Chapter 88: Pregnant again

"Ruan, please step away from the stove," Aysel laughed, leaning her elbows against the kitchen counter.

"I've got this under control," Ruan grumbled. He poked the black, smoking mess in the pan with a wooden spoon.

"You are definitely not a chef," Aysel smiled, watching him closely. "You are literally ruining those poor eggs."

"I’m making a romantic breakfast for my beautiful wife," Ruan insisted looking serious, but a tiny, playful smile crept onto his lips. "I watched a video online this morning."

"The internet definitely lied to you," Aysel giggled, covering her nose with her hand. "It smells like burning rubber."

"It's called a dark sear, Aysel," Ruan defended his terrible food. "Sit at the table, I’m plating this masterpiece for you."

"I am absolutely not eating that," Aysel laughed, shaking her head vigorously. "I want to live to see tomorrow."

Ruan dropped the spoon onto the counter with a loud clatter and turned around slowly, locking his eyes onto hers, he wiped his hands on a kitchen towel and walked towards her.

"You are a tough food critic," Ruan whispered, stepping into her personal space.

"I’m just trying to survive your cooking," Aysel teased, tilting her head back to look at his face.

Ruan trapped her against the counter, resting his hands on the marble on either side of her hips, he leaned down, pressing his lips against her neck and kissed her gently, sending a happy shiver down her spine.

"I’m trying to be a good, normal husband," Ruan murmured against her skin. "I wanted to spoil you before you go to your office today."

"You already spoil me every day," Aysel smiled, tangling her fingers in his hair. "We helped ten mothers yesterday, Ruan, the charity is doing so well, I’m so happy."

"You are a true angel," Ruan said softly and pulled back to look into her eyes. "I’m proud of you, Aysel."

He leaned in to kiss her lips.

But as he got closer, the smell of burning butter and burnt eggs wafted into Aysel's nose.

Her stomach flipped violently, she pushed against his broad chest, turning her head away quickly.

"Aysel?" Ruan frowned deeply, stepping back. "What’s wrong?"

"I feel so sick," Aysel gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.

"I told you the eggs smelled bad," Ruan panicked, turning to grab the smoking pan. "I’m throwing it in the trash right now."

"No, it’s not just the eggs," Aysel mumbled through her fingers.

A wave of nausea hit the back of her throat, she didn’t say another word, she turned and sprinted out of the kitchen, running as fast as she could down the hallway.

"Aysel!" Ruan yelled, dropping the pan and running after her.

Aysel burst into their bathroom, she slammed the door shut and quickly locked it then she dropped to her knees in front of the toilet, gagging loudly and throwing up the orange juice she had earlier.

Ruan pounded on the bathroom door.

"Open the door, baby!" Ruan shouted, his voice shaking with fear. "Let me in right now! I'm calling Dr. Aris!"

"No!" Aysel coughed, flushing the toilet and leaning her sweaty forehead against the cool porcelain. "Don’t call the doctor, Ruan, I’m fine."

"You’re throwing up," Ruan argued loudly. "You’re sick, I’ll kick this door down in three seconds if you don’t open it."

"Ruan Sinclair, please just give me one minute alone," Aysel pleaded, her voice tired but firm.

Ruan stopped pounding on the door and let out a heavy breath.

"One minute," Ruan whispered nervously from the hallway. "I’m right here."

Aysel pushed herself up from the floor, her legs felt weak, she walked to the bathroom sink and turned on the cold water, she washed her pale face, wiping her mouth with a white towel.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes were wide and confused.

She felt sick, she felt incredibly tired all week and her breasts felt heavy and sore.

Aysel stood still.

She quickly counted the weeks in her head. One, two, three, four, five.

She missed her cycle so she was late.

Her heart began to race, her hands shook so violently that she dropped the towel onto the floor.

She opened the bottom drawer of the bathroom cabinet, she pushed aside some extra soap and shampoo bottles, hiding in the back was a small, unopened pink box, she bought it months ago, right before the fight, and had forgotten it was there.

A pregnancy test.

"Aysel, you’re scaring me," Ruan's deep voice came through thr door. "Please talk to me, tell me you’re okay."

"I’m okay, Ruan," Aysel called back, her voice trembling. "I’m just washing my face."

She opened thebox with shaking fingers and took the plastic stick out and sat on the toilet, following the instructions.

She placed the stick flat on the edge of the sink.

The box said to wait three minutes.

Aysel sat on the edge of the bathtub, staring at the stick, her chest heaved up and down rapidly, she was terrified to hope, she was scared of breaking her heart again.

"Baby," Ruan pleaded from the hallway, gently tapping the door. "I’m really scared out here, please open the lock."

"Just ten more seconds," Aysel whispered, mostly to herself.

She stood up slowly, her bare feet felt glued to the floor, she walked to the sink.

She looked down at it.

Two bright, bold pink lines stared back at her.

Aysel stopped breathing, she covered her mouth with both hands, tears flooding her eyes, the tears spilled over her eyelashes, falling quickly down her cheeks.

She was pregnant.

Aysel let out a loud, shaky sob and grabbed the plastic stick tightly and ran to the door, unlocking it quickly.

Ruan almost fell into the bathroom when she opened the door, his dark eyes were wide with panic, and his face was pale.

"We’re going to the hospital right now," Ruan ordered, gently grabbing her shoulders. "You’re crying, you’re sick. Cole is bringing the car around."

"I’m not sick, Ruan," Aysel sobbed happily, shaking her head vigorously.

"Then why are you crying so hard?" Ruan begged, reaching up to wipe her wet face with his shaking thumbs. "Tell me what hurts, baby, please."

"Nothing hurts," Aysel whispered, a huge, beautiful smile breaking across her crying face.

"Then what is it?" Ruan asked, totally confused.

Aysel didn’t say another word, she just held up her right hand, pushing the stick in front of his chest.

Ruan looked down at the stick, his eyes locked onto the two lines.

Ruan froze, he stopped breathing, he stared at the lines for ten seconds, trying to understand what he was seeing.

"Aysel?" Ruan choked out, his deep voice breaking into a whisper.

"I’m pregnant, Ruan," Aysel cried softly, throwing her arms around his neck. "We’re having a baby."

Ruan's legs gave out, he dropped to his knees on the floor, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her stomach.

"Thank you," Ruan cried into her shirt, holding her tight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."