The End

Scarlett's POV - 6 Months Later

My company was thriving. I rented a larger warehouse, hired more seamstresses, and even a few interns in fashion and design. Cristiane learned quickly, which gave me more freedom to take care of more important business.

Vivian and John were getting along well. With the therapy that they were both attending, they started talking to each other again and were developing a romantic relationship, although Vivian still had issues with being touched.

I hadn’t received any more news about my parents' situation, which meant that they were truly dead, and there was nothing to be done about it. So, I stopped worrying a long time ago.

My relationship with Klaus and Liam had evolved significantly. We now practically knew each others’ thoughts, and our scenes have become stronger. The Veritas club was our favorite place to set up scenes and have parties and get-togethers. The only difference was that now, at parties, I use condoms with other men for safety, even when Keenan and Jasmine participate.

It wasn't something I asked for, but Klaus and Liam thought of it. They worry about me endlessly... In a way, it was providential. I had a subcutaneous implant that I changed regularly, but there was still a chance that it could fail.

I was sitting, looking at the test in front of me, I knew that the implant had failed. It has been a few weeks now that I’ve been feeling sick after eating, getting irritated by certain perfumes, and feeling hungrier.

At first, I thought it was just the stress of participating in another fashion show, but when the symptoms didn't go away, I had my suspicions as to what it could be, and honestly, I didn’t know what to do. It was hard not to let the boys know that I wasn't feeling well.

What helped was that I had scheduled a general check-up, which led to several tests, including the one in front of me. The beta... Positive...

I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. The doctor was patient as she knew this wasn’t what I wanted. I never wanted to have a child, maybe sometime in the future, but not now. Not when everything appeared to be going so well. My career had taken off, my love life was great, and my mental stability was better than ever.

"Scarlett, you already knew that this was a possibility." Dr. Ana gently told me.

"I know, I just didn't want it to be true." I lowered the paper and took a deep breath.

How will Klaus and Liam react? We've never talked about children, so I have no idea how they will feel about this news. I know that I'm not happy about it, but what about them?.

"Apart from that, all your other tests are normal." The doctor continued.

But I didn't pay attention and clenched the paper, crumpling it, my heart tightening. What kind of mother could I possibly be? Will I be able to love this child?

I knew that I could give him or her a good life, even if Klaus and Liam don't take responsibility, but what kind of mother would I be?

"Scarlett... We've spoken many times, including you wanting to have your tubes tied... But I know you'll be a great mother." Dr. Ana said, and I rolled my eyes.

"Cliché phrase." I folded the paper and put it in my bag. "Thank you, doctor..."

Dr. Ana looked at me and sighed. She knows how I think, and this kind of conversation won't have any effect now.

"We'll see each other in a few days." The doctor stood up and accompanied me to the door.

I knew she wouldn't tell anyone about the results of the tests. Roman was sitting in the waiting room and immediately stood up as I approached. His expression was one of concern mixed with curiosity. I was probably looking pale again.

"Is she okay, doctor?" Roman asked, not bothering to be more delicate about it.

"Miss Scarlett will be just fine." My doctor replied.

'Will I?' I thought to myself.

There was no way to tell whether I would be fine or not, I just knew that I needed to be. I passed Roman without saying anything and headed to the garage where our car was parked. As soon as we got in the car, Roman turned and looked at me.

"Scarlett... What happened?"

Roman asked, but I just shook my head and turned my face to look out the window. I didn’t feel like talking. Not now anyway. He sighed and started the car. Even if I wanted to talk, it wouldn't be fair for Roman to be the first to know; that benefit was solely for Klaus and Liam.

Since it was mid-afternoon on a weekday, I knew that Klaus and Liam would be working at the company.

'Should I go there?' I thought to myself and sighed. 'And then? What would I say? The company isn't a place to talk about this kind of thing.'

"Roman? Let’s go straight home. And make sure you don't say anything about my visit to the doctor." My voice came out firmer than I planned it to. "Not to Oliver, not to Klaus or Liam... No one..."

"Scarlett... What's happening?" Roman slowed down a bit. "Are you ill?"

I smiled ironically...

"I just need some time." I replied. It wasn’t exactly an illness, after all.

Thankfully, I scheduled with my general doctor and not a specialist. Otherwise, Roman would have already figured it out.

"Medicine is very advanced these days. Don't worry. There's a treatment for almost everything." Roman tried to comfort me, and I chuckled softly as he breathed a little easier in relief.

"Yes, you're right, medicine is indeed very advanced..." I agreed with him.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. As soon as I entered the apartment, I went to my office. I knew that Klaus and Liam would come looking for me the moment they arrive as I told them that I would be getting my test results today.

I couldn’t focus on any work so took the test results out of my bag, picked up my tablet and switched it on, knowing that drawing would at least help me relax.

Hours passed, while music echoed in my office and various sketches of new dresses and clothes appeared, including several designs for children's clothes, both feminine and masculine, seeing as I didn’t know the gender yet.

It took me a while before the knocks on the door registered in my mind, and I turned the music off and closed the drawing app on my tablet. I looked at the test in front of me, took a deep breath, gathered the courage I needed, picked it up, and stood up.

"Come in." I said, and the door opened.

Klaus and Liam were wearing their work clothes. Their expressions seemed somewhat complicated. I think that, even though I told Roman not to say anything, they must feel that something is amiss.

"Hey, how did the doctor’s appointment go?" Liam asked first.

I handed him the test paper, which was already very crumpled and had lines from where I folded it over and over again.

Liam took the test and looked at Klaus, who approached him to stand closer. Their reaction was almost the same. First there was confusion, then they reread the words several times. After that came the shock, and finally, they both looked up at me. Liam was beaming, smiling from ear to ear, while Klaus was as pale as a ghost, with his reaction being very similar to my own.

"Congratulations!" Liam exclaimed in joy.

"Are you sure?" Klaus asked uncertainly.

The two phrases were said at the same time. Liam turned to Klaus, wondering about that question, while Klaus looked at Liam in total surprise.

"Yes... The doctor said the test is conclusive." I answered Klaus' question.

"You're not happy?" Liam asked.

"No." Klaus and I answered at the same time.

I felt much closer to Klaus at this moment that I did to Liam, and his expression was one of pure disappointment.

"I... I wanted to get my tubes tied, I was talking to the doctor about it... So obviously, I didn't want a child." I looked at Liam. "I have a life that I love. One that is important to me... A child?... I never wanted a child. Not now and maybe not even in the future."

The disappointment became even more evident on Liam's face.

"I am passionate about myself, about you, about our relationship... Never doubt that... But a child..." I approached Liam and tried to take his hand, but he avoided it and I sighed. "Not every woman is born to be a mother."

Klaus understood me. He knew what I meant and what I was trying to say.

"Liam... What Scarlett means is that this is a surprise... It's a surprise child." Klaus tried to defend me.

"Do you want to have an abortion?" Liam asked, his gaze cold and distant.

"I don't know what I want right now, Liam." I replied truthfully. "Try to see it from my point of view... Who am I? Have you ever seen me with a child? Have you ever even seen me near a baby? I've never treated one badly, but I just don’t get close... At the social parties we went to, inside the store, on social media."

Silence fell over the room as Liam tried to remember moments when I had been near other children. Finally, his eyes changed, but the disappointment was still there.

"I've always wanted a child to love and care for. One to watch over as they grow up." Liam said and took a deep breath. "But I won't force you to continue with this pregnancy if you feel that you don’t want to."

I took his hand, and this time he didn't pull away.

"Liam, I don't know if I want to have an abortion or not... The only thing I long for is to be with you and Klaus... My thoughts all afternoon were about how this will affect our relationship. I want to be with you, I want us to talk, to decide together. It's not just my decision, just as it's not yours or Klaus'. This decision is ours because it's our lives that will change."

Liam looked at me and realized I was telling the truth. Finally, he hugged me tightly. I could feel his emotions and how much all of this affected him. We stayed like that for several minutes, and finally, Liam let go, giving me a quick kiss.

When Klaus picked me up, I rested my head on his shoulder as he took me to our bedroom, and sat me on the bed. He climbed up and knelt behind me on the bed, while Liam approached me from the front and touched his lips to mine.

No matter what happened or what we decided... The only thing that mattered right now was that this was something that was ours. It was something that shouldn’t separate us but unite us. And even though Liam was hurt, he still loved and wanted me.

The night was ours. The future was ours. And we all loved each other, and, in the end, everything would be okay.

The End