CHAPTER 4

BREE

"Should I call you when I'm meeting the designer?" Riley asked when I walked out of the room while she was serving breakfast. The past month had been all about her wedding preparations. It had been so annoying and exhausting that I almost talked her out of it one time.

Damon wasn't the type of guy to be happy over. He wasn't worthy to be Riley's husband. In fact, he wasn't worthy of any love. He deserves to be alone forever, but it seemed like Riley was already blinded by love. She wasn't going to listen to anyone.

If only I could pull my best friend out of this whole thing. She deserves to be with someone who would cherish her above anything.

"I'm not sure I'll be available. You know how your husband-to-be gets." I almost cringed at my own words. It was already hard working with him after the terrible words he said about me a month ago. Thankfully, he never acted as if anything happened between us in Mount Whitney, so I just hated him more. I'd started job hunting too.

"Right. He loves his work too much," she replied, a wide smile appearing on her face. "Should I serve yours?"

"What did you make?" I moved closer to her, but as soon as my nostrils caught the smell, my stomach twisted.

"Are you..."

I couldn't even wait for her to complete her sentence when I rushed into the guest bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Riley called after me while I puked out my guts. Gosh! I hated the act of bending over the sink and throwing up. But in the past week, it was the most I'd done.

"Bree," Riley called quietly. My heart almost jumped out of my skin. I didn't realise she had followed me and was leaning on the door with arms crossed like someone waiting for her disobedient daughter.

I sighed.

"Are you sure nothing happened between you and Ron before you ended things?" She asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes, but I wasn't even in the mood for her jokes.

"You know we didn't meet for like a month before our anniversary," I replied before settling on the sofa.

"Then, why have you been acting this way?"

I knitted my brows. "What way?"

"Sick. Don't you think you should visit the hospital? Just take the day off. I can tell Damon you're sick."

I shook my head. "I'm fine."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Hmm. Are you fine? Are you sure you didn't have sex with anyone recently?"

I almost choked on my own saliva. Did she find out I slept with him?

I fluttered my lashes. "No, why?"

The sound from my phone stopped her from uttering a word, and just as expected, it was my terrible boss.

"I think I have to get going." I got on my feet, and Riley did the same.

"Should I pack your breakfast?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine." I hurried back to my room. Lately, I haven't been eating as much as before. I was literally suffering from loss of appetite. Maybe I should really go to the hospital.

"Let me drop you off," Riley offered as soon as I stepped out with my clutch bag.

I shook my head. "You don't have to bother." It was enough that I've been staying in her house without a single rent, and dropping me off every time would just make me feel bad.

"I actually want to give Damon some breakfast," she said, raising the packed food with an amused smile on her face. Only if she knew the last one had ended up in the trash can without him even sparing it a glance. I should be protecting my best friend from him, but it was a delicate situation. I had to be careful. I just hope she opens her eyes soon enough.

"Oh," I mouthed, and she threw me a wink before picking up her car keys. Then, we made our way out of the house.

"I'll have to stop over at the cafe to get him some coffee," I reminded Riley as she started the engine. Damon just derives pleasure in making me queue at the cafe every morning when I could just make one from the company's kitchen.

"Sure. I'm sure you won't have to queue any more, right?"

My lips thinned. "Yeah." I'd become a frequent customer, so my order was always packed even before I got there.

"You know I really wish you could come with me for my fitting. I have to get other things too and..."

I gave her a smile. "Maybe I'll try to talk to him about it." I knew there was no way he would give me such a chance. I'd always wanted to be there for my best friend in situations like this, but the circumstances surrounding this weren't what I expected. Still, I would be her maid of honour at least.

When we arrived at the company a few minutes later, Riley rushed into Damon's office, while I dropped my stuff on my table before heading to his office with the cup of coffee.

"You really shouldn't show up in my office unannounced," I heard Damon say while he eyed the packed food in front of him.

"I don't think that should be any problem. Would you come along for my fitting?"

Damon lifted his head at me. "Is that my coffee?"

I bobbed my head before placing it in front of him.

"We have a meeting this morning, right?"

I nodded, taking a glance at my iPad.

"In the next one hour."

"Great." He turned to Riley. "You should take your leave now. I have a busy day," he said coldly.

Riley's face dropped for a second, but it was immediately replaced by a small smile.

"Alright. You're coming to dinner, right?"

He lifted his shoulder in a half shrug without uttering a word, but Riley still pulled him into a hug he didn't reciprocate. Why can't she just get the hint?

Once Riley left, Damon ordered me to take the food away. At least he could have pretended out of courtesy, not like he wasn't aware we were best friends. If only I could pour the food on his face.

The day went by quickly and by afternoon, I was already getting so exhausted. I should go get something to eat before I pass out.

"It's past lunch break. Where are you off to?" Damon's voice boomed behind me, and as I turned back to him, my head grew heavy.

My vision blurred, and in a split second, I slipped to the floor and everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes...minutes or hours later, I found myself in the hospital with Damon right beside me. He had this worried look on his face, or maybe I wasn't seeing right, because I still couldn't understand how I suddenly passed out and ended up in the hospital.

"You haven't been eating well?" Damon asked the minute the doctor walked in with a small smile on her face.

"I'm glad you're awake now."

I blinked. "What's wrong with me, doctor?"

"Malnutrition. And stress. You really need to take care of yourself so it doesn't affect the baby."

My brain switched. I shared a look with Damon before turning back to the doctor.

"Baby?"

She bobbed her head. "Yes. You're pregnant, Miss Folwell."

My world stilled. Everything stopped.

I'm pregnant.

And the father is my best friend's fiancé.