Chapter 205 Time Moves On

Chapter 205 Time Moves On
\[Lilah’s POV\]

I wipe away the tears that are starting to stain my cheeks and then take a deep breath and once I’ve managed to swallow down the sadness I’m feeling, I look to Rika.

“Well,” I announce. “Want to go get something to eat?”

Maybe I was being sudden, but I made a promise to Jeremiah and I intended to keep it, but I had no control over Rika and her actions.

“That…” Rika begins, but stops. “Alright.” She continues. “That would be great.”

“Great,” I beam, untangling myself from Collin’s arm and then hooking my arm in Rika’s. “Then you choose the place. Is there anything you’re craving?”

“I’m fine with anything.” She assures me, but I won’t let her get away with that.

“You gotta pick,” I tell her. “I’m treating you, after all.”

“It’s…”

“You might as well just agree with her.” Collin tells her before she can argue. “She won’t drop it.”

“O-okay,” Rika murmurs and then seems to truly consider.

I wait, watching while she tries to determine what she wants and when a look crosses her face, I wonder what it might be that she has come up with.

“Burgers,” she says slowly. “Could we maybe go and get burgers?”

“Burgers?” Collin laughs. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Collin,” I hiss, elbowing him. “Don’t do that to her.”

“What?” He asks. “As the princess of Reeves Industries it isn’t what I would expect to come out.”

“I’m not a princess,” Rika snaps and I bite back on the laugh that wants to escape.

“You heard her,” I smile. “She’s not a princess and even if she is, this princess wants burgers and that is what we will get.”

I don’t give Collin the opportunity to say anything more before we start heading through the airport and then out onto the street and as we head towards where Collin is parked, I turn my gaze to the airport once more and send a silent bon voyage to Jeremiah while wondering just how long he will be gone.

After that, time slowly flies by, days turn to weeks, weeks to months, and before I know it, eight months pass without Jeremiah returning or my mother waking up.

They’re a long eight months that I wish the two people most important to me were around, but am thankful that I at least have Collin.

In the span of those months, my body changes. My breasts grow, my stomach expands, and being able to move around comfortably becomes difficult, but still, it is a time that I don’t wish to forget.

During this time, Rika and I grow closer just as Jeremiah asked and I find that she’s an extremely lovely girl.

I learn a bit about her past, her family, and the reason why I’m certain Jeremiah cares for her so much.

She’s sheltered, a princess, and sometimes, I find that her parents are way too strict, but no amount of trying to convince her to go against them works.

How can it?

She doesn’t have much to fall back on because her whole life plan was to work in her father’s company and to eventually marry someone who could bring her family benefit.

In a way, I’m happy that Jeremiah is the person that her parents have chosen, because I’m certain that he will be able to treat her with the love and respect that she deserves, but even though I wish for them to be together, it is ultimately up to them.

That is why, I don’t push the subject. I don’t probe Rika about her actual feelings, and while I slowly grow mine and Collin’s children, I listen and I give advice when it is needed.

By the end of those eight months, I become bedridden again, which is fine, because walking around and doing things with a giant belly isn’t easy.

Of course, I hate having to depend so much on Collin, but then I’m thankful he is beside me.

Even now as we sit together on the couch, my feet propped up in his lap, his hands rubbing my feet, and soft music playing, he treats me like a queen and I can’t help but fall in love with him again.

Sighing, I relax, my eyes closing, as relief from Collin’s massage relaxes me.

“You could have stayed in bed.” Collin chuckles, but I just open my eyes and l give Collin a look that screams don’t start.

“I can’t stay in bed all day.” I point out. “I’ve already spent a week there. I needed a change of scenery.”

“And what if something happened to you or the babies?”

“You worry too much.” I huff, pulling my feet away and then slowly standing. “See,” I announce, lifting my hands and then doing a squat. “I’m perfectly fine to move around, it just uncomfortable.”

“Be careful,” Collin hisses, jumping up as I move to do another squat. “You can’t just do things like that!”

“I won’t induce labor,” I sigh. “And even if I did wouldn’t it be fine? I’m full term and twin pregnancies usually don’t make it that long. I’m strong, you see.”

I do another squat to prove my point, but efore I can do another Collin grabs me and tugs me onto his lap.

“No!” I gasp. “I’m heavy!”

“You’re not,” Collin counters, nuzzling my neck. ‘You’re perfect.”

At his words, I feel a thrum of contentment rush through me, but before I can really let it lull me into a sense of security pain shoots through my lower abdomen.

“Ouch,” I hiss, touching my stomach. “What was that?”

“What?” Collin asks, going on alert. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I tell him, but as I do, another thrum of pain shoots through me. “Ouch.”

“Lilah,” Collin says, his tone serious as he shifts me to take me in. “We should go to the hospital.”

“Why?” I demand. “I’m fine. It is probably just braxton hicks.”

However, my words immediately come back to bite me as I feel a gush between my thighs and I realize that maybe I shouldn’t have been so stubborn.

“Collin,” I say, shock rushing through me. “I think it’s time.”

“On it,” he announces, gently placing me on the couch and rushing to our room where my hospital bag waits. “I’ve got this!”