Filed to story: The Alpha and His Nanny Luna (Tiffany & Asher) Book PDF Free
After rinsing out my mouth with mouthwash, I walked back out to my bedroom and paused in front of the mirror. The blue dress really was beautiful. I turned this way and that in the mirror, admiring how the bodice fit so perfectly and how the skirt twirled when I moved — and then, without thinking, I turned to the side to look at my belly, and I imagined how it would look and feel eight months from now.
I ran my hands over my belly and closed my eyes, imagining the feeling of the little one inside of me. I wondered if it would be a little girl like Ella, or a little boy. I wondered if the child would have red hair like me.
I had always wanted children. Just… not like this.
But I didn’t know if I could bring myself to end the pregnancy.
…
Later that night, after dinner, I put Ella to bed and returned to my room. I took off my dress and hung it in the closet, then walked over to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed.
As I passed the bathroom sink, however, I did a double take and furrowed my brow.
Someone — likely Selina — had placed a box of pregnancy tests on the sink.
Part of me was somewhat annoyed at the housekeeper’s blunt way of doing things, but I couldn’t deny the fact that there was another, larger, part of me that was moved by her caring nature.
Just then, for the first time in days, I felt Mina’s presence coming out much more strongly. While I had felt her here and there over the past few days, she had only come and gone briefly with few words, if any. Now, she seemed stronger and more able to talk.
“It’s his baby,” she said, matter-of-factly.
“Yes,” I replied out loud, keeping my voice low. “It’s definitely his.”
“Are you going to keep it?” Mina asked.
I paused for a moment, biting my lip thoughtfully before finally answering. “I… I don’t know, honestly,” I replied. “I want to. I’ve always wanted a little one of my own, but it’s just… It’s not the best situation to bring a child into.”
Now, Mina was silent for a moment. I could feel an ache in my chest, and I couldn’t tell if it was more my pain or hers. Maybe both.
“I’d like you to keep it,” she said. “But I understand that he might not accept the baby, or treat it well. Ultimately, it’s your decision, I suppose.”
That, however, was precisely the problem. It was my decision, and the truth was that I didn’t know which decision to make. I knew that I couldn’t go on hiding this pregnancy forever. Selina already figured it out, and others would soon start to notice my belly growing.
“Will you be mad at me if I decide not to keep it?” I asked Mina. She didn’t answer. In fact, while I was thinking to myself, I hadn’t realized that her presence had faded away at all.
I realized one thing, though: I would have to make a decision as soon as possible.
Tiffany
I woke up the next morning, after having stashed the box of unused pregnancy tests in my medicine cabinet, and felt even more sick than the day before. I was sure, as I achingly dragged myself out of bed and turned on the shower, that I would have to either end the pregnancy soon or tell someone about it; I couldn’t go on feeling like this every day without some sort of support, and it was only going to get worse over time.
The hot shower helped a bit with the nausea, and once I was dressed and took the medicine that the doctor gave me, I walked next door to wake Ella up.
“Rise and shine,” I said, opening the curtains to let the sunlight in.
Ella yawned and stretched, her small hands curled into fists. “I’m still tired…”
“I know, love, but you have training today,” I said. I walked over to the bed and pulled the covers down, causing Ella to shiver and grumble before she finally got up. Soon enough, I had her dressed for training.
As we ate breakfast, I couldn’t help but notice that Selina’s eyes seemed to be fixed on me. I knew that she was expecting some sort of answer regarding the pregnancy tests, but I never took one.
I took Ella to training that morning without fuss, where I decided to wait and read a book instead of my usual routine of going to the orphanage due to my upset stomach and lightheadedness. When Ella was finished with her training, I was just relieved to be going home where I could rest for a little bit.
When we arrived back at the penthouse, Ella ran off to practice on the piano while I sunk down into the big armchair in the living room with a sigh. My feet felt sore and my head pounded, and it was still only midday.
Without realizing it, my eyes eventually closed as I sat in the sun and I began to nod off.
I was awoken at some point, however, by the feeling of someone shaking my shoulder. I groaned quietly as I cracked my eyes open. Selina was standing over me with a concerned look on her face.
“I’m sorry,” I said, stifling a yawn as I sat up. “I must’ve nodded off there for a little bit. Where’s Ella?”
“She’s playing in her room,” Selina said. Then, she lowered her voice so only the two of us could hear. “Did you take a pregnancy test?”
I froze for a moment, recalling how I had shoved the box of tests out of sight the night before without taking one — because I already knew that I was pregnant. Even though I was moved by Selina’s concern, however, I wasn’t ready to disclose that just yet.
“Um, yes,” I lied, nodding. “I took one. It was negative.”
“Hmph.” Selina narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. She clearly didn’t believe me, and before I could elaborate on my lie to make it more believable, she pulled the unopened box of pregnancy tests out of her apron pocket and waved it in front of my face. “You didn’t take a test.”
I gulped, snatching the box from her hand, and stood. “You went into my room again?
And, you went through my cupboards this time, no less?” Beyond the issue of the pregnancy, this felt like a privacy violation, and it made me more than a bit uncomfortable.
Selina, however, was unfazed. She folded her thin arms across her chest and frowned at me. “Why did you lie to me?” she asked. Her voice was cold and annoyed. “What purpose would you have to avoid simply taking the test, just to be safe?”
A knot started to form in my stomach as Selina spoke. I realized then that I couldn’t get away with not telling her anymore; if I didn’t tell her now, she would certainly figure it out eventually, assuming she already hadn’t figured it out.
“Fine,” I said, throwing my hands up in defeat and lowering my voice. “I already know I’m pregnant.”
Selina’s eyes widened. “Do you know who the father is?” she asked.
