Chapter 2

SLOANE

Some returns aren't welcome and there are some faces you pray never to see again.

"Ma'am, you can't be doing something so dangerous like lying out in the rain. It could really endanger the life of the baby.”

I froze.

The words echoed loudly in my ears.

The life of the baby.

“I’m pregnant? Are you sure? I'm pregnant? With…like a baby? A living baby?" My eyes glistened, chills running down my spine, my vision blurring with tears as I stared at the doctor strangely.

“Ughh, Mrs—" He looked confused, his eyes fixated on something…

I followed his line of sight and realized I was tugging on his white coat. I pursed my lips, slowly detaching my fingers, still staring at him expectantly.

My voice sounded more joyous than I actually felt. Inside, my heart was ripping apart.

Pregnant.

The word alone made my chest tighten.

What would Killian do if he found out that he almost cost himself the life of his child by kicking me out?

Surely, he would change his mind, right?

I could shut my eyes and everything would go back to normal.

The tears welling up in my eyes spilled out and I rushed to wipe them off, my heart aching.

I turned to the doctor. His eyes still held a hint of confusion.

Why wasn't he saying anything? Did I mishear him? Was this all an illusion I was trapped in?

I stared around when his voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.

"Positive. You're six weeks pregnant. You should take better care of your health. We'll prescribe some prenatal vitamins and folic acid. And also, you need to avoid stress during this period," he stated, handing over my test results.

I stared at it, a streak of tears dropping onto it as I trailed my fingers over the blood test results while the doctor walked out.

I was pregnant.

Not barren like Killian had tagged me.

I was six weeks pregnant with his baby.

Killian's cold voice echoed in my mind again.

You can't even give me a child.

My fingers tightened around the sheets while the other hand held tightly to the bloodwork.

This was the only ticket to save my marriage. To return things to how they used to be.

To remind him how happy we were together.

If he knew the truth now, would anything change?

I swallowed, a wide smile spreading across my face while my heart drummed against my chest with nervous agitation, my hand slightly leaning on my belly.

Where life now grew in me. My child, my baby, the only person who belonged only to me.

Tears slid out of my eyes.

The smell of the hospital added to my irritation.

I got out of bed quickly and turned to the side. My luggage was there. Who brought it?

I had been so overwhelmed with the joy of the pregnancy that I hadn't even bothered to ask who had brought me to the hospital.

I picked it up and stepped out of the ward to settle my discharge.

As I took a few steps, my head felt dizzy and I held onto the wall. I wasn't even sure I was due to be discharged, but I needed to leave this place.

I really needed to breathe. My hands gripped my luggage as I walked to the accounting department and settled my bills.

I was about to leave when I heard a familiar voice echoing from the corner.

My steps slowed immediately, my heart doing those tiny tingles it did whenever he was near.

That voice.

Good, now I'm imagining him everywhere. I was about to ignore it when curiosity got the better of me and I snapped my head toward the direction of the voice, and just as I had thought.

Killian and Nika.

What were they doing here?

At the hospital.

I scanned the area where they were seated. They were definitely waiting for an OB-GYN appointment.

Of course they were.

Nika sat beside him with one hand placed gently on her belly as usual.

The sight made my chest tighten painfully, but she wasn't the only one with life growing inside her.

I turned to leave and then paused in my tracks.

Why don't I just tell Killian here about my pregnancy?

He was right there.

My husband was right there. There was absolutely no need for me to go humiliate myself further at his office when Nika was basically the “madam” there.

Maybe if he knew the truth, things would change. Maybe he would not throw me away so easily.

That wave of dizziness hit me again, yet I dismissed it, taking a deep breath to keep myself grounded.

“Killian," I called out as I approached them, and he looked up, a wave of surprise visible in his expression as he set his eyes on me.

"What are you doing here?” I took a deep breath, biting my lips. I couldn't let these tears slip out.

Nika was right there, one hand placed on her belly as usual, flaunting her glory. I felt terrible. I felt like throwing up, but I had to stand firm to announce this to Killian.

“We need to talk."

“Are you serious? You chased us down here just to cling to me? To talk?" He scoffed.

“It's important, Killian. I'm pregnant." My voice wavered, betraying how broken my heart was.

It dropped like a bombshell and I watched his expression flicker between shock and surprise.

Hope rose inside my chest. He wanted an heir and he finally had one through his legitimate child. Of course, he was going to—

And then he burst out laughing.

I blinked, my fingers wrapped around the handle of my luggage, digging into my palms. He was actually laughing.

Nika just smiled a bit.

I didn't understand.

What was so funny?

“Is this all you could come up with? Just to avoid the divorce? Are you crazy? You couldn't even come up with a better lie." I took a step back, each of his words slamming into me with greater intensity than the last.

“Lie? I'm not lying. Why do you think I'm at the hospital? I was kicked out while pregnant. My body couldn't..." I rasped.

"Miss Sloane, I know you love Lian, but you can't fabricate something this big,” Nika chirped as one of the nurses walked up to us.

"Mr. Ardenian, the doctor wishes to speak with you privately.”

He frowned and nodded, standing to his feet as he caressed Nika’s hair before turning to me.

"This little scheme of yours is lame as hell. And besides," he leaned in closer, "did you forget we haven't had sex in a long time? You couldn't even think of a proper lie. Stay out of my face." He warned and was about to walk away when I grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"Killian,” my voice broke. Yes, the tears I had tried so hard to withhold came flowing out. "Killian, this is our child. Your child. You can't abando—”

"You're not even pregnant! Stop acting so delusional and God help me, could you stop with the lies? If you're crazy, go get yourself checked." He warned, his words icy and cold as he shoved me off and walked away.

I bit the inside of my mouth until that metallic taste filled it, the world blurring before my eyes.

“Miss Sloane. Let's talk."

Her previous pitiful expression slipped away as fast as a snake changes skin.

"Finally got rid of the whole white moonlight act?"

She smirked and stood to her feet.

"Let's go to the cafeteria section. It's quiet there.” I wasn't going to back down. This was my fight, so I followed as she began walking toward the elevator.

I raised a brow and paused in my tracks and she turned to me.

“The cafeteria section is on the second floor." I mouthed an “oh” when she suddenly let out a disappointed sound.

“We'll have to use the stairs. Elevators closed." She was talking like I was her friend. We had never had a face-off, but I wasn't her friend either.

But if she wanted a conversation, she'd get it.

We walked toward the stairs and while walking, she suddenly asked,

"You're really pregnant, aren't you?" I squinted my eyes in suspicion and shrugged.

"Why?"

She continued, her steps getting slower as I replied.

Her eyes briefly dropped to my stomach.

"Why? Only one of us can have his baby, Sloane." Her voice was quiet, but the malice in it made my skin crawl.

“And it sure as hell won't be you."

We were at the stairs now. Not many people flooded this area because most people waited for the elevator, that wave of dizziness kicking in again. I shook my head, trying to snap out of it.

God, no. Not now. Anytime but now.

“You look pale, Sloane." She stepped closer to me and I put an arm up as an obstruction.

“Stay away from me."

"I'm just trying to help,” I felt her hand on my arm. "You look so pale. You really shouldn't be standing close to the stairs.”

Before the words could completely leave my mouth, I felt a shove.

She pushed me!

My body lost balance instantly.

I shut my eyes tightly as the world tilted beneath me. This is it. This is how I die at the end of it all.

My hands instinctively wrapped around my stomach.

My baby.