Melody’s heart pounded in her chest as she sat on the edge of the toilet seat, clutching the pregnancy test tightly in her trembling hands. Time seemed to slow as she waited for the results, her mind racing with a myriad of thoughts and emotions.
She couldn’t help but recall Damian’s words from earlier, replaying them over and over in her mind. Could she have misunderstood his intentions?
Why was he so calm about this?
They had never talked about starting a family together, only being partners in their arrangement. And now, here she was, pregnant. A wave of shock washed over Melody as her gaze returned to the test.
She couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement, fear and uncertainty. How could she break the news to Damian?
He had insisted on hearing the results. Should she just come right out and say it? Her thoughts were interrupted as a knock echoed through the bathroom door.
“Ma’am, dinner is ready,” a maid called out.
“Coming! Just give me a second!” Melody replied, hastily stuffing the pregnancy test into her pocket.
Quickly fixing her appearance in the mirror, she took a deep breath before stepping out of the bathroom.
As she emerged into the hallway. Melody paused, her mind swirling with the weight of the news she carried. How would Damian react?
Would he be happy?
Excited?
Or simply accept it as another part of their arrangement?
There was only one way to find out, and the thought of it both terrified and exhilarated her.
Damian sat at the dining table, eating his dinner while Matthew and Victor engaged in conversation around him. However, his thoughts were elsewhere, as he found himself unable to focus.
His attention fixated on the empty seat across from him, “Where is she?”
“She’s still in the bathroom, sir,” the maid answers.
He nods quietly. His grip on his spoon tightened. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had been consuming him since their earlier conversation. He knew that she was taking a pregnancy test at that moment and the anticipation was unbearable.
As the minutes ticked by, his mind was racing with worry and anticipation. Finally, the dining room door opened, and Melody walked in, her eyes avoiding his gaze. Damian’s heartbeat quickened as he watched her take a seat at the table.
Matthew, ever observant, starts to ask, “Are you okay, Mel?”
“I’m fine. Just tired,” she smiled slightly, claiming that she was just tired from the busy day at her bakery.
Matthew and Victor continued their banter, with Matthew praising Melody’s delicious pastries and Victor rolling his eyes at his sweet tooth. Melody chuckles, finding momentary distraction in their light-hearted exchange.
Suddenly…
Damian asked in a firm tone, “So, what’s the result?”
Melody stiffened. As if his question had knocked the wind out of her. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet his, her heart racing as she responded, “R-Result?”
With a raised eyebrow. Damian leaned back in his chair and replied, “Yes. You’ve checked it out already, haven’t you?”
As Matthew and Victor quietly exchanged looks, they decided to discreetly excuse themselves, not wanting to get involved in the conversation.
“Well…” Melody began, fidgeting nervously with her fingers, “I don’t understand why you’re okay with this.”
He sighed, his expression softened slightly as he leaned back in his chair.
“We’ve discussed this before, Mel. I’ve already given you my explanation.”
Melody frowned, her frustration growing. “Explanation? You didn’t say anything about the situation. You just stated you were fine with it, but you didn’t explain why. We’ve never spoken seriously about what we are or anything about building a family.”
Damian let out another sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “Do I need to explain?”
She huffed in response. Her grip on her pants intensifies. “Just tell me why you’re okay with this. We’ve never talked about any of this before. We’re just… helping each other out.”
Her gaze dropped to her lap, a mix of confusion and uncertainty in her eyes.
“Why is everything so complicated?”
He paused for a moment, his eyes studying her. He leaned forward, his voice softening slightly. “I’m not good at expressing what I want. But…” he paused.
Then continued more confidently. “… I have been thinking of building a family, too.”
Melody’s eyebrows drew together in disbelief. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Damian D’Angelo, the notoriously tough and cold leader, wanted a family of his own.
“You… want a family?”
Damian nodded firmly, “Yes, I do.”
His expression remained stoic as Melody spoke but the slight redness in his ears betrayed his embarrassment. The guards nearby, witnessing their boss blushing, whispered amongst themselves until Damian gave them a stern glare, silencing them instantly.
“The result, Mel,” he repeated, his impatience mounting.
She clutched her pocket nervously, her grip tightening as she spoke quietly. “It… it’s positive…”
Damian’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, his stern expression faltering for just a moment. He hadn’t expected this outcome.
“Positive?” He echoed, his voice betraying a hint of disbelief, “Are you sure?”
She nodded her own eyes with a mix of shock and surprise. “Y-Yes, I’m sure…”
Damian stared at her for a few moments, his mind racing with thoughts and possibilities. He took a step closer to her, his gaze unwavering.
“You’re not… lying to me, are you?”
Melody shook her head vigorously, her eyes locking with his. “I’m not lying, I swear. Why would I lie about something like this?”
He continued to study her, searching for any sign of deception. But all he saw was sincerity and shock. He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair.
“Then… we’re doing this.”
__
Melody’s mind was still reeling from the revelation of her pregnancy when she was snapped out of her thoughts by a knock at her door. She called out a soft “‘Sure'” in response.
The door creaked open, revealing Damian holding something in his hands. Melody’s eyes immediately fixated on it, curiosity getting the better of her.
“What is that?” she asked, her voice slightly shaky.
Damian stepped closer to her and placed the container on the table. “I know how stubborn you are,” he began, “so I packed something for you.”
Melody’s eyes widened as she saw the container filled with an assortment of fruits. “Fruit?” she repeated, bewildered.
“I’ve heard that pregnant women can be finicky and have unpredictable cravings,” Damian explained, his voice soft. “So, I packed a variety of fruits to keep you happy.”
Melody’s surprise only continued to grow. She had never expected Damian to be so attentive and thoughtful. As she took in the gesture, a mixture of emotions swirled within her.
On one hand, she was incredibly touched by his thoughtfulness, but on the other, she was overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation they now found themselves in.