7 years ago,
"I don't want to go."
"Pfft, so what are you going to do? Quit your job and stay in bed with me all day?"
"That doesn't sound bad…."
Adriana rolled her eyes. "If you pass by that stall bring me my favorite treats." She pushed him off her and walked towards the bathroom to get ready.
Noah groaned, and he also headed inside the bathroom to get ready and leave for work.
While she brushed her teeth he washed his face and asked, "Are you going to keep working in the design department?"
She nodded her head.
"For now. I want to start my own studio afterward." She answered after she finished washing her mouth. She tied her hair in a bun and started applying her skincare.
"Okay, I will support your decision, but you can't overwork yourself."
"I won't, promise."
"I think I'm going on a business trip."
He seemed upset by that. "How long?" She asked.
"2-3 weeks if something gets delayed I might even take 4. I leave tomorrow."
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Why did you just tell me now?"
"I just found out yesterday, and we got.… busy last night so I didn't get the chance to tell you."
Adriana nodded her head.
Noah hugged her from behind and started kissing her neck. "You're upset."
"No, Mr. Obvious. I had plans... but it's fine we can always reschedule." She turned around and hugged his waist.
"I'm sorry. I'll come back as quickly as I can."
"I know."
"Oh, I'm going to a doctor's appointment after work today so I will be late. Before you say anything it's a checkup and I'm not bringing you with me."
He pouted. "Fine." He placed his hand inside her shirt and smirked.
"We are going to be late."
"We are already late, anyway." He insisted.
"That-"
She shook her head with a smile and leaned forward to kiss him.
Right before their lips met there was a knock on the door.
She opened her eyes with a sigh.
…..
"Miss Price?" Adriana lifted her head when she heard the nurse call her. She followed her into the doctor's office nervously.
"You need not to worry. Right now you are in perfect health but your pregnancy results were negative. Sometimes symptoms don't always mean a woman is pregnant."
"Oh…. okay."
"Either way, please continue coming for checkups. You mentioned you are currently sexually active and there's a high chance you might get pregnant. If you test positive you will need extra care. Your menstruation cycle is irregular and your immune system is weak. You know what this means right?"
"Mhmm."
"Miss Price the way your body reacts…. I'm afraid there's a high chance of death at birth. If you are being forced by your husband or his family to continue these tests, please be honest with me. I will do what I can to help you."
Adriana fidgeted with her fingers. It was not her husband but her mother-in-law silently pressuring her to have an heir and it was frustrating for her.
Though she still had many plans and many things to accomplish before becoming a mother, she wanted to be good enough for him so she started these regular check-ups.
"No, this is my own decision." She responded.
The doctor sighed.
"Okay then as you wish."
"Please sing this here and here..." Before she could continue the doctor stopped her. "... with your husband's last name."
"Oh…" Adriana took a deep breath and wrote it down and then handed her the document.
The doctor looked down and then back at her in disbelief. "I hope this remains a secret between us."
"Of course."
Though it startled the doctor, she was professional and continued to treat her after that day.
…..
"Why did you do it? He's coming back soon and I will show him the proof of what you have been doing this whole time. I can't believe these are your actual intentions."
"You are misunderstanding something. I would never do that to my own child. Now, if you have nothing else to say I will take my leave." Adriana walked past her, indifferent to Briana's accusations.
"Go on, keep that arrogance. Eventually, you'll meet your end." Briana smirked and walked inside the doctor's office not bothering to taunt Adriana any longer.
There would be plenty of that later but right now she had something more important at her hands.
"Are the results out?" She asked.
"Yes, it appears the lady is pregnant….5 weeks."
"Did you do as I told you?"
"Yes, I gave her all the doses to weaken her body. I gave her the last one today. She will surely have a miscarriage in a few days."
"Good. Now, it's about time everyone knows that the doctor she had been seeing is actually a physician preparing her for an abortion."
"You did well."
"Thank you."
******
Present-day:
When Aria woke up, it was dark. She was scared but knowing her mom was sleeping next to her relieved her. She snuggled closer into her embrace until she realized how hot her mother was.
Her mother's embrace was always warm and cozy but right now it was an abnormal temperature. She placed her small hand on her mother's forehead and she frowned.
She quickly stood up and with a terrified expression, she jumped up and down until she could finally flip the light switch.
After turning on the lights she informed her brother of the situation through a voice message. She then dashed to the kitchen and started looking for medicine.
Since she couldn't understand the terms correctly she picked out the two bottles of pills and poured her mother some water. She then walked inside the room and tried to wake her up.
She received a call from her brother and she answered it quickly.
"Is she awake yet?"
"No," Aria replied.
"Okay, do you see the bottle with a zebra and a giraffe on it?" He asked.
"Yes."
"That's for kids so you can't give her that one. The bottle has red and white."
"Brother there are two bottles with red and white."
"Okay, look at the bottom of the bottle it says 4-10, and the other doesn't have ages on it. Give her the one with no ages on it."
"I found it."
"Good job, now take out two pills and try to wake mommy up."
Aria sniffed. "What if she doesn't wake up?"
"Sis, mommy is just sick I promise she will wake up. Do you trust me?"
"Mhmm."
"Okay, I will call auntie to go where you are and take care of her."
"Now, I need you to do one more thing. Open mommy's phone and text auntie Crysty. I will send you the message of what you have to say, all you need to do is copy and paste it."
"Okay!"
"Don't worry the plane takes 5 hours but if I go in mommy's plane I will be there much faster."
"But-"
"Mommy is more important."
"Got it!"
"Brother... I don't want mommy to go to the hospital like last time."
"That won't happen. I promise."
Aria hung up and tried to wake up her mother just like her brother had instructed her.