Chapter 61 Chapter 61
Chapter 61 Chapter 61
Averie stared at Dr. Levie, her lips parted but no sound came out.
“P–pregnant…?”
Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
Dr. Levie nodded gently, watching her face carefully.
“Yes. About five weeks along. Your body has been under tremendous stress. That fainting was a warning.”
“A baby… Darian’s baby” She lowered her hands to her stomach unconsciously, her fingertips trembling against her dress. A thousand emotions hit her all at once.
She whispered again “I’m pregnant?”
“Yes.” The doctor’s tone softened even more.
“And you need to be careful. Your stress levels have been dangerously high.”
The irony wasn’t lost on her. She had fainted from heartbreak at the exact moment she discovered new life growing inside her.
Life connected to the man she loved but who may never forgive her. Her eyes burned with tears.
“Does… he know? Is he here yet?” she asked
“No,” Levie said. “And based on what happened last night, I figured it wasn’t right to call him before you do ”
Averie swallowed. Even hearing his name made her chest twist painfully.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”
Dr. Levie gave her a sad smile.
“You’re not alone. If anything happens, call me immediately.” He left her to process the truth.
The moment the door shut, Averie exploded. She released the choking tears she had been holding in all along.
MEANWHILE>>
Darian woke up groggy, head pounding, in the back seat of his car. When flashes of his day rushed at him, he sat up instantly.
“Carmine… what happened? What time is it?”
Carmine pretended to rub her temples “I don’t know” she said.
“I…I think I drank too much. You dozed off too, and I didn’t want to disturb you. We must’ve fallen asleep.”
Darian checked his watch and his heart dropped.
“Damn Averie! I was supposed to meet her!”
He reached for his phone but Carmine quickly said:
“It’s dead. The battery died earlier.”
Darian clenched his fist frustratingly “Why didn’t you wake me?!”
But Carmine lowered her head, pretending to be ashamed.
“I’m sorry… I thought you needed the rest. You’ve been stressed lately. I thought I was helping.”
He rubbed his forehead, torn between anger and exhaustion.
“I need to go. Now.”
“I’ll drive,” Carmine offered quickly.
“No,” Darian said firmly. “You’ve had alcohol. I’ll call my assistant.”
Only then did Carmine’s fake concern waver for a second but she forced a smile “Of course.”
Dr. Levie had arranged for Averie to rest in a private room for observation but she couldn’t sit still.
As soon as she felt steady on her feet, she left the room quietly and went to the garden outside. She needed air more than anything.
She hugged herself tightly, staring down at her stomach.
“I’m sorry… little one.”
Like normal married couples, she should be happy, glowing, and already in her husband’s arms telling him the news.
But instead, she was alone and heartbroken.
They were not like normal couples, and even though they share a little bit of likeness, they’re on a contract.
Several minutes later, Averie was still seated on the bench when footsteps approached rapidly behind her.
“Averie !”
She turned.
Darian was rushing toward her, breathless and eyes wide with panic.
The moment he saw her, he noticed the paleness of her skin, and the weakness in her shoulders, and his expression shattered.
“What happened? Why didn’t you answer my calls? Are you alright?”
Averie stared at him blankly “You didn’t call me.”
Darian pulled out his phone, and it was dead. And before he could say anything, Averie looked away.
“You don’t have to pretend to care,” she whispered.
“Pretend?” Darian’s voice cracked with disbelief. “Averie, I rushed here the moment I realized I…”
He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed the hospital wristband on her hand.
“Why… why are you wearing that?” he whispered, his heart racing.
Averie stiffened. Her eyes widened and her pulse quickened. She felt caught.
She wasn’t ready to tell him, not like this. Not while she was hurt with the picture of him and Carmine still haunting her.
“I just felt dizzy,” she said softly. “I needed rest. That’s all.”
It was a lie and Darian sensed it instantly. His eyes softened, guilt overpowering frustration.
He took a step closer “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I should’ve been here instead of that meeting”
Averie didn’t utter a word in reply, she only nodded her head with a dry, understanding smile.
Darian drove Averie home in silence, both trapped in their thoughts.
When they entered the mansion, Carmine was standing in the living room, pretending to be still worried.
“Oh, Darian! Are you okay? You left so suddenly, I…”
He walked right past her instead “Go home, Carmine.”
“But Darian…” She called, following after him
closely until he spun around to face her. Her smile faded
“Go. Home.” His tone left no room for argument this time.
Carmine clenched her jaw and stormed out, humiliated once more.
Inside her room, Averie sank onto her bed and finally allowed herself to cry freely. Everything hurt, from Darian’s misunderstanding to the baby. She never knew that love could hurt so much. If only she could return to those times she never cared but it was too late.
She wondered if he also felt like this for her.
She sobbed into her pillow, trembling all over.
Down the hall, Darian stood outside her door, his fist hovering inches from knocking. He had heard her crying.
He wanted to go in, to hold her and tell her he didn’t care about anything else in the world but her. But she had pushed him away earlier and he didn’t know why.
So he stood there not knowing that the woman crying in the room behind him was carrying his child.
He only left when he heard no sound coming from her room. Deep down, he wanted all the drama to end but Averie kept secrets from him. When he would do anything for her, he wasn’t sure where she stood.