LOST LOVE

PREGNANCY

**James' POV**

I woke up later than usual today, groggy from the previous night’s festivities. The side beside me was empty; Catherine was already up.

After brushing my teeth and scrubbing the lingering taste of alcohol from my mouth, I thought back to the birthday party. It had gone well—Mom was genuinely happy. Catherine hadn’t mentioned my business trips or late hours, and Dad, though not thrilled, didn’t ruin the night. He did, however, mention we needed to have a talk, something I had no choice but to agree to.

Even Susan had seemed distant, her usual warmth toward me is noticeably absent.

When I went downstairs, I found Catherine having breakfast. She was taking her time, savoring each bite of her burger. Normally, she would wake me up and make sure I ate before sitting down herself. But today was different. She hadn’t even greeted me.

“Cat, are you going to the office?” I asked, surprised by how early it was.

“Yeah,” she replied without looking up from her plate. She hadn’t asked if I wanted anything to eat, nor did she even say good morning. Was she avoiding me? That couldn’t be it.

Her phone rang, and she quickly answered, saying, “I’ll be there soon,” before heading to the kitchen to wash her dishes. She hadn’t said a word to me. Was I invisible? She left without another word, not even offering me breakfast.

“Do you want me to drive you?” I called out, trying to fulfill my husbandly duty.

“No,” she replied curtly, walking out the door. I couldn’t believe it. She had never said no to me before.

The kitchen was spotless, but she hadn’t left anything for me to eat. I decided I’d grab something on the way to work.

When I opened my wardrobe, I noticed my clothes weren’t ironed. Catherine had forgotten. My mood soured further. I had never had to worry about these things before. She’d always taken care of everything. Even my shoes weren’t polished. How could she forget all this?

At the office, I felt the stares of my colleagues. It must have been my wrinkled shirt. I usually prided myself on looking sharp, but today, I looked unkempt.

I sat at my desk, ready to dive into work when my phone buzzed. It was Elena. Why was she calling me so early?

“What is it, Elena?” I asked, still annoyed at her for how things had gone at the party. She was complicating everything.

“James, please come home. It’s urgent,” she said, her voice trembling.

“I’m busy today,” I snapped. “Whatever it is can wait.”

“Please, James. It’s important. I can’t explain over the phone,” she pleaded, her voice breaking. Was she crying?

Worried, I asked again, “What’s going on?” But she had already hung up. A sense of dread settled in, and I didn’t waste any time heading to the penthouse where she was staying. It wasn’t far from the office.

When I arrived, the door was ajar, but everything seemed normal inside. I found Elena in the bedroom, curled up in bed, crying.

“Elena, what happened?” I asked, panic rising in my chest. She sobbed louder, and I felt my heart racing.

“Please, tell me,” I urged, placing a hand on her shoulder. She sat up and hugged me tightly.

“I’m sorry, James,” she whispered. What had she done? I was confused.

“Just tell me,” I insisted, but she was too distraught to speak. My eyes drifted to the bedside table, where I spotted a pregnancy test. I picked it up, my stomach dropping when I saw the two lines.

“Are you pregnant?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” she confirmed in a low voice.

I felt like the ground was slipping out from under me. How could this have happened? I had always been careful with Elena. What was I going to do now? What about Catherine? My family? The company?

“Elena?” I said softly, trying to process the situation. She clung to me, crying harder.

“Please, don’t ask me to abort. This baby is mine, and I want it,” she said, her hands resting on her stomach.

I couldn’t tell her to do that. The baby was mine too. I had always wanted a child, but Catherine’s medical condition had made it impossible. She had spent so much time in the hospital, and even after she recovered, we had to be careful.

“No, I won’t ask that of you,” I assured her, trying to comfort her. I was going to be a father. I needed to step up and protect my child. In ten months, I would have a baby calling me ‘Dad.’

“But what should we do? This baby needs a father,” she said, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. She was right. I needed to take responsibility. My parents had always wanted a grandchild; they would have to accept this child. But what about Catherine? She loved me, and I had feelings for her too. But now, my priority had to be my baby and its mother.

I left the penthouse, my mind racing. I needed to tell Catherine. She was the last person I wanted to hurt, but she deserved to know. I am going to be a father now.

When I got home, Catherine had just returned from work. She went straight to the bedroom, but I called her back.

“Cat, sit here,” I said, trying to sound firm. She looked surprised to see me. Hesitating, she placed her bag on the couch and her phone on the table before sitting down, giving me her full attention.

I had rehearsed this conversation in my head, but now, seeing her innocent face, the words wouldn’t come. How could I tell her? I was about to shatter her world. I had promised her forever, but now, I couldn’t keep that promise. I needed to do right by her, no matter what.

“Catherine, I...” I started, but the words stuck in my throat. She waited patiently, her eyes searching mine.

“Catherine, I’m in a relationship with another woman,” I finally blurted out, my gaze dropping to the floor. I couldn’t bear to see her reaction.

“It’s Elena. She’s pregnant,” I added, bracing myself for her response. But she didn’t shout. She didn’t say anything. The silence was unbearable, making me feel even more guilty. Her silence was killing me.

“Say something, Cat,” I pleaded. Her eyes turned cold, and she looked at me with a mixture of disgust and disappointment.

“What should I do now, Catherine?” I asked, knowing I had created this mess but clueless about how to fix it.

“Tell your family, friends, and everyone,” she said, breaking the silence.

“Cat...” I started, unsure of how to respond. But she was right. My baby shouldn’t be born into a lie. My parents always wanted a grandchild, so they’d have to accept this. After the announcement, my dad would have no choice but to hand the company over to me.

“I’ll arrange a dinner and tell them,” I said, still reeling from the shock of her calm reaction. She didn’t yell or cry. Instead, she stood up.

“Congratulations, James,” she said coldly before walking upstairs.

I was left in shock. How could she be so calm?

Please like if you liked the chapter.
Do comment with your opinions.

Support me to continue 😌😌.