I Am Pregnant

Chapter Four

***Bella's Pov***

Three weeks later, I stood on the stage at Laurent Industries, staring out at a sea of shareholders, investors, employees, reporters, and cameras.

For the first time in months, the room wasn't filled with worried faces.

Laurent Industries was back.

Blackthorn Group had fulfilled everything Adrian promised. Funding had come through, our investors had returned, shareholders had stopped selling, and the company had begun recovering under the restructuring plan. The pressure that had nearly crushed us was finally easing.

I held the microphone tighter and forced a smile.

“Three weeks ago, Laurent Industries was facing one of the hardest periods in its history,” I said. “Today, we're standing here because our shareholders, investors, employees, and partners chose to believe in this company again. I want to thank every one of you for staying with us.”

Applause filled the room.

I waited for it to settle before continuing, answering questions about the company's recovery, new investments, and the restructuring that had put us back on track. The reporters kept their cameras trained on me, and for several minutes, everything remained focused on business.

Then one reporter raised her hand.

“Mrs. Blackthorn, is it true that your marriage to Mr. Adrian Blackthorn happened because of Laurent Industries?”

My smile almost disappeared.

I steadied myself before answering. “No. Adrian and I got married because we're in love. Our marriage has nothing to do with Laurent Industries.”

A few people exchanged looks.

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

Another reporter stood. “But Blackthorn Group practically rescued Laurent Industries. The news has been everywhere. Why should we believe this isn't a contract marriage?”

My fingers tightened around the microphone.

“Because it isn't.”

“Then why did the marriage happen at the same time the company was collapsing?”

“Were you offered something in exchange for marrying him?”

“What are the terms of your marriage?”

“Is there a contract?”

“Are you sure this is really about love?”

The questions came from every direction.

My chest tightened as the room grew louder.

I had expected questions about business. I had prepared for numbers, investments, shareholders, and the company's future.

I hadn't prepared to stand there and lie about the one thing I couldn't explain.

My marriage.

I swallowed and forced myself to remain composed, but the pressure kept building until I couldn't take it anymore.

“I didn't sign any contract!” I shouted. “Adrian and I are married because we love each other!”

The room went silent.

Not a single reporter spoke.

Then a sharp pain throbbed through my head.

I pressed a hand against my temple.

What was happening?

The pain came again, stronger this time. My vision blurred, and heat rushed through my body. I tried to steady myself, but my legs began to shake beneath me.

Someone called my name.

I blinked rapidly, trying to focus.

The stage tilted.

I reached for something to hold, but my strength disappeared before I could.

I fell.

Chaos erupted around me.

“What happened?”

“Get her up!”

“Call an ambulance!”

My eyes were barely open as security guards rushed toward me. I felt hands lift me from the floor while voices shouted over one another.

“Mrs. Blackthorn!”

“Where's the ambulance?”

My eyelids grew heavier.

The last thing I saw was one of the guards leaning over me.

Then everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, white filled my vision.

My head was still pounding, but I forced myself up slightly and looked around.

White walls. White sheets. Medical equipment.

A hospital.

Before I could figure out how I had gotten there, the door opened and a doctor walked in with a smile.

“Mrs. Blackthorn, I can see you're awake.”

I nodded slowly. “Doctor, what happened to me? How did I end up here?”

“You collapsed during the Laurent Industries event. Your security team rushed you here by ambulance. After running some tests, we determined that you passed out from excessive stress.”

I exhaled. “Okay. But I'm fine now, right?”

“Yes, you're fine,” he said, then paused, holding my gaze for a moment. “But there's something else. Did you know you were pregnant?”

My entire body froze. “Pregnant?”

“You're approximately three weeks pregnant. We discovered it during your tests.”

My mouth fell open.

“What are you saying?”

He picked up the test results and handed them to me.

I stared down at the paper.

The words blurred for a second before becoming painfully clear.

Pregnant.

Three weeks.

I looked from the results to the doctor, but no words came.

He smiled. “Congratulations, Mrs. Blackthorn.”

I barely managed to nod. “Yeah. Thank you.”

“You need to rest. You can probably go home later today or tomorrow, depending on how you feel. We'll also give you some recommended medication before you leave. Please take your health seriously from now on. You don't need any more stress.”

I forced a small smile. “Yeah, I know.”

The doctor nodded before leaving.

The moment the door closed, I scoffed softly. “Pregnant?”

I stared at the results again. “No. That can't be.”

I remembered taking protective pills after I had sex with Adrian.

How could I still be pregnant?

“No.” I shook my head and pressed my fingers against my aching temple.

“Just when I thought everything was finally going back to normal.”

My eyes burned.

“This isn't supposed to happen. How am I pregnant?”

The door opened again.

I expected the doctor. Instead, Adrian walked in.

His usual cold aura followed him into the room.

“I heard you collapsed at the Laurent Industries event,” he said. “I saw it on the news and came to check if you were okay.”

I looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.

He noticed. Then, his gaze dropped to the paper resting on my lap.

He picked it up.

His eyes moved across the results before stopping.

Three weeks pregnant.

His expression changed and looked at me.

“What's this?”

I slowly turned back to him, then lowered my eyes to the result. My heart pounded. “Exactly what you see.”