7 - Who is the father

CASSANDRA’S POV

I could hear incoherent words in the background that made my head throb with a headache. A faint hiss escaped my lips, my eyes squinted before I stirred awake blinded by the bright lights.

For a moment, I couldn’t tell where I was. The bright white ceiling above and the strong scent of antiseptic all felt foreign.

My throat felt dry, my voice barely a whisper. “Where... am I?”

No one heard my call. A sharp commanding voice cut my voice. Through the haze, I turned my head weakly toward the door. The muffled argument grew clearer.

My eyes stared wide open at the tall figure standing at the door.

“Get out, Sinclair.” Alaric snapped. My heart skipped. What was he doing here?

“She’s my fiancée, I have every right to see her!” Sinclair’s voice cracked with anger. He was standing toe to toe with Alaric.

“Your fiancée?” Alaric’s tone dropped dangerously low, laced with mockery. “You must have hit your head harder than I thought. My wife doesn’t need you anywhere near her.”

There was a loud thud, something hit the wall. I flinched. Sinclair punched the wall. I have never seen him mad before.

“Don’t make a scene here!” a voice pleaded from somewhere near the door, but neither man listened. It sounded like my best friend Rebecca.

I tried to sit up, ignoring the protest from my body.. “Stop… please…” I managed to whisper, but my voice was drowned out by their shouting.

Sinclair’s words cut through the noise. “You’re manipulating her, Alaric! This whole marriage is just your twisted game!”

Alaric’s low laugh sent chills down my spine. “A game? You should know, nephew, I don’t play with what’s already mine.”

It looked like a fight could burst out any second. Cold sweats formed on my forehead. What have I gotten myself into?

“Enough!” I gasped, forcing the word out. My voice, though weak, was enough to silence them both.

Their heads snapped toward me.

Alaric’s expression softened instantly; he was by my side in seconds. His hand brushed my hair away from my face, his eyes searching mine with uncharacteristic worry. “Cassandra… easy, you fainted. You’ve been unconscious for hours.”

Sinclair tried to step closer, but Alaric raised a hand in warning without looking back. “You’ve done enough.”

Rebecca entered quickly, trying to ease the tension. She was wearing a white robe, her eyes filled with resolve.

Rebecca was a licensed doctor; it wasn't surprising that she was my attending physician. “Please, both of you, if you can’t stay calm, one of you will have to leave. The patient needs rest.”

Sinclair’s jaw tightened. “Cassandra, tell him I’m allowed to be here.”

Alaric’s glare darkened. “She doesn’t need to waste her breath on you.”

My head ached, my chest tight. I stared at both of them; the man I thought I’d loved, and the man who’d turned my world upside down. I wanted nothing to do with either one.

“Both of you…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Just stop… please…”

The room fell silent, and Rebecca released a breath of relief. She beckoned to the nurse standing at the door to come in to check my condition.

"You should be careful, she is already under a lot of stress. If you had arrived a minute later the baby would have miscarried." Rebecca casually said, Listening to my heartbeat.

My headache got worse, and the room.

A dry laugh escaped my lips. I ignored the stunned looks on the men's faces and gave Rebecca an incredulous look. "It's not April's fools Rebecca. Enough of the jokes." I snarled.

I couldn't be pregnant. I didn't need any more drama.

Her face turned stern. She pulled off the stethoscope and her eyes hardened. "Don't tell me you have no idea you were pregnant Cassie." She scolded. A lump formed in my throat.

"Wait, you are not joking." I blurted, my palms turned sweaty as two pairs of heated gazes fell on me.

"Why will I joke about something like that?" She sighed and rubbed her temples. There were dark circles around her eyes. Although I was squatting at Rebecca's place she was awfully busy with work

She was currently on the night shift and spent most of her day sleeping. So she had no idea of my current health.

"Oh Cassie, you are always like this. Didn't you notice any changes?" She whined. My head was still processing that I was pregnant. How could this happen?

Rebecca wasn't done with her lecture, "You are already 4 weeks gone and have nearly lost the baby. You have to be more careful if you want to keep this baby."

My hand touched my flat tummy, unable to grasp the reality that a life was already growing there. Rebecca's voice faded, and my mind trailed away

I could not look up at Sinclair because he was most likely the father. If he had never cheated this would have been a bundle of joy

But now thinking about the father, my heart ached. I didn't think I wanted his child, it would complicate things...but then the baby is innocent.

"Who is the father?" A voice drew me out of my dazed state. My head snapped at Sinclair. His soft gaze made my heart squeeze, he could use the baby to force us together.

I bit my lips refusing to acknowledge it. My head bowed, "This isn't the time for this." Rebecca spoke up, understanding my plight. After all Sinclair and I had been together. He was my first love.

Sinclair stepped forward with a determined look. "The baby is obviously mine. The wedding was called off 4 weeks ago..."

"You can't force her to play your sick games while she is carrying my child." He laid his claim. A sniffled laugh ran beside me. Everyone's attention was drawn to Alaric, whose eyes sparkled with amusement.

Alaric placed his hand on my tummy, and my heart squeezed as the room temperature plummeted. Was he going to hurt the baby?

"Brave of you to amuse the baby is yours..." he scoffed, my eyes snapped at him. Alaric had a smirk on his face, and his eyes were challenging.

"Cassie and I have been married for 4 weeks and we consummated our marriage that day. This baby is mine..." My mouth fell agape at the realisation

How did I forget something so huge? I had a one-night stand with Alaric, meaning this child could also be his.