A Positive Test

Chapter 4: A Positive Test

Noah was on his knees on the floor, dipping his yellow sponge into the soapy bucket. 

His back was already aching him, and his hands were getting sore.

The front door automatically opened, and a tall woman in a designer gown walked straight into the foyer, completely ignoring the two security guards behind her.

Noah pulled his hands back from the bucket, watching in disbelief as her heel prints ruined the floor he had just spent three hours wiping.

The woman stopped right in front of his bucket, looking down at his soapy hands and dirty robe with utter disgust. "Where is Gabriel?"

Noah stayed on his knees, his jaw tightening as he held his rag. "He is upstairs in his study. You need to let the butler announce you first."

"Announce me?" she sneered, her eyes flashing with anger. "Do you have any idea who I am, you little servant?!!"

"I am not a servant," Noah said clearly, looking straight up into her eyes. "And I think Mr. Cole does not like it when people barge into his house."

"How dare you speak to me in such a manner?!" she screamed, raising her right hand to slap him across the face.

Noah braced himself for the slap, but a larger hand reached out from the side, catching her wrist mid-air with a strong grip.

"Do not touch him, Sophia," Gabriel’s thundering voice echoed.

Gabriel stood beside them, his eyes fixed on her with a terrifying gaze as he squeezed her wrist until she winced. "I gave strict orders to my security team to keep you outside the main door."

"Your guards cannot stop me, Gabriel!" Sophia cried out, twisting her arm trying to pull free. "You are hurting my arm! Let go of me!"

Gabriel shoved her arm back with full force, stepping directly between her and Noah. "If you ever raise a hand toward him again, I will ruin your family firm within a second thought."

Noah looked up from the floor, surprised by the sudden protection from Gabriel.

Sophia gritted her teeth, smoothing her dress as her chest heaved with rage. "Defend your dirty house boy all you want! But you cannot ignore the reason I came here today!"

Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest, his face completely unbothered by her dramatic outburst. "Say whatever you came to say and get out of my house."

Sophia reached into her handbag, pulled out a white envelope, and slapped it against Gabriel's chest. "Read it yourself!"

Gabriel caught the envelope, unsealed the paper flap, and pulled out a printed lab sheet. His face remained completely blank as his eyes scanned the printed medical lines.

"What is this?" Gabriel asked softly.

"Those are my official pregnancy results from this morning," Sophia announced proudly, taking a step closer with a smug smile. "I am pregnant, Gabriel. And the child is yours."

Noah felt his chest tighten as he stared at the paper in Gabriel's hand. A strange knot tying itself in his stomach.

Gabriel folded the papers, placed them back inside the envelope, and looked down at her without blinking. "We ended our fling months ago, Sophia."

"Two months ago in Paris, I remembered!" Sophia countered instantly, folding her arms over her chest. "The timeline matches perfectly! I am carrying the Cole family heir!"

Gabriel turned his head toward the side hallway where the butler was standing quietly. "Butler, call Dr. Harrison. Tell him to come do a pregnancy test on someone in my compound immediately."

"Call whoever you want!" Sophia laughed mockingly, tossing her head back. "I have nothing to hide from your doctor!"

"If Dr. Harrison confirms this report, you will stay in the guest wing until we figure out our next move," 

Gabriel said coldly, turning his back on her. "If you are lying to me, my security team will drag you out of here in handcuffs."

"I am not lying!" Sophia shouted after him as Gabriel walked toward the staircase.

Gabriel stopped at the bottom step and looked down at Noah, who was still holding his wet sponge on the floor. "Noah, put those supplies away. Go up to the bedroom and wait for me."

Noah stood up on his sore legs, picked up his bucket, and walked up the staircase without looking back at Sophia. 

He entered the master bedroom, set the cleaning bucket near the door, and lay down on the edge of the large bed.

He was so tired that he couldn't even take his bath, yet his mind was spinning in complete chaos. 

First his uncle betrayed him, then Gabriel forced him into this contract, and now another woman was carrying Gabriel's child.

******

An hour later, footsteps sounded in the hallway outside. Dr. Harrison, an elderly man carrying a medical case, walked past the bedroom door, accompanied by Gabriel and two security guards heading straight into the guest wing.

Noah gently stood up from the bed, stepping softly to the doorframe to watch them enter the guest room.

Thirty long minutes passed in complete, agonizing silence. Noah paced back and forth near the door, he didn't even know how he suddenly got less tired.

He could hear low mumbling voices from the room. Finally, the guest room door opened. 

Dr. Harrison stepped out into the corridor, pulling off his rubber gloves and packing them into his bag. Gabriel stood beside him, his hands tucked deep into his pockets.

"What's going on, Doctor?" Gabriel asked.

Dr. Harrison adjusted his glasses and looked up at Gabriel with a serious expression on his face. "I ran the full blood work myself, Mr. Cole."

Gabriel did not blink or move a single muscle. "Is she telling the truth?"

"The lab reports are completely accurate," Dr. Harrison confirmed clearly, his voice carrying down the hallway right to Noah's ears. "Miss Laurent is eight weeks pregnant. The results are real, and she is genuinely pregnant."

Noah froze by his bedroom doorframe. Gabriel stood motionless in the hallway, staring down at the floor as Dr. Harrison closed his medical bag and bowed his head.

"I will write up the formal prenatal report and send it to your office tomorrow morning," Dr. Harrison added, picking up his case. "She needs rest and proper nutrition for the time being."

"Thank you, Doctor," Gabriel said quietly. "My driver will take you back to the clinic."

The doctor walked down the hall toward the staircase, accompanied by one of the security guards. Gabriel remained standing outside the guest room door, his broad shoulders stiff under his suit.

Inside the guest wing, Sophia’s loud, triumphant laughter echoed out into the corridor.

Gabriel turned around slowly and walked down the hallway toward the master suite. He stopped right in front of the open bedroom door, his eyes locking onto Noah, who was still standing frozen by the frame.

Noah stared back at him, his chest heavy with a bitter emotion he could not even name.

"Were you ears dropping?" Gabriel asked, his voice flat and his face unreadable as he stepped into the bedroom.

"Yes," Noah whispered, taking a small step back from him. "Is she carrying your child?"

Gabriel looked down at Noah's sore hands, then at his pale face, but said nothing.

He just pulled him inside with him and closed the bedroom door behind them.