OBSESSIVE LUST

CHAPTER 16

"You're pregnant, miss. Congratulations," the doctor said in an excited and energetic tone.

I didn't know what to say or how to react. 'Pregnant'. That one word was suddenly loud in my ears. My whole life felt like it was spinning out of control.

"P-Pregnant?" I stuttered, hardly identifying the sound of my own voice.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, miss. You're pregnant," she restated once more. Then her voice softened. "And hopefully, the bruises, didn't harm the baby."

Liam moved closer, gently holding my hand. He looked at me with quiet determination, and I could see the seriousness in his eyes.

"Valerie," he said softly, calling my name. "You don’t need to worry. I know who the father is." He paused for a moment. "And I want to take responsibility. I want to support both you and the baby. I’m willing to do my part, whether that means helping you through this or stepping up as the father."

I looked at him, surprised by his words and unsure of what to say.

My dreams, my plans, they all seemed so fragile now.

I wanted to speak, to tell him how much I appreciated his courage and kindness, but instead, I whispered, "Liam, you have your own life. You have dreams, ambitions. You're someone important. You can’t just throw everything away, just because of me or a mistake." My voice trembled as I said it.

Liam looked at me. "Valerie," he said softly, "nothing will be lost. Nothing will be ruined. And don’t call this child a mistake. A child is a gift. It might be tough now, but this baby is a blessing, even if the father isn’t perfect." He paused, then added, "That child’s mother has qualities of a good mother that is caring, understanding, strong, and she deserves support." Those words made me pause.

The doctor’s voice broke the quiet. "Miss," he said softly, "sorry for meddling in your business, but I just want to make sure you understand something important. Sir Liam can be a great father. I’ve seen how he cares for others, even if he doesn't always show it. He’s responsible and gentle when he needs to be. From what I’ve observed over time, I believe he has what it takes to raise a child. Having a good role model as a father can make all the difference, especially for a child growing up in uncertain circumstances. It’s not just about biology; it’s about being there, providing support, and teaching right from wrong. A man who puts effort into his responsibilities and shows genuine care can give a child stability and love. I want you to see that Liam has the potential to be that kind of father, even if it might not seem obvious now."

But then, I responded. "You guys don’t understand," I said firmly. "Liam also needs to have his own family. It’s not just about what he can do for my child. It’s about him finding his own happiness, his own home, the family he’s meant to have. He needs to have a life of his own, not just be stuck in this situation forever."

Liam took a deep breath and looked straight me. "This...the people under my name, and you, that's my family. That’s my world. Those are my people. Nothing can beat that. No matter what anyone says, nothing can change what I hold."

Then the doctor looked at me. "He’s a good person, miss. Really, I see that in him. He’s kind when it counts. He’s not perfect, but he tries. That’s what matters."

As the room gets quiet, a voice from the doorway broke my thoughts. It was mom.

"Did I miss something?"

My heart skipped a beat as I turned my head quickly.

“Mom!” and the word escaped my lips in a loud, happy shout. .

Mom settled nearby, "My baby," in a gentle voice.

The doctor, who was already making her way to the door. "Okay, I’ll give you guys some time to talk," she said kindly.

"Mom, I have something to tell you," I mumbled softly, almost afraid to say the words out loud.

Before I could say more. "I already knew," she said gently, interrupting my worry. I blinked in surprise how did she know.

I looked over at Liam in the corner. He stood with a simple smile, arms crossed in front of his chest, a calm expression on his face.

She spoke quietly. "Liam already told me what happened."

I looked back at her, hesitating before asking, "You're not mad?" My chest felt tight, waiting for her answer.

She shook her head gently, a soft smile on her lips. "If there's someone I should be mad at, it's that baby's father." Her voice was calm. She paused for a moment and added, "But you, my baby, you're the one I love most. I just want you to be okay."

"Thank you," I whispered.

She reached out and gently touched my arm. "You used to be my little girl, my baby," she said softly. "But now you’re carrying a new life inside you. That makes you even stronger." She paused. "Make sure to take good care of my grandchild. I want that child to grow up like you....strong, kind, loving. Like Liam, I want them to be wise, honest, fair, genuine, humble, and true to themselves."

I looked at Liam again. .

I gave her a teasing smile. "And what about good looking?" I asked playfully.

She chuckled softly, knowing I was joking but feeling a bit warm inside. "Well, it’s from both of us," I said gently, feeling proud.

Just when I thought the conversation might end, Liam’s phone suddenly rang.

He quickly glanced at the screen and answered without hesitation. "Hello? Yes, I’ll be there in 30 minutes," he said clearly, his tone calm and focused. He listened for a moment, then ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

As the silence settled again. Out of nowhere, I remembered a recent phone call. I didn’t understand why, but that simple act of someone calling and talking to him had suddenly filled me with fear and unease.

"You can go now," I said softly. "We’ll just head home, like we planned." It felt simple, like the right choice. But he shook his head quickly, cutting me off. "No," he said firmly, "you’re coming with me. Everyone's coming."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

He saw the doubt in my eyes, and he smiled gently. "Why?" He asked. "Is there something wrong with that? Do you have other plans? Let’s do your plans first," he added. He's willingness to cancel his own plans surprised me.

"No," I said quickly, trying to explain. "I meant it would be embarrassing to have me in that important meeting. I didn’t want to cause trouble or make them uncomfortable. I knew my presence might seem out of place, especially with everything happening right now. It was not a matter of capability, but of pride and respect for the occasion."

"Embarrassing? No way." He shook his head. "I’d be very happy to have you there. It’s important. Let’s go," he said gently. Then, he reached out and helped me off the bed. He didn’t rush me, instead, he guided me softly, making sure I felt supported.

When we arrived at the venue, I immediately felt the change.

"I forgot something. Can we leave you here for a moment?" Liam asked.

I nodded saying, "Sure. You can go."

Before they left, the assistant turned to him with a small hope. "Can’t we take them with us, sir? It’s not safe for them to stay here alone in the VIP waiting area. Without anyone with them, anything could happen"

He looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "You’re saying my company isn’t safe?" He playfully asked his assistant.

"Maybe?" he mumbled.

He sighed softly, "We’ll be back in less than an hour. I promise. Plus, she’s sensitive right now. She can’t be walking around all the time. It would stress the baby, and we need to be careful. Just wait for us here and don’t go anywhere. And, hey, be good. Don’t wander off or get worried. Stay here, and we’ll come back soon."he said gently. " And auntie—"

My mom cut him off and chuckled through the worry, saying, "Yes, yes. Fine, Mr. Overprotective." She rolled her eyes playfully, but I could see she appreciated his concern. She knew he was only trying to keep us safe,

He was overacting a little, but I understood. Before leaving, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. Then, he gently touched my belly, blessing the baby inside me.

I was down bad, overwhelmed with emotion. I was grateful, yet anxious.

He turned back briefly, smiling again. "I’ll be back." he promised.

"Take care." I managed to whisper back before he left. While mom and his assistant look at us like they're trying to hold their self from teasing us.

Minutes had passed, two girls approach us. They approached with quick, confident steps, their faces showing no sign of shyness. "Hi, miss," one of them said, her voice polite, but her expression held a subtle edge of curiosity or perhaps judgment. "Is there something we can help you with?" Her tone was friendly enough, but the piercing look she gave made me feel like she was sizing me up.

Their expressions shifted so quickly from serious to bubbly. Their faces lit up like they’d just remembered a joke or heard something funny. The girl who spoke first smiled brightly, her voice losing the stern edge.

"I-I umh," I started to say, feeling a little unsure of what I should say.

One of the girls nodded knowingly, as if she understood my hesitation and said, "You're the new intern, right? That’s good. So, do you want to start now?" Her tone was light and friendly.

She kept speaking, as if trying to put me at ease. "If you want," she offered, "I can give you a quick tour around here first. That way, you’ll get to know the sections and see who works where." Her voice was friendly.

It was a simple help, but it also showed that she wasn’t looking down on me or treating me like someone inferior.

Then out of nowhere, a man's voice called from behind us with a familiar tone that broke the moment. "Valerie?"