Chapter 50: A Bet

\[Gianna’s POV\]

“His brother,” I repeat, trying to imagine what the younger brother of my new stepfather would be like. “Does it really matter if I’m there for that?”

Honestly, when I woke up this morning I was actually a bit excited about dinner with my mother since I was so busy with modeling I didn’t get much of a chance to see her, but after the news the hospital dropped on me I just kind of wanted to be alone.

“Of course it matters,” my mother responds now. “Since he is family as well, it is best that ya’ll meet.”

“Alright,” I sigh, my stomach churning as nerves over seeing my mother hit me.

I don’t know why, but I suddenly feel like my mother will know that I was pregnant just by a single look.

Of course, rationally, I understood there was no way since I had a while before I started showing, but even then I can’t stop my unease.

“I’ll be there soon.”

The words leave my lips before I can change my mind and run to the safety of my home.

“See you then.”

“Alright,” my mother chirps before the phone line disconnects and silence falls around me.

“Shit,” I hiss, clutching my steering wheel. “How the hell am I going to break this news?”

Even if I were afraid of confessing to my mother, I was more than aware that I couldn’t keep it a secret forever, and honestly, since I was alone it would be nice to have some support from my family, but would they support me?

As this question comes, my stomach starts to twist and a knot rises in my throat.

Would my mother accept my being pregnant by someone I don’t know how to find?

Would she actually accept the child in my stomach, or would she reject it and disown me?

“Dammit.”

How could I do something so stupid?

I mean, it wasn’t like I was completely unsafe while doing the deed.

We used a condom, but it broke, and I did go and get a plan B the next morning, but I guess fate had a sense of humor when it came to me.

“I shouldn’t have accepted that bet.” I murmur, revving my car to life.

It was a bet.

It was a stupid bet with my friends to make myself feel like I was actually able to pick up a man way out of my league.

It was supposed to be nothing more than one night of passion and then nothing more, but now it was a decision that would forever stay with me.

This single realization stays with me during the drive to my mother’s house, and when I arrive and see an unfamiliar car in the driveway, I try to push it aside and make myself seem chipper and happy.

Once I have the perfect expression in place and after a quick look in the mirror to make sure my hair and makeup are presentable, I get out of the car and head toward the house in front of me.

When I reach the porch, the door in front of me bursts open, and my mother rushes toward me.

“Darling!” She cooes, throwing her arms around me. “It’s been too long.”

“It has only been a few weeks,” I point out as she pulls away and starts to examine me.

“You’ve lost weight again.” She sighs. “Look at you, you’re only skin and bones.”

Frowning, I look down at my body, taking in my large breasts and slim frame.

Of course, I looked like I lost weight; it was necessary to remain relevant in the industry, but I was more than aware that my mother wasn’t happy with the career path I chose.

“Come, come,” she announces, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the house.

Once inside, a delicious scent hits my nose, causing my stomach to growl, but before I can actually realize just how hungry I am, a wave of nausea hits me.

Eyes widening, I lift a hand to my mouth, and as my mother looks toward me with a questioning gaze, I yank myself free and rush toward the bathroom.

When I arrive, I grab the doorknob, and when I start twisting the cold metal in my hand, the door bursts open, nearly crashing into me.

“Oh,” I hear a deep voice rumble as I stumble backward and then swallow, trying to keep myself from yacking. “Sorry.”

“It’s…” I begin, turning my gaze to the one who spoke and then feeling my voice get lost completely. “You…” I hiss as his hazel-grey eyes lock on me and recognition starts to form in them. “Why are you here?”

Silence falls around us as we stare each other down, both of us certainly wondering what kind of turn of events this is, but before I can get an answer, the nausea erupts again and I’m rushing past the man in front of me and into the bathroom just in time for bile to rise up in my throat and pour from my mouth into the toilet in front of me.

“Hey,” I hear that damned voice that makes shivers rush through me exclaim. “Are you alright?”

Do I look okay? I respond silently as I dry heave.

It was a ridiculous thing to ask when it was clear that I wasn’t okay, but then again, none of this should have even been happening.

“Shit,” the man hisses, grabbing my hair that is falling in front of my face and gently gathering it against my back. “Did you eat something that doesn’t agree with you?”

If only. I sigh inwardly. Then I wouldn’t be in this insane situation where I was carrying the child of a man who shouldn’t be here with me now, to whom I can never utter the secret I’m carrying.

Panting, I slowly blink away the tears that are blurring my vision and then sit back while relief floods through me, but that relief is short-lived as I hear my mother gasp from just beside me.

“Darling!” She calls, her heels clicking toward me. “Are you alright? Grant,” she continues, clearly addressing the man who still holds my hair for me. “I’m so sorry that you had to witness such a scene.”

“It’s alright,” Grant responds easily. “But maybe we should help her to the couch, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” my mother agrees, and then I feel her hands on me. “Come, Gia," she says, helping me to my feet. "Let’s go have a seat.”