I am all alone in the house and wonder where everyone has gone. I make my way through the kitchen to eat lunch. The silence is unnerving. I remember leaving everyone in the living room after breakfast.
Earlier, I had opted to go to the swimming pool to clear my head. My heart sinks in my chest when I see Logan and Samantha swimming together. They seem so happy.
Logan’s eyes lock onto Samantha’s as they kiss passionately. It confirms that the kiss at the gala wasn’t a mistake, but something that will continue for a long time.
Logan sits by the pool with his legs in the water. Samantha is between his legs, her neck stretched up as she gazes into Logan’s eyes. Logan’s eyes are full of smiles as he draws her lips to his.
Asher catches me staring at them. I don’t want to hear anything he has to say because he knows about Logan and Samantha and still encourages me to pursue my feelings for Logan.
I know by now I should have sucked it up and not acted on my feelings for him.
“Nadine,” he calls out to me. I refuse to heed his calls.
“Stay the hell away from me,” I tell him, my voice seething with anger.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was back in town. I know I shouldn’t have encouraged you. Now I feel so awful,” he says, his eyes pleading. I refuse to acknowledge him.
“Okay, I’ve heard you. Can you please stay away from me?” I say, walking away from him.
As I walk away, I feel Asher’s gaze on my back, but I don’t turn around. The distance between us grows with each step.
Suddenly, a wave of discomfort washes over me. I clutch my stomach, wondering what could be wrong. I was fine before, so what changed?
“Are you okay?” Asher’s concerned voice reaches me as I lean against the hallway wall.
My stomach continues to churn, and bile rises to my throat. I dash to my room, barely making it to the restroom before throwing up everything I ate this morning.
Exhaustion overtakes me as I collapse on the bathroom floor, drained and empty.
I sit on the cold tile floor, trying to catch my breath. My body feels weak, and my mind is a whirlwind of confusion. What just happened?
After a few moments, I force myself to stand, gripping the sink for support. I open the faucet and scoop some water into my mouth, rinsing and spitting it out. My mouth turns sour.
What might have happened between now and breakfast? I feel so weak. I walk to my room but suddenly slump onto my bed.
A gentle knock interrupts my thoughts. I know it’s Asher; he must have seen my discomfort and is worried. “Can I come in?” his voice calls out.
I nod, forgetting he can’t see me. “Come in,” I finally say, standing by the door of the restroom.
He walks in. “Are you okay?”
Asher’s eyes scan my face, searching for answers. “You don’t look well. Do you need to see a doctor?”
“I don’t know what happened,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “One minute I was fine, and the next, I felt like this.”
He steps closer, his concern deepening. “Let me help you to the couch. You need to rest.”
With Asher’s support, I make my way to the room and sink into the couch.
“Try to relax, I’ll get you some water.”
I nod, grateful for his help. As he leaves the room, I close my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing.
When Asher returns, he hands me a glass of water. “Drink this slowly,” he advises. I take small sips.
“Thank you,” I said, feeling a bit more stable.
“I’ll be fine,” forcing a small smile.
“Just go. I don’t want Logan to see you here. I don’t want him to get the wrong impression about us.”
Asher looks at me, puzzled. “You’re looking like shit, and the only thing you can think about is Logan’s opinion? What planet are you from, Nadine?”
I scoff, annoyed that he’s oblivious to the contract we both have. He seems to think we’re married like any normal couple, but who am I to correct him? His so-called friend hasn’t told him anything about us.
“Asher, seriously, I’m fine,” I say, trying to calm him.
“Let’s get you to the hospital,” Asher insists, moving closer.
“No, no,” I protest weakly. “It’s probably just the food. It might have gone the wrong way.”
Before I can finish, bile rises in my throat again. I rush to the restroom and throw up, but there’s nothing left in me to expel.
I am exhausted as Asher pats my back and lifts my hair. I wish it were Logan doing this instead. I struggle to regain my composure.
“Can you please go? I’ll be fine. Please,” I beg again. “I don’t want any trouble.”
He hesitates for a moment, his eyes pleading as he looks into mine. He can see that I am resolute about him leaving my room.
“I’ll be back,” he says. I give him a small nod, hoping that by then, I will be fine.
As he walks away, I sigh in relief, grateful that he has let me be.
I collapse back onto the couch, my body heavy with exhaustion. The house is quiet, and I close my eyes, trying to block out everything and just rest.
There’s a nagging possibility that I’m pregnant. The symptoms are all there. I’ve checked online, wondering why I eat so much, why I’m so tired even after a full night’s sleep. Everything points to pregnancy.
I’ve tried to shake the thought from my mind, but during one of my visits to the store, I bought a pregnancy test strip and stuffed it somewhere in my closet.
Now, I have decided to put it to use. I dash to my closet, searching for the strip. “I hope I find it,” I mutter to myself.
What if I am pregnant? The contract states I must give him an heir. With everything going on, will he take my child away from me? I need to be discreet because what I thought would be a fairy-tale love is turning sour.
My hands tremble as I rummage through the closet, pushing aside clothes and boxes.
Finally, I spot the small package hidden beneath a stack of sweaters.
“Yes, I got it!” I exclaim when I finally find the test, and head to the bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest.
In the bathroom, I tear open the package and follow the instructions, trying to keep my hands steady.
The minutes feel like hours as I wait for the result. I sit on the edge of the bathtub, my mind racing with fears.
What if it’s positive? Am I ready to care for a child? He has given me half of the payment from the contract, which I haven’t touched.
The wait is finally over. I check the strip in my hand, my heart racing as I see the result.