I observed the scene with a mix of amusement and bewilderment as Rome stood there, clearly shocked by Jess’s revelation. It was honestly quite amusing to witness his reaction. I never would’ve thought Rome had it in him to impregnate someone. He just didn’t strike me as that type of person. Or did he?
“You’re not joking, are you?” Rome asked, still in disbelief as he looked at Jess.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease around Jess. There was something about her that rubbed me the wrong way. It was as if she brought bad vibes wherever she went.
“I’m serious. Here are the results,” Jess replied, handing him the paper. Rome eagerly took it, his eyes scanning the contents with growing concern.
His eyes suddenly widened as he glanced at Jess, then turned to look at me.
“Is it mine?” he asked, directing his gaze back to Jess, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
“Of course it is. I hardly sleep with anyone,” Jess replied, her expression darkening with annoyance.
Her claim didn’t sit right with me. If she hardly slept with anyone, then why did she sleep with him? Something wasn’t adding up.
“Oh,” Rome muttered, still fixated on the paper.
“Um, I’m going upstairs,” I interjected, feeling the need to distance myself from the awkward tension in the room. I made my way to the kitchen, intending to grab a glass of water and collect my thoughts. This situation was getting stranger by the minute, and I needed a moment to process it all.
As I settled onto the bed, my gaze naturally drifted to my growing bump, eliciting a smile before I gently reached out to touch it. Suddenly, a flutter of movement beneath my hand caught me by surprise. I gasped in awe, watching as my baby kicked for the first time.
Unable to contain my joy, I whispered, “So cute,” while tenderly stroking my stomach. I then wandered over to the mirror across from the bed, carefully opening my clothing to observe my bump in the reflection. Once again, I felt the baby’s kick, and my smile widened in sheer delight. Should I tell Rome about this magical moment? Perhaps not; he was already expecting another baby, after all. Well, congratulations to him.
Just then, my door creaked open, and Rome peeked inside, interrupting my thoughts. “Speak of the devil,” I mused to myself, hastily covering myself as he entered.
“Oops, sorry,” he apologized.
“No worries,” I assured him.
“Can I come in?” he asked, his demeanor strangely uncharacteristic.
“Sure,” I replied, taking a seat on the bed.
As he approached me, Rome’s expression seemed troubled. “I’m sorry you had to hear that,” he began, catching me off guard.
“No problem at all. Congratulations on becoming a father again,” I attempted to lighten the mood, but he remained somber.
“It’s just… I wanted Georgia’s baby, not someone else’s,” he confessed, referring to his wife.
“Well, the child is still yours, so you’ll have to take care of him or her,” I offered, but his frown persisted.
“Okay,” he conceded, his gaze drifting to my bump, where I swore the baby kicked again.
“Wow,” I exclaimed, catching his attention.
“What?” he inquired.
“The baby just kicked,” I informed him, prompting his eyes to widen.
“Seriously?” he asked, stepping closer and kneeling beside me.
“Can I feel it?” he requested, his gaze fixed on me.
“Um, yes,” I replied awkwardly, and he smiled. I couldn’t help but shiver as his hands made contact with my bump.
With a grin, he leaned in, placing his ear against my stomach. It was as if the baby sensed its father’s presence, kicking once more and eliciting a laugh from Rome.
“This is so beautiful,” he murmured, gently caressing my bump.
“Yeah, it is,” I murmured softly.
“Tomorrow is another appointment, and Jess also has one. She mentioned the doctor said the father has to be there,” Rome informed me, causing a frown to crease my brow.
“So, what are you going to do?” I inquired. He let out a deep sigh before rising to his feet.
“It’s just that I need to be there for Jess, but I also need to be there for you. Maybe I’ll call the doctor to reschedule yours for the day after tomorrow,” he proposed, deepening my frown.
“Why can’t hers be shifted instead?” I questioned. His gaze met mine.
“Phoenix, let’s make this easier for everyone. You should understand this, and besides, you’re not supposed to choose,” he stated, his expression stern.
“Why? I feel the baby… What if something happens?” I pleaded.
“You’re just a surrogate mother, Phoenix. Stop acting like you’re the mother of my child,” he retorted, leaving me stunned.
I knew I was a surrogate, but why did I feel so connected to this child? Why did it feel impossible to detach myself from it?
“You’re not supposed to form any bond with my child. Your only job is to take care of it. I’ll even increase your pay once the baby is born,” he continued.
I nodded, forcing a smile, before heading towards the door.
“I haven’t formed any bond with your child or anything else. You can reschedule the check-up to next year; that’s your choice. But right now, I need some peace,” I declared, opening the door for him to leave.
“You’re being rude,” he scoffed.
“Says the proud guy,” I retorted, and he rolled his eyes before stepping out.
Fool.
**
In a twist of events, Camilla had to accompany me to the appointment since Doctor Phil wasn’t available until the following week. I can only imagine how thrilled Jess would be right now.
“So, that’s what Rome said,” Camilla remarked, delving into her popcorn.
“Yes,” I confirmed, eliciting a scoff from her.
“Jess is no good. I can’t stand her,” Camilla declared, earning a smile from me.
“Me neither,” I agreed, prompting a laugh from her.
“You know, my brother can be a jerk most of the time, but he loves his baby more than anything. He really adored Georgia,” Camilla revealed, catching my curiosity.
“What happened to Georgia?” I inquired.
“Oh, Georgia was in a car accident on her way to the airport. It was incredibly tragic. Rome was never the same after that. He loved her deeply,” Camilla explained, evoking a sense of sadness.
“That’s heartbreaking,” I murmured.
“And you know what’s even more intriguing?” Camilla continued, drawing me closer.
“Jess was Georgia’s best friend in high school,” she revealed, prompting a gasp from me.
“That’s not fair,” I exclaimed. I couldn’t fathom dating Fiona’s ex, let alone becoming pregnant by him.
“Even if they’re no longer best friends, she shouldn’t have done it,” I mused, still grappling with the situation.
“Yeah, even with Georgia gone,” Camilla sighed deeply.
“Are we even sure she’s pregnant with his baby?” I questioned.
“Oh, I just remembered something,” Camilla interjected.
“I heard that she and Georgia stopped being best friends because she liked Rome when Rome and Georgia were already dating,” Camilla disclosed.
“That makes sense now. Why would Rome even sleep with her?” I pondered.
“Normally, my brother doesn’t just sleep with anyone. I think Georgia was his first,” Camilla chuckled.
“That’s kind of sweet, but why do I feel like Jess isn’t genuine?” I expressed my doubts.
“Yeah, what if she’s faking all this to get closer to Rome?” Camilla suggested.
“What if,” I echoed her sentiment. We exchanged a knowing look before bursting into laughter.
“You’re so much fun. You’d make a great gossip partner,” Camilla complimented me.
“You too,” I replied, appreciating her company. Camilla truly was enjoyable to be around. Now, back to Rome.
To be continued…