THE SCORNED WIFE'S SECRET BABY

Chapter four

The next morning, Camille lay motionless in the hospital bed, her body aching, her mind restless. Pain pulsed through her, but it was nothing compared to the storm of anxiety tearing through her thoughts.

The doctor’s words still echoed in her mind: “You’re pregnant.”

Pregnant. She had replayed the moment a hundred times already, but it still felt surreal. Her hand instinctively rested on her stomach, as if the gesture could somehow ground her in this new reality.

The door creaked open, and Camille stiffened. Sydney stepped inside, her phone in hand, her expression a mix of concern and relief.

"Hey," Sydney said softly, pulling up a chair beside the bed. "How are you feeling? Did the doctor say anything? You looked so shaken earlier."

Camille’s throat tightened. She had to tell her, there was no escaping it now. The secret burned inside her, and she knew Sydney would find out eventually. It’s better to rip off the Band-Aid than let it fester.

She took a shaky breath, her hands trembling against the blanket. "Syd, I need to tell you something," she said, her voice raw and uneven.

Sydney’s brow furrowed, her concern deepening. "What is it? Cam, you’re scaring me."

Camille hesitated, her pulse hammering in her ears. But there was no going back. She gripped the edge of the blanket, as though holding onto it could steady her.

"I’m…" She faltered, the word catching in her throat. "I’m pregnant."

The room fell silent. Sydney blinked, the words clearly not registering at first. "You’re… what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Camille nodded, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I’m pregnant, Syd. The doctor confirmed it this morning."

Sydney’s mouth fell open as the reality hit her like a punch to the gut. She sat back in the chair, her gaze darting from Camille’s face to her stomach and back again. "Oh my God," she breathed, her voice laced with shock.

The silence that followed felt suffocating. Camille couldn’t tell if Sydney was about to cry, yell, or simply walk out of the room.

"How… how did this happen?" Sydney finally asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "I mean, I know how, but… Camille, this changes everything."

"I know," Camille whispered, her voice barely audible. "I didn’t plan for this. I didn’t expect---" Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard to keep the tears at bay.

Sydney leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly together. "Does Nicholas know?"

Camille shook her head, her heart sinking at the thought. "No. Not yet. You’re the first person I’ve told."

Sydney ran a hand through her hair, exhaling sharply. "Camille, do you have any idea what this means? Your career, your future… everything’s going to change."

Camille winced at the words, the weight of them pressing down on her chest. She had thought of nothing else since the doctor had spoken, but hearing Sydney say it out loud made it all the more real.

"I know," she said again, her voice cracking. "But I don’t even know where to start. How do I deal with this?"

Sydney sat back, shaking her head slowly. "Camille, you’re one of the brightest stars in the industry right now. You’ve got so much ahead of you. But a baby…" She trailed off, her expression a mixture of worry and pity.

"I can’t think about all that right now," Camille said, her voice firmer this time. "I just… I need to figure out how to move forward. One step at a time."

Sydney’s eyes softened, and she reached out to take Camille’s hand. "We’ll figure it out, okay? You’re not doing this alone. But you have to keep it away from Nicholas for now."

Camille nodded, her chest tightening. "I know. I will. I just need a little time to process."

Before Sydney could respond, the door to the room opened again. Both women turned, and Camille’s breath caught in her throat. Standing in the doorway was the last person she wanted to see right now: the director.

The man stepped inside his polished demeanour at odds with the faint tension in his expression. "Camille," he began, his voice low and steady. "I heard about the incident that happened, and I wanted to check on you in person."

Sydney stood abruptly, her protective instincts flaring. "I appreciate your kind gestures, the flowers and all but now’s not the best time," she said, her tone firm but polite.

The director raised a hand, his gaze never leaving Camille. "I won’t take long. I just have a quick suggestion."

Camille’s heart sank, dread pooling in her stomach. She already knew where this was heading.

"Camille," the director said, stepping closer, "I think it would be wise for you to take some time off. Rest. Recover. We can adjust the schedule to accommodate you."

The air in the room grew heavier. Camille’s fingers tightened around the edge of the blanket as a flash of defiance flared in her chest.

"I appreciate the concern," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "But I’m fine. I’ll be ready to work as soon as I’m discharged."

The director’s expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face. "Are you sure? You’ve been through a lot, and I don’t want you to feel pressured---"

"I’m sure," Camille interrupted, her tone firm. "I can handle it."

Sydney’s head whipped toward her, shock and confusion written all over her face. "Camille…"

The director hesitated, clearly uncertain how to proceed. He gave a small nod, though his concern was still evident. "All right. If that’s what you want."

As he turned to leave, Camille exhaled a shaky breath. Sydney remained frozen beside her, her gaze fixed on Camille with a mix of disbelief and frustration.

"Camille, what are you doing?" Sydney asked, her voice tight. "Why didn’t you take the break?"

Camille didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stared at the door the director had just exited, her jaw tightening.

"I can’t stop now," she said finally, her voice laced with determination. "Not yet."

Sydney’s expression darkened. "This isn’t just about the job anymore, Cam. What are you really trying to prove?"

Camille didn’t respond, but the turmoil in her eyes said everything.