𝒯𝒽ℯ ℛ𝒾𝓈ℯ 𝒪𝒻 𝒜 𝒬𝓊ℯℯ𝓃

Chapter |9| A Test That Revealed All

A R A B E L L A ' S  P.O.V

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. The mint green dress I had chosen to wear today was fitted, hugging my breasts and stomach, whilst the skirt transcended into layers of silk, cascading down into a skirt.

My bump was slightly bigger than last night, my baby boy growing perfectly inside of me. It honestly amazed me what a woman's body was able to do I mean, I was growing a fricking human inside of me. It was amazing!

I had quickly recovered from the attack and was already back to my normal duties. Hardin had tried to get me to scale back but if anything I wanted to do more to try and forget the fact that I needed to pee every five seconds, had swollen ankles and a baby kicking me every minute.

Work was a distraction, and besides I had plenty of time to relax in my third trimester. I wasn't there yet though.

"Ari, Clarissa is here to see you." I nodded for Rowan to let her in, and Rowan happily dismissed herself, shutting the door behind her.

"You look stunning darling." I smiled, and gestured to the satin blouse and black jeans she was wearing.

"You do too," She laughed heartily.

"I prefer pants over dresses anyway, I don't know how you do it and especially being pregnant."

"Well, I'm not going to lie pyjamas even though that does sound very appealing right now but I have an image to uphold as Queen and to be honest, I love the way they make me feel."

"And how is that?" My smile faltered slightly, my body image was always going to be a sore subject for me.

"Pretty, sexy... beautiful? I don't know, I've just always had a problem being comfortable in my own body. I'm very self critical."

"That's insane, you're the most beautiful Queen I have ever seen."

"I have to agree." Our head both turned and my eyes sparkled as Hardin walked into the room. His tie was slung around his neck loosely, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows.

God, I just wanted him to throw me on the bed and fuck me like there's tomorrow. Then I remembered that Clarissa was in the room too.

"Baby, what are you doing here?" I walked straight up to him, and leant up on my tip toes to press a chaste kiss onto his lips. A promise of what was to come later.

"My meeting finished and well, I received this." He pulled a brown envelope from out of his pocket. Handing it over to me, I scrunched up my eyebrows in confusion, slowly ripping open.

I skim read the first few lines and then gasped. "What is it?" Clarissa urged, stepping forward. My heart raced faster and I slowly turned, stumbling slightly due to my shock, but Hardin quickly wrapped his arm around my waist, stabilising me.

"It's the results. Our DNA test results." Her eyes widen and I searched for any hint of panic in them but found none, instead she smiled.

"Open it then, I want you to know the truth Arabella." If she wasn't my mother she would have ran by now, stolen what ever she could and ran but she didn't. Instead, she outstretched her hand and held mine, giving me a reassuring squeeze.