Chapter 5 My Little One

Some Weeks Later

Asher had been treating me so nicely these past few weeks. He gave me everything I wanted, took care of me, and even made me laugh sometimes.

I never thought he could be this kind.

But today, something felt different.

A strange feeling settled in my body-one I couldn't explain. My stomach felt uneasy, and I was more tired than usual.

I decided to go to the hospital to check what was wrong.

"James, can you take me to the hospital?" I asked.

James, the driver Asher assigned to me, gave me a quick nod. "Of course, ma'am."

When we arrived at the hospital, I went straight to the doctor's office since I had already made an appointment.

I sat down while the doctor ran some tests.

After a while, he told me to wait as he stepped out to check the results.

Minutes later, he returned, holding an envelope in his hand. His expression was unreadable.

Then, he smiled.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Black!"

My heart stopped.

"What?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You are pregnant," he announced.

My eyes widened in shock.

Pregnant?

A life was growing inside me.

I didn't know if I should be happy or terrified.

The doctor must have noticed my pale face because he frowned slightly. "Are you okay?"

I swallowed hard and forced a small smile. "Yes... I'm fine. Thank you, doctor. Please don't tell my husband-I'll tell him myself."

He nodded. "Of course."

I took the envelope, shoved it into my bag, and walked out of the hospital feeling overwhelmed.

I wasn't ready to tell Asher.

I didn't even know if I wanted to tell him.

As James drove me back home, my thoughts ran wild.

Would Asher be happy? Would he be mad? Would he demand something from me? But then my mind went back to the contract that says I would give him a heir which means he would want the baby but he might not let me go, no I can't tell him.

No.

I couldn't let him know.

When we reached home, I stepped inside and found Asher sitting in the living room. His face lit up the moment he saw me.

"What happened? Where did you go?" he asked curiously.

I tried to act normal. "I went to see the doctor. I wasn't feeling well."

His brows furrowed in concern. "What's wrong? What did the doctor say?"

My fingers tightened around my bag where the envelope was hidden.

I couldn't tell him.

"It's just a cold," I lied, forcing a small smile.

His expression softened. "I'm sorry, baby. You should rest and take fluids alongside your presciption."

"Yeah... I'll rest for a bit," I mumbled and quickly headed upstairs before he could ask more questions.

As I closed the bedroom door behind me, I exhaled deeply, my heart pounding in my chest.

How long could I keep this secret from him?

Would it be better to tell him now or hide it for as long as possible?

What if he found out on his own?

I placed a shaky hand on my stomach, feeling the small life growing inside me. A mix of emotions swirled inside my heart-fear, uncertainty, and something I couldn't quite describe.

Would Asher be happy? Angry? Would he force me to stay with him forever because of this baby?

I sighed and curled up on the bed, my mind a complete mess.

Before I knew it, exhaustion took over, and I drifted off to sleep.

A loud ringing noise startled me awake. My alarm.

Groaning, I reached for my phone and turned it off. When I checked the time, my eyes widened.

How long had I been asleep?

The whole evening had passed.

I sat up quickly, rubbing my eyes as I tried to shake off the drowsiness. The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the bedside lamp Asher must have turned on for me.

I ran a hand through my hair, my thoughts immediately returning to the secret I now carried.

I was pregnant.

A life growing inside me.

I placed my hand on my stomach again, still struggling to process it.

A gentle knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Mirabel?" Asher's deep voice called from the other side.

I hesitated. "Yes?"

The door opened slowly, and he stepped inside, his gaze immediately locking onto mine.

"You missed dinner," he said, his tone softer than usual. "Are you okay?"

I forced a small smile. "Yeah, I was just tired."

He frowned slightly, stepping closer. "You said you weren't feeling well earlier. Are you sure it's just a cold?"

My heart skipped a beat. Did he suspect something?

I nodded quickly. "Yes, the doctor said it's nothing serious. Just stress."

He studied me for a moment, then sighed. "You should take care of yourself, Mirabel. If anything is wrong, you have to tell me."

I swallowed hard and looked away. "I will," I lied.

Silence filled the room, and for a moment, I thought he would press further. But instead, he reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Get some rest," he said softly. "I'll be in my study if you need anything."

I nodded, watching as he turned to walk away.

But then, his phone beeped. He glanced at the screen, and suddenly, his whole expression changed-his jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened with anger.

"What happened?" I asked, my heart pounding.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. "Mirabel," he said, his voice tense.

"Yes?" I answered hesitantly.

"Are you sure it's just a cold?" he asked again, his gaze piercing.

Why was he asking this again?

"Yes," I replied quickly, avoiding his eyes.

His grip tightened on his phone as he took a deep breath. Then, without another word, he turned the screen toward me.

My breath caught in my throat.

There, clear as day, were the pregnancy test results.

He knew.

Why did you hide this from me? He asked.