Chapter 109. A Doubt

***109\. A Doubt***

**Sabrina's POV**

It’s been a month, and while some things are falling into place, others seem to be unraveling.

Travis and I have gotten to know each other better—maybe too well. I’m starting to wonder if he feels the same way I do. It’s there, unspoken between us, but I’m too afraid to put it into words. What if I ruin what we already have? Or worse, what if I’m wrong?

Meanwhile, Helen might have realized that Travis still owns his company and is its CEO, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. Let her rage, let her scheme—it doesn’t matter. If anything, I hope it eats her alive.

“Nio, wake up!” I shook him gently at first, but he didn’t budge.

“Hmm… what?” he groaned, barely cracking an eye open.

“We’re late for work!” I said, growing impatient.

“Ugh, it’s fine,” he muttered, pulling the quilt over his head. “I think I’ll skip today.”

“Oh no, you don’t!” I said, yanking the blanket away.

It wasn’t until I had the quilt in my hands that I realized my mistake. He was lying there in just his boxers. My face went hot as my eyes darted away.

“Oh, I—I didn’t realize…” I stammered, trying to throw the blanket back over him.

But he smirked, sitting up slowly, stretching like a cat that had been rudely awakened.

“You wanted me up, and here I am,” he teased, his voice laced with amusement.

I backed away instinctively as he stood, making his way toward me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Nio, stop…” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He caged me against the wall, his arms resting on either side of me. His proximity, the way he smelled of sleep and warmth—it was intoxicating.

“Hmm?” he hummed, leaning in closer.

“I—uh—I need to go make breakfast,” I blurted, my voice shaky.

He arched a brow, his lips twitching as though suppressing a grin.

Another knock interrupted the moment, and I took the opportunity to slip away.

I opened the door to find Wynter standing there, her little face drawn tight with worry.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I asked, crouching to her level.

Nio, now fully dressed and curious, joined me at the door, leaning casually against the frame.

“Mama Iris,” Wynter began hesitantly, “I did something bad… Are you going to be mad?”

Her wide, pleading eyes made my heart ache.

“Tell me what happened, and then we’ll see,” I said gently.

She tugged on my hand, leading me toward my bedroom. I glanced back at Nio, who shrugged and followed us.

When we reached the room, I stopped in my tracks. The hardwood floor was scratched up, deep claw marks gouged into its surface.

“Wynter,” I began, turning to her, “what happened here?”

“I was playing with Ellies,” she admitted, shifting nervously. “His ball rolled under the bed, and I think he scratched the floor trying to get it…”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Ellies…” Of course, it was him. Lately, his favorite pastime seemed to be clawing at things he wasn’t supposed to.

The coffee spilled across the mattress, soaking it through and ruining it completely. To make matters worse, a few of the antiques I had collected were shattered on the floor. I wasn’t naive enough to believe this was all Ellies’ doing—Wynter’s involvement was clear as day.

“Are you sure this was just Ellies?” I asked Wynter, fixing her with a stern look.

She fidgeted, avoiding my gaze. “I was just chasing him… and then it all sort of happened,” she admitted, looking guilty.

I glanced over at Ellies, who had been pristine just this morning. Now, his fur was streaked with espresso stains, and his wide eyes gave away his guilt. He sat there, looking as though he understood the chaos he’d caused.

I was about to lecture Wynter when Travis intervened, as if he’d been waiting for the perfect moment.

“It’s okay, Princess,” he said soothingly, crouching to Wynter’s level. “We’ll call Lily to come clean everything up. And in the meantime, Mama Iris can stay in my room,” he added with far too much enthusiasm.

Wynter’s big, teary eyes lit up instantly. “You’re not mad at me, Daddy?” she asked hesitantly.

“Of course not, baby,” he said, ruffling her hair. “But Mama Iris moving into my room is the perfect solution, don’t you think?”

I shot him a look and jabbed my elbow into his side.

“Ow!” he exclaimed, clutching his stomach. “What was that for?”

“For spouting nonsense,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Wynter looked back and forth between us, trying to make sense of the exchange.

“I think I’ll just stay in Wynter’s room instead,” I said, offering her a crooked smile.

“No way!” Wynter shook her head adamantly. “Mama Iris, you should stay with Daddy. Ellies and I will stay in my room.”

“What do you mean you don’t want me in your room?” I asked, pretending to be shocked.

“Come on, Sabrina,” Travis said, his tone bordering on smug. “Don’t scare her. Just say yes for Wynter’s sake.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing full well that he was delighting in this turn of events.

Before I could respond, a sudden wave of nausea hit me like a freight train. My stomach churned, and I felt the undeniable urge to vomit. Without a word, I dashed toward Nio’s room.

“Sab!” he called after me, concern lacing his voice.

I waved a hand behind me, signaling for him to stay put, and rushed into his bathroom. The door clicked shut just in time as I bent over the sink, emptying my stomach.

He followed me into the bathroom despite my protests. Without a word, he held my hair back as I emptied the contents of my stomach. Once I was done, he flushed the toilet and grabbed a towel from the stand, gently wiping my face.

“That was awful. You shouldn’t have been here,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“And what exactly did you expect me to do? Stay outside while you’re sick?” he shot back, his tone a mix of frustration and concern.

I sighed, feeling both grateful and embarrassed. This nausea had been bothering me for days now, and while I had been trying to eat a balanced diet, it hadn’t helped.

“Do you want to see a doctor?” Nio asked, pressing the back of his fingers to my forehead. “You’re burning up.”

“No, I’m fine,” I insisted weakly. “Maybe I just need breakfast. Skipping meals always makes me feel worse.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. “Fine, but you’re not skipping breakfast this time. Come on, let’s get some food in you.” He reached for my hand and helped me up.

“Dress first,” I reminded him with a small smirk.

“Oh, right,” he said, chuckling as he guided me to sit on the edge of the bed. “You wait here.”

I watched as he quickly changed into a fresh T-shirt and shorts before coming back to help me downstairs.

Once we reached the dining area, Nio instructed Mrs. Ann to prepare breakfast. The spread looked delicious—enchiladas, fresh fruit, toast—but I couldn’t muster the appetite to eat. I sat there staring blankly at my plate while Nio dug in.

“You know,” he started between bites, “I ran into Helen the other day.”

That caught my attention. “What did she want this time?” I asked, frowning.

“She tried her old tricks again,” he said, shaking his head. “Showed me those bogus papers and tried to frame me as the father of her kid. But this time, I came prepared. I had a copy of the DNA reports on my phone and shoved it in her face.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Her reaction must’ve been priceless.”

“It was,” he said with a chuckle. “But the best part? She tried to blackmail me again. She said she’d cut me out of the money she made from selling her shares, like I’d care. I told her to keep every damn penny.”

That sent me into a fit of laughter. “Oh, I can just imagine her face. She’s probably still wondering why you’re not groveling at her feet.”

“Exactly,” Nio said, shaking his head. “That woman doesn’t get a shit. I don’t care about her money or her lies.”

“Daddy, Mama Iris,” Wynter’s small voice piped up suddenly.

“What’s ‘shit’?”

Both of us froze.

“Oh, uh, it’s nothing, Princess!” Nio said quickly, trying to cover up. “Finish your breakfast, okay?”

I tried to laugh at his awkward save, but suddenly, my vision began to blur. A wave of dizziness hit me out of nowhere.

“Nio,” I called out faintly, clutching the table for support.

He was at my side in an instant. “Sab?” he said, his voice laced with panic.

I could feel his arms around me as he lifted me, but the world around me was fading fast.

That was the last thing I saw before everything went black.

______________

When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital bed. The stark white ceiling above me felt foreign and disorienting.

“Oh…” I groaned softly, attempting to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my head.

“Mrs. King, please lie down,” a nurse said gently as she approached. “I’ll inform the doctor you’re awake. Please rest for now.” She gave me a reassuring smile before stepping out.

I glanced around, the events leading up to this moment flashing in my mind. Nio and Wynter must be outside. The thought of them waiting, worried, made my chest tighten.

Why had I fainted so suddenly? What could have caused it?

Before I could dwell too much, the door opened, and a doctor walked in, holding a clipboard.

“Mrs. King, how are you feeling?” she asked, her tone calm and professional.

“Tired,” I admitted, my voice a bit hoarse.

Through the glass window, I caught sight of Nio holding Wynter in his arms. They both looked anxious, their worry evident on their faces.

I mustered a small smile and waved weakly, silently reassuring them I was okay. Nio visibly relaxed, exhaling as he returned my smile, though the concern in his eyes remained.

“Alright, let’s take a look,” the doctor said, guiding me to lie back as she began her examination.

“Have you noticed anything unusual in your daily routine lately?” she asked while checking my vitals.

I thought for a moment. “Yes, I’ve been feeling nauseous these past few days, and I vomited everything I ate last night,” I said, my brows furrowing.

The doctor paused, jotting down notes. “And your monthly cycle? Has it been normal?”

Her question made my heart skip a beat. My mind raced. My cycle… I hadn’t had one in over a month. How had I missed that?

It hit me like a lightning bolt. Could it be?

I turned to the doctor, my voice trembling slightly. “Could you… could you get me a pregnancy test kit, please?”

The doctor nodded, her expression neutral yet understanding. “Of course. I’ll be back shortly,” she said, leaving the room to retrieve it.

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