004

🖤 Alexandra 🖤

“Is it fun playing games with your parents?”

That was the first thing Dada said the moment he stepped into my room, and honestly, if my life wasn’t already upside down, I would have laughed at how random that sounded.

We had literally just gotten back from the hospital. Like… not even ten minutes ago. I hadn’t even had time to process the fact that apparently my body had decided to start producing babies out of thin air.

So yeah… not in the mood.

I was sitting on my bed with my laptop open, phone in my hand, trying to do something that actually made sense.

Evidence.

Because clearly, logic had left the building and I needed to drag it back by force.

I had already opened my location history, scrolling through the past two months like my life depended on it, because it actually did at this point. If there was even one weird gap, one missing day, one suspicious location, I needed to see it.

Because there was no way.

No actual way.

I could not just wake up one day and boom… pregnant.

That was not how life worked.

“Dada, please not now,” I said without looking up, my tone flat and dismissive because whatever speech he came here to give, I was not interested.

I heard his footsteps pause.

Then instead of replying, he walked closer and held something out in front of me.

I frowned slightly and looked up.

His phone.

“Take it,” he said.

I stared at him for a second, then took it slowly, already annoyed because if this was another attempt at convincing me of this nonsense, I was about to lose whatever patience I had left.

Then I looked at the screen. And just like that, everything in my head went completely still.

The headline was bold.

Too bold and looks too real.

Alexandra Fisher Hale the queen of the business world is pregnant and to be married to Jacob Grey.

I blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then I looked up at Dada.

“What the actual fuck?”

The words came out before I could even stop them, because at this point, manners were the least of my concerns.

Because what?

Pregnant was already a problem.

But married?

To Jacob Grey? Who the fuck is he?

Where did that even come from?

“When exactly did my life turn into a public announcement?” I asked, holding up the phone slightly like maybe the headline would change if I looked at it differently.

It didn’t.

Because apparently the universe had decided today was the day to test my sanity.

“Aren’t you two in a relationship?” Dada asked, completely serious ljke he was certain about the fact that am in a relationship.

I turned to him slowly. And just stared. Because I needed to confirm something.

Was he serious?

Like actually serious?

“Dada,” I said carefully, “do I look like someone that is secretly in a relationship?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Which was already suspicious. Because the correct answer was no.

Always no.

“I am asking you a question,” he said instead, his tone calm but firm.

“And I am trying to understand why you are asking me that question,” I replied, narrowing my eyes slightly. “Since when did I start dating a certain Jacob Grey without my own knowledge?”

Because that was what this sounded like.

Like I had somehow entered a relationship, gotten pregnant, and agreed to marriage… all while my brain was on vacation.

Make it make sense.

“Okay,” I continued, sitting up properly now because clearly this conversation was not going to end quickly. “Let me guess. This is part two of your plan, right?”

Dada’s expression didn’t change.

That didn’t stop me.

“You and Papa got a doctor to lie about me being pregnant,” I said, counting on my fingers like I was explaining something simple. “And now you’ve told the media to spread this ridiculous story so I can panic and suddenly decide marriage and children are not that bad.”

I nodded slowly.

“Honestly… creative. A bit extreme, but creative.”

“Alexandra,” Dada said my name in that tone again.

The one that usually came before chaos. But I was already annoyed, so I kept going.

“Because it makes sense now,” I added, pointing at the phone. “You remember when I said I was never getting married? Never having kids? You both didn’t like that.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“So this… this is your way of forcing my hand.”

For a second, there was silence. Then I leaned back and folded my arms.

“Very manipulative,” I added. “I’m almost impressed.”

“Alexandra, this is not funny anymore.”

Papa’s voice cut into the room as he walked in, and I turned my head toward him immediately.

He looked serious. Not the normal serious. This was… heavier. And for a split second, something in my chest tightened.

But I ignored it.

Because no.

No.

I was not about to start doubting myself now.

“Funny?” I repeated, letting out a small laugh. “Oh trust me, I am not laughing.”

I stood up from the bed, holding Dada’s phone as I walked closer to Papa.

“Because I am trying to understand why both of you are going this far just to prove a point.”

Papa frowned slightly.

“What point?”

“That I should get married,” I replied immediately. “That I should have children. That I should suddenly wake up and decide to live a life I have already said I do not want.”

My voice wasn’t loud. But it was sharp and clear.

“And since talking didn’t work, you decided to stage a pregnancy and announce a marriage to a man I have not spoken to in years.”

Silence.

Again.

Why was there always silence when I made perfect sense?

“Alexandra,” Papa said slowly, stepping closer, “we did not do this.”

I stared at him.

“You expect me to believe that?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I let out a small laugh.

“Okay,” I said, nodding. “Then explain it to me.”

He didn’t answer immediately. Because there was no explanation.

Exactly.

“That’s what I thought,” I muttered, turning away slightly.

“Wait.”

Another voice.

Annoying.

I turned toward the door just in time to see Michelle walking in like she owned the place, her eyes already wide with curiosity.

“Are you getting married?” she asked, her voice way too excited for someone who should mind her business.

I stared at her.

Of all the times for her to appear.

“Michelle, get out,” I said flatly.

She ignored me.

Of course she did.

“And you’re pregnant?” she added, stepping further into the room like this was entertainment.

“Even better,” another voice joined.

I didn’t even need to turn to know it was Caleb.

“And she’s pregnant,” he said, sounding way too amused as he walked in behind his twin.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Just for a second.

Because clearly, this was my life now.

A joke.

A very bad joke.

“Both of you,” I said, opening my eyes again, “out.”

“No,” Michelle replied immediately, crossing her arms like she had rights here.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re trending,” she said, holding up her own phone. “Like… everywhere.”

Caleb nodded.

“It’s actually impressive,” he added. “You always do things big, but this?”

He let out a low whistle.

“This is next level.”

I blinked at him.

Then at her.

Then back at both of them.

“You think this is funny?” I asked.

“A little,” Michelle admitted.

That was it.

That was the moment I realized I was surrounded by idiots.

“Okay,” I said slowly, taking a deep breath because I refused to lose control in my own room. “Let me make something very clear.”

I looked at all of them.

One by one.

“I am not pregnant.”

Silence.

“I am not getting married.”

More silence.

“And I am definitely not in a relationship with Jacob Grey.”

Michelle tilted her head.

“Then why is the whole world saying you are?”

I opened my mouth. Then paused.

Because that… That was the problem. I didn’t have an answer. And I hated that. I’ve always had control over my life and this happening right now is not control.

“I don’t know,” I admitted finally, my voice quieter than before.

And that right there?

That was the worst part of all of this.

Not the headlines. Not the pregnancy. Not even the marriage.

It was the fact that for the first time in a very long time…

I didn’t know what was going on.

And I don’t do well with not knowing.

My grip tightened slightly around the phone in my hand as I looked back at the headline again.

Alexandra Fisher Hale is pregnant, to be married to Jacob Grey.

My jaw clenched as I stared at the words again like if I looked long enough they would rearrange themselves into something normal.

They didn’t.

Of course they didn’t.

Because apparently reality had decided to stop making sense today.

I exhaled slowly and lifted my head, my eyes moving from the phone to everyone in the room.

Papa.

Dada.

Michelle.

Caleb.

All staring at me like I was the center of some very ridiculous show.

I opened my mouth to say something, anything, something that would bring control back into this situation.

Then the door opened again.

I didn’t even need to turn.

I already knew.

“Tell me this is not true.”

Jayden’s voice filled the room, and yeah… there it was. The disbelief. The confusion. And exhaustion he trying to hide.

I turned my head slowly and looked at my dear twin brother whose wedding got affected due to my fainting standing at the door like someone had just told him the world was ending.

He looked… stressed.

Good.

At least I wasn’t the only one suffering.

He stepped inside fully now, his eyes locked on me like I was about to confess to something insane.

“You’re really pregnant?” he asked again, this time slower, like maybe saying it twice would make it make sense.

And that was it.

That was my final straw.

“I am not fucking pregnant!” I snapped, my voice louder than I intended but honestly I did not care anymore because clearly nobody in this house was listening to me.

The room went still.

Jayden blinked.

Michelle’s eyes widened like she just found new gossip to enjoy.

Caleb actually looked impressed.

And Dada…

Dada stepped forward immediately.

“Easy, princess,” he said calmly, placing a hand lightly on my shoulder like I was about to explode. “Yelling is not good for you… and your baby.”

I froze.

Slowly… very slowly… I turned my head and looked at him.

“You are really enjoying this, Dada,” I said, my voice low, dangerously calm now because that comment? That comment just added fuel to the fire.

“I am not enjoying anything,” he replied, but there was something in his expression that told me he was watching me very carefully.

Like I might break.

Please.

I don’t break.

“I am glad you’re having fun,” I continued, folding my arms tightly across my chest as I took a step back from him. “Because I am clearly the only sane person in this room.”