Sophia’s Point of View.
Yes, I did it.
I agreed to forgive Daphne East for her misspoken compliment even though we both knew her words had been anything but a compliment and we would never be friends.
Once we were in the car, on her way home, I looked at Mr Prescott seated next to me.
“Thank you.” I said.
Mr Prescott’s eyebrows furrowed slightly in apparent confusion.
“For what?”
I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear feeling strangely shy.
“Earlier,” I said finally. “You didn’t have to take my side.”
He had known Daphne East for years while our arrangement wasn’t even up to three months old. Yet he had taken my side without any hesitation and I still didn’t know how to feel about that.
Mr Prescott’s expression eased back into his normal cool distant look.
“I will never sit back and watch anyone insult you, Miss Evergreen.”
Looking at him at that moment, I realized how different he was from Jerry. Even comparing them felt like an insult to Mr Prescott.
This relationship was just a contract but he still respected me and my boundaries.
A contract. Some days I was certain this was just a contract then in moments like these Mr Prescott’s words confused me. Maybe it was time to clear this confusion.
“And why is that?” I asked, my heart racing in my chest. “Why can’t you see me being insulted?”
Mr Prescott’s gray eyes seemed almost black in the somewhat dim lighting in the car as he looked at me and involuntarily, I felt a shiver go up my spine.
“For now, you are my wife, Miss Evergreen. An insult to you is an insult to me.”
Disappointment hit me hard and fast almost punching the air out of my lungs.
I nodded once at Mr Prescott before turning away from him to look out the window blinking rapidly to hold back tears that had suddenly appeared from nowhere.
Of course, our marriage would end once his revenge on the Baxters was completed and then this pretence would be over. But until then, he had to keep up appearances as a devoted husband.
If only it were so easy for me as it was for Mr Prescott to keep this arrangement separate from reality.
We didn’t speak any more until we reached home.
He didn’t stay in the study as he had the night before and for a moment, I thought we had gotten past the roses fiasco until Mr Prescott pulled out an inflatable bed from his closet.
“In your condition, you need your rest and space.” Was his only comment as he set it up but I knew what he really meant.
Mr Prescott was putting up a much needed distance between us, reminding me that we were partners turned roommates and nothing more.
That was good. It was all very good. Maybe this was what I needed to get these unwanted feelings for Mr Prescott out of my head.
Maybe it might have worked if Nana hadn’t dropped the bomb she did the next day at breakfast.
My first piece of toast was barely past my lips when Nana announced excitedly.
“At my insistence, our doctor has slated your very first ultrasound for today around noon.”
My mouth opened and shut. How on earth was I supposed to react to that? I glanced at Mr Prescott who was holding on to his spoon a little bit too tightly.
Right, Nana would probably expect him to escort me there.
It was one thing to let Mr Prescott claim a pregnancy he assumed was for the half brother he hated and another entirely to force him to come for the first ultrasound of the said child. It was too cruel.
“Grandmother, it’s a bit short notice. M-Reid’s schedule-” I tried to protest only for my words to be cut short when Mr Prescott placed his hand over mine.
Those gray eyes stayed steady on mine as he spoke.
“No schedule is more important to me than you, Sophia. Let’s do it.”
My heart twinged painfully in my chest. I knew this was an act for Nana but damn if I didn’t wish it was true.
I wished I really mattered to Mr Prescott even though I knew I didn’t. Was this it for me? To always want the impossible every time?
My pregnancy had never felt more real as it did that day as we left the house for the hospital.
I guess it was because I hardly thought of myself as a pregnant woman unless I was having rather difficult symptoms or craving a shot to slightly dull my senses.
But now, it was my entire reality as I listened to the doctor talk us through the ultrasound procedure and ask us if we wanted pictures or recordings of the baby.
I was going to give birth to a whole new human, a whole new person. It was insane.
It wasn’t until the doctor handed me a sheet to cover up that I realized that maybe a dress might not have been the best choice of clothes for an ultrasound.
Mr Prescott conveniently stepped out to take a call giving me some privacy as I got the sheet beneath my lower half and my dress hiked up to expose my belly as I laid down on the bed and the doctor set up the machine.
Mr Prescott stepped back in a few moments later taking the seat next to the other side of my bed.
In a few minutes, I would be seeing my child on that monitor. The thought was so panic inducing that I clenched the sheets.
Suddenly I felt Mr Prescott’s hand cover mine. I looked at him forcing a small smile.
“Sorry, I’m just nervous.” I said.
Mr Prescott’s hand stayed on mine and I had never seen his gray eyes so soft and compassionate.
“It’s alright. I’m right here.” He said and I nodded holding on to his hand like it was a lifeline.