"I want a divorce," she said, dry and direct.
"What?" Pericles felt utterly shocked by his wife's statement.
"I want a divorce," she repeated, with more emphasis in her voice.
The redhead shook his head, incredulous. After months traveling across Europe, negotiating properties and artifacts for clients Marguerith had recommended—he had to admit, she had a knack for it—he hadn't expected her to greet him like this. It was true that the letters they exchanged during his absence had been more formal than usual, but he always had the sense they were fighting together to keep the family intact.
"Is this because of Angelica? Or because I lied to you about our finances?" he asked.
"For all of that and more. Let's be honest, Pericles, we've drifted apart over the years... Besides, Alphard came back, and I realized I still love him."
The redhead clenched his fists, unable to contain his anger and jealousy over Marge forgiving Black's mistakes but not his.
"You went back to him after everything?" Thorne couldn't hide the bitterness in his words.
Marge noticed how resentful Pericles was; she needed him to understand that things weren't exactly as they both had thought.
"Uncle Sirius... It was all his scheme to separate us. He cast an Imperius Curse on Alphie and then obliviated him. His memories only recently returned."
He considered arguing that it was a lie, but he knew his wife was a sensible person and wouldn't be easily deceived. However, this revelation raised a question in his mind.
"Marge, why are you helping me with the debts if you don't love me anymore?"
"Isn't it obvious? It's for our children!"
"And this new child, is it his?" Pericles asked, pointing at his wife's visibly pregnant belly. She hadn't mentioned anything in her letters, so he was shocked to see her in that condition. Perhaps she had hidden the fact, knowing he wasn't the father.
"I don't know," she replied.
She didn't want to lie to Pericles. In truth, throughout all their years together, she had always been honest with him. She could have kept the baby and Alphard a secret; she had only waited for the right moment to tell him.
"It might be yours," Marguerith confirmed.
The redhead nodded, hopeful. Even knowing she loved another man, it didn't matter to him. He had never felt for anyone what he felt for Marge, not even for Angelica. When he realized the youngest Black was the woman of his life, he wanted to be with her as long as he could, and, if possible, to die in her arms.
"I see..." he replied. "I'll stay in Wallsburg to avoid bothering you while you're in England. After that, I'm heading to Austria—the Zant-Spitz DeBourghe want to buy our Sibylline book. From there, I need to go to Italy, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. I need to work for Giordano to pay back the money he loaned us."
"I understand. It's better this way," Marguerith agreed, not hiding her relief.
"When I return, we'll talk about our marriage," the redhead said, heading toward the door. Before leaving, he turned to his wife one last time. "And, Marge, I hope the child is mine."
The routine had become pleasant for her in recent months, spending part of the afternoon and evening in Alphard's apartment. They didn't always share a bed; most times, they just talked about old times, about their current lives, and plans for the future. There were times when both needed to focus on their respective work, and the silent physical presence was comforting. Like in that moment, when Marguerith was reviewing the contract for the sale of the Cheschire mansion to Arcturus, while Alphard made tea and cookies for both of them. The delicious smell of chocolate cookies filled the room.
"How did it go with Pericles?" the dark-haired man asked, sitting beside Marge while the batch was baking.
She looked up from her papers, her eyes looking slightly melancholic.
"His reaction was better than I expected, yet he only agreed to talk about my divorce proposal when he gets back from Italy, which will be in a few months..."
"Do you think he'll create obstacles?"
She was about to answer, but at that moment, Marguerith felt the baby's foot gently pressing against the inside of her belly. The surprise was so great that she dropped her pen on the floor, beside the little table where she was taking notes. It was the first time she felt the baby move so distinctly.
She glanced to the side, noticing Alphard watching her with a mix of curiosity and subtle apprehension. Still wrapped in the emotion of the moment, without thinking about how he might interpret her reaction, she took his hand in hers and placed it on her belly.
"He kicked me, Alphie," Marge said with calmness. "Can you feel the baby?"
Alphard stared at her, confused for a moment, until he felt under his fingers the slight pulse of the child's movement inside Marguerith's belly. Unconsciously, he smiled. It was the first time he fully grasped the idea that he might be a father. Even with Marge's belly visibly growing, feeling the baby made it all the more real—that very soon, he might indeed be a father.
"I still haven't decided on a name if it's a girl," Marguerith confessed, lost in thoughts about the baby to come.
"I like Astreia," he blurted out suddenly.
"Astreia Black is a beautiful name..." she replied with a subtle smile.
She was happy; if life with Alphard would be like this, she could feel blessed.
"Marge," he called her gently. "I know it'll be a while yet, but I wanted to tell you in advance that I'll need to travel back to Hong Kong at the beginning of January. I didn't want you to be alone at the end of the pregnancy."
She offered a reassuring half-smile.
"If you don't mind, I could stay with Aribeth in northern England and bring the children with me. Regardless of what I decide, she's offered to help us if needed."
Alphard agreed, although part of him felt uneasy about receiving help from the matriarch of the Thorne family, another part was immensely grateful knowing Marguerith wouldn't be left unprotected.
"I'll try to come back before our child is born," he said, even though he knew there was still the possibility the baby could be Pericles'.
She leaned over the table, giving a gentle kiss on her lover's lips, knowing that, despite the challenges that lay ahead, they would overcome them and find happiness together.