|Aurora's POV|
"I think I might be pregnant," I speculated after looking at the white stick that displayed two crimson lines. It slipped through my fingers as I tried to process the news.
My heartbeat skyrocketed, and with shaky hands, I grabbed the four sticks. A large puff of air left my nostrils as I attempted to calm the organ that looked like it would beat out of its ribcage. My heart pounded furiously against my chest as my blood rushed wildly like an ocean wave.
"Shit," I mumbled after seeing eight more red lines.
A small smile slipped on my face but disappeared immediately I remembered that my husband doesn't like kids that much, although I can't be too sure when he always avoids the topic. The wheels in my head spun as I tried to picture his reaction. Well, maybe if I make reservations he would be less bothered about it.
"We've got a little problem." I informed my best friend, watching as the 'sent' turned to 'seen' in a blink, my eye twitched in happiness as I saw the three grey bubbly dots on the next chat icon.
"Do you need me to come over? Fuck this, I am going to FaceTime you." White texts trapped in a blue chat box stared at me for two seconds before my phone started ringing and I was met with silvery strands and green eyes that frantically searched my room through the camera to see if there was a threat.
"No, you don't need to come over, I'm fine, but I think I am pregnant." I dropped the bomb. I watched as her face contorted and hysterical laughter racked through her.
I wasn't having her reaction because of how serious the situation was, so I shoved the white sticks at the camera. She froze for a nanosecond before screeching. Shockingly, I threw the device out of my hearing environment, and an internal debate roared to life as I argued if she was human or Banshee with my subconscious.
"Can you not make me go deaf, at least let me have the privilege to hear the baby call me mama." I scolded while her thirty-two teeth were on display as she grinned cheekily.
"Okay, Let's be serious. What do you plan on doing? Do you want to keep the baby or ....." She questioned. I understood the unspoken words, and my stomach churned at the thought of aborting my baby, so I snapped out of the evil trance I was in.
"Over my dead body. I am keeping this baby, whether James is in support or not." I retorted.
"How do you plan on telling my brother?" Emily asked and I immediately rambled on how I wanted a restaurant setting. A table for two where we would eat and then, have pink and blue balloons floating around, seeing as it would be too late to do any serious surprise.
Emily smiled, "That's perfect and I know the right place." She said, forwarding a location to me.
The restaurant looked exactly what I had in mind, so I quickly made a reservation under my name.
I stand up hastily, too excited to finally have time with my husband. My hands raked through the fabrics in my wardrobe searching for the perfect outfit. My hands clutched a pale pink silky dinner gown, and my decision was made instantly.
I did very light make-up and curled my hair with a hot comb while fantasizing about how much I would be admired by my husband. The journey to the restaurant passed by in a blur and before long, I was sitting on a reserved table, staring at the man I called my husband.
"You should inform me before making reservations next time. What if I was attending to Evelyn? You know her health is not stable." the husky voice that I'd become familiar with for years chided me.
My lips quivered as my eyes stung with tears, but I managed to give him a small smile regardless, not wanting to ruin our evening.
"I hope she is getting better. I felt like it's been a while since we had our time to ourselves, and I wanted you to relax a bit after all the stress you've been through. Because of her." I gulped down the last part like the apple juice on the table.
He frowned "I didn't complain to you that she was stressing me out."
I closed my eyes for a fleeting second, releasing a deep sigh. I tried to focus on the romantic atmosphere and fixated my eyes on his tousled brown, messy curls, which he had run his fingers through a thousand times today.
"You look handsome," I whispered. My gaze tracked his full fit as I admired his white shirt which was folded neatly. You could not tell that he came from work with how ravishing he looked, his gaze softened as he let out a defensive and tiring sigh.
"Thank you. You look ravishing also." He said softly.
I knew his words should make me feel like the luckiest girl ever, but it wasn't even close, Evelyn would have gotten a kiss on the forehead because of how stunning she looked, not his wife.
"Aurora, you should be happy, and according to him, they are only best friends, she is his childhood friend." I reminded myself, snapping myself out of my jealousy.
A smile crept to my face "Well, Happy Anniversary to us."
I watched how his muscular hands clutched the fork, I silently wished I was the pasta as I clenched my thighs together and hoped for friction down there. I am just going to go ahead and blame the pregnancy hormones.
"It's our anniversary? That means it's also your birthday." He muttered to himself, as his brain finally summed it up after noticing the cake on the table. It was as if he was here, yet he wasn't.
"I have been busy, and I am sorry I forgot. I will make it up to you." He promised.
My eyes went to his vibrating phone. I watched as he began furiously typing on his phone, watching his face dim, and his expression transition into a gloomy one.
"I really hope it is not what I am thinking about, God please No." I prayed under my breath as I noticed the apologetic smile and face directed at me, telling me I was about to be stood up.
He sighed "I am sorry. Evelyn said her condition just worsened and they are transferring her to the hospital."
My orbs tracked the napkin as he hurriedly wiped his hands. Wordlessly, I knew what was about to happen, the attempt to sit him down was strong yet as weak as the efforts he was putting in our marriage.
"You don't have to rush over there. Last time I checked you are not a doctor. The least you can do is respect that today is my birthday and our anniversary. I am sure you could stall a bit." I lashed out angrily, my eyes fumed as his chocolate orbs met mine heatedly like that was an offensive thing to say.
"How could you say this? It's a life-threatening matter. She is also my best friend for crying out loud. You are selfish." He slammed his hands on the table, walking off and leaving me gaping like a drowning fish.
I looked at the table again to see that he left his card, how considerate of him. I thought as I scoffed
"Hello, Good day. Do you mind if I buy you a drink and accompany you?" A masculine voice resonated, just before I saw who was talking.
My jaw dropped as I took in his appearance, how could a man look so good? He was a huge contrast to my husband who just left.
Grey souring orbs, with mahogany strands, gelled to perfection, and to top it all, his body was decorated and inked with different designs peeking out from his neck and his elbows where the black shirt stopped as it was rolled up with perfection.
His throaty chuckle caught my attention before I snapped myself out of the trance I was in.
"I could really use some company, seeing as my dearest husband stood me up." I smiled sweetly at him.
You can call me dangerous and rebellious but there is a safe atmosphere that clung to this mysterious man like a second skin, at least he wouldn't let my reservation go to waste.
Although I could just pretend he was my husband and tell him about all I wanted to tell Micheal, it was still fine since I was sure this would be the only time it would happen.
"I am sure it was something that needed his attention, but he was still a jerk for standing a beautiful lady up, and utterly insane for doing that to his wife." The stranger's jaw ticked as he looked at me, glaring murderously at the black card that was placed on the table.
"I know right? His best friend is the priority now, not his wife's birthday marriage anniversary or the pregnancy announcement I was going to make." I sneered, laughing freely as I threw my hands up in frustration and laughed at something that wasn't funny.
"I am sorry that you have to go through this alone. Happy birthday Aurora. I am Atlas by the way, and a big Congratulations to you. Not on your marriage but on your pregnancy. I am not much of a gentleman to act like everything is okay when it isn't really fine." He shrugged as his sympathetic grey orbs washed over me like a morning dew.
After processing his message, I let out a grin, at least it's not only known to me now that my husband is a jerk.
Feeling the vibration of my phone inside my silver clutch, I took my phone out to see that I got a text from an unknown number. I knew the disgust and hatred were seeping out of my body like smoke because I heard Atlas' background voice trying to pull me back.
Unfortunately, all I could focus on was the image of two people kissing in what looked like a subway station. I stared at the brown messy curls and the familiar blonde that I hated with my whole existence locked lips in an HD resolution. My husband and his fucking best friend?! I didn't know best friends lock lips with each other.
"I think we should hit the club, although I wouldn't be taking any alcohol," I suggested.
My eyes snapped to Atlas's, hoping I would get my mind over it by dancing away my sorrows, two can play the game. If he asks, I'll tell him I found a best friend too.
Atlas kept trying to make small conversations but I ignored him and allowed the imaginary bubbles to float around me.
"Do I really want to raise a child in an emotionally absent marriage?" I reasoned to myself. My body jolted forward as Atlas swerved to the right, narrowly escaping a hit from a truck.
Heaving out a sigh "I am sorry. I have a change of plans. Can you drive me home, please? I just want to rest, my body is weak."
"Yeah. I knew you'd be exhausted. You are still in your early trimester so you will get weak easily. We will soon get to your house." He assured, his veiny hands on the wheel was a sight to behold.
The brain processed his words again as my body tingled with goosebumps. Every fibre of my being screamed danger because I don't remember telling him my house address, so how does he know where I live?
"Oh my God. I will be killed and my body parts would either be sold or my skeleton would be found in the lagoon after a few weeks." I raised an alarm and scooted farther away from him.
The chime sound that resounded in the silent car made me realize that he had activated the child safety lock.
"Aurora, calm the fuck down and stop hyperventilating. I have no ill intentions towards you, I am a doctor, not a serial killer." He asserted sternly.
Although that did little to calm me down, I still don't trust him yet.
"How do you know where I live?" I demanded.
"Judging from the black card that was left on the table by your husband, I knew he was a billionaire. Ninety-nine percentage of the billionaires in this city stay at the G.R.A. So I had a wild guess that you stay there also." He clarified.
"Okay. I am sorry for accusing you wrongly." I apologized after seeing the sincerity in his stormy grey orbs.
"Apology accepted. I know how peachy pregnant women can be." He shrugged.
He nudged me to input the correct address in the GPS. I wordlessly did that before leaning on the backseat as my bones ached terribly.
"We are here. You are welcome. As much as I would have loved to escort you in, I have an emergency. Have a good night and stay safe, I will see you around." He rushed out before alighting to help me out of the car.
I blushed at his gentlemanly gesture, watching as he drove off, leaving me with only his business card and a permanent shade of pink for the night.