Chapter 31 I’m Willing to Donate

"What did I say to her?" Alexia asked, trying to sound nonchalant as she looked at him curiously.

She wasn’t sure why Chaim was so angry. Alexia and Evelyn hadn’t actually met and since they didn’t know each other they really didn’t have anything to talk about either.

"Evelyn said you told her you’re my wife," Chaim accused, sulking toward the bed.

Alexia opened her mouth. "I…"

"Oh, so now you remember what you said," Chaim interrupted.

"Yes, I did tell her that." Alexia bit her lip, "But it’s not like I was lying."

"While you might be right about that, I believe you’ve forgotten something very important. Did I not say when we got married that you were to tell no one?" Chaim said, gritting his teeth.

"Yes, that was something you said. However, I didn't tell her my name, so it’s not like she knows who I am…"

"You should be grateful she doesn’t know who you are and didn't believe what you said. If she had, ever does, or something happens to her I will never forgive you!" Chaim ripped off his tie and through it on the floor before walking into the closet.

Alexia sat on the bed, shaking in fear. She didn't understand Chaim’s anger. She did tell Evelyn she was Chaim’s wife, but why would that cause Evelyn harm?

The worst thing about the whole situation was that he went straight home to blame her.

Alexia wrapped herself in the quilt and she leaned against the headboard fighting back tears.

After Chaim changed his suit, he reentered the bedroom and turned back to Alexia.

"I got your medical examination report now."

Worry flooded Alexia but she calmed herself down quickly with a breath. "Yeah?"

"Do you want to know the results of your report?" Chaim asked.

Alexia squeezed out a smile, "I don't think the result matters anymore."

"What do you mean?"

Alexia looked down at her hands and refused to answer him.

She knew that no matter what the report said, it wouldn’t matter. With his last outburst, he made it quite clear to Alexia that he wouldn’t give up on forcing her to donate the bone marrow. So Alexia knew she really didn’t have a choice but to agree to the donation.

Noticing that Alexia wasn’t answering, Chaim walked over to his personal wine chest in his room and pulled out a bottle. He poured himself a drink and turned back to Alexia, sipping on his wine before realizing she would not elaborate.

"You won’t have any side effect from donating your bone marrow."

"Really?" Alexia asked, sitting up straight in surprise.

"Yes." Chaim sat on the sofa opposite to the bed and nodded.

Alexia smiled. Though she knew she really had no choice but to donate the bone marrow, hearing the results relieved her all the same.

"So, are you agreeing to the donation?" Chaim swirled the wine in his glass, holding eye contact with Alexia.

Alexia worried what his reaction would be, but she needed to know the answer all the same. "I know what my answer is, but before I tell you, I want to ask you something first, Chaim. If you answer my question, I’ll answer yours. "

"A question?"

"Yes."

Chaim hesitated for a moment before giving a curt nod. "Go ahead then."

Alexia took a deep breath. "I want to know what you’d do if I were to decide to refuse to donate the bone marrow."

"So, I guess that means your answer is no." Chaim squinted.

Alexia looked at him with a blank expression. "Just answer my question."

Chaim traced the rim of his wineglass with his finger, his emotions a confusing mix, before he finally answered in a slow tone. "I would force you to do so then."

Alexia’s heart sank, and she sadly closed her eyes. "Just as I suspected you’d say…"

Even though she assumed Chaim would force her, it hurt even more than she thought it would hurt hearing him admit it.

"You really care about Miss Evelyn a lot," Alexia said, biting her lip so hard that it almost bled.

Chaim took another sip of wine and set the glass down so hard that it nearly shattered. "I refuse to let her die."

"What about me?" Alexia pulled the quilt around her even tighter, smiling bitterly. "So that means you’d choose to sacrifice me for her then?"

"You won’t die from the donation!" Chaim shouted, rubbing his temple restlessly.

He didn't understand why Alexia was choosing to complicate such a simple thing.

Sensing Chaim’s growing impatience, Alexia couldn’t help but feel wronged and angry; she was on the verge of crying and didn’t care. "While I may not die from this, it’s not wrong for me to feel worried about it and not want to go through something like this for someone I don’t even know. All you care about is whether I donate my bone marrow, but you never even bothered to ask how I felt about any of this."

Chaim was silent.

After a while, he stood up. "I’m sorry I didn't tell you in advance, but I will be responsible for you, and I will compensate you for your troubles."

"I don't need or want your compensation. All I ask for is for you to promise me one thing. As long as you agree to the promise, I’ll sign the donation agreement." Alexia angrily wiped away the tears.

Chaim saw Alexia wipe at her tears and frowned unknowingly, not understanding his feelings. "I’m assuming you want the same thing that you asked for before?"

"No." Alexia shook her head, taking a deep breath and calming down.

"What is it?"

"I know you don’t care for me, not enough for us to truly act like a real married couple in love. I understand this, and have come to terms with it. Instead, I ask that we have sex until I conceive a child." Alexia clenched her hands tightly, the most courage she’d ever had in her life coursing through her.

She didn’t know how Chaim would react to her condition and that scared her. At the same time, she had no other choice because Grandpa Rocco wanted her to give birth to a child. If she didn't give him a grandchild soon, Grandpa Rocco would order them to get a divorce.

Regardless of Chaim’s feeling for her, Alexia didn't want a divorce, so having Chaim’s child was her only choice. Plus, she couldn't help but hope that once she had their child, maybe Chaim would care more about her. Maybe even caring so much they’d become a happy couple.

"You want to have a child?" Chaim didn’t know what to think about Alexia’s request.

Alexia rubbed her hands together shyly, not daring to look Chaim in the eye. "It’s not for me. It’s because Grandpa Rocco wants a great-grandchild. He’s mentioned it to me several times over the past three years. He also told me to get pregnant before it was too late…"

Chaim knew Alexia wasn’t lying about any of that. Grandpa Rocco said the same thing to him too.

Chaim didn't want a child, but his grandpa was indeed very old and his health was beginning to fail.

There was a chance Grandpa Rocco would die in the next few years, and Alexia was only tied to him because of Grandpa Rocco.

Chaim didn’t love Alexia, that was true, but he also cared for her in a way because she neither wore poor makeup that made him sick nor had wicked ideas against him. It was because of that he considered it to be a tolerable idea to have sex with her and maybe even have a baby with her. He would do it just to reassure Grandpa Rocco.

The most important thing was that if he didn’t have a child with Alexia, he wouldn’t have a child at all.

Evelyn definitely wouldn’t give up dancing or take the risk of physical disfigurement caused by pregnancy just to give Chaim a child.

Considering all of that, Chaim breathed out gently. "Okay, I’ll agree to that promise."

"Really?" Alexia asked, very confused.

Chaim poured himself another glass of wine. "Yes."

"You aren’t kidding, are you?" Alexia couldn't believe it and wondered if she was dreaming.

Chaim looked up at her, an expression of both anger and strictness on his face. "Do I look like a person who likes to joke?"

Alexia shook her head. Chaim was a very serious person and she couldn't even begin to imagine him telling jokes.

So he was serious. He agreed to have a child with her.

Excitement filled her and Alexia bit her nails. She was smiling to herself when she heard footsteps. She looked up to find Chaim walking towards her.

"What… what do you want to do now?" Alexia leaned back against the bed.

"Didn't you just say you wanted a baby? You should know then what I want to do now." Chaim said calmly, his hands resting on the belt around his waist.

He stared at her as he slowly unstrapped his robe, the garment falling to floor so he was standing naked before her.

Alexia's heart beat rapidly, her face reddening out of shyness, "But… I haven’t signed the donation agreement yet."

She turned her head to the side, not daring to look at him.

"You can sign it tomorrow."

Chaim stepped over the robe on the floor and wrapped his arms around her. He leaned her back gently and slowly climbed on top of her…