I literally scoff.

"There’s no way."

"Elaine...."

"No, seriously, there’s absolutely no way." I push myself up from the bathroom floor so fast my head spins slightly again. "I’ve been taking my pills."

I yank open the small cabinet drawer with shaky hands and start digging through the mess inside.

Skin care, hair ties, meedicine.

Then finally my birth control pack.

"There," I mutter instantly.

My fingers move quickly over the tiny empty slots. One after another.

I stop, check again and again. I haven’t missed a single day.. not one.

"Ivy, I took them," I say immediately into the phone. "Every single day."

"You know birth control isn’t a hundred percent right?"

My stomach twists violently.

"No."

"El...."

"No," I repeat shakily. "That’s not possible."

But even as I say it...Fear starts creeping in anyway. Because deep down? I already know something is wrong. The throwing up, the dizziness, the smells

Oh God.

No. No no no.

"Ivy," I whisper suddenly. "Can you meet me somewhere?"

"Of course."

"The supermarket we used to go to as kids."

"The old one?"

"Yeah."

"I’m already getting dressed," she says instantly. "I’ll meet you there."

I hang up shortly after and just stand there frozen in the bathroom for several long seconds.

Pregnant.

The word alone makes my chest tighten painfully. J can’t be pregnan, j don’t even know how to process that possibility.

I never planned for kids, never wanted to think about kids. Esspecially not now when everything around us is already chaos. And me and Zane...God. What even are we right now? Yes, we love each other, I know that now. But love and children are two completely different things, We haven’t even talked about any of that. Not once.

The thought of telling him makes panic rise sharply in my throat. What if he doesn’t want this? What if he thinks I did this intentionally?

What if he thinks I’m trying to tie him down with a baby?

My stomach rolls again hard enough that I slap a hand over my mouth immediately.

"Fuck."

I hurry into the shower afterward, scrubbing quickly while my thoughts spiral completely out of control. By the time I finish dressing, my hands are still trembling slightly. I throw on jeans and a hoodie, barely even caring what I look like.

All I can think is: Pleas don’t let me be pregnant. Please.

——

I take a few extra minutes getting dressed because for some reason I suddenly feel painfully aware of everything.

My stomach, my body and my reflection

It’s ridiculous considering I don’t even know anything yet, but anxiety keeps crawling under my skin anyway.

I grab my bag quickly before I can spiral again and head for Zane’s office.

Zane looks up immediately from the paperwork spread across his desk. His reading glasses sit low on his nose, and annoyingly enough he still somehow looks unfairly attractive while working.

His eyes slowly move over me thn one brow lifts.

"Going somewhere, love?"

I force myself to stay calm.

"Yes."

He leans back slightly in his chair.

"Where?"

Shit. Think! think!.

"Ivy wants to pick up a few things from the supermarket." I shrug casually like this is completely normal and I’m definitely not internally panicking. "I told her I’d come with her."

His gaze lingers on me carefully for a second too long.

Then softer now:

"You feeling better?"

Lie.

"Yes."

The word comes too quickly and Suspicion flickers briefly across his face again.

God.

Why does this man look at me like he can read my thoughts?

"I’ve been too cooped up in this house," I continue before he can question me further. "I just want to go out for a bit."

That seems believable enough at least.

Zane nods slowly.

"I understand."

Relief loosens something tight inside my chest instantly. then of course he reaches for his phone.

"Thomas," he says calmly once the call connects. "Ready the car."

I sigh quietly.

"And security."

There it is.

Honestly, I expected nothing less.

I move around the desk toward him while he finishes giving instructions. The second he lowers the phone, his hand settles automatically against my waist pulling me closer between his knees.

"You sure you’re okay?" he asks again quietly.

God. Why does that question suddenly make me want to cry? I nod quickly before he notices the emotion climbing into my throat.

"I’m fine husband of mine."

His eyes search mine carefully.

Then finally he sighs softly and presses a kiss against my stomach through the hoodie absentmindedly before letting me go. The tiny gesture almost short-circuits my brain completely.

Pregnant. Absolutely not.

I lean down quickly and kiss his cheek before my expression can betray me.

"I’ll be back soon."

"You better."

His hand squeezes my hip lightly before releasing me completely. I leave before I can panic further.

Downstairs, Thomas already waits near the entrance looking as serious as always.

"The car is ready, ma’am."

I nod and follow him outside.

The second I step onto the driveway, I almost stop walking.

Jesus Christ.

"Is all this necessary?"

Thomas glances toward the lineup of vehicles without blinking.

"Yes."

Five black security SUVs surround the main car. Two in front and three behind.

Our vehicle directly in the middle like we’re transporting government secrets instead of me going to buy a pregnancy test in absolute panic.

I slide into the backseat while muttering under my breath, "This is actually insane."

Thomas gets into the front passenger seat while another driver starts pulling us toward the gates.

"Where to, ma’am?"

I give him directions to the supermarket quietly. The old supermarket near the neighborhood Ivy and I practically grew up in.

The one where we used to waste hours buying snacks with pocket money and gossiping about boys we’d never actually talk t. The memory feels strangely comforting right now.

The gates slowly open and the convoy moves out.

Security vehicles surround us immediately, boxing the car safely between them as we pull onto the main road. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

I stare out the tinted windows silently while anxiety twists harder and harder inside my chest with every passing minute.

Please don’t let me be pregnant.