chapter 12 the pregnancy scare
473 Words
"Isabella? Are you okay?"
I was staring at the pregnancy test in my hand.
Two lines.
My heart was pounding so loud I couldn't hear anything else.
"Isabella!" Jake knocked on the bathroom door. "You've been in there 20 minutes."
"I'm fine," I called out. My voice shook. "Just... stomach issues."
I threw the test in the trash. Wrapped it in tissue.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
We were careful. We were supposed to be careful.
But that night in Dubai...
---
Dinner was silent.
Jake noticed immediately. "You're quiet."
"Just tired," I said, pushing food around my plate.
He reached across the table and took my hand.
"Talk to me."
"Nothing to talk about," I lied.
That night I couldn't sleep.
30 days contract. Gone.
Real marriage. Real love.
And now... maybe a real baby?
---
Next morning I woke up to Jake making breakfast.
Pancakes. My favorite.
"Morning, Mrs. Sterling," he said, kissing my forehead.
I forced a smile. "Morning."
"You're pale," he said, frowning. "Are you sick?"
"No," I said too fast. "I'm fine."
He didn't believe me. I could see it in his eyes.
---
At work, I almost fainted.
The smell of coffee made me nauseous.
"Isabella!" Amara's voice from behind me. "You look like hell."
"Thanks," I muttered.
"Pregnant?" she asked with that fake-sweet smile.
My blood went cold. "What? No."
Amara shrugged. "Just asking. Jake deserves an heir, you know."
She walked away laughing.
---
That evening, Jake came home with a doctor.
"A doctor?" I asked, panicked.
"You almost fainted today," Jake said. "I called Dr. Adebayo.
He's family."
The doctor checked me. Blood pressure. Temperature.
Then he looked at me. "Mrs. Sterling, have you taken a pregnancy test?"
Jake froze.
I froze.
"I... I don't know," I whispered.
Dr. Adebayo nodded. "Take one. Just to be sure.
Stress can cause the symptoms too."
After he left, the apartment was silent.
Jake sat next to me on the couch.
"Isabella," he said quietly. "If you are... I want you to know.
I want this. I want you. I want us."
Tears fell before I could stop them.
"What if it's too soon?" I whispered.
"What if we ruin everything?"
Jake pulled me into his arms.
"Nothing about you could ruin me," he said. "Ever."
---
2AM. I couldn't sleep.
I went to the bathroom. Bought 3 more tests on my way home.
One by one.
Negative.
Negative.
Negative.
I broke down crying on the floor. Relief and fear all at once.
Jake found me there.
He didn't ask questions. Just held me.
"Whatever it was," he whispered. "We face it together.
No more secrets. Okay?"
I nodded into his chest. "Okay."
The scare was over.
But it changed something.
Because for the first time,
we both imagined a future with kids.
With us.
With forever.
- Writer
