Chapter 79: 79 ~ Mira
~Weeks later~
My hands were shaky as the two red lines stared back at me.
I clasped my free hand over my mouth as the tears of relief flowed down my cheeks.
Finally.
After months of trying. I was finally pregnant.
It felt surreal. Like a dream or an out of body experience. That was the best way to describe it.
The trip to the Maldives definitely paid off. So all actually needed was a change of environment and for my body to be a little more relaxed to take in and here we were.
I couldn’t wait to tell Donna Carmela that our plan was already in motion.
I was already out of my bathroom when I paused.
Placing my left palm over my flat belly, I let the reality hit me. I was really carrying a baby - a life - inside of me now, if those three used DIY test kits I used to be sure I was not hallucinating, were anything to go by.
This was going to be my first time ever being pregnant. I did not know what to expect. I had barely had any symptoms. This was simply a routine check after my period delayed.
If I went and told Donna Carmela, it would make everything so... real.
Jace.
I swallowed nervously at the thought of him.
I wasn’t ready to tell him yet. I had no idea what to expect if I told him anything right now.
"What do I do?" I asked myself as I sat on my bed, trying to process everything.
This was a lot to take in.
All of a sudden I felt fear overtake all the other emotions I was feeling at once.
I immediately cowered in trepidation.
~
By the end of the day, I gathered enough courage and walked to Donna’s side of the house.
The guards greeted me as I walked past them and all I could do was answer absentmindedly.
The guard at her door held it open for me and I went in.
"Mira?"
"Donna," I said, nodding my head in acknowledgement.
She observed me. "I haven’t seen you a while."
"Jace said you were out of town."
He did not specifically tell where she went to but yeah she was out of town.
"I had some things to deal with on his behalf." She answered, gesturing for me to sit opposite her.
I wanted to probe what she meant by that but then I was never involved with their dealings. It was none of my business. Plus we had other pressing matters to deal with.
"I have something to tell you," I said, wringing my hands nervously.
She gave me a glance. "What is it?"
I exhaled slowly.
"I took a test this morning. I’m pregnant."
Donna Carmela’s eyes lit up immediately.
That was the most reaction I had seen from her ever since we met several months ago.
"That’s fantastic, Mira. Finally!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah," I said with a nervous smile, pushing my hair behind my ears.
"Have you told Jace yet?"
The mention of his name made my heart skip.
"No. I decided to tell you first,"
She nodded, "Hmm. Our plan is in motion. In a year or less, you’d get your freedom."
"Yeah," I said after a bit of hesitation.
Her brows arched. "Having cold feet?"
"I-, no-" I stuttered, tripping over my words.
Donna leaned closer like she wanted to tell me a secret. "Falling in love with him and this baby would cost you. You have to choose yourself."
I nodded, agreeing to everything she just stated.
I was getting too emotional. I needed to focus on why I was doing all this in the first place. There was nothing for me here. I did not want to be here in the first place. I was trapped in a luxurious prison.
But then was I beginning to fall in love with my chains?
~
The next day, I did a good job at hiding from Jace. I didn’t join him for breakfast as usual. And surprisingly, he did not ask me to come down.
I stayed in my room for the most part of the day, pondering how to break the news to him.
A knock on the door jolted me out of my thoughts and I was surprised to see him come in.
"We’re having dinner with some of my business associates, be ready by six." He went straight to the point. No pleasantries.
I nodded.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I am." I nodded.
"You’ve been quiet. And I haven’t even seen you all day,"
"I’m okay." I said, forcing a smile.
"See you at six." He said, pressing a kiss to my forehead as he squeezed one of my butt cheeks.
I couldn’t help but giggle.
But after he left, why did I feel this overwhelming sense of trepidation when I thought about telling him about my condition?
I had no idea how he would react to it and that was terrifying.
I looked at the time on my phone. I had a little over an hour to get ready so there was no time to continue sulking.
I decided to wear a black dress. That was what Jace would prefer for gatherings like these.
I wasn’t in the mood for too much makeup so I decided to go with something light and simple. A `no makeup` makeup look with a nude lip combo. Then I brushed out my hair and put it in a sleek bun.
I spritzed some perfume, wore a pair of stilettos and picked up my clutch.
He was waiting downstairs by the time I stepped out.
"Tonight, everyone will look at you... but you are only mine." He said, bring my knuckles to his lips.
I looked into his eyes as I smiled. The way he continuously claimed me as his did things to me.
This man was making me lose my senses as the days went by. I was becoming unnecessarily attached to this unruly union we had.
This proved I would definitely need therapy after all this.
~
The dinner was at a fancy Italian restaurant. Apparently, these associates of his hosting us were trying to impress him. It was a no-brainer that you bring an Italian man to a place that reminded him of home.
"Mr and Mrs Romano, welcome," The host welcomed us. "Right this way," he said, leading us to the table where two of Jace’s associates were waiting for us.
They got on their feet as we approached. Surprisingly, they were a young couple like us. No wonder Jace wanted me to tag along.
The wife and I looked around the same age. I could have been wrong.
Mr and Mrs Reign. Those were their titles. Or at least what I was choosing to call them.
I shook hands with her husband, while we gave air kisses to each other.
"It’s so great to finally meet the Mrs Romano," the wife said.
I smiled politely. "Oh, thanks?"
I didn’t know how to respond to someone anticipating meeting me. I didn’t even know her.
The men discussed business over dinner while I was stuck speaking to Mrs Reign whose name I found out was Eliana.
Eliana was a chatterbox. I felt overwhelmed as she went on and on about things I had little to no idea about.
When she brought up us having brunch one of these days as dinner came to end, I smiled politely and told her I was down for it. That was a lie. I wasn’t going anywhere with that woman.
I sighed as soon as I got into the vehicle with Jace.
I had no idea how social interactions had become exhausting. This was what too much isolation had cause.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just wasn’t expecting all that."
"Hmm. I get you." He nodded.
The ride continued in comfortable silence afterwards.
When we got into the house, he asked me to join him in his room after changing.
I wiped off my makeup and changed into some lounge wear.
Opening the door, I went into his room and sat on the bed, watching as he poured a glass of wine into two glasses.
He came over and handed me one of them.
I shook my head.
"No wine?" He asked, brow raised.
"I can’t,"
His eyes squinted in confusion.
This was my only chance, I thought. It was now or never.
"I’m pregnant Jace." I said slowly.
The air shifted immediately. He stared at me unblinking and more than anything, I wanted the bed to open up and swallow me.
"This was your plan all along," his voice hardened.
My breath hitched. He was on to me.
This was certainly not the reaction I was expecting.
"Jace-"
"Leave," he said coldly.
I was taken aback by that.
"But, Jace-"
"Mira, get the hell out of here before I do something crazy."
I flinched at the sight of his bloodshot eyes.
I don’t know how my legs carried me out of there but I found myself in my room across the hall, panting as I shut the door behind me, sliding down until I found myself on the floor.
"This is not good."
It certainly wasn’t.