Arranged To Be|18+✔️

45'

One Month  and a half Later

It had been almost two months since I last saw or spoke to Czar. I didn't even bother stopping by his house to collect my things—he had one of his guards drop everything off on my parents' front step. I thought about calling him a few times, but the words never came. Instead, I drowned myself in work.

Darcey came through with more connections than I could've imagined. Just last week, I held my own fashion show, featuring my latest designs. I was booking clients left and right, and opening a boutique was finally starting to feel possible.

"You need to rest, dear. You've been up all night," my mother said as she entered the kitchen.

She wasn't wrong. I had been sketching nonstop for my fall collection. And even if I wanted to sleep, I couldn't. Nightmares and cold sweats visited like clockwork. Living back home didn't help either, my parents tiptoed around me, and I hardly exchanged words with my father.

I planned to move out in two months, but those plans changed.

Because today, I was meeting with Czar.

The thought of seeing him again made my stomach twist into knots. I wasn't sure why he even agreed to meet. I assumed he thought we were discussing divorce.

"I'm fine," I said to my mother, closing my sketchbook. "I have to get ready."

Back in my room, I rummaged through my closet, eventually settling on a dark green off-the-shoulder dress paired with brown sandals. I let my curls hang free, spritzed on my favorite perfume, and took one last shaky breath.

I was terrified. But I missed him.

Everything reminded me of Czar—every thought, every corner of the room, even the silence of the night. It was his arms I longed for. He haunted my heart in every way.

"I should be back soon," I called before leaving the house.

*

We agreed to meet at a coffee shop a few blocks from my place. I arrived first, of course. But only a few minutes passed before I spotted him.

Czar walked in wearing jeans and a pale blue T-shirt, sunglasses shielding his eyes. His beard had grown, his body leaner, but still unmistakably him.

He spotted me instantly and walked over, sliding off his sunglasses to reveal those familiar blue eyes.

"Hello," I said quietly.

He nodded once in return.

My nerves spiked as I stared at him, butterflies thrashing in my stomach.

"There's something I need to tell you," I began.

"If it's the divorce papers, you could've mailed them," he said flatly.

"It's not the divorce papers." I looked up at him. "I... I don't want a divorce."

He raised a brow. "Then what do you want, Zariah? Because one second you love me, the next you hate me."

"I know what I did wasn't fair. But you have to understand, everything was happening so fast. I couldn't breathe, Czar. I needed space to figure out if this—us—was something I really wanted."

"And?"

"And it is. You are. You're worth the pain, the fights...everything. I couldn't see how much you meant to me until you weren't there anymore. I'm a mess without you. I love you, and I don't think anyone else could ever replace what I feel for you."

His features softened as he leaned forward, cupping my face. "I love you too, Zariah. So damn much."

He kissed me. Right there, in the middle of the café. I didn't care who saw. That kiss made everything real again. I had longed for his lips, for his touch, and finally, it was mine.

"Um, excuse me?"

We pulled apart abruptly. The waitress stood beside our table, not at all amused.

"Can I get you two anything?"

"I'll have a muffin," I said, flustered.

"Just a bottle of water for me," Czar added.

She scribbled down the order and left. Czar turned back to me with a grin.

"You said you had something to tell me," he prompted.

With a small smile, I reached into my purse and slid a picture across the table.

He looked down.

It was a sonogram.

"I'm pregnant."

~*~

HEHEHE!!! The secret is out! Drop baby names and I will be looking at them and potentially picking one. I am soooooo excited. Five more chapters to go and yes yes, I can guarantee a happy ending....or can I? Anyways don't forget to comment, vote, share, and follow. Until next time my lovelies.