CHAPTER FIVE : Unexpected News

Anne’s POV

"Positive."

My entire body jolted in disbelief as the word glared back at me from the little screen of the pregnancy test. Pregnant? I was pregnant?

“No way,” I said in a shaky voice.

How did this happen? My legs began weak and I slowly fell to the floor. My mind was filled with a lot of thoughts. I began to blame myself for being careless and stupid for letting something like this happen to me. Suddenly I heard a knock on the door in the bathroom.

“Ann-Ann, are you in there? I heard noises,” I could hear Kiama’s voice from outside the door.

I didn’t say a word but soon again I heard a voice, different from Kiama’s.

“What’s up girl? Are you good there?” Gemma’s voice resounded.

My heart was still racing as I returned the pregnancy test into the box and opened the bathroom door.

"No, I'm great," I replied. I just came to use the restroom."

Kiama's eyes widened as she glanced at me, definitely detecting a problem.

"Are you certain? You appear to have encountered a ghost."

I attempted a grin, hoping to dismiss her anxiety. I'm simply exhausted, that's all.

"The day was extremely long."

Although she didn't appear completely convinced, she set the matter aside for a while.

“If you say so, OK. But don't you realize that you can communicate with me? With us?”

With a constricted throat, I nodded. I am aware, Kiama. Thanks."

Making my way back to the living area, my heart began to pound faster than normal. Dread and confusion washed through me as I tried to keep a straight face so my friends wouldn't find out what was wrong.

Kiama and the girls joined me on the sofa, casting me questioning glances.

"Anne, what the heck is going on? You're acting quite oddly," Daisy asked.

I took a long breath and twitched my fingers tensely in my lap.

"There is something I must confess to you, ladies. Something I just learned myself," I said.

They leaned in closer, their looks becoming more anxious.

"What exactly is it?" "You're beginning to worry us."

I paused for a time, wondering how to express myself.

"Ladies, I...I'm pregnant."

Their eyes widened, and there was stillness for a time as the weight of my words fell between us. Kiama's expression relaxed and she reached out to squeeze my hand softly.

“Anne, that's a lot to take in," Kiama replied, her voice surprised and concerned.

Gemma and Daisy exchanged glances before returning their gaze to me, their emotions a mixture of surprise and interest.

"Pregnant?" Gemma yelled. "You can't be serious?"

I nodded slowly, a knot in my throat developing.

"Yeah, I took a pregnancy test... and... it's positive."

Daisy released a low whistle.

"Wait a minute. That's... unusual."

Kiama leaned forward, her face showing signs of worry.

“How do you feel, Anne, about all of this? Do you feel okay?”

I forced a firm swallow since my feelings were still in disarray.

“Sincerely, I'm not sure. I'm in an emotional state of unbelief and it feels as if I'm in a state of intoxication,” I replied.

“Hey babe, you should know one thing, which is, we are your girls, your sisters and we’ll be here for you and with you all step of the way. You are never alone; you’ve got us,” Gemma said, her eyes softening.

I held my girls by the hands as tears began to gather in my eyes.

“I’m so grateful I have you as my friends,” I said.

My friends wrapped me in a cozy hug as their encouragement covered me like a calming balm. In their hug, I experienced safety and reassurance. Kiama held me at arm's length while anxiously examining my face.

“Will you inform the father, then?” Her eyes were on mine as she kindly questioned.

Her question carried weighty meanings and hovered in the air. How would I deal with the stranger; the person who had permanently altered my life? I inhaled deeply, brushed away a stray tear, and then looked down at my hands, which were anxiously interweaving.

“That's the challenging part,” I acknowledged, my voice quivering a little.

“I must inform him, but I'm unsure about his response. I don’t even know who he is. I don’t know the kind of person he is,” I said, breaking down into tears.

“Don’t worry; we’ll help,” Daisy said and I smiled at her.

Days passed and Daisy and the girls returned with information about who the stranger responsible for my pregnancy was. I was dumbfounded when I found out. It was none other than Lucian Hawthorne, the city’s most famous young billionaire CEO. I can’t believe a billionaire was the father of my child.

Daisy and the girls were stunned as well.

“Damn girl, you hit the jackpot. Now, you’ve got to tell him,” Gemma said.

I knew I had to let the father know. I was a working woman but my salary was definitely not enough to cater for myself or the unborn child when it’s born. The day finally came for me to go to his house to tell him. Kiama drove me and the girls there but I walked towards the mansion on my own. I knocked on the door and the butler asked me who I was looking for. I let him know I was looking for Lucian and he excused himself. He closed the door and returned, asking me in.

I walked in and saw Lucian at the dining table. Without looking at me, he asked,

“Why are you looking for me?”

“I have something to discuss with you,” I said, my voice trembling.

He looked up at me, raising his brow, urging me to speak.

I spoke the words, "I'm carrying your child," with the feeling that they were a weighty secret.

His countenance briefly flashed with astonishment before being instantly replaced by an expression of indifference. My heart sunk as his lips curved into a contemptuous smirk