." Marcellus nodded his head and told James to get some rest. Upon being greeted by Mrs. Mary and the maids, he walked into the master bedroom. "Where could she be?" Marcellus asked himself as he sat down on the bed. He started visualizing Larisa in the arms of another man, kissing and cuddling. Shaking his head vigorously, he stood up from the bed, his anger rising with the thought of Larisa cheating on him and being in the arms of another man. "She won't dare give what I own to someone else," Marcellus said, clenching his hands into a fist and frowning. (Present) Taking a deep breath to restrain his anger, Marcellus stepped closer to Larisa, silently looking down at her with an impassive expression. As she stepped backward, Larisa nervously asked Marcellus, "What do you want? You're scaring me." Marcellus was confused and uncertain of his emotions as he stepped closer to Larisa and said nothing. He asked himself, "What is this feeling? Am I angry or jealous? Why do I feel this way about her?" His emotions for Larisa were varied. Larisa had nowhere to go as her back pressed against the wall, leaving her stuck in her spot. Marcellus stepped up close to Larisa, putting his hands on the wall above her head and gazing down at her. Larisa was taken aback as she leaned against the wall, looking up at Marcellus in surprise at his behavior. Marcellus was about to kiss Larisa, his lips close to hers and his breath audible, when the door suddenly flipped open with an abrupt and startling "bang"!