The Queen's Back

Maxwell nodded. He had wanted to wait until everything was set before telling Bernard, but it seemed Bernard had caught on early. No surprise, though, considering the experience he had after running the company for so many years. "Thanks for the support. I appreciate it," Maxwell said, feeling a newfound confidence. With Bernard backing him, he was ready to make bold moves.

'Gordon, just wait and see. I will take back what's mine, he thought.

Later that night, when Maxwell and Mona got back home, his gaze kept drifting to her stomach.

Aside from Hattie, the housekeeper they already had, he had asked Nigel to hire a few trustworthy staff on short notice- caretakers, cleaners, and others. He was taking every precaution to protect Mona and their baby.

He had even picked out the baby's room. Then, Mona looked at the newly chosen space, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't it a little soon? I mean, we don't even know if it's a boy or a girl."

She felt that not knowing the baby's gender would make it tough to choose a color for the room

However, Maxwell squeezed her hand and replied, "Not too soon at all. We can just prepare two rooms, one for each possibility, so we're ready no matter what. Plus, there are clothes and supplies to take care of. The baby is coming around April or May, and I want everything to be well-prepared."

Mona laughed, shaking her head in defeat. "Alright, you win."

And Nigel wasn't wasting any time either. After her shower, Mona went looking for Maxwell downstairs and found the house all set up, with new carpets running from the stairs down to the living room.

Then, in the kitchen, there Maxwell was, in casual clothes with his sleeves rolled up, learning how to make nutritious meals from the cook.

Her heart melted a little-Maxwell was really taking this whole "dad-to-be" thing seriously.

Mona stayed back, watching him for a while, and then quietly walked over, slipping her arms around his waist. "You've been working hard, huh?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I actually enjoy making this for you," he said, smiling as he held up a grape for her.

Mona loved grapes and pretty much any fruit. Even on days when she couldn't eat much else, she'd still snack on it. "You're amazing," she said with a grin. "The baby and I are so lucky!"

Maxwell's hand drifted to her waist, as if already saying hello to their little one. "I just wish there were more signs already," he said softly.

She laughed and replied, "Give it time! The doctor said it will be months before anything really shows."

Mona was just guessing, remembering that when Emily was pregnant with Albert, they hadn't known until a few months in.

Maxwell nodded and made a mental note. In fact, tomorrow, scratch that tonight, he would be diving into those pregnancy books.

Mona kept her arms around Maxwell, watching as he calmly worked through the ingredients, each move thoughtful and careful. Everything he chose was packed with nutrients, perfect for her and the baby.

Later that night, after Mona fell asleep, Maxwell quietly slipped to the study, intent on learning everything he could about her journey and their child's growth.

The thought of their little one filled him with a joy he had never known. Unlike his own childhood, their baby would be welcomed by so many who already cared deeply.

Still, for a moment, he found himself wondering about his past, about the person who had brought him into the world and then disappeared. With a quiet sigh, he returned to his reading, letting go of what couldn't be changed. Let the bygone be bygone.

For days, Maxwell took care of Mona nonstop, skipping work just to be by her side. Since she got pregnant, her balance was all over the place, and Maxwell was nervous she would trip, practically treating her like a toddler learning to walk.

1/2

9:22 AM

Maxwell had hired more help around the villa, though he rarely let them do more than the basics; he wanted to make sure he was the one preparing her meals. He'd hired someone to teach him how to make all the right foods, making sure every bite was healthy for her and the baby. Meanwhile, Albert had been popping by daily, giving Mona some company, and then heading off with Haley for training in the garden.

The villa Maxwell picked was close to the Clem family's, making it easy for Mona to visit anytime. Now, with Albert's regular visits, it felt even cozier.

By the fifth day, which happened to be a Monday, Mona was growing restless watching Maxwell fuss over her nonstop. She finally insisted he go back to work-someone had to earn money for their baby, after all.

Maxwell was hesitant but didn't want to upset her, especially after reading in those pregnancy books that he had to keep her mood up.

Before leaving, Maxwell made Haley promise to watch over Mona, made sure every staff member knew not to let her do anything risky, and reminded them to call him if she did. After one last goodbye, he left for the office. Once he was gone, Haley got Mona up for breakfast, and afterward, she drifted back to sleep, feeling like the baby's laziness had rubbed off on her.

But soon her phone buzzed, snapping her out of sleep. Seeing the caller ID, she picked up right away.

"Mona, are you pregnant?" Ava asked, clearly well-informed. Mona's family had been visiting nonstop the past couple of days, and even renovation workers had been around.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Ava had noticed Mona's last message in the group chat about needing extra rest before returning to work. Then, just that morning, Mona had sent in her resignation to focus on her health. It all clicked for Ava-Mona had to be expecting. After all, she and Maxwell had been married for a while, and with how in love they were,

it seemed only natural.

Mona hesitated for a second, then sighed, knowing she couldn't hide it anymore. "Yeah, you got me-congrats on being a godmother! But keep it quiet, okay? You can only tell Artemis and Elara, nobody else!"

She had wanted to spill the news to her friends the moment she found out, but Maxwell, practically reading her mind, had insisted they keep it private for now, just to play it safe.

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