Illicit Cravings

THE PREGNANCY

Mia glanced up at the doctor and forced a smile at her. “Everything is fine, Mrs. Owen. I'm just so happy to hear that I'm pregnant after three years of marriage.“

For three years, Javier and her has been tryna to have a baby but all to no avail. Several fertility tests has been carried out on both of them and the doctors confirmed that they are medically fit.

Six months ago, Mia decided to take her mind off it. She believes she would get pregnant when the time is right but she has never thought that her brother-in-law would be the father of her child.

Mrs. Owen nodded, smiling. “Congratulations once again.“

“Thank you,” she says.

Mia stood and walked out of the heavily suffocating office, her steps slowed—she was making sure she doesn't stumble to the floor since her legs were trembling so much.

The moment the door shut close behind her, she lean again the cold, crystal wall and let out a long, exasperated sigh, tears welling up in her eyes.

She is so DOOMED.

What would she tell Javier when he comes back tomorrow. Javier had called yesterday to tell her he would be arriving tomorrow, although Mia didn't look forward to it, because he might stand her up as usual.

A single tear slid down her cheeks but she quickly wiped it off with the back of her hand. This is no time for weakness or to wallow in self pity. She needs to think of a way out of this. Fast.

But one thing was definite, she's keeping this baby. This baby has done nothing wrong. She would love them. Cherish them.

At the end of the hallway, she caught sight of Jayden approaching her, so she quickly steadied herself, hide the paper away in her bag and masked her expression. She can't let him know about this. Not yet. Not until she figured out a way to savage the situation.

“Hey,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers. Like she was the only thing he could see in the entire hospital building.

“Hi,” she replied, managing a small smile.

“What did the test say?“ He asked.

“Well……,” she trailed off, her mind searching for an excuse. Just anything to say. “She said I had malaria,” she lied with a straight face. “Yes, malaria. And that I just needed to take a rest.“

Jayden's eyes narrowed. He knows her like the way he knows the back of his hand, and so he knows she was definitely hiding something.

“Are you sure?“

“Yes.“ She smiled.

The silence lingered for a while, before he finally nodded. “Alright. Make sure to take a rest. I will sleep over tonight to take care of baby girl.“

Asides from the s*x, Jayden had offered her emotional support. He cares for her, cooked for her and let her know that he's in love with her and this isn't just about the s*x anymore.

“Don't bother,” she says, shaking her head slightly. “I will be fine.“

He hesitated, but nodded. “O—kay.“

“I will go ahead,” she says.

Without waiting for him to respond, she walked past him and disappeared from the hallway.

Jayden's mouth hung open slightly as he watched her leave. She's definitely acting strange.

He turned to leave but something inside him snapped and without a word, he twisted the doorknob open.

“Mrs. Owen,” he called, stepping into the office.

“Yes, Director,” Mrs. Owen answered politely, standing up.

“What's the results of Mia's test?“ He asked, his voice hard and brooking no room for argument.

Mrs. Owen didn't respond immediately. She isn't supposed to share her patients medical information with anyone. But Jayden isn't just anyone; he's her boss. The one who determines her employment. And from the way Jayden stares at her coldly, she knew she had no choice.

“Mrs. Everton is six weeks pregnant,” she said quietly.

“What?“ He snapped, clenching his fists.

He knows without being told that the baby belongs to him, hence the reason why she hid it from him.

Then he smirked devilishly, rage coursing through him.

Without another word, he stormed out of the office, into the elevator and down to the parking lot.

In the parking lot, he caught sight of Mia's chauffeur making a U-turn and he quickly stepped into their path.

Mia shrieked with fear as the chauffeur pressed on the pedal suddenly. She raised her head to reprimand him. “What the—?“ The words caught in her throat when she saw Jayden through the tinted glass.

Of course she could already tell from his clenched fists, and hard gaze that he already knows about her pregnancy, but she's determined to never admit that the baby is his.

She breathe in and out, steadying herself and stepped out of the car gracefully.

“What the hell are you doing?“ She snapped.

“Why didn't you tell me you're pregnant?“ Jayden asked, voice sharp enough to cut through steel. “Is the baby mine?“

Mia's breath caught. Her eyes darted around the lot. Luckily it was empty, although she was still worried if the chauffeur heard or not.

But Jayden doesn't care if someone hears him or not. All he wanted were answers.

“Come with me.“ Mia grabbed his wrist tightly and led him to a close arena.

Jayden yanked his wrist free, seething. “That baby is mine, right?“

“No,” Mia snapped. “The baby belongs to my husband. I have always use pills every time we have s*x, so it's not yours.“

Jayden looked at her for a long moment. Her expression gave nothing away but he knows deep down inside him that the baby belongs to him.

He didn't bother arguing with her, instead he stepped closer to her. “Not mine, huh?“

She nodded. “Yes.“

He nodded and smirked. “If I ever find out,” he whispered, his voice low but chilling, “that this baby is mine, you would have yourself to blame Mia.“

Mia's heart pounded but she didn't say a word. Just her fingers squeezing her dress like paper.

Then he pressed his lips together, brush a strand of hair from her face and pressed his lips to her forehead. “You should go rest, sister-in-law. I'll get back to work.“

With that, he walked away.

Mia released a breath she didn't realise she was holding, clutching the wall for support.

Jayden can never finds out he's the father of her child.

As long as she's concerned, the baby belonged to Javier.

The truth would stay buried with her.

And she would make sure to do everything to cut all ties with Jayden.

________

Since yesterday, Mia hadn't known peace. She kept pacing the floor. And now, Javier is back, taking his shower after their usual boring s*x. She wants to tell him about the pregnancy, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

“Hey, kitten,” he called, voice smooth as silk.

She stopped pacing and turned towards him. She opened her mouth several times but no words came. She had to tell him now before she goes crazy.

She closed the distance between them, and reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “I have something to share with you,” she says, her voice laced with forced happiness.

“What?“ Javier smiled, his eyes never leaving hers.

She swallowed hard. “I'm pregnant!“

The smile vanished from Javier's face as the words settled in, slowly. Just two words but it was sharp enough to pierce through his heart.

He yanked his hand free from her. “How can you be pregnant?“ He asked, his voice laced with disbelief. Like being pregnant was an abomination.

Mia's body trembled in fear but she quickly masked it and reached for the paper—which she had believed that he would be too excited about the pregnancy news to notice that the duration do not tally. “Look. The doctor confirmed it.“

Javier snatched the paper and ripped it angrily. He pushed her against the wall and wrapped his hands around her neck. Tightly. Veins pulsing in his arms. “Have you been f*****g around?“

Her lungs screamed for air. Her vision blurred. This wasn’t the cold, distant Javier she’d tolerated. This was someone else. A stranger. A threat.. Her weak hands reached out, tapping him lightly but he didn't budge. “No……” she shook her head.

He groaned, “So how can you be f*****g pregnant, when I have a very low sperm count.“