She had to sleep in a top bunk bed and share the room with three other girls.

The entire room was barely the size of her walk-in closet at home.

Kira turned around to look at him.

He couldn't see her face clearly in the darkness, but he could tell she was serious.

'No,' she repeated. 'I'm not doing this to punish you. I moved out because I wanted to focus on my studies. This is my final year. I don't want to waste time with the daily commute.' The bus ride from the villa to the university was forty-five minutes each way.

'No.' Austyn was just as adamant. 'This is non-negotiable.'

'But I want-

'No. If you want to save time with commute, I'll drive you to school every day. Or I'll get Kai to drive you. Or I'll get you your own chauffeur.'

'I don't want a chauffeur. I just-

'This matter is not open for discussion.' Austyn put his foot down.

There he went again, making decisions for her.

His domineering attitude put Kira's back up once again.

'Why can't I stay at the dorm? It's just for a year. Not even a full year. Just eight more months. And I can still go home during the weekend. It's not like I'm moving out permanently. 'When a couple no longer live together, it's called separation, which is usually a prelude to divorce. Is that what you want?'

'What? No, of course not.'

Kira fibbed a little.

She did briefly consider the idea of divorce when he returned.

'I just want to focus on my studies. There's a test in about a month-

'If we live apart for five days a week, aren't you afraid I'm gonna find someone else?'

'Someone else?'

'Another woman."

Kira's body stiffened. 'You want to find...another woman?

'I'm a man. I have needs, you know. And if you refuse to fulfil your wifely duties, you can't blame me for looking elsewhere. Kira fell silent.

She rolled over with her back to Austyn.

She knew he was joking.

He had to be.

But she still couldn't stop the sharp stab of pain in her heart.

Kira tasted the bitterness of her tears.

Austyn regretted it the moment those words left his mouth. He had not meant it.

He was just teasing her, but he realised he'd gone too far.

'Kira.' He gently pulled on her shoulders and rolled her over.

He was about to apologise but pulled up short at the sight of tears glistening on her cheeks.

'Are you that upset?"

Daily, Not Weekly

Don't touch me!' Kira wanted to shove him back but heid off when her fingertips touched the bandage.

I was a jerk I shouldn't have said those things te apologised unreservedly.

Austyn wasn't acting like himself.

He would never have uttered something so Insensitive in normal times.

Maybe it was a delayed reaction to jet lag.

Maybe it was due to the blood loss.

Or maybe he had been spending too much time with Kal, who was a bad influence,

If you feel like slapping me, go ahead.' He took hold of her hand and placed it on his cheek.

Kira drew her hand back, 'I said don't touch mel'

'Sorry,' Austyn used the gentlest voice he could manage, almost cooing, 'It was a stupid thing to say. You know I didn't mean it. If I really wanted to find someone else, don't you think I would have tried to hide it from you? Come on, use your head. I'm not the type to-' 'Are you calling me stupid?' Kira shouted.

'No, of course not.' Austyn wiped away her tears with his hand. I'm just telling you that I won't ever look for someone else. You're the only one for me.'

He would never have bared his soul like this if they were both standing, fully clothed, in broad daylight,

But the cover of darkness and the close physical Intimacy made him loosen his inhibitions.This belongs to - ©.

And it worked.

Kira's attitude softened.

Her tears stopped.

'Okay, I forgive you. But only for the stupid thing, you said just now, not for your disappearance.

'I'll take what I can get."

He was about to hug her again but she placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him at a distance. 'But I haven't changed my mind. I'm staying at the dormitory. "Then what about us?'

'What do you mean?'

"We are married.

'I know that.'

"Then you know that as a husband, I have certain rights,

'Like what?'

'Like conjugal rights."

Kira was at a loss for words.

Was sex all he could think about?

Were all men ruled by testosterone?

Austyn perpetuated that stereotype by adding, 'I guess I can go visit you at the school...The bunk bed's small, but I think we can manage. We might have to stick to missionary style, though. Is the bed sturdy enough?' Kira wanted to cover her ears. 'Stop!'

Stop desecrating the temple of learning!

A university was a place for knowledge, not for carnal pleasures!

And she shared the room with three other girls!

How could he even think about having sex with her in a dormitory?

'I'll go home on the weekend. Don't you dare come and visit me at the school!'

'Once a week?' Austyn sneered. 'Do you think that's enough?'

'It's enough for me!'

'But not for me.'

Kira's cheeks were burning, up.

Were they seriously haggling over the frequency of sex in a hospital room? "Then...twice a week?' she offered.

'No.'

"Then how many tirnes do you want?' Kira wanted to roll her eyes.

Dary Not Weekly

I think you know the answer to that question.' Austyn smirked.

Kira couldn't see his expression in the darkness, but she could just imagine that smug look on his face right now.

When she didn't speak, Austyn added, 'Your suggestion is invalid because you are talking about a weekly frequency, whereas I'm more concerned about a daily one. Daily!

'Are you out of your mind?'

She would never get anything done if she had to do it with him every day!

Kira had half a mind to smother her libidinous husband with a pillow.

They were the only ones in the room.

No one would ever know.

But that thought quickly passed.

There was no point continuing the conversation.

They would never be able to reach an agreement vis-à-vis frequency.

Kira pulled the blanket over her face and willed herself to sleep.

Kai seemed to require no sleep at all.

He was back in the ward at eight-thirty sharp, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

'I brought breakfast.

Kira munched on a piece of French toast and silently cursed Austyn.

She should be in class right now.

But her dictatorial husband made her finish her breakfast, then ordered Kai to take her for a thorough check-up.

Kira had her Body Mass Index measured-the doctor shook her head and told her to put on some weight.

She had her blood tested for sugar and cholesterol, then her blood pressure taken and her kidney functions checked. Then a chest X-ray, a thyroid function test and a myriad of other tests.

Kai must have booked every available test for her.

The assistant really carried out Austyn's instructions to the letter.

When Kira sat down in yet another doctor's office an hour later, she wasn't even sure what she was here for.

When the bespectacled doctor asked how she was feeling, Kira said, 'I've been having these bouts of nausea for the past few days. I feel sick whenever I smell or taste something greasy, like fried chicken. Sometimes I dry-heave. And I don't have much of an appetite.' 'Any diarrhoea?'

'Uh, no.'

'Pain in any part of the stomach?'

'Not really.'

'Bloating?'

'No.'

The doctor frowned. 'I think we can rule out chronic gastritis.'

Kira stared at him blankly.

The doctor looked up. 'When's the last time you had your period?"

Kira's heart skipped a beat at that question.

Her eyes widened, 'You mean..."

The doctor smiled at her benignly. 'I don't think gastroenterology is the right place for you. You might need to visit a gynaecologist.'

Kira couldn't recall how or when she left the doctor's office.

She racked her brain, trying to come up with an answer to the doctor's last question.

How long had it been since her last period?

She had no clue!

All she knew was it must be more than a month ago.

Austyn's disappearance took up all her brainpower and energy for the past ten days. She simply didn't notice anything else.

Young Madam 'He pulled up short when he saw the Gazou nŪVI VAR AN

Kita looked like she had been given some seriously bad news.

Her face was ashen.

Kira shook her head. 'No, nothing...nothing serious. I'm fine.'

She looked up, checking the overhead signs for directions to the gynaecologist's office.

I think I need to go to

Oh, okay.

restroom. You should go back first.'

She took to her heels before Kai could say anything else.

There was a short queue at the Department of Ob-gyn.

Kita was so nervous, she almost ran away before her number was called.

She had no idea why she kept this from Kai.

It just seemed like such a private matter.

Besides, if she was really pregnant, she wanted Austyn to be the first one to know..

She had to wait for more than half an hour for her turn.

The doctor was a woman in her late forties, briskly efficient.

She asked the same questions as the previous doctor and then directed Kira to another room for a urine test.

Kira returned to the room an hour later, holding a sheet of paper in her hand.

The doctor took the sheet and scanned it. 'We'll need to do a blood test for hCG to find out how far along you are, but you're definitely pregnant. Congratulations.

Kira was struck dumb.

'We'll need to do more tests, of course. I'll need to know your health and family history, in case of any inherited genetic disorder. Then we need to do a pelvic exam ..."

Kira heard the doctor's voice but took in nothing.

She sat still as a statue.

The word 'pregnant' was stuck in her head, playing on a loop.

Pregnant.

Kira mouthed the word.

She started to hyperventilate.

Her hands shook

Her vision grew blurry.

'Hey, are you all right?'

The next thing she knew, the doctor was bending down in front of her, waving a hand in her face.

Kira blinked.

"Take a deep breath. Follow me. Breathe in... Hold... Breathe out..."

Kira's pulse gradually returned to normal after five sets of breathing exercises.

'I'm fine now. Thank you, doctor.'

'First time?' The doctor smiled. 'Your reaction is perfectly normal. Pregnancy is big news. It can take some getting used to.'

Kira nodded mechanically.

'Where's the baby's father?'

'He... he's not feeling well. He's in another ward at the hospital. The Inpatient Department. I came for a check-up. I thought there was something wrong with my stomach. I didn't expect...'

Kira had no idea what she was saying.

Her mind was a complete mess.

Her voice quivered.

The doctor patted her shoulder gently. 'I see. Don't worry. Everything's going to be fine. Just remember what I told you. And don't forget to schedule an appointment for your next check-up.' "Thank you, doctor. I'm sorry, could you repeat what you said earlier? I didn't quite catch it.'

'Here's a pamphlet with all the important stuff to look out for.'

betions. You're Pregnant

Anstya glanced at his watch, then at the door, then back at his watch, and frowned.

What's taking her so long?"

It had been more than two hours since Kai returned without Kira.

The assistant shrugged sheepishly. 'She said she wanted to go to the restroom. It's not like I can follow her in there."

'You could have waited for her.'

Kai held back a sigh.

Young Madam was a grown woman.

She could find her own way back

Besides, she had a phone.

She could call if she needed help.

Boss was getting worked up over nothing.

But Kai knew better than to voice that thought out loud.

Instead, he said, 'Shall I go look for her?'

His boss tossed him a look. 'Do you really need to ask?'

Kai shot to his feet. 'I'm on it.'

Kai pulled open the door and almost walked right into someone who was just coming in.

'Doctor Chase."

Jesse stepped aside. 'Are you leaving?"

Before Kai could answer, Jesse turned to Austyn.

He waved a file in his hand. 'I got the results here.'

'Kai, leave us,' Austyn said.

His voice had gone serious. 'Don't let anyone come in, especially not Kira.'

'Yes, Boss.' Kai closed the door behind him.

Austyn was gripped by a sudden feeling of uneasiness as Jesse strolled towards him.

The thin file in Jesse's hand could very well determine his fate.

Jesse tossed the file onto the bed. 'I had to call in a couple of favours to get this done overnight. You owe me one.' Austyn heard nothing.

His gaze was fastened on the manila folder.

'Go ahead and open it,' Jesse said, stifling a yawn.

Austyn did not move.

He just kept staring at it.

Jesse had polished off an entire apple before Austyn finally reached for the folder.

He extracted a single piece of paper from it.

The room fell silent.

Kira locked herself in a restroom cubicle and cried.

They were mostly tears of joy, mixed with some measure of anxiety and apprehension.

She wasn't sure how long she'd stayed inside.

When she came out, her eyes were so red and swollen, it looked like she was stung by bees. She had to splash cold water over them repeatedly until she looked somewhat presentable. She left the restroom and followed the signs guiding her back to Austyn's ward.

She took detours, dragging her feet.

She needed some time to think it through.

How should she break the news to Austyn?

Just tell him outright, or show him the test result and let him draw his own conclusion?

The doctor said she'd need to go for another test to find out how far along she was.

Should she tell him now, or should she wait until she was more certain? How would he react?