Chapter Four

New City, New Problems

Ariana’s POV 

This city didn’t know me, and that was exactly why I had chosen it. Here, there were no scandals, no headlines, and no judging eyes following my every move.

I stood by the small window of my tiny motel room, watching the unfamiliar streets below.

Everything went on completely ignorant of the fact that my life had just been torn apart and stitched back together in the space of days.

A single box I had arrived the new city with sat on the bed behind me. It was everything I owned now.

My situation was almost laughable, honestly. A week ago I was the wife of arguably the wealthiest man in Los Angeles. Now, I was a nobody running away from my past.

I wrapped my arms around myself, exhaling slowly. It was quiet here by day time. But by night, the place lit up unbelievably.

In that silence, memories began to creep into my mind. Sebastian’s voice. Cold and brutal…

“You’re nothing to me!”

My jaws tightened and I turned away from the window, forcing myself to move, to unpack, just do anything to keep my mind from spiraling.

But halfway through my possessions in the box, a wave of dizziness hit me. I staggered slightly, gripping the edge of the bed for support.

“What…” I whispered to myself inaudibly.

My stomach turned. I barely made it to the sink before it threw up everything in my stomach. I stood up, cleaned the place with the little strength I had left in me, before heading out.

An hour later, I sat in a small clinic, my fingers curled tightly between my lap. Not knowing what was wrong with me, I’d decided to visit the clinic I’d seen on my way to the motel.

The doctor sat across from me, a seemingly calm, composed man… totally unaware of my past life and the situation I had been cruelly dealt.

“You said you’ve been feeling nauseous? Dizzy as well?” the doctor said to me, scanning my eyes with a clinical torch.

I nodded faintly, unsure what exactly to say to him.

The man gave a small smile before he spoke again. “That’s understandable.”

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten a little. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in Los Angeles anymore. Yet I could barely be at ease.

“What do you mean?” I asked the doctor.

He glanced at me briefly through the glasses that hung on top of his huge nostrils, then down at the file in his hands, and back at me.

“Miss… Frost, is it?”

I hesitated, regretting why I didn’t use a different name at the register. But the doctor truly seemed unaware of the name.

Then quietly, “Just Ariana.” I said with a forced smile.

The man gave me another nod.

“Well, Ariana…” his smile softened, “You’re about eight weeks pregnant.”

Everything went shockingly still the moment I heard the words. I blinked once, and then twice.

“…I’m sorry, what?” I responded with my brows raised up.

“You’re pregnant,” he repeated gently. “Approximately two months along.”

Two months.

My breath caught in my throat. That was impossible. My hands quickly went to my belly.

“No,” I gasped. 

“I realize this is a total news to you. But I’m afraid it’s true. And it may relieve you a bit to know that the baby is doing fine. You’re doing fine.”

I nodded and forced a smile at the doctor. But deep down in my mind, it was chaos there. Two months ago…

My mind betrayed me instantly, dragging me back to nights I had tried so hard to discard from memory. Moments when things weren’t broken yet with Sebastian.

When he still touched me like I his wife, like I still mattered. When I still believed he loved me.

“No…” I whispered too low for the doctor who had moved away a little to hear. “This can’t be happening now…”

But it was happening now.

Of course it was, as despite everything… we had been husband and wife. I shook my head slightly as if that could undo it, and tears burned at the corners of my eyes.

But I forced them back.

“Are you alright?” the doctor asked gently.

I swallowed hard.

“Yes,” I lied. “I’m fine.”

***

I didn’t remember everything the doctor said, nor even recall leaving the clinic. If someone asked me, I couldn’t remember how I got back to the motel room either.

All I knew was that I was standing in the middle of that small space again, my hand slowly lifting and resting on my stomach.

Everything had changed for me in the space of days. Except… a shaky breath left me. Except I was carrying Sebastian’s child. And I was still carrying Sebastian’s child.

The realization hit deeper this time. He would never believe it. Nor his mother. Even if I told them, it would just be another ploy of mine to disgrace the family name.

And even if Sebastian believed me… would it matter if the old crap didn’t? I could already hear her voice in my head. How she would respond to the news… cruel and distant…

“It’s just convenient timing, Ariana. Another desperate lie from you.”

My fingers curled slightly against my abdomen. A sudden realization cut through my haze of thoughts. No.

I straightened, my expression immediately hardening. This child had nothing to do with them. Not since they framed and accused me of infidelity.

Sebastian had made his choice. He had chosen to discard me, his legally married wife… and by so, his child as well.

I had intended to survive through it. Maybe start again. And the truth about this pregnancy just gave me a whole lot more reason to do just that… but without any of them knowing.

A slow breath left me as something new dragged in. The resolve to have this child and raise it all on my own.

“I’ll always protect you,” I whispered

softly, my hand still against my belly. “No matter what.”