Chapter 4- My babies

Anastasia’s POV

A few months later

I rushed into the bathroom slamming the door open, letting myself in. Once I was in one of the stalls, I bent over and began to throw up. I had been throwing up like this for nearly a week now and honestly it was draining, my face look a lot paler and bags formed under my eyes maybe that part as due to work stress.

I walked out of the stall after flushing and walked towards the sink when I saw Claire standing. She had followed me in.

“ Are you alright?” She questioned, her face couldn't hide her worry.

“ I'm fine. I think I'm just a little stressed out than usual. Maybe it's because of the project we've been working on,” I deduced.

“ Are you sure you'll be able to make a presentation at the meeting today?”

“ Yes, I can. Don't worry too much about me, I'm fine,” I guaranteed.

“ Alright, if you say so,” she let out a sigh. “ Let's be going, the meeting is about to start,” she reminded me as she led the way. I couldn't ruin this meeting, it was the first time I was given the opportunity to spearhead a major project and I was dying with thrill.

Getting to the meeting room that had it's final preparation been done, I took in a deep breath as I held on to my file. If this presentation goes well maybe I could secure a promotion with their recommendation.

 “ Honey, are you alright? You've been looking pale for quite a while, I saw when you ran off to the bathroom again. Are you sure you can handle the presentation today?” Mrs. Smith walked up to me and asked.

“ Yes, I'm sure I can do it,” I beamed at her. I had to do it, not after all the sleepless nights I've had.

“ Don't worry, she's fine,” Claire backed up.

“ Okay, I'm fine with it as long as you're okay and comfortable,” she let out a sigh before tapping my cheeks and wishing me luck. 

The managers and the people who were to attend the meeting started filling in the room and my heart began to beat faster. I could do this.

“ Let's start the meeting,” one of the officials commenced and I stepped up to the front of the projector and began explaining the project we were working on and they actually seemed impressed making me feel giddyi side.

Halfway through the presentation, I began experiencing severe cramps, I wriggled my legs in pain as I stood behind the lectern hoping that no one would notice the discomfort I was feeling, maybe I needed to get out of my heels.

“ As I was saying, the sales...,” I heard a shrill sound similar to that of a poorly tuned mic resound in my ears as it screeched making me wince in pain.

“ What's going on?” One of the officials voiced in a low voice as mumbles erupted from the seated members.

My legs gave in and I fell to the floor with a light thud, with a blurry vision I could see Mrs. Smith and Claire with a few others rush towards me as my consciousness drifted.

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          “ Is she alright?” I could hear Mrs. Smith's worried voice faintly as I struggled to open my eyes.

         “ Yes, she is. She's just been overworking herself with her condition, her body couldn't handle it anymore,” an unfamiliar masculine voice which I presumed to belong to the doctor said. My eyes finally went open, blinking slowly as my brain tried to process everything.

        “ What condition are you talking about?” Mrs. Smith questioned

        “ Doctor, I think she's awake,” Claire said in excitement mixed with relief as she stared down at me.

        “ Ms. Cooper, how are you feeling?” The doctor asked with a smile.

        “ Like I messed up my presentation,” I said letting out a defeated sigh. I really had ruined my opportunity to shine.

        “ I can't believe you're thinking about the project even in your situation!” Claire was angry at how bothered I was about the project instead of my health.

“ I'm sorry,” I apologized but I couldn't help think about the project I had worked so hard to perfect.

“ Don't worry about it, we took care of the rest,” Mrs. Smith informed. “ Doc, what did you say was wrong with her? What condition were you talking about?” Our attention switched over to the doctor.

 “ Don't worry, it's good news really,” he smiled. “ Congratulations, you're pregnant Ms. Cooper,” he announced and my eyes went wide from both shock and fear.

“ For now, I'd advise that you don't wear heels which could strain your body and don't overwork yourself. You'll be discharged soon enough since you're fine, I'll write out the vitamins and supplements for you to take, ” he said before excusing himself out.

“ What's going on here?” Mrs. Smith searched I and Claire's face for answers. I began to cry but it was anything but tears of joy.

“ You know what? I'll just be with the doctor in his office while you two talk things out,” she quickly ran outside the room leaving I and Claire alone.

“ He's going to kill me if he finds out,” I said between sobs.

“ I don't know what's going on in your relationship but it sounds like it's toxic,” she let out a sigh. “ And why would he do anything to you when it's not your fault?”

“ It technically is,” I said removing my hands from my face. “ I-I haven't exactly been taking the birth controls,” I briefed. “ I don't know what to do,”

“ Then, tell him the truth,” her words stabbed through me.

“ But...,”

“ Tell him,” Claire didn't look like she was joking one bit.

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  I watched as the phone rang, I had decided to put a call across to him once I was home. It was already past seven. This was going to be the first time I was calling him since we got married. I began to think he wouldn't pick up but then...

       “ Yes,” he answered plainly. “ I'm curious as to why you called me,” his voice came and the all the courage I had gathered to call him suddenly melted away.

     “ I-I,” I clenched my chest as I tried to free myself from the nervousness that swarmed me.

     “ I have other things to do, I don't have time to waste,” he didn't plan on waiting till I overcame my fright.

“ I... I was wondering why you haven't come home yet,” I closed my eyes and allowed my mouth and lips to let the words flow uninterrupted. I could hear him chuckle.

“ Why would you care about my whereabouts?” He continued to laugh, I could here his impatient fingers tapping against his desk.

       “ I just... Well, everyone was wondering as well,” I spontaneously lied.

  “ Just because you're married to me doesn't make you Aurelia and that simply means, I'm not in anyway obliged to tell you about my whereabouts. You talk like we're an actual couple,” his words were beyond piercing. I had had this much amount of heart break. I couldn't hold back the tears as I normally would but I tried my best not to let him know that I was crying. 

   After about twenty seconds of silence on my end, he didn't hesitate to hang up on me and all my fountains of water burst open, I couldn't contain my tears anymore. I knew deep down that I wanted us to be a normal couple like everyone else. I wanted to be loved by him no matter how wrong it was.

   How was I going to tell Kasper that I was pregnant for him? He would literally kill me! More importantly, he wouldn't want me to keep the baby. My thoughts spiralled out of control and I gripped both corners of my head in utter confusion and frustration.

“ Maybe I could convince him otherwise, after all, it is his child,” I tried comforting myself but even I knew that they were nothing but delusions. Kasper would never let me keep it.

    ‘ I can't do it, Claire. He's not going to accept it,’ I texted her.

   ‘ But do you want to keep it?’ I paused as I read her question over and over again. 

   ‘ Yes,’ I would never get rid of them just because their father didn't like me or them.

   ‘ Come over to my place, I have a cousin outside the country that can help you,’ she typed back.

   ‘ He's going to find me no matter where I go. He's that influential,’ I replied. 

   ‘ Don't worry about that, I didn't tell you before now that I too come from a wealthy home and helping you escape and live in the shadows won't be hard,’ she answered. She sent me her address afterwards.

   I grabbed a travelling bag and stuffed some clothes and money I found the drawer into my bags. With that, I carried my bag and in the safety of the shadows snuck my way out of the house and into the fierce thunderstorm that waited for me outside. I was drenched even before I got a cab but that didn't matter, I was going to give Kasper what he always truly wanted - never to see me again. 

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