Chapter 2: You're Pregnant?

She had to get out of here. She couldn’t believe Ethan could lie to her in that manner. Her heart was broken, along with the trust she had for Ethan. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine that he could be so two-faced, so dishonest. Everything he’d said to her was a lie.

She could barely see what was in front of her as she hurried down the stairs. She was about halfway down when she missed a step, tripped, and fell down the rest of the stairs. She threw her arms out to break her fall, and pain shot through both the heels of her palms, and her knees. She barely felt the pain however, because of the pain in her heart.

Blinded by tears, and still on her knees, she started to feel around for the contents of her purse which had spilled open with the fall. Just as she started putting them back together, she heard the shrill sound of a child screaming right beside her.

Confused, Mia wiped her eyes, looked up, and was shocked to see Zara’s son Leo sitting on the floor beside her, crying and shouting and holding his hand.

Before Mia could even figure out what was wrong, Olivia rushed in from wherever she’d been. She saw the situation and immediately turned her glare to Mia while helping Leo up.

“What did you do?!” She yelled at Mia.

She shook her head, even more confused. “I… I didn't—”

A sharp slap cut her off. Mia's face turned with the impact. For a moment, she couldn't even process what had happened.

Zara and Ethan appeared at the top of the stairs. Zara immediately rushed toward Leo, while Mia’s teary eyes were drawn to Ethan.

His shirt was back on, but it wasn’t tucked in the way it had been when he left her bedroom, and several buttons were undone. The sight made her stomach twist all over again.

So she hadn’t been dreaming.

Zara hurried down the stairs and pulled Leo into her arms. “What happened to you, baby? Who did this?”

Leo immediately pointed at the dumbstruck Mia who was still clutching her cheek. "She did! She pushed me!”

Mia stared at him in disbelief.

“I didn't—” Mia started, but Olivia cut her off with another resounding slap.

“Are you bitter that another woman gave my son what you couldn't give to him?!”

Mia’s cheek reddened and throbbed as she stared at Olivia, dumbfounded. She couldn’t understand how everything had turned against her so quickly. She hadn’t even touched the boy.

In all her years, Mia couldn’t recall the last time someone had accused her so blatantly, and a child at that. Suddenly, she was the villain, and everyone was staring at her with blame on their faces. Even Ethan, Ethan who’d betrayed her looked at her like she was the one at fault. 

Olivia, infuriated by her stare, raised her hand again, but Zara quickly stepped between them.

“Mother, stop, please,” Zara begged. “Anger won’t change anything.”

Olivia was furious. “How can you say that? Look at what she did to my grandson simply because she was jealous!”

Zara sighed sadly and turned to face Mia. “Mia. I know you’re angry at me,” she said softly, “but Leo is just an innocent child. He didn’t do anything to you, so please don’t take out your anger for me on him. I’m begging you, please.” Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Mia beseechingly.

Mia shook her head, her eyes red and swollen. “But I didn’t – ”

At that moment, Ethan spoke, looking at Mia with a disappointed expression on his face. “Mia, how could you? I already explained things to you but you still – “

She looked at him. “Don't.”

Ethan froze, afraid of the look he saw in Mia's eyes. “Mia—”

“I trusted you.” Her voice trembled. “That's what I did wrong. I trusted you. But I'm not going to spend the rest of my life pretending I don't know the truth when it's staring at me in the face.”

More tears poured from her eyes as she twisted her engagement ring off her finger and tossed it at his chest.

“We’re over, Ethan,” Mia choked. “I don’t ever want to see you again.”

He froze.

She turned to leave, not even acknowledging the look of pure panic on his face. 

Mia bent down to pick up the rest of her things, too overwhelmed to notice the panic that flashed across Ethan’s face.

Then Olivia’s voice stopped her.

“What’s this?”

Mia looked up and saw Olivia holding a piece of paper that must have fallen out of her purse. Her heart lurched when she recognized it.

The pregnancy test result.

Mia immediately stood and reached for it. “Please give it back.”

Olivia moved away, unfolding the paper and skimming through it. Her eyes widened.

“You’re pregnant?”

Mia’s face burned. “Please, just give it back.”

“You’re pregnant!” Olivia repeated, louder this time.

“What?!” Ethan and Zara both exclaimed.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Olivia asked, staring at her.

Ethan’s eyes brightened, his earlier panic was replaced with excitement. "You're pregnant? Really?” For the first time since Mia found out about his betrayal, he looked genuinely happy. "We’re having a baby!”

Mia stared at him.

We're?

Only minutes ago, he'd been promising another woman that he would marry Mia, divorce her, and return to her.

Now he was smiling as if the baby had magically erased everything.

She’d had enough.

Shutting her eyes tightly, Mia wished she could shut out their voices as well. “There's no we.” Her voice was low but firm. “This is my baby. I'll take care of my child myself.”

Ethan frowned, as though he still couldn’t understand why she was refusing him. 

Mia snatched the test result from Olivia and turned to leave.

Ethan grabbed her arm, and at the same moment, her phone rang. Since it was in her hand already, she looked at the screen. It was from the hospital, from her mother’s doctor. Her heart leapt into her mouth. Ethan also saw who the call was from.

She put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

“Miss Reed. Your mother is in very critical condition. Can you make it to the hospital within the hour?”

Mia's blood ran cold. She was already moving. “I’ll be there.”

When she pocketed the phone and started to hurry out, Ethan was still holding on to her.

“I’ll drive you,” he said.

She twisted her wrist from his grasp and stepped away. “Don’t follow me,” she told him firmly. "I never want to see you again.”

With that, she ran out of the Grey mansion and swore in her heart never to return.  

 

If only she knew that fate had other plans for her.