Page 70 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

Troy had somewhat compelled her to accept the marriage. Whatever Troy did to make Mrs. Robinson change her mind, it had to be a miracle.I stayed indoor because Henry hadn’t come out of his study since the news had leaked out last night. I couldn’t be that wife who let her husband go through the trauma alone. I’d made a vow on our wedding day—for better or worse. If this was one of the worst situations, I sure wasn’t going to leave my husband do it alone.

I stood in the babies’ room. Their crib was already in place, and the decoration was still in process. However, we’d told the decorators to hold off with the colors because we were yet to know the baby's genders.Then, when the news hit, I stopped the decorators from coming to the house.In fact, I stopped any stranger from entering the house. Henry and I needed as much quiet as we could get.

I eventually heard the bedroom door open tonight, and Henry showed up by the door.He smiled at me, surprisingly. A bright, genuine smile. It seemed like nothing had ever happened like he hadn't just lost a billion dollars in his investments.

“Hi.” Henry greeted; deep, resounding voice seemed to crack.

I stood up from the bed and ran to hug him. He looked bad, but he smelled even worse.

“Hey.” I kissed him on his cheek. “You need a long shower, don’t you?”

I motioned to walk to the bed, but Henry stopped me, holding my hand. "Don't you want to know what happened?"

I flashed him a grin. “Of course, I heard everything that happened on the news, and, yes, I also want to hear it from you,” I said. “I also want you to be in a perfect state of mind.”

"You need to shower and come downstairs for dinner." I gave him one last kiss on the cheek and pushed him toward the bathroom.

Henry obliged. I could tell that under that tough skin was a man who didn’t know what to do after a great loss.He was a man who wasn’t sure he’d get his riches and status back.I walked downstairs to the dining room.I’d cooked dinner and arranged the table as the home staff had been given a break. I walked around the dining room, craving a cup of red wine. I’d have to remind myself that I was still pregnant and wasn’t allowed to drink. As a doctor, I knew that better than anyone else.I heard Henry walk down the stairs, and now that he was up close after a bath, he looked – and smelled – much better.

His eyes were still sad, and he ate dinner a little absent-mindedly.I placed my hand on his over the dinner table. “Everything will be fine.”

The question was how? How would everything return to what it was before now? The only answer was, I didn’t know, but I hoped we’d bounce back to what we once were.

Henry’s phone rang a few times while we ate. He’d been forced to silence his phone.He barely looked at me over the meal; and when he did, he threw in a compliment about my looks or the food.I realized that this was a coping mechanism. He was hiding under a need to compliment everything I did so I’d feel better. In turn, he’d also feel better.

I let him throw out the compliments, and I smiled when receiving them.After dinner, we heard the doorbell ring. Someone was at the door. Whoever was there was definitely someone close to us.

Henry went to the door and came back with Troy. "Hi Troy," I greeted. His expression was no better than his brother's.

Whatever Henry had lost yesterday seemed to have affected his brother in some way as well. Troy and Henry returned to the study, where they talked about things they didn't want me to hear.Camille was not with Troy. She couldn’t leave her shift because she’d missed a lot of them lately.While Troy and Henry buried themselves in a quest for a solution, I strolled aimlessly around the house.

I was dying to hear something from Henry…to know the damage.I walked through the hallway before the study and placed my ear near the door, hoping to hear whatever they were saying. Sadly, the door was soundproof, and I couldn’t hear a single whisper from behind the door. So, I walked back to the living room and sat by the soundless television, showing a music video. My mind trailed to the events that had happened before this time, to how Henry and I had grown as a couple. Now, I wondered if this challenge was one of the ones I had to face in my marriage.

Mother’s call brought me back from my long-lost thoughts. My parents had called a few times since they had heard about Henry’s bankruptcy, but I’d refused to speak to them.I knew they’d go on about reminding me about the great tragedy in Henry's business, giving their condolences and asking questions I wouldn’t have the answers to. Now that I was by myself while Troy and Henry were still locked in the study, I could use some company over the phone.

“Hi, Mom.” Mother heaved a sigh of relief.

“We’ve been trying to reach you, darling,” she said. “You wouldn't pick up.”

“I just wanted to be alone, Mom,” I said, “and before you ask, Henry and I are doing fine.”

“We heard the news,” Mother continued, “so if there is anything we can do, we’d be glad to help.”

"I know, Mom," I responded. "I just want to be alone for a while."

“Of course, darling,” she said. “You can come home when you feel like.”

"I will. I will stop by the house soon," I said as the phone hung up. I realized that I hadn't told my parents about the pregnancy. I wasn't planning on keeping the babies a secret. I just didn't want to say it over the phone.

When Troy left our home that evening, Henry sat next to me on the sofa.

"I feel bad," Henry said. "Like the world is ending, and I'm in the middle of it."

“I’ve gone bankrupt, Amelia. It seems like there is nothing I can do about it.”

I held Henry’s hands when he finished speaking. He looked sad, like a man who had just been stripped of his honor.

“I used to be the wealthiest billionaire in Richmond,” Henry scoffed. “Now, I’m not even thirtieth on the list. I might not be able to give you the life you want – the life our kids want.”

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