Chapter 140 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 30

Chapter 140 BOOK 2: CHAPTER 30
—Amira—
I gazed out the window as Eloise's convoy eased through the streets of London.
Moments later, we eased into the hospital— a tall, modern building with a spawning parking space.
“Are you alright?” Eloise asked.
I met her gaze and nodded. “Thank you for coming for me.”
She smiled. “You're welcome.”
My brows creased as something crossed my mind.
“About the paternity test, don't we need Nathaniel's sample too?”
“I've got you covered.”
She reached into her handbag and came up with a transparent evidence sleeve. Inside it was a toothbrush. Black.
My breath caught.
“That's...”
“Nathaniel’s,” Eloise replied. “From his suite in D.C. I had the domestic staff send it over last night.”
I swallowed hard. “Is that enough?”
“More than enough.” She tucked the sleeve inside her bag and angled her head toward the hospital. “Shall we?”
Her security opened the door and we stepped out of the car. With my hand, I shielded my eyes from the sun as I took in the hospital.
The building was large and modern, with immaculate white walls and a polished marble floor.
Eloise walked ahead of me, heels clicking on the floor, posture straight. She didn’t look like someone accompanying a woman who might be carrying a life-altering news. She looked like someone attending a private appointment she had already accounted for.
The receptionist glanced at her screen, then smiled.
“Welcome, Ms. Rivera.”
A woman in a navy blazer, a tablet in hand approached us.
“Right this way please,” she said, and started walking down toward an elevator.
“Who's that?” I whispered.
“That's the VIP liaison,” Eloise replied as we started falling into steps after her. “She's taking us to the doctor.”
I blinked. “Aren't they supposed to register me for the session?”
Eloise beamed. “I already handled that.”
We stepped into an elevator, and after a smooth ride, the doors opened into a quiet hallway.
“Dr. Hannah Colins will see you now,” the VIP liaison said, gesturing at door.
Eloise nodded and opened the door. I took in a large office with floor-to-ceiling windows and a woman seated behind a mahogany desk.
“Ms. Rivera,” she called, rising to her feet.
We walked in and shook hands with her.
“This is Amira Nwosu,” Eloise said, taking my hand. 
“Good to see you, Amira,” Dr. Colins murmured and gestured at the seats in front of her desk. “Please, seat.”
I sat down. Eloise took the seat beside me. Dr. Colins settled in too, a practiced smile still on her lips.
“When was your last period, Amira?” she asked.
“I–I wasn't tracking it because I wasn't seeing someone then. B–But it's been weeks, months maybe.”
Eloise and Dr. Colins exchanged glances.
“It's okay,” Dr. Colins said. “Any nausea?”
“Yes.”
“Food aversions?”
“…Yes. And my boobs are sore.”
“Are you on any prenatal vitamins?”
I shook my head. No words.
“We'll conduct some tests to get the answers we need,” Dr.Colins said, rising to her feet.
“Tests?” I repeated.
“A blood test. An ultrasound scan.” She paused. “We’ve been informed you’d like to include paternity screening?”
I met Eloise's gaze briefly. “Yes.”
The doctor nodded. “We’ll need the father’s DNA sample if it isn’t already available.”
“Here.” Eloise came up with the toothbrush.
“Alright.” Dr. Colins collected it and reached for her intercom. Within a minute, a nurse appeared with ....
The moment Dr. Colins stood and picked up the syringe, I positioned my arm and closed my eyes.
“Don't worry. It's not going to hurt.”
I opened my eyes and watched her clean me up with a methylated spirit, then came the sharp pinch that stole my breath.
It was over before I realized it. She pressed a small square of cotton to my arm, then turned to the tray.
“This will go straight to the lab.”Dr. Colins capped and labelled the vial, before sliding it into a sealed biohazard pouch. “Now time for the ultrasound.”
She gestured at the bed behind me, next to the ultrasound machine. Eloise gave me a reassuring smile.
I made my way over there and laid down on the bed, slightly raising my T-shirt.
“We won't take long,” the doctor said as she assumed the chair beside the bed.
My breath hitched as a cool lotion landed on my skin. Then she spread it with the traduser until the image on the monitor was clearer.
I saw him; my little bundle of joy cozied up in my womb.
Tears pricked my eyes.
“That's your baby right there,” Dr. Colins said, pointing to the screen. “According to the calculations, you're eight weeks pregnant.”
Eloise stood and joined us. “How's the baby?”
“Strong and healthy,” the doctor replied.
As for me? Torrents of tears streamed down my face as I stared at the bundle blossoming inside me.
Why did I wish it was Nathaniel’s... when he was the only man I even remembered touching me in years?
“You need to start your prenatal vitamins,” the doctor said as she cleaned me up. “I'll prescribe some for you. It's very important for a healthy pregnancy.”
I adjusted my T-shirt.
“When will the result be out? I mean the paternity test,” I mumbled.
“With priority processing, we should have definitive results within seventy-two hours.”
Seventy-two hours felt endless, but I had no choice.
I nodded and headed out. Eloise joined me in the hallway.
“Let's grab a glass of juice,” she said.
Minutes later, her convoy pulled up in a five-star restaurant. We sat by one of the balconies and watched as the world below drifted away until the waiter appeared with our drinks.
“Thank you,” Eloise chipped in.
A sip from the cool drink felt so soothing, exactly what I needed.
“I know you're worried,” Eloise said.
“Shouldn't I be?” I asked. “If this baby isn't Nate's, it could destroy everything we have.”
She sipped her drink. “Love will always find a way, Amira.”
“Sometimes love is not enough,” I muttered. 
“Nathaniel loves you” Eloise lowered her glass. “But the question is... do you love him, enough to stand by when the storm rages?”
Storm?
Rages?
Was it me, or was she speaking in parables?
I swallowed. “Yes. I love him with all my heart.”
A beat passed. Then Eloise exhaled and leaned back in her chair.
“Whatever you hear, I want you to know it's not Nathaniel's fault. He did it for the sake of the family.”
My brows creased. “What are you talking about?”
Eloise’s lips curved slightly. “Some… arrangements have to be made for the family to remain secure. He’s simply playing his part.”
“What part is that?”
“The role of a good son.”
My heart sank. Was I… nothing more than a distraction? A chapter he would close when duty called?
Moments later, we pulled up in Nathaniel's penthouse.
“Here,” Eloise handed me the prenatal vitamins. “Remember to take them.”
I slipped the medications into my bag.
“Aren't you coming inside?”
She shook her head. “I have an appointment in the next one hour.”
“Thanks once again.”
She smiled. “If you ever need anything, don't forget to call... As for my brother, tell him I said hi.”
Grasping my bag, I stepped out of the car and watched her convoy disappear down the parking lot.
“Amira?”
I turned to Nathaniel. Smiling, he dashed forward and pulled me into his arms. “It’s so good to have you back.”
Even as I melted into his arms, Eloise's words echoed— a cold reminder of the storms ahead.