Tomas.
“Okay, where’s the father?!” The doctor emerged from Jennifer’s room, looking directly at Jimmy and me. We exchanged a wordless glance, our faces a mix of confusion and dread amidst the turmoil of emotions swirling around us.
“What father?!” I cleared my throat, my voice shaky as I slumped down against the wall, feeling the weight of the moment.
“Oh, you didn’t know, I guess!” the doctor replied, his tone slightly mocking. “But Miss Jennifer is pregnant-three weeks along!”
I blinked, my heart racing. “Really? Are you sure?” I managed to stammer, a sheepish smile creeping onto my face.
“I’m a doctor for God’s sake, I’m not a mechanic!” The doctor smirked, clearly getting a kick out of our shocked expressions.
“You did it, Tomas? With my sweet, lovely sister?” Jimmy shot me a glare, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
I grinned tightly, showing my teeth. “Yes, I did! And now, you have no choice; you have to accept me as her husband.” I winked playfully, moving my eyebrows up and down in mock enthusiasm.
“Oh gosh, let’s see what she’ll say first! Nowadays, women often choose to be single mothers, especially if they feel betrayed by the man they loved,” Jimmy laughed, almost hysterically, mumbling under his breath.
“Don’t start a fight with me, Jimmy!” I puffed, trying to keep my frustration in check.
“Who is the father, for God’s sake?! I have to let him go inside to see Jennifer!” the doctor hollered, staring at both of us with an exasperated expression.
I spun my head around. “Yes, I’m here! Is she okay now? Can I come in?” I asked the doctor, worry etched on my face.
“Yes, she is stable, but I’m warning both of you: don’t make her nervous or upset in any way. She needs to be happy and calm all the time. After the accident, it was incredibly hard to keep the child safe and alive. She will be in danger until she gives birth, got that?!” The doctor’s voice was firm, almost pleading.
“Yes, but I’m her brother; can I see her too?” Jimmy raised his hand, waving it to catch the doctor’s attention.
“Yes, but follow the rules! Don’t shock her!” the doctor relented, then opened the door to the room for both of us before stepping back to give us a moment.
I rushed forward, eager to see Jennifer, but Jimmy tried to hinder my way, stepping in front of me. I pulled him back behind me, exasperated. “God, she still doesn’t know who you are! Don’t start anything!” I widened my eyes at him, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation.
I hurried to sit next to Jennifer on the bed, gently taking her hand in mine and kissing it softly. She opened her eyes, staring at me in confusion, then gasped. “What are you doing here?! You should be with your wife?!”
“What wife?!” I replied, my voice rising slightly. “You know how smart I am; all this was just a prank to trap her down. The one who was causing all of this is actually here! Jimmy is the son of a Russian mafia leader; he’s one of my enemies,” I smirked, trying to lighten the mood.
“What?! I think I caught a glimpse of you; you were the one who helped me and got me to the hospital! But why and how? I don’t get it!” Jennifer rolled her eyes in frustration.
“Okay, I have to tell you the truth,” Jimmy interjected, his gaze steady on Jennifer. “I was planning to kill you to get revenge on Tomas because he killed my parents! But when I saw you and learned about your past, I couldn’t go through with it!”
“Why?” Jennifer asked, her eyes widening in confusion.
“Because I found out something crucial. Please don’t lose consciousness, Jennifer. You are my lost sister,” Jimmy said slowly, his voice filled with emotion.
At those words, Jennifer fainted.
“God, Jennifer, wake up please!” We both yelled in unison, panic rising in our chests as the doctor rushed back into the room.
“I warned both of you not to shock her!” the doctor scolded us, his frustration evident. Just then, Jennifer opened her eyes again.
“You said I’m your sister?” she asked weakly.
“Yes, and actually, Tomas has something else to tell you,” Jimmy informed her, glancing at me.
I smiled softly, though my nerves were frayed. Running my fingers through my hair, I sighed. “Okay, Jennifer, control your temper, please. You’re pregnant,” I blurted out, and she fainted once more.
“Get out of here now, both of you! This lady can’t stay for one second with either of you!” the doctor shouted, pushing us out of the room.
“I guess we’re going to have a tough time ahead. What do we do after she gets out of the hospital?” I asked Jimmy, feeling a mix of dread and determination.
“She will come with me for sure,” Jimmy replied with a confident smirk.
“What? Why with you? She’s pregnant with my child, and she is my fiancee! She has to come back to my house!” I gritted my teeth in frustration.
“We should ask her first, but I’m sure she’ll choose me. After all, we just met recently,” Jimmy mocked, raising an eyebrow.
“Jimmy, Tomas, come here now!” Jennifer shrieked, her voice echoing through the hallway.
We rushed to her room, colliding slightly as we hurried. “Yes, Jennifer?” we both answered, breathless.
“Now, you have to know that I will stay at a hotel, and both of you have to take care of me and my child until I can forgive what both of you did to me. And another thing: we are going to have a long conversation about this illegal work! I need money, and don’t ask why!” Jennifer commanded, her tone firm.
“Um, okay, but why? You could stay in your house, honey!” I stuttered, trying to reason with her.
“Shut up, Tomas! What house? You’ve played with my feelings too many times! Do what I said or leave me forever!” Jennifer shouted, her voice rising.
“Okay, honey, just calm down, please,” I grinned, trying to diffuse the tension.
“Okay, you can choose one of our hotels; it’s your hotel too. You are my sister and an heir to it! Our parents left many hotels for us and a lot of money,” Jimmy chuckled.
“Stop that! Blood money? Oh thank God I grew up in an orphanage! Now, both of you give me your wallets, and arrange for guards, drivers, limos, and cards too! I have to clean this money my own way. I don’t want to have an unhealthy child!” Jennifer smirked, her eyes glinting with determination.
“Clean the money?! What do you mean?” Jimmy gasped, taken aback.
“Illegal dirty money needs to go to charity,” Jennifer growled, her expression serious.
“Okay, take all my cards; use what you want, but please don’t get mad,” I said, pulling my wallet from my back pocket and handing it to her. She grabbed it from my hand, then turned to Jimmy, raising an eyebrow.
“Give it to me, you too, Jimmy!” she hollered.
“Um, okay, take it. But you have to know that Tomas and I can’t quit this work!” Jimmy muttered, a hint of concern in his voice.
“Now, both of you get out of my room and prepare everything I asked for, and pick me a perfect royal suit,” Jennifer laughed hysterically, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
I nodded, but Jimmy shook his head, “But can we stay with you?” I frowned, wanting to be near her.
“Sure, honey. Both of you will serve me!” Jennifer gave us a sheepish smile, but her tone was playful yet serious.
I turned to Jimmy, my eyes wide. “What?!”
“As a payment for hurting me, yes! Or I’ll have an abortion and leave you to run away from my brother forever! I’m not the sweet, innocent Jennifer anymore! I’m a different woman now!” Jennifer took a sharp breath, and I felt my heart sink.
I looked stuck, my mind racing. “But I swear I love you! I will take care of you, but I feel from the way you’re serving me that you’re planning something abnormal!” I grinned weakly, trying to lighten the mood.
“Whatever! I won’t say anything! Go back to Amanda and your son if you don’t want that!” Jennifer huffed, her eyes narrowing.
“What son?! He is not my son! That’s why I was trying to figure things out, and that’s why I pretended I was going to marry her!” I narrowed my eyebrows, frustration bubbling to the surface.
“I don’t care! You have to know that you will help me with everything! I’m a pregnant woman now, even in the shower, and you have to do everything I ask you to do! Okay, my fake fiance?” Jennifer mocked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Oh, fake fiancee! This is going to be a long payment! But it’s okay because Jimmy will help me too!” I mumbled, casting a devilish smile at Jimmy, who looked dumbfounded.
“Oh, me? No way!” Jimmy gasped, pointing incredulously at himself.
I raised my eyebrows playfully at him, but Jennifer interrupted, pointing at us. “Get out of the room!”