Between Us

Chapter 57

Alianna

I drop my head to Max's shoulder and snuggle closer on the sofa. I'm drawing on my tablet as she reviews documents on her laptop, yet I'm filled with such happiness tonight. It's the simple things I love most with her.

"Mrs. Lim?"

We both sit up in surprise when one of our bodyguards walks in. Our staff is usually so invisible that it's easy to forget they're there at all. They never enter the house when we're at home.

"What is it, Kwan?" Max asks.

Kwan hesitates for a moment, "Crystal Arceta is at the gate. We've denied her entry, but she doesn't seem to be in a good state of mind. I would recommend that we let her in before she causes a scene and attracts the media."

Max looks at me, and I nod. If what she's saying is true, something is really wrong. Crystal would never risk causing a scene otherwise. She cares more about her reputation than she's ever cared about either of us.

"Let her in," I say.

I grab my phone and pull up the cameras. The gates at the front of the mansion swing open, and she drives through. It'll only take her a few minutes to get to our house, and the closer she gets, the more apprehension fills me. I have a bad feeling about this.

I haven't spoken a word to her since I asked her if she wanted me in her life, and I didn't think I ever would again. Not truly. I anticipated seeing her at social events, but this? I didn't expect her to show up at our house ever again.

Crystal looks distraught as she walks in, Kwan by her side. She pauses and looks around, her face betraying her shock.

"I see you renovated the place," she says, her tone soft and matter-of-fact. The venom I expected isn't there, and it makes me feel uneasy. Considering the way we fell out, there's no way she could be standing in front of me now without an ulterior motive.

She walks up to us and sits down on the sofa next to the one we're on, her gaze moving between Max and me. Trepidation runs down my spine when she clasps her hands nervously.

Normally, she can't take her eyes off Max. This time, she's looking at me, with something that looks a whole lot like remorse in her gaze.

"I'm sorry to drop by unannounced," she says, her head bowed. Her eyes fill with tears, and she inhales shakily. The way she wraps her arms around herself makes her look so vulnerable, but I'm convinced it's all an act. I should've known she wouldn't let me walk away so easily—not with both Max and our parents' company.

"I... there's no easy way to say this," She raises her head and looks into my eyes, "I'm... I'm pregnant."

She's... what?

My heart drops, and nausea hits me hard, her words replaying through my mind. Fear unlike anything I've ever known holds me captive as I stare at my sister. She looks so apologetic, but I recognize that glint in her eyes. It's how she always looked at me when she pretended to feel sorry for the way Mom favored her over me.

I wrap my arms around myself and take a steadying breath. This can't be happening.

Her gaze shifts to Max, "I'm five months along. The baby is, of course, yours."

Max tenses beside me and reaches for my hand, entwining our fingers before she places our joined hands in her lap. It's clear that she's in as much disbelief as I am.

"I didn't realize it for the longest time. You know how irregular my periods are, Max. It isn't until I started to gain weight inexplicably that I thought of doing a pregnancy test. I've had no symptoms whatsoever. No morning sickness, no indications at all. I wasn't even showing until two weeks ago. I... it's a high-risk pregnancy, Max, and I just... I need you. I can't do this by myself, and I'm scared."