MY HUSBAND IS A GANGSTER

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The Pregnant Charade
┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Spending time with Jenna had become my new routine. Every morning, I would head over to her place and we'd go through the typical motions of pregnancy together. From prenatal yoga to discussing baby names, it was all part of maintaining the charade for Mrs. Carters.

It wasn't just about fooling her; it was about soaking up every detail so that no one would ever question the authenticity of my "pregnancy."

One morning, Jenna greeted me with her usual bright smile. "Hey, mama! Ready for some prenatal yoga?"

I laughed, slipping off my shoes. "You bet. Let's do this."

We unrolled our mats and began the session, following the calm instructions of the video Jenna had found online. As we moved through the poses, Jenna glanced at me and smirked. "So, how's the belly?"

I adjusted the fake bump strapped to my stomach. "It's going well. I've gotten used to the extra weight."

Jenna laughed. "Yeah, well, enjoy it while it's fake. This baby's already making me feel like a whale."

"Just think of it as practice for when you have to waddle around in the last trimester," I teased.

As we finished our session and settled down for some tea, Lily joined us, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, how's the crime lord?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's doing fine, thank you very much. And he's not a crime lord."

"Could've fooled me," Lily shot back. "I mean, I remember the stories from high school. The Shadow, really?"

I sighed. "He's not that person anymore. He's changed."

Jenna nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I can see it. He's different when he's with you. Softer, almost."

"It's been a tough journey," I admitted. "But he's trying. We both are."

One weekend, I invited Jenna and Lily over to our house. It was time they met Neil properly, outside of the whispers and rumors that surrounded him.

As they stepped into the house, Jenna's eyes widened. "Wow, this place is... something else."

Neil walked in from the backyard, wiping his hands on a towel. "Welcome, ladies. Make yourselves at home."

Lily, always the bold one, approached him directly. "So, you're the infamous Neil Carters. Nice to finally meet you."

Neil gave her a polite smile. "And you must be Lily. Rachel's told me a lot about you."

"All good things, I hope," she said, her tone playful.

Neil chuckled. "Mostly."

We all sat down in the living room, and for the first time, I saw my friends relax around Neil. They started to see what I saw: a man who was trying to change his life, someone who was more than just the sum of his past actions.

Jenna looked at him curiously. "So, Neil, what's it like, trying to turn things around?"

Neil leaned back, a thoughtful look on his face. "It's hard. Every day is a struggle. But I have Rachel, and she gives me hope. That makes all the difference."

Lily grinned. "Well, if you ever need any tips on being a decent human being, just ask me. I'm a pro."

Neil laughed, a genuine, deep laugh that I hadn't heard in a while. "I'll keep that in mind, Lily."

As the days turned into weeks, I continued my routine with Jenna, ensuring that every detail of my "pregnancy" was covered. We attended prenatal classes together, visited baby stores, and even had mock check-ups with a friendly doctor who was in on our plan.

One afternoon, as Jenna and I were browsing through a baby store, she turned to me, her eyes serious. "Rach, are you sure you're okay with this? I mean, it's a huge deal, pretending to be pregnant."

I looked at her, my heart full of gratitude. "Jenna, I don't have a choice. If Mrs. Carters finds out I can't have children..."

"I know," Jenna said, squeezing my hand. "I just want to make sure you're okay. This is a lot to handle."

"I'm okay," I assured her. "Thanks to you and Lily. You two are my rock."

Jenna smiled. "Always, Rach. Always."

One evening, after a particularly long day, Neil and I sat together on the couch, the weight of our situation pressing down on us. He looked at me, his eyes filled with worry. "Rachel, are you sure about this? About faking the pregnancy?"

"I have to be," I said softly. "We don't have another choice."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just hate that you're in danger because of me."

"We're in this together," I reminded him. "We'll get through it. And once we do, we'll be free."

Neil nodded, pulling me close. "I just want you to be safe. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. "We'll be okay. We have to be."

As I drifted off to sleep that night, I felt a glimmer of hope. We had a plan, and with Jenna and Lily by my side, I knew we had a fighting chance. But deep down, I knew the road ahead was still fraught with danger and uncertainty. We just had to keep going, one step at a time.

{TOO BE CONTINUED...}