Chapter 20 WHAT THE BODY CANNOT HIDE (Demilia’s POV)
“Sit down right here, Demilia. Please. You’re shaking beyond control.”
“I’m not shaking,” I muttered, gripping so hard the marble counter for balance. Lena shot me a hard glare, that typical don’t-lie-to-me stare that made her forehead wrinkle, and I couldn't help but be grateful for the annoying mother hen I have as a friend, always there for me.
“You are literally vibrating, but care less. Sit here.”
“I can’t do that. If I sit, I’ll definitely faint.”
“Exactly why you should sit to avoid fainting!”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re pregnant, dehydrated, stressed, and on the verge of passing out if nothing is fine urgently, but sure...let’s pretend you’re fine, until you can't breath anymore.”
“Lena!”
“What?” She folded her arms. “If you die, I’m the one who will have to fight your billionaire husband, and trust me, rich angry men give me allergies.”A weak laugh escaped my lips, mostly because breathing felt… difficult.
“Lena… something’s definitely wrong.” Her hands loosened, her joking expression disappearing, almost immediately. “What do you mean wrong? Wrong how? With the baby?” I swallowed, hard, pressing a hand to my abdomen. A dull, twisting pain had been spreading underneath my ribs since morning, but I paid less attention to it. It wasn't sharp enough to scream, but deep enough to terrify me, to make my thinking go wild.
“It started again,” I whispered. “The pain.” Lena’s eyes widened in horror. “The same one as yesterday?” “Yes, and this time stronger.” She grabbed my wrist instantly. “We’re going to the hospital.”
“No.”The word came out harsher than I intended it to be.
“Demilia....”
“I said no.” I took a shaky breath. “If I walk into a hospital, my name will be registered. Ethan will know in seconds, and I will be doomed for life.”
“That’s the point! Ethan is your husband, he should know...”
“He can’t know.”
Lena stared at me, disbelief mixing with fear. “He almost tore Adrian and his personal assistant apart for you last week. And you still think he won’t notice you bleeding out in his mansion?”
“I’m not bleeding,” I snapped, already getting pissed.
She blinked, as she haven't seen that version of me before. “…yet. But you’re white as a ghost.”
I let myself slide into a chair at the kitchen island. My vision blurred around the edges for a moment. Lena rushed beside me immediately, her fingers pressed my forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re dying, and still lying through your teeth." I glared at her, angry that she knew me more than I know myself. She glared back...even harder, not ready to let me win.
“Fine,” I whispered. “Not dying, just… scared.” Lena knelt in front of me, lowering her voice.
“Talk to me. What exactly are the symptoms?” I opened my mouth, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit me so hard the room tilted.
“Okay, that’s it...” she stood up, grabbing her bag. “Get your shoes, ee’re going this minute...”
A voice cut in sharply from behind us. “Going where exactly?” We froze as we weren't expecting any company. Lena’s eyes went wide, completely taken aback. I turned slowly to face the new presence.
Ethan stood at the kitchen entrance, suit jacket off, tie loose, hair messed as if he had been running his fingers through it in frustration...or searching for me. His eyes scanned the room before stopping on me, like he had seen what brought him there. The intensity in his gaze felt like a physical touch, penetrating right inside. He stepped forward, still staring at me.
“What’s going on?” My throat tightened. “Nothing.” He ignored me completely, turning to Lena.
“What’s wrong with her?” Lena cleared her throat and attempted to smile. “Just… girl things?”
Ethan raised one eyebrow. “Try again.”
“Period cramps?”
His expression didn’t move. Lena snapped under ten seconds, trying to sell me off. “Fine! She almost fainted!”
“LENA!”
“What? He screamed! Ethan’s jaw clenched, line one ready to ounch. “You almost fainted?”
“No,” I lied instantly, trying to cover up if necessary.
“Yes,” Lena corrected, "she did."
“LENA!”
“What?!” she hissed again. “Do you want to die before what is wrong with me kills me?”
Ethan took a step closer, eyes locked on mine, not ready to take his leave.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think it mattered ..”
“Everything about your health matters.”
The room felt too small, too busy.
“Ethan,” I whispered, “I’m very fine. It was just a long day, and I barely ate...”
He cut me off the moment he had that f. “You’ve been pale since morning, I noticed that.”
“I haven’t....”
“And you flinched when I touched your arm earlier.”
Lena whipped her head toward me. “You did?!”
I hissed. “Lena, stop helping him!”
But Ethan had already gotten the confirmation he needed.
His voice dropped lower, even darker than it used to be. “What’s wrong with you, Demilia?”
My heart stuttered on hearing my name from his mouth. He wasn’t yelling as before, neither was he aangry. He was… afraid.
“I said I’m fine.”
“You are lying.”
That earned a long silence.
Lena slowly grabbed her bag and stood.
“Okay, I’m gonna… leave. Before he finally kills me.”
“Lena....”
“You two sort out this husband...wife medical mystery. Call me if you don’t die before noon.”
And she disappeared, slamming the door behind her, but so hard just to annoy Ethan.
Ethan waited until her footsteps were gone before speaking. “Stand up this minute.”
I frowned. “No.”
“I said stand up.” His tone wasn’t harsh, but it brooked no argument. I rose slowly, gripping the counter as another wave of pain twisted inside me. Ethan moved so fast I barely saw it.
His hand caught my elbow, steadying me.
“There.” His voice lowered into a whisper. “Right there, you nearly collapsed, but still claiming.”
“I didn’t...”
“Stop lying to me!” The shout vibrated through the empty kitchen, even to the point of making me stiff. He closed his eyes, jaw tightening as he forced himself to calm down, to not act out of place. Then he whispered...quiet, raw, unshielded, something unusual, completely unlike him: “Please.”