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I quickly get up from my seat and spotting the restroom, I run towards it, covering my mouth. When I finally reach the toilet, I kneel on the floor and empty my stomach into it.

It's disgustingly gross, and just as I finish expelling everything, Isabella appears behind me, very concerned.

"Juliette! Holy heavens, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I say without enthusiasm, flushing the toilet.

But the truth is quite the opposite; I feel horribly sick now.

I wash my hands at the sink, and as I'm about to rinse my mouth, Isabella stops me.

"Wait, I'll get you a bottle of water," she says and hurries out.

"Miss Moreau," I'm addressed, and I startle, not having noticed Nora, the wedding planner, there.

"Damn, you scared me," I say, putting both hands over my chest.

"Miss."

"That cursed garlic bread."

"Miss, I don't think the problem is the garlic bread. In fact, I'd wager there isn't really a problem at all."

"What do you mean?"

"You tried to deny it earlier, but I recognize a pregnant woman when I see one, and I noticed it from the very moment I saw you."

Pregnant? No, that's impossible.

"Are you pregnant?" Isabella chimes in upon hearing us.

"I... um..."

"When was your last period?"

"It was, it was..."

Damn it. It was supposed to come last week.

I widen my eyes as I realize that "minor" detail.

"Juliette, you're pregnant!"

"Of course not!" I exclaim, denying it.

"Of course you are! We need to do a pregnancy test right now."

"No!" I exclaim, agitated.

"Why?" Bella questions.

I briefly glance at the two women present, then leave the restroom and head back to the table where we were sitting, pay the bill and promptly leave the restaurant, feeling overwhelmed.

When I reach the car, John looks at me worriedly and quickly comes over to open the door.

"Miss, is everything okay?" he asks, but I shake my head, getting into the car.

I ask John to drive away quickly, and soon my phone starts ringing incessantly. I see Isabella's name on the screen but I decide not to answer.

All those moments with Gérard flood my mind, making me realize all the times we've had unprotected sex. Since we reunited, we haven't used protection even once.

Well, it was mostly me who didn't think about it. My hand instinctively rests on my belly, and I can't describe the feeling that overwhelms me at that precise moment.

That's when my heart knows.

"Miss," I hear John calling, snapping me out of the thousands of thoughts now flooding my mind. "Are you sure everything is okay?"

"John, take me to the clinic," I ask abruptly.

He looks at me with confusion but complies without saying a word. My nerves worsen, and the nausea returns once we arrive at the clinic.

To avoid going in alone, I ask John to accompany me. After providing my information, I wait anxiously for my turn in this place.

"Juliette Moreau," the nurse calls after several minutes, indicating the examination room I need to enter.

I stand up and ask John to wait for me outside.

Finally, I enter the examination room and close the door behind me, relieved to find it's a female doctor, which makes me more comfortable.

"Miss Juliette, come forward," the doctor greets me.

"Good afternoon," I say nervously.

"Tell me, why are you here today?"

"Well, I... I... um, I need... I think I might be pregnant!" I exclaim a bit louder than I should.

"Oh, I see," she says calmly. "Have you experienced any symptoms that make you think so?"

"My period is late, and today I felt really nauseous."

"Have you had an increase in appetite? Cravings for certain foods?" she asks.

Chocolate.

I close my eyes, remembering my intense chocolate cravings in the past few days.

"Yes," I admit, terrified.

"Okay," she replies, finishing jotting down what I told her.

"Juliette, we will do a blood pregnancy test to confirm or dismiss your doubts. The nurse will come soon to take your sample, alright?" she asks, and I nod.

The doctor leaves the room, and shortly after, the nurse arrives to take my blood sample. Being there, it feels like minutes are dragging on forever, and I soon become restless.

My leg moves incessantly, and I can't help but bite my nails due to the nervousness this is causing me.

When the door to the office opens, my heart beats loudly and my body trembles wildly as I see the doctor holding the results in her hands.

She enters in complete silence, taking a seat. I watch her expectantly waiting for her to speak, and I notice a smile forming on her face as she focuses her eyes.

"Well, congratulations, mom. You're pregnant."

Time seems to freeze after hearing what my inner self already knew. My body stiffens, and I can't even process it.

I'm pregnant.

I'm pregnant.

I feel tears welling up in my eyes, but... as much as I want to feel it, it's not happiness. I don't feel happy.

Soon, memories of the baby I lost flood my mind, and fear paralyzes me.

"Juliette, react," the doctor urges, taking my hands. "Tell me what's going on."

The doctor asks insistently, over and over again, but I can't even respond.

The sound of my phone ringing startles me and when I realize, I see it's Gérard calling.



After getting the results, I leave the clinic with a lost mind, not knowing how to act.

I decided not to answer Gérard's calls and turned off my phone.

I always dreamed of this, the moment when I carried the fruit of our love in my womb. However, I had it once and lost it, and I fear getting my hopes up and losing it again.

That thought terrifies me.

"Miss, where can I take you?" John asks as he sees me getting into the car.

I think about it for several seconds until I finally decide.