Three Little Heartbeats

Chapter 10: Dangerous Secret

The city lights flickered outside Alexia's apartment window, casting long shadows across the room as the evening deepened. Alexia stood by the window, her hand resting protectively over her growing belly, her mind racing with worry. The weight of her secret seemed heavier tonight, almost suffocating. Every time she thought about telling Sandro the truth, something stopped her—a gnawing fear that this secret, if revealed, would change both their lives forever.

Sandro's political career had been on a meteoric rise. Even across the ocean, in her quiet little world in Los Angeles, she saw his name splashed across headlines—his speeches, his bills, his vision for Ilocos Norte. He was becoming a powerful figure in the Philippine political landscape. The kind of man who was meant to lead, who people depended on.

And the kind of man who couldn't afford a scandal.

Alexia knew that revealing her pregnancy would shake the foundation of everything Sandro had built. She imagined the media storm—tabloids plastered with pictures of her pregnant belly, the ruthless speculation about who the father was, and the inevitable scrutiny of Sandro's every move. His opponents would use it to tear him down, casting him as reckless or irresponsible, questioning his character. The political world wasn't forgiving. It thrived on controversy, on digging up dirt, and on turning even the smallest mistake into a career-ending catastrophe.

Her heart ached as she thought about how much Sandro had worked for, how hard he had fought to maintain his image. The idea that she could be the one to unravel all of that made her feel sick with guilt.

She sighed, leaning her forehead against the cool glass of the window. Her thoughts spun in endless circles, tangled in fear and uncertainty. She loved Sandro—there was no denying that. But love, in this case, seemed like a double-edged sword. How could she claim to love him if she was about to upend his entire life?

And yet, every day, as her belly grew larger, as the babies inside her moved and kicked, the secret became harder and harder to keep.

The phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, startling her out of her thoughts. She turned and walked over to check the screen. Another message from Sandro.

"Lex, please. Just let me see you. I'm only here for a few more days."

Alexia's heart clenched. He was persistent, of course he was. That was part of what made him such a force in his career—he never gave up, never backed down from a challenge. And now, she was the challenge. The distance between them, the unanswered calls, the evasion—it wasn't like her. He knew something was wrong, but he didn't know just how wrong.

How could she face him now, after so much time had passed? How could she look into his eyes and tell him that she had been carrying this secret for months, that she had hidden it from him, that she had made the decision for both of them?

"I'm protecting you," she whispered to herself, though the words felt hollow. Was that really the truth, or was she just too scared to deal with the consequences?

She deleted the message before she could respond, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Every time she thought about coming clean, the same haunting thought echoed in her mind: What if it ruins everything?

Later that evening, Alexia sat at the small table in her kitchen, staring down at her untouched dinner. Her appetite had been sporadic lately, more from stress than from the pregnancy. The reality of her situation pressed down on her like a weight she couldn't shake.

She thought back to the night she and Sandro had parted ways. There had been no official goodbye, no final words. He had left for the Philippines to fulfill his duties as Congressman, and she had stayed behind in the U.S., nursing the quiet hope that somehow they would find their way back to each other. But life had other plans. She found out she was pregnant just weeks after he left, and by then, it had already felt too late to tell him.

Now, it felt impossible.

The sound of her phone ringing again made her jump. Sandro's name lit up the screen once more, his persistence like a reminder of everything she was avoiding. She stared at the phone, her pulse quickening, and for a moment, she considered answering. But as the ringing continued, so did the doubts.

What would she even say?

She couldn't tell him now, not over the phone. Not while he was in New York on official business. This wasn't something to drop on him casually. And what if he reacted poorly? What if he said something he couldn't take back, something that would shatter the fragile hope she had left?

As the call went to voicemail, Alexia let out a shaky breath, her hand absentmindedly tracing circles over her belly. She imagined the faces of her babies, the tiny lives growing inside her, and her heart twisted painfully.

They deserved to know their father. They deserved the truth.

But Sandro deserved to have his career—his future—untarnished by the kind of scandal a secret pregnancy would bring.

She pulled her laptop toward her and opened a news site, searching for Sandro's name. The headlines were full of praise, highlighting his recent accomplishments in Congress, his growing popularity, and rumors of him being a rising star in the political arena. He had worked so hard for this, and he was so close to achieving everything he had ever dreamed of.

How could she take that away from him?

The weight of her decision pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She closed the laptop and leaned back in her chair, tears stinging her eyes.

She couldn't do this to him. She couldn't be the reason everything fell apart.

But how long could she keep this secret? The pregnancy was already impossible to hide physically, and soon, she would be too far along for anyone to ignore it. And when the babies were born... what then?

The thought terrified her.

The next day, Alexia sat in her doctor's office, nervously bouncing her leg as she waited for the appointment to begin. The soft hum of the ultrasound machine filled the small room as the technician prepared for the scan. She had been to so many appointments already, but this one felt different. The weight of her secret made everything feel heavier, the stakes higher.

"Are you ready?" the technician asked with a kind smile.

Alexia nodded, though inside, she felt anything but ready. As the gel was spread over her belly and the ultrasound wand moved across her skin, her mind wandered back to Sandro. He should be here. He should be seeing this—hearing the heartbeats of his children for the first time. But instead, he was a world away, unaware of the life they had created together.

The soft thumping sound of the babies' heartbeats filled the room, and Alexia's eyes welled with tears. The technician smiled, pointing to the screen.

"There they are—your little ones, growing strong."

Alexia's chest tightened with a mixture of joy and sorrow. How could something so beautiful feel so painful?

The scan continued, the technician talking through the images, but Alexia's mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of what might happen if she kept this secret any longer. She could only hide for so long before Sandro found out, one way or another. But the thought of telling him now, after all these months of silence, made her stomach churn with fear.

As she left the doctor's office later that afternoon, Alexia felt more lost than ever. Her heart ached with the knowledge that time was running out. Sooner or later, she would have to face the truth—face Sandro—and deal with the consequences of the dangerous secret she had been keeping.

For now, though, she would continue to protect him from the storm she feared would follow. At least, for a little while longer.