Chapter 48

Donna's Pov.

Lorena sprinted towards me, calling my name, "Donna! Donna! Wait, let me explain."

I halted abruptly in the kitchen area, and she caught up with me, my body trembling with anger. "What are you going to explain? The fact that you lied to my face when I asked you about it yesterday?" I demanded, my voice rising.

Lorena looked apologetic, her eyes widened in distress. "I'm sorry, Donna, I just couldn't tell you about me and Delphine."

At that moment, the cooks, chefs, and wait staff in the kitchen started looking at us. We were making a scene, but I didn't care; I was just too angry.

"I'm out here being an open book to just about anyone, especially you, and you won't even tell me about this?" I snapped.

Lorena raised an eyebrow, her tone shifting to defensive. "An open book, really? Come off your high horse, Donna. You're pregnant right now, and your boyfriend doesn't even know because you're afraid he's not the father."

Suddenly, it hit both of us that we had just aired our dirty laundry in front of everyone in the kitchen.

Feeling betrayed by my friend, with a final, disgusted look at Lorena, I turned and fled the kitchen, only to find Louis hovering behind the kitchen door.

He looked sad and disappointed. I knew he must have overheard my argument with Lorena. I tried walking past him, but he held my arm and said, "We need to talk," he said, his grip firm on my arm.

I tried to pull away. "I'm still on the clock, Louis," I mumbled.

"I don't care, we are talking now," he insisted, his voice low and urgent.

He led me to an empty corner of the restaurant, and we sat down. My heart pounded in my chest as I met his gaze.

"So, I’m guessing you heard everything?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Louis nodded. "Just some of it, the last part."

Silence hung between us as his intense gaze bore into me. He finally asked, "Is the baby you’re carrying mine?"

"Yes, it is most certainly yours," I replied, my voice trembling.

His eyes narrowed. "How long have you known? Wait, let me guess, the day you fainted in the pool and I had to take you to the hospital?" he pressed.

"Yes," I admitted.

"I knew a chlorine allergy couldn't be that intense. I felt like there was more to it, but I didn't ask. Why didn't you tell me? I thought we were friends," he said, a note of hurt in his voice.

"Louis, I didn't want you or Charlie to know because I wasn’t going to keep it," I confessed.

"Really?" he asked, incredulous.

"Yes. You're married, I’m in a serious relationship, I don't want a one-night stand to change my life," I explained.

Louis stood up abruptly, looking pained. "Donna, I just can't look at you right now. I need to think."

He left me there, grappling with the mess my life had become. The world seemed to be crumbling around me, and I had no idea how to pick up the pieces.

**************

Louis's Pov.

That late afternoon, I went home early because I was too distracted to keep working. As Martin drove me home, I kept replaying Donna's words in my mind. I couldn't believe I was going to be a father and that Donna wouldn't have told me if I hadn't overheard her. It hurt even more that she wanted to abort the pregnancy. I couldn't stop thinking about all the scenarios that might unfold if she kept the baby. Charlie would hate me for sure, and our friendship would be forever damaged.

The familiar scent of home did little to soothe my troubled mind.

Martin stopped the car in front of the mansion, as I stepped into the familiar confines of my home, the sound of voices led me to the sitting room.

A peculiar mix of faces greeted me – Charlie, my mother, Claire, and her older brother Gerard, a doctor who I hadn’t seen in a long time because he was always abroad with Doctors Without Borders.

"Hi, everyone. What’s going on?" I asked, stunned by the unusual gathering.

Claire walked over to me. "Charlie was just telling us that they’ve found who killed my father."

"Wow! That’s fast. Who did it?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Charlie responded, "Rupert's chauffeur is the one who killed him."

"So have you guys arrested him?" I inquired.

"That would be impossible, since the guy wussed out and killed himself," Charlie said bluntly.

"Hmm, why would he do such a thing?" I pressed.

Charlie was about to answer when Claire cut him off. "Let’s stop talking about that. The most important thing is that the culprit has been found."

I wondered why Claire didn’t want me to know the chauffeur’s motive, but I would find out eventually.

Charlie announced, "I need to be going now. I’m having dinner with Donna’s family tonight."

My mother chimed in, "Charlie, just be yourself. I’m sure they’ll love you."

Charlie flashed a confident smile before taking his leave. As soon as the door closed behind him, Gerard turned to me, extending a hand. "It's been a long time, Louis. How are you doing, all things considered?"

"I’m above water, that’s what I can tell you. What about you? Last I checked, you were in Mali. How are things going there?" I asked.

"Things are fine. I just arrived in Los Angeles and plan to stay for a little while," Gerard replied.

"You plan on taking over your father’s companies?"

"No, that’s not my thing. I’m all about saving lives, not running businesses. Claire or Anthony can handle that," he responded.

"About Anthony, where has he been?" I inquired.

"Well, he’s still partying his way through Europe. At least he’s having a good time, unlike Claire who is managing and grappling with a miscarriage," Gerard said,

"Wait, what? Claire had a miscarriage?" I exclaimed, realizing my wife hadn’t told me about it.

Gerard looked surprised. "Damn, I thought you knew?"

“No, I did not know,” I said, trying to process the news.

Gerard's expression turned somber. "She had a miscarriage two days ago," he revealed.

The words hit me like a ton of bricks. Claire had a miscarriage? And she hadn’t told me? A wave of guilt washed over me. I had been so focused on my own problems that I had completely neglected my wife.