Chapter 159 CHAPTER 159

Chapter 159 CHAPTER 159


ROBIN

“Lana, what does it say?” I rasped urgently, fighting the urge to knock down the door and enter the bathroom.

“Lana?”

Silence. For a good minute before…

“Oh my God… oh my God, oh my God.”

“Will you please tell me what it says?” The door flew wide open, her whole body materialising in front of me with an impassive face, holding the pregnancy test stick high with two red lines displaying. I gasped softly, wide eyed.

“Oh my God… you’re pregnant. Ahhhhhhh!” A squeal burst from my lips, bouncing up and down in excitement before gathering her in my arms. Lana stood stiff, barely reacting for someone going to be a mum. Was she in denial, shocked or overwhelmed?

“Are you okay?” I asked, worried. 

“I’m pregnant,” she said quietly, taking a quick glance over the stick and swallowing hard before erupting into a sudden shriek. “I’m really fucking pregnant, Robin!” She hugged me now, squeezing the living breath out of me, only releasing me when I gave an uncomfortable wheeze.

“I thought you didn’t want it anymore. You looked…serious.” I teased, catching my breath while trying to smooth my braids back into place. Angel was going to kill me when she returned.

“I was seriously shocked.” She expelled a long breath. “After several months of trying, I was beginning to get concerned, you know. I thought something was actually wrong with me.”

“Nonsense, Lana. And I’m happy for you. So fucking happy.” I pulled her into another hug. I knew just how frustrated she had been with her delay to getting pregnant. This was everything to her.

“I’m so elated I got to find out about my pregnancy on your birthday and wedding day.” Lana’s voice broke on a shaky sob, her eyes watering. “This has to be the best day of my life.”

“Don’t.” I scolded, pouting.

“I haven’t even done anything.”

“Don’t get me all emotional, I don’t want to ruin my makeup.” I sniffled, dabbing beneath my eyes with my thumb.

“Come on, let’s get you seated.” She took my hand, leading me to a chaise lounge and settling me in it. My nerves were all over the place.

The excitement over her pregnancy had momentarily distracted me for a while. But the knot forming in my stomach had returned with full force.

“Your fishtail braid is a little messed up but nothing angel can’t fix.”

“She’s going to kill me L. Where’s mum?”

“She’s showing her friends around the palace with Margaret. You know for a woman who grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth, you might think she had seen it all.” A soft laughter broke out from our lips, then Lana’s expression softened.

“You look so beautiful, Robin. I don’t have to remind you. You have surreal features…so breathtaking.”

I peeled my eyes from her face. “Oh, you flatter me.” She cupped my chin, looking me straight in the eyes.

“You know I’m not just flattering you. You’re genuinely the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. You just have to accept it.” I nodded, chuckling softly.

The door creaked softly open. “My goodness, Robin!” Angel gasped dramatically, a mischievous grimace pulling over my face. “Have you been crying? You’re going to ruin your makeup.” Her horrified gaze travelled to my hair. “And your hair?” She huffed. “What happened?” she said rushing over to my side.

“Robin hugged me too tightly.” Lana met my gaze, grinning.

“And I can see her nerves are returning. Why again?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because I had absolutely no hand in planning my own wedding.” I rolled my eyes at the thought, accepting a Bloody Mary Angel handed me.

“Take a sip. It’ll help you relax.” Angel said, faffing with my hair and making a point to reinforce the delicate floral hair vines woven through it, along with the pearl sprays and tiny crystal accents. I really did look fresh despite the nerves.

“Or you’re nervous because it’s only been two weeks after the proposal? Anyways why the rush?” Lana asked.

“He wanted to make sure I didn’t change my mind.” I took another sip of the cocktail, smiling over the rim of the glass. “As if I ever would.” I passed the glass to Lana, gasping in surprise, my eyes popping out when I saw her emptying the rest of the content.

“Lana Marie Betton!” I yelped, jabbing a finger at her. “You’re fucking pregnant!”

She laughed, quickly setting the glass down.

“Just this swig, nothing more I promise.” She raised both hands innocently. “I’ve got nine months to behave myself.”

“I’m going to kill you if you do that again.” Lana pressed a kiss to my cheek then my lips.

“You’ll ruin her lipstick, my goodness Lana.” Angel groaned, grabbing a lip brush and repairing the damage.

“My darling.” We all turned to the door. Mum softly closed the door behind her and steamed straight towards me. “You look so beautiful. Oh, beautiful is an understatement.” She pressed her lips to my forehead, sweeping away the wispy tendrils curled around my face before going to my cheeks.

“Jack really has exquisite taste, the luxury outside is beyond anything I’ve seen before.”

“Really?” I whispered, unbidden tears filling my eyes once more. The fact that the bride had no hands in her own wedding was undoubtedly hilarious, but this wasn’t funny at all. Jack had made sure everything was planned to his taste and had taken care of practically everything. My only job was to make myself ready to walk down the aisle and promise him forever. Not that a marriage certificate could deepen the bond we already shared—nor could a metal band make me love him any more than I already did. But this mattered to him, more than anything and we were going to have it.

“That’s it.” Angel threw both hands in the air, frustrated. “I’ll have to retouch your whole face again.”

“Won’t that cause a delay? Guests are already streaming in.”

“She is not walking down that aisle looking like this. She has to look perfect.” Angel hurried across the big room, searching for the makeup kit. “Okay, up to this chair.” She pulled back a tall chair in front of the mirror and patted it for me to sit.

“Hope you’re already in your underwear, darling.” I lifted stabbing eyes to Lana’s reflection from the mirror. She winced.

“What was that look?” Mum asked, turning to stare at Lana properly.

“I … didn’t get around to helping her into her underwear.” Lana admitted weakly, squeezing her face, hoping it would minimise our mother’s scorn.

“So you’re not in your underwear?” Mum’s gaze drifted to me and I shook my head slowly, willing with all my heart that I could hide my face in my palm to escape her unhappy face but Angel had my chin cupped up, with literally nowhere to hide my eyes.

“You’re going to be late. Jesus.” She shot Lana an exasperated look. “What exactly have you two been doing all this while then?”

“We were… checking a thing or two in the bathroom.” Lana answered vaguely, not hinting on her pregnancy. No doubt she’d tell Mum about the pregnancy later.

With a dramatic huff, mum disappeared into the inner room where all my wedding effects were stored, to fetch my new pair of underwear.

“You’ll have to manoeuvre two tasks, sweetheart.” Mum said. “Get yourself up while I—”

“Holy fucking Christ!” Every movement in the room stopped. Angel instantly halting the retouch to my face, so did mum with helping me fit into my underwear. All eyes turned towards the doorway. Jack stood there, his beautiful face peering into my bridal suite, staring at me in complete awe.