CHAPTER THREE.

CHAPTER THREE

CAROLINE

I wake up slowly to soft sheets and sunlight sipping in through the gap in the curtains. I groan softly, yawning as I reach for the curtains. My whole body aches. He turned me inside out, and now, I’m alone.

I sit up, wrapping the sheets around my body. I fix the curtains and settle back into the softest bed ever. My heart feels heavy, but I don’t want to deal with that now. I let myself sink in the afterglow, the soreness between my legs, the warmth, the hands and the heat. The best sex of my life.

Easily, I fall asleep, only to be woken by knocks on the door.

“Fuck,” I groan, annoyed and very sleepy, but the knocks persist, so I get up, holding the sheets around my body.

I open the door and find some staff standing there, holding a large tray of meals.

“Hi?” I blink, confused. I didn’t order anything.

“Hi, ma’am. I’m Celeste. If you don’t mind, we’d like to come in. Mr Salvatore left some instructions before leaving.” The blonde young woman smiles at me, professional and polite, but I’m still so confused.

“Mr who?” I yawn, cheeks flushed.

“Mr Salvatore Vulkov, your … your companion last night. He had to leave before you woke because something came up. You can stay the whole day, the room has been paid for. The hotel has a boutique, spa, and everything else you might need. You’re free to explore our advantages. This is your breakfast. We have a bar downstairs, also free to explore. If you need anything else, do not hesitate to call.” She expresses herself calmly.

Everything clicks. The man who fucked me six ways to heaven is Salvatore Vulkov. How wonderful.

“Thank you, and don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair soon.” I take the breakfast tray from them.

I close the door and exhale deeply. I need to get out of here. Last night was a nightmare, but at least I know now. 

Quickly, I take advantage of their tub, then order some dresses from the boutique. They didn’t take my card because Salvatore left his. How nice. I have breakfast, and leave the hotel with bags of dresses and shoes. My body is sore, but in a good way. There’s a cab waiting for me, so I head to my apartment, grab my stuffs and head to the airport.

I make sure to stay in motion, so I wouldn’t think about what Ronal and Nora did to me last night. Last night was supposed to be my engagement party, but I spent it sleeping with a stranger.

Ronal and Nora have been blowing up my phone, so while waiting for my flight, I decided to call Nora, knowing she would pass on the message.

“Where are you? Are you okay? What –”

I cut her off, “I saw you and Ronal at the apartment yesterday.”

My chest squeezes painfully, but I power through.

“I didn’t expect that from you, Nora. You were my best friend, and you betrayed me like that. Anyway, I am done with you and him. Good luck with your life, and please stay away from mine. Goodbye, Nora. I hope we never meet again.” 

Then, I end the call and blink away tears.

I get on the flight and return to my life in London.

For the past five years, I have rooted my life around Nora and Ronal, around what they want and what they need. I have put my needs on the back burner and focused on them, but everything has changed now. I need to live for me. I need to focus on my life, so I do.

The first week passes slowly.

I pick up multiple shifts at the hospital. I get a new apartment, one that is closer to work. Nora and Ronal call for a few days, then they stop calling. Then, I see their engagement news online. He proposed to her with the ring he got for me. Well, she wasn’t the impostor; I was. I had been ruining their love story, and now that I am out, they can finally embrace each other.

I try not to wallow in self-loathing or think about how stupid I’ve been. I focus on work and push through even when I feel sick. However, my sickness lingers, even two weeks later.

“Oh, you’re burning up, Caroline,” A nurse says, feeling my forehead.

I yawn, pushing back my need to sleep. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re off for the next two days. You need to rest. Now, go home before I admit you into one of the rooms.” She says sternly, frowning at me.

I don’t argue, because I’m too tired to.

My head is aching, my nose is clogged, my chest feels heavy, and I’m burning up. I feel like I’ve been run over. I don’t understand why I feel so sick. The nausea is the worst. I work in a hospital. I’m supposed to have a strong stomach, but I feel nauseated all the time now.

I intend to make my way to the changing room, but the next step feels too heavy.

“Caroline?”

I hear, but it sounds so far away.

“Caroline?”

Everything seems so muffled. My vision blurs, and I start to fall. I try to hold myself, but I fall, and everything falls away, giving room to the dark.

I wake up in bed, in a hospital room.

Dr Viviene is right by me, and some nurses.

“You’re awake. How do you feel?” She asks, listening to my stethoscope.

I groan because the headache has persisted. “Not good. I feel so sick. Do I have the flu?”

“No, Caroline, you don’t have the flu.” She shakes her head, her lip in a thin line.

I frown because Dr Viviene is an Obgyn.

My stomach sinks as realisation dawns on me.

“No,” I whisper, horrified.

“You’re pregnant, Caroline.”

I stare at her, frozen, because everything has changed.