I Asked For Divorce When His Mistress Returned

The door swung open like the man owned the place, and Mr. Richards Sr. strode in. “What are you doing perched up there, Carlos? Adele needs room and rest. A pregnant woman needs space to breathe. Get up!” He surveyed the cramped hospital room with a scowl, his displeasure plain. “Why is this room so small? Where are the amenities? Carlos, go find the hospital director and make sure Adele gets the best room in this place!”

Carlos shot me a loaded look before slipping out.

Mr. Richards Sr. lowered himself into the armchair beside my bed, his expression softening. “Adele, your priority now is taking care of yourself and the baby. As for your father's company, I've already told the finance team to release the funds.”

“Thank you, Grandpa,” I said respectfully. “I'll find a way to repay you soon.”

With my father's predicament settled, I could finally relax.

Mr. Richards Sr. chuckled. His sharp eyes lingered on me for a moment, a hint of amusement in them. “No need to be so formal—we're family. Consider it a gift for my future great-grandchild.”

There was more than one meaning behind those words.

If I ever considered divorcing Carlos or leaving with the child, this so-called “gift” would quickly turn into a bargaining chip.

I pressed my lips into a thin line, unsure how to respond.

He handed me a mug of coffee, his tone kind but brooking no argument. “Adele, I know you're a good person and you've been through a lot. Rest assured, as long as I'm around, that woman Olson will never be part of the Richards family. Once you have the baby, Carlos will see your true worth.”

Divorce would need careful thinking.

I nodded slightly and took a slow sip of coffee.

Within an hour, I'd been moved to a VIP suite on the top floor.

At his grandfather's insistence, Carlos stayed at the hospital to have dinner with me.

The meal—crafted by a Michelin-star chef at Mr. Richards Sr.'s request—was extravagant, but I had little appetite.

I picked at my spiced honey cake without really tasting it, while Carlos let his pulled pork sit untouched. He sat on the black leather sofa, focused on his iPad, handling business with that cool, unreadable demeanor.

I didn't dare disturb him, but then my phone rang—it was my father.

“Adele, how are you?” His concern was obvious.

Since his release, he'd been dealing with a high fever, which made hospital visits difficult.

“I'm fine, Dad.” I glanced at Carlos, relieved when he didn't look up, and kept my voice low as I talked to my father.

“Adele, have you been arguing with your mother? She's got a sharp tongue, but don't take it to heart,” he sighed, his tone sincere. “She cares about you. Remember, after all, we raised you ourselves.”

Nurture over nature.

I understood that well. So despite my mother's harsh words, I refused to hold them against her.

I forced a smile. “I know, Dad. Please take care of yourself.”

After I hung up, I saw that Carlos had finished his work. His eyes were closed, as if he was resting.

I gazed at his chiseled profile, perfectly sculpted.

Rich and handsome, Carlos Richards had always been the golden boy everyone talked about.

As if he felt my gaze, he slowly opened his eyes. “Are you done?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“In the future, call me directly if you need anything. No need to bother Grandpa,” he said coolly.

Did he think I was playing games?

Instinctively, I explained, “I didn't ask him to keep you here today. If you have other plans, feel free to leave.”

Carlos lifted his gaze and gave me a brief glance. “I'll leave once you're asleep.”

His unexpected kindness stunned me for a moment—like a dream.

Could he be looking forward to this child as much as I was?

I remembered the moment I fainted in the lounge, when Carlos had come to my rescue.

Unable to resist, I asked, “Why did you come back to the office that day?”

“Finish your meal and rest,” Carlos said, dodging the question.

He turned back to his tablet, immersed in his work. The demands of running the Richards Group never ceased.

Feeling a little deflated, I curled up on the bed, my eyes lingering on his handsome profile. Surprisingly, his presence comforted me.

I couldn't recall when I fell asleep, but sunlight greeted me when I woke.

I anxiously looked at the sofa where he had been—empty.

What was I expecting? That Carlos would stay by my side all night?

After breakfast, a doctor in a white coat and mask entered for rounds.

He approached my bedside but, instead of asking the usual questions, studied me intently.

His gaze made me uncomfortable. “Doctor, is there something you wish to discuss?”

“You don't recognize me, Adele?” He sighed, pulling down his mask to reveal a youthful, cheerful face.

It was Tyler Daniels!

“Tyler! When did you return?” My surprise quickly turned to joy.

The Daniels and Tucker families had been close for years, and Tyler and I had grown up as childhood friends.

I'd always loved tagging along with him, and he'd treated me like a cherished younger sister.

Tyler had pursued a career in medicine, continuing his studies overseas after graduating. The last time I'd seen him was at my wedding to Carlos three years ago.

His clear eyes met mine, a gentle smile on his face. “Just got back. Today's my first day here. I heard you're expecting.”

“What a coincidence! Does this mean you'll be in charge of all my check-ups now?” I joked lightly.

Tyler laughed, ruffling my hair affectionately. “Of course. I'll make sure you and the baby stay healthy.” His tone turned serious as he asked softly, “Has Carlos treated you well these past three years?”

I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

I wasn't great at bending the truth.

Knowing me well, Tyler didn't push further. He simply reassured me, “When you feel you don't love him anymore, don't hesitate to kick him to the curb. I'll look after you and the baby!”

His words made me burst into laughter.

“Come on, I can take care of myself! You should be worrying about your own love life!”

Tyler remained single, much to his family's concern.

Over the next six weeks, Tyler visited consistently, lifting my spirits and helping me recover.

“At seventeen weeks, the baby's growth is right on track.”

After a thorough check-up, Tyler finally approved my discharge.

Back at the mansion, the days of rest left me feeling trapped, so I decided to drive to the Richards Group.

My hospital stay had delayed a lot of work, leaving my office cluttered with files.

Seeing me, my assistant Helen let out a sigh of relief and quickly joined me in tackling the workload.

“Ms. Tucker, a document needs Mr. Richards' signature,” she said, extracting a file and preparing to deliver it.

I stopped her. “I'll take it myself.”