Kamrynn's POV
After the close call with Eloane, I make it back to my room and take a deep breath, pressing the small container of pills to my chest. My heart still pounds, adrenaline humming in my veins. I carefully hide the pills in the back of a drawer, tucking them away where they'll stay safe until I can get them tested.
Sitting on my bed, I force myself to think calmly. How can I get these tested without raising suspicion? I need a solid reason to leave the palace. And then, it hits me. My prenatal checkup is coming up soon, and Rmonica had already planned to accompany me. It's in three days, but if I can just manage to stay under the radar until then, it'll be the perfect opportunity.
For the next three days, I avoid Eloane as much as possible, keeping my head down and sticking to tasks that won't draw any attention. Each night, I double-check that the pills are still safely tucked away. Every time I see Eloane passing by, I feel the hairs on my neck stand up. I know she'll try something eventually-I just have to hold out until my appointment.
Finally, the day of the checkup arrives. Rmonica is as cheerful as ever, practically bouncing as we walk through the hospital doors together.
Inside the examination room, the doctor gives me a reassuring smile as she gestures toward the examination table. "Ready to see how your little one is doing?"
I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. "Yes, thank you." I lie back, rolling up my shirt just enough to expose my belly as she applies the cold gel to my skin. It almost makes me shiver but it doesn't feel weird. I try to focus on the rhythmic thrum of my heartbeat.
The doctor glides the transducer over my stomach, and a soft, steady thumping fills the room-the heartbeat. It's real, I think, a strange warmth blossoming in my chest.
Rmonica stands by my side, her eyes wide with excitement. "This is so wonderful, Kamrynn. I remember how it felt, going to my first prenatal checkup with…." She pauses and looks away, sadness clouding her eyes but then shakes it off, refocusing on me with a supportive smile.
Poor Rmonica. So many miscarriages. I truly can't imagine seeing my baby on an ultrasound monitor and then watching it bleed away without being able to do anything. It's truly heart wrenching. It's something no woman should ever go through. That's why I'm so determined to find out the truth. If Eloane is really behind this then…
The doctor takes her time, sliding the transducer gently over my belly. "Everything looks good," she says, her voice warm and calming. "The baby is perfectly healthy and is growing as expected, and your vitals are good. I trust you've been eating well?"
I nod, barely managing to keep my hands from shaking. So far, so good.
But the doctor's expression shifts slightly as she adjusts the transducer, leaning closer to the monitor. "Hmm, interesting..."
A spike of worry runs through me. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no, not at all," she replies, looking back at me with a smile. "Actually… Kamrynn, would you like to know the gender of your babies?"
"Babies?" My voice comes out sharper than I intended. "Sorry, Doctor, but don't you mean baby?"
The doctor's smile widens. "No, Kamrynn. You're having twins." She turns the monitor slightly toward me, pointing to two distinct shapes. "See here? There are two heartbeats. Two babies. Here's Baby A, and right over here is Baby B."
I stare at the screen, the images blurring as I try to make sense of it. Twins. Two lives growing inside me. I wasn't prepared for one child-how am I supposed to handle two?
Rmonica claps her hands together, practically bouncing on her heels. "Kamrynn! Isn't that wonderful? Double the blessings! Oh, I'm so happy for you!"
But her excitement barely registers. My mind spirals, thoughts colliding like waves in a storm. Two children. Calvin's children. The thought sends a surge of anger through me, dark and overwhelming. Calvin, the man I despise, whose cruelty and betrayal cost me everything. And now, I'm carrying not one but two pieces of him, forced to bring his blood into this world.
A bitter thought slips in, unbidden. Why should they have to exist at all? Why should they have to bear his name, his face… his legacy?
I close my eyes, gripping the edge of the table until my knuckles turn white. Why should I care for them when they're a reminder of him? Of everything he took from me?
The thoughts rage within me, a twisted snarl of anger, hurt, and resentment. I can almost see Calvin's face in my mind, mocking me, taunting me with the life he forced upon me. I want to scream, to purge the bitterness out of my heart.
But then, a soft flutter-a movement beneath my skin-pulls me back. Slowly, I release my grip and look down at my belly. They're innocent. Innocent. Just as I was. It's not their fault they share his blood. They didn't ask for this any more than I did.
The feeling of anger soon dissipates into regret, a heaviness settling in my chest. Forget about their father for a moment, what about me? Can I be a good mother to them? That's two little lives relying on me, on my protection, in a world that's been nothing but cruel to me. I don't even know what kind of mother I'll be to one child. How am I supposed to raise two alone in my current situation?
I place a hand on my stomach, gently rubbing the curve of my growing bump. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to come through someone like me." I whisper, a tremor in my voice. "But you know what? I promise… I promise I'll love you both with all of my heart no matter how hard it gets."
The doctor's voice brings me back. "Would you like to know the gender of your twins?"
I shake my head, forcing a smile. "No… I think I'll wait. I want it to be a surprise."
Rmonica beams at me, reaching out to squeeze my shoulder. "That's a beautiful choice, Kamrynn. It gives you something special to look forward to."
"Thank you," I reply, feeling a flicker of warmth under her supportive gaze.
The doctor finishes her exam and steps out, promising to return shortly with my paperwork. I look at Rmonica, who's still beaming with joy, her excitement practically contagious. "Rmonica, would you mind if I have a moment to myself?"
She nods quickly, understanding. "Of course, take all the time you need, Kamrynn. I'll be just outside if you need me." She squeezes my hand once more and slips out of the room.
Once I'm alone, I pull out the small container of pills from my pocket and glance at it, ensuring it's still intact. My mind races as I stand, my hand clenched around the container as I make my way out of the examination room, glancing around for any sign of Rmonica or the doctor.
In the hallway, I spot a sign for the lab at the end of the corridor. Heart pounding, I quickly walk toward it, slipping through the door as soon as I reach it. A lab attendant looks up from his desk, eyebrows raised. "Can I help you?"
"Yes," I reply, lowering my voice. "I need these pills tested. It's… important." I hand him the container, hoping he won't ask too many questions.
The lab attendant frowns, examining the pills. "I can test them, but it'll take a day to get the results."
My heart sinks. I can't stay in the hospital that long and I have no reason to come back here tomorrow. "Is there any way I can get them sooner?"
He shakes his head, already turning toward the shelves behind him. "No, I'm sorry. We'll mail the results to your address when they're ready."
I quickly realize the danger in that. If they send it to the palace, everything I've worked so hard for could go down the drain. What if the results fall into the wrong hands or worse…what if Eloane gets them first? She'll know what I've been up to and she'll come for her pound of flesh.
"Wait, please don't send them to my address. I'll come pick them up myself," I say, but he's already walked into another room, completely oblivious to my words.
"Kamrynn?" I hear Rmonica's voice down the hall. I turn around to see her walking toward me, her face filled with concern. "Are you alright? The doctor told me you'd stepped out for some air."
Thinking fast, I smile. "I was feeling a bit stuffy in the room, so I thought I'd take a short walk."
She sighs, reaching for my hand. "Come on, there's no time to waste. We need to head to the doctor's office, she wants to prescribe some vitamins and supplements for you."
"Of course," I reply, glancing back at the lab one last time as Rmonica gently tugs me away. I can only hope that my gamble pays off and the results reach me safely. As we head back, a sense of dread fills me, my mind racing with worry that Eloane will somehow intercept the truth before I can reveal it. If that happens, it's over.