Chapter 7

Aria POV

“She needs to be careful or else she might lose the baby”

“What did you just say”Vanessa sharp cut through my haziness “baby”

I heard the nurse tell my best friend Vanessa as I opened my eyes. White walls. The sharp smell of antiseptic. An IV needle taped to the back of my hand.

Matthew sat on the couch across the room.

I groaned as I tried to sit up. “Vanessa.”

“Aria, what did the nurse just say? That you’re pregnant?” She looked shocked.

I just stared at her. I didn’t know what to say.

“Why didn’t you tell me you’re pregnant? What are we friends for?” she asked.

“I didn’t want Matthew to know about my privacy,” I said to her in a low voice.

“Should I tell you something, Aria? Everybody in our friend group knows you’re married to Julian, including Matthew. I guess you’re the only one who doesn’t know.”

I was shocked to hear her say that.

Matthew looked uncomfortable. “Vanessa—”

“Please, Matthew, excuse us,” I told him. He left the room.

“What’s wrong with you?” Vanessa asked as tears dropped from my eyes.

“I don’t know.”

She hugged me and calmed me down. After I was done crying, she let me go.

“Now, Aria, explain everything to me,” she said. “Have you told Julian about this pregnancy?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Why?”

“You see, I’m just scared to tell him. I don’t know what his reaction might be. And the contract forbids pregnancy,” I said.

“So how did you get pregnant?”

“It wasn’t planned. I was going to tell him, but I felt disappointed by how he sees children as a distraction. When we went to his parents’ house for dinner, his mother was talking about us giving her grandchildren, but Julian said he’s not ready, that children are a distraction. All he cares about is expanding his company.”

“But he still has to know you’re carrying his child,” Vanessa said. “And tell me why he left you in the middle of the night.”

“I saw Selene’s scarf in his car. I just told him to stop, that I needed some air.”

“And he left you there?”

“Yes.”

“You see, you have to leave that marriage,” she said.

“I love him,” I said.

“Don’t tell me you love him. For four years, you’ve sacrificed your life and everything for someone who doesn’t love you.”

“I know, but—”

She cut in. “But what? Huh? Aria, but what? Tell me. You see, he doesn’t deserve you, and you have a life of your own. You still have a long way to go, my dear.”

After some time, the doctor came in.

“Mrs. Cross, you’re okay now, but make sure you take care of yourself and you need to rest,” the doctor advised.

“She will, doctor,” Vanessa answered.

Then Matthew came in and helped pack my things.

As we were going down the hospital hallway, I heard Julian’s voice. For a moment, I thought he was worried, looking for me. But then I heard Selene’s voice too.

“Look who we have here,” Vanessa said.

Julian turned. His eyes found mine first—something flickered in them, his lips parted like he was about to speak. Then his gaze shifted to Matthew standing beside me, and his entire face hardened. His jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

Selene gasped dramatically. “I had a cut last night, but Julian was so sweet to come to my rescue.” She moved closer to Julian, touching his arm possessively.

Vanessa sneered. “What a dumb mannequin homewrecker, seeing herself as human.”

“Wha—”

“What are you doing here?” Julian cut in before Selene could finish, his eyes still on Matthew.

Before I could answer, Vanessa spoke up.

“And why do you want to know why she’s here?” she asked him.

“Aria, I would like you to tell your friend to watch her words.” I tapped Vanessa to calm down, but she ignored me.

“Leave me alone,” she scolded me. “You left your wife in the middle of the night in cold weather, and you’re here asking stupid questions.”

“Watch your tongue,” Julian warned Vanessa.

“Stop, Vanessa,” I begged her.

“Don’t tell her to stop. I love watching her poke her nose into other people’s business,” Selene said.

Vanessa snapped back. “And look at you, sleeping with your sister’s husband. Shame on you.” She faced Julian. “Does your board know you have a mistress?”

“Don’t disrespect me or Selene like that!” Julian shouted. Everywhere went silent.

Selene’s eyes widened, and she grabbed Julian’s arm. “Julian, please, I’m the victim here. She’s attacking me for no reason. All I did was call you when I needed help—”

“Victim?” Vanessa laughed sharply. “Yes you’re the problem. Imagine calling someone’s husband at midnight just because of a convenient little cut?”

Vanessa turned back to Julian. “Look at you, siding with your mistress while your wife is here sick. Shame on you, Julian.”

For a moment, I saw something in Julian’s face—his eyes moved back to me, really looked at me this time. His expression cracked, just slightly. Guilt, maybe regret. His hand lifted an inch, like he might reach for me.

Then Selene tightened her grip on his arm, and the moment was gone. His face went cold again.

My throat burned. I almost said it. I’m carrying your child. The words were right there, ready to explode out of me.

But I swallowed them down.

“Vanessa, let’s go.”

I grabbed Vanessa and pulled her toward the elevator.

A nurse at the station whispered to her colleague, both of them staring.

“Oh my God, you should’ve let me deal with them,” Vanessa said.

“Vanessa, you need to calm down,” Matthew said quietly.

“Calm down? We can’t be calm forever. We need to handle some problems with force,” she said. “I won’t watch Aria destroy her life.”

I wrapped my arms around my chest. I was so exhausted and tired.

“You’re staying at my place,” Vanessa said.

As Matthew drove us to Vanessa’s apartment, I was just thinking about how my husband, Julian, cares for and pampers some other woman while I’m here carrying his child.