Chapter 44 – The Confirmation

(Ella’s POV)

The morning sun spilled through the curtains, soft and gentle, it was as if the weather was trying to soothe the storm that churned inside me. Along my beside table, I traced a finger. The action I was about to take this day really weighed down in me. I have finally come to the conclusion that it’s best I tell Cole I’m pregnant.

I decide to dress carefully and to choose my outfit base on comfort rather than formality. I know that what I’m about to discuss with him is one that will require steadiness. My pulse thumped in my chest, each beat echoing the flutter of life that is growing within me. A life in which Cole had unknowingly help creating. His reaction to this news is one that I’m more curious about, I’m also scared by the decision he is going to take, I wonder if he will even care about this new life that’s growing within me.

I later found him in the kitchen, he was leaning against the counter, his gaze seem lost as he looked towards the window with his gaze on the rising sun. Even in his casual stance, tension still exuded him, it’s the same tension that I had been sending for days now. When he finally took noticed of my presence, His dark gaze lifted and I could read the emotions that conflicted across his face: guilt, uncertainty, desire, and something else—something that seemed protective.

“Morning,” I said towards him. Even though my stomach was churning with nerves, I had decided to try and keep my voice steady.

He straightened, rubbing a hand across his face, a sigh escaping him. “Morning.” His voice was quiet, almost cautious. “Do you feel well?”

I nodded, though I knew it was a fragile gesture. “I’m… I’m doing well. But I need to discuss something important with you.”

His brow furrowed, a flicker of concern crossing his features. “Okay… what is the matter?”

I drew in a deep breath, pressing a hand gently to my stomach. The life inside me pulsed faintly, a rhythmic reassurance that steadied my nerves. “Cole… I’m pregnant.”

Those few words I spoke hung between us like fragile glass, they were delicate but at the same time also weighty. I watched as his expression shifted almost imperceptibly. Then was shock, disbelief, and then finally a slow realization,there was a flicker of something I had longed to see within him and that was care.

“Pregnant?” His voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with a mixture of awe and fear. “You… you mean… our…?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes. I’m pregnant with our child.”

He ran a hand down his face, exhaling slowly, as if trying to breathe in the enormity of the moment without suffocating under it. Then, almost reflexively, he reached for my hand, lifting it to his lips with gentle reverence. “Ella… I… I have no words to describe the way I’m feeling right now.”

I squeezed his hand lightly, urging him to pause, to feel rather than speak. “For now, you don’t have to say anything. I just felt that you have the right to know.”

He nodded, eyes dark and earnest, scanning my face as if memorizing every detail. “I see… Now i see it. I… I want to… Ella I want to care for you, I don’t know how to … but I will try my possible best. I will always be present in every step of the way.”

My chest warmed at his words, though caution remained firmly rooted in my heart. “Cole… I appreciate that, I really do but at this point what I need isn’t mere words, I need to see you really mean what you say you will do, I need to see actions from you.”

A brief, almost shy smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You need prove, huh?” He glanced around the kitchen, eyes landing on a basket of apples. “I’ll prove myself to you with something tangible. You are still in love with apples, right?”

I couldn’t suppress a small laugh, the tension in my chest loosening slightly. “Yes… I’m actually surprised you know that.”

He grabbed a few apples, rinsing them and arranging them neatly on a plate before placing them in front of me. “Toy shouldn’t be surprised, I might act like I don’t see this things but I actually do. There they are. Breakfast. And… For the whole of this day, I will check up on you. I’m going to ask you about your day. I’ll… I’ll be more in tuned with you. This I promise you.”

The words were simple, almost mundane, yet they carried weight. This was clearly his attempt at redemption, his way of proving he could be caring, that he is able to shift from turmoil to responsibility. I studied him, noticing the way his jaw tightened with effort, I could see the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, and the pulse of sincerity beneath it all.

“For me, you don’t have to act to be perfect” I said, my voice soft. “What I need now is your presence, that’s enough proof for me.”

He nodded, eyes locking with mine. “I can’t undo the past mistakes that I made but I can try to be here for now. For you. For the baby we have both created that is growing in you.”

A gentle silence settled between us, the soft crunch of the apples as I took bites from it, was the only thing that made noise. Within me I could feel the bond stirring, it was subtle but still it was something that couldn’t be missed. It was a quiet reassurance, a reminder that despite the what had happened in the past, there was chance for something strong to grow.

“You’re… nervous,” he said finally, voice low, almost questioning. “The way you truly feel shouldn’t be hidden just because of me.”

I met his gaze, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yes I’m nervous… and at the same time, also sacred. I can’t predict the outcome of things between us, or… your real feelings towards this news. I know the bond exists, but I’m also aware that you don’t really care about me. And I don’t want to get hurt again.”

He reached across the table, taking my hand in both of his. “Ella… I’m not going to lie. I’m also scared. I’ve made mistakes… but this—this is different. I want to be better. I want to be able to protect you. I want to be here for you and for our child.”

Even with the tension between us, I still felt a flicker of hope. The bond pulsed more strongly now, syncing with the flutter of life within me, a reminder that despite the turmoil, despite the past, we had a connection neither of us could ignore.

“Cole… I need you to be honest with me,” I said softly. “If you ever feel… pulled in another direction… if there’s someone influencing you… you must tell me. We can’t navigate this if there’s secrecy or manipulation between us.”

His eyes darkened, a storm brewing beneath the surface, but he nodded solemnly. “I understand what you are saying. But I swear to you that no one will ever come in between us, ever again.”

I studied him, I could see crisis going through him, I could see the effort he is trying to put in, the sincerity in his gaze. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t free of the shadows that lingered from Sasha’s influence and his past mistakes. But it was a new beginning, a good reason that would give me reason to believe in this new path we are about to navigate.

A soft smile curved my lips, tentative but genuine. “For now, all we have to do is to take it a step at a time. You, me and this child growing within you are what really matters to me.”

He reached across the table, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. “We will take it a step at a time,” he repeated, voice low, full of unspoken promise. “I… Whatever steps you take is one that I will follow. I’ll always be right here.”

For the first time in days, I felt a sense of ease begin to settle, even though it was fragile it was still real. The uncertainty still settled within, a shadow in the periphery, but the bond thrummed steadily now, a quiet assurance that we were now connected, tethered by something more enduring than fear or desire.

We sat in total silence, for a while. The words and promises settled between us like a blanket. The apples sat half-eaten on the table, a significant sign of care, it felt like a step in a journey taht was only just beginning.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, feeling the gentle stir of life within, and whispered softly, almost to myself, “No matter what happens, we will always protect you.”

Cole’s gaze followed mine, and though his eyes were filled with uncertainty, I saw a spark of resolve there too—a promise that he was willing to try, willing to change, willing to be present. And for now, that was enough.