WHAT!

Adrain’s POV

“You!” I exclaimed.

“You two know each other?” Cassandra asked.

“Yeah,” Julian nonchalantly replied. “We met at a bar.”

I clenched my jaw, desperately praying he stops talking.

“I had no idea you go to bars.” My mother chided.

“I-“ just then the sound of my phone buzzing dragged me out of the memory lane.

I opened my phone and it was my mother spamming me photos. Wedding venues. Grand ballrooms. Private estates. Beachfront properties. She had also sent tuxedo designs of three designers. She had been extra naggy after that awkward dinner at Cassandra’s six weeks ago.

"Pick one," she had texted. "We need to confirm bookings."

The wedding was in a few weeks.

Everything was going too quick.

I browsed another image of a white marble hall with crystal chandeliers. I could visualize myself standing there with Cassandra and the flashing cameras and investors gawking and the headlines telling the world about the merging of two strong families.

I felt nothing.

My stomach twisted suddenly.

I rubbed my fingers on my temple and bent back in my chair. The headache was there since the morning but now it was worse. I suddenly felt a wave of nausea.

"Not now," I muttered.

I stood up carefully. The room tilted slightly.

I put my phone on the desk and used the edge to support myself . Maybe I hadn't eaten enough. Maybe it was stress.

I chose to lie in my small bedroom which was attached to my office. I had it installed several years ago in the case of late nights and emergencies.

As I was about to go up to it the door opened.

Lucas entered with a paper bag in his hand.

“I have come with offerings of peace,” he said, holding up a paper bag with food in it.

I didn't answer immediately.

He gazed at me in a rightful manner and frownted. "You look terrible."

"Thank you," I said dryly.

"I brought food. Real food. We're eating together." He placed the bag on my desk and started unloading containers.

The smell hit me instantly.

It was plain simple grilled chicken and fried rice, yet the aroma was exhausting.

My stomach turned violently.

Lucas paused. "What's wrong?"

"I--" I didn't finish the sentence as I could feel comot climbing up my throat.

I barely got to the toilet when I began throwing up.

My body felt weak. I struggled to keep myself steady and my hands shook against the sink.

Lucas was at my back in a few seconds. "Adrian?"

"I'm fine," I managed.

"You are not fine."

I rinsed my mouth, and attempted to get on my feet, but the dizziness returned with more force. The room spun. The lights felt too bright.

"Lucas..." I said, but my voice was far away, even to my ears.

He grabbed my arm. "Sit down."

"I just need--"

The remainder of my sentence faded away.

Everything went blurry.

The final image I had was when Lucas called my name.

Then darkness.

On regaining consciousness, I saw a strange ceiling overhead.

White. Bright. Hospital bright.

I blinked slowly.

One of the nurses sat by the bedside and was looking at a monitor.

"You're awake," she said gently.

I attempted to raise myself, and my body was heavy. "What happened?"

"You fainted at your office. Dr Benett brought you here."

Lucas.

I swallowed. My throat felt dry. "How long was I out?"

"Several hours."

I looked around the room. "Where is he?"

"He's in his office," she said. " said to inform him once you wake.”

Of course he had.

She monitored my pulse and corrected my IV in my arm.

“Your vitals are now stable,” she went on. “I will inform Dr. Benett that you are awake.”

When she left I looked at the ceiling once more, and endeavored to reason rationally.

Fainting wasn't normal for me. I worked long hours. I handled pressure. I didn't collapse.

The door was opened again a few moments later.

Lucas walked in.

He looked pale.

Not just concerned.

Pale.

He shut the door behind him, and stood still a second without saying anything.

"What happened?" I asked.

He didn't answer immediately. He instead walked near the bed and looked at me as though he was evaluating something.

“When did you last have sex?” he asked.

I stared at him. "What?"

"Answer me."

"That's none of your business." I said curtly.

"It is now."

I frowned. "Why are you asking me that?"

“When was the last time you had sex!?”he asked sternly.

His voice gave me a tight feeling in my stomach.

I looked away. "About six weeks ago."

"With who?" He asked.

"That's irrelevant."

"Adrian." He was growing impatient.

I sighed in frustration. "A one-night stand, with a man."

Lucas didn't react. "Protection?"

I hesitated.

He noticed.

"Adrian."

"No," I admitted. "I was drunk."

He closed his eyes briefly. There was a slight change in his face. Silence filled the room.

Lucas dragged a chair near him and sat down, slowly. He stroked his face as though he was attempting to think of something.

“Why do you ask these questions?” I asked him.

He glanced at me a second time, I could sense the fear in his eyes.

He started to speak very carefully: "We ran several tests.

"For what? Food poisoning?"

"No." He said, shaking his head.

"Then what?"

He hesitated.

“You are pregnant.”