I'm pregnant!

Sandra's Pov

THREE WEEKS LATER

I stared at the pregnancy test in my trembling hands, watching the second line darken with a finality that made my knees buckle.

"No. No, no, no."

I sank to the bathroom floor, back against cold tile, and pressed my palms against my eyes until I saw stars.

We'd been careful. He'd used protection, I'd taken the pill. Two-factor authentication, he'd called it while laughing.

But there it was. Undeniable and irreversible.

The deadly double lines that announced that I was pregnant.

And he was halfway across the world, unreachable, building the future we were supposed to share.

My hands moved to my stomach instinctively as panic clawed at my chest.

What was I supposed to do?

I couldn't tell my father. He'd lose his mind, or worse, he'd find a way to use this against Zadok and ruin him before he even had a chance to claim the child. 

And I couldn't tell Zadok either. Not yet. He didn't need the distraction when he was just starting out. This news could derail everything.

So I sat on the bathroom floor, alone and terrified, with a secret that felt like it was tearing me apart.

And for the first time since he left, two years felt completely impossible.

……………

I hadn't slept in days.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those two pink lines that rewrote my entire life in thirty seconds. I had tried reaching Zadok four times this week but the calls went straight to voicemail and my emails sat unread.

The time difference made everything worse. When I was awake and panicking, he was asleep and when I finally worked up the courage to try again, he was in meetings.

I told myself it was fine. I would tell him eventually. I just needed to find the right moment.

But the right moment never came.

Sitting across from Maya in a quiet café, I realized I couldn't carry this alone anymore.

"You looked terrible," she said bluntly, sipping her latte.

"Thanks."

She leaned forward, expression softening. "Sandra, what's going on?"

I hesitated, fingers wrapped around untouched tea. Maya had been my friend since childhood. If there was anyone I could trust, it was her.

"I'm pregnant," I whispered.

Her eyes went wide. "What?"

"I'm pregnant," I repeated louder, and saying it out loud made it feel even more real.

She stared at me, expression shifting from shock, to concern and then finally something I couldn't quite read. "Does Zadok know?"

"I can't reach him. I've tried everything, Maya. Calls, emails, messages… nothing. And my father..." My voice cracked. "God, my father would kill me if he finds out and..."

"He wouldn't," she said quickly, reaching across the table to grab my hand. "We would figure this out. I promise you."

"How?" Tears blurred my vision. "Zadok is gone and you know daddy hates him. And if I tell anyone else, it would get back to him within hours. You know how this city works."

Maya squeezed my hand even tighter. "Then we will keep it quiet. Just until you reach Zadok. He is eventually going to come back, Sandra. You know he would."

I wanted to believe her. But a small terrified part of me wondered if he would see this as a trap, something that ruined everything he'd worked for.

"Are you even sure? The test might be wrong."

"I tried four different ones." The tears flowed freely now. "How about that?"

I watched her battle with her own confused mind. "I would help you reach him," Maya said firmly. "We would find a way. I promise."

I nodded, tears burning. "Thank you."

She smiled, warm and reassuring, and for a moment I felt like maybe I wasn't completely alone.

……..

The knock on my door jolted me out of my restless half-sleep.

I wasn't expecting anyone and the thought of facing another human being made my stomach turn. I was constantly nauseous and very edgy of late. 

But the knocking persisted so I dragged myself to the door.

Dorian Carrington stood on my doorstep, perfectly dressed, smiling like he hadn't just shown up unannounced at eight in the morning.

"Good morning, Mi Lady."

I stared, too tired to mask my irritation. "I have told you to stop calling me that.”

“But I can't, Mi Lady.”

“What do you want, Dorian?"

"To see you." He stepped inside without permission, eyes sweeping over my apartment like he was cataloging every detail. "We need to talk."

"About what?"

He turned to face me stretching out to arrange my hair but I docked. "About us."

I almost laughed. "There is no 'us,' Dorian."

"You say that, but I don't think you mean it."

"I do mean it." My voice sharpened. " and I'm not interested in whatever you think this is."

His jaw tightened slightly. "You mean the man who's oceans away chasing a dream that may never pan out? I'm here, Sandra. I can give you staWith every fiber of my being. I'm with Zadok. I love himbility, security and a future that doesn't depend on hope."

"Thanks but no thanks. I don't want your future."

"Then what do you want?" Frustration bled through his tone. "To waste your life waiting for someone who may never come back? To live in this apartment when you could have so much more?"

"Get out."

“Sandra…” Before he could argue further, another voice cut through the room.

"She said you should leave."

I turned around, blood running cold.

My father stood in the doorway, his presence filling the space like a storm cloud. Dorian straightened immediately, expression shifting to calculated politeness.

"Lord Whitmore. I didn't realize you'd be here."

"Clearly." My father's eyes moved from Dorian to me, cold and assessing. "Who is this, Sandra?"

"Dorian Carrington, sir." Dorian extended his hand. "A friend of your daughter's."

My father didn't shake it. "And what are you doing here at eight in the morning?"

"I came to discuss an opportunity with Sandra. A potential partnership."

"Partnership?” My father's tone shifted slightly, interest flickering.

"Yes, sir. I believe Sandra and I could build something meaningful together."

I wanted to scream. "Dorian is just leaving."

"Was I?" Dorian grinned.

"Yes," I said firmly.

My father stepped deeper into the room, presence suffocating. "Mr. Carrington, what is it you do?"

Dorian's expression brightened. "I run a tech startup, sir. We've been growing steadily, projections show significant expansion over the next five years."

My father looked interested. "Impressive."

"Thank you, sir."

"And you're interested in my daughter?"

"Very much so."

The walls began closing in. "Dad, I've told him I'm not interested."

My father ignored me. "Mr. Carrington, would you join me for breakfast? Maybe we could start all over. I'd like to hear more about this startup of yours."

"No," I said desperately. "Dad, he's leaving."

"I'd be honored, sir."

My father's gaze turned to me, sharp and cold. "He's staying. And you will join us."

"I won't."

"You will." His voice dropped dangerously low. "Or we can discuss your recent decisions right here, in front of Mr. Carrington."

My heart stopped. "Decisions?"

"You don't want me to go on, young lady. You have a lot of explaining to do and you would rather not have it in front of a visitor."

My blood ran cold. Was he on to me? Did he know my secret? The sternness in his eyes terrified me. I swallowed hard, hands trembling. "Fine."

My father smiled, satisfied. "Excellent. Shall we?"

Dorian followed him out, leaving me standing alone, chest tight with panic.

My dad was acting too suspicious. He wouldn't appear at my door that early in the morning except he had a job for me or I was in trouble.  

Which one it was, I had no Idea.

And God I pray… I pray it had nothing to do with the pregnancy.