Beneath The Surface

Chapter 50: The Uncertain Path Ahead

--- Raven's POV ---

A few minutes later, Ace returned, his face holding a serious expression that softened slightly when he saw me. “Sorry about that,” he said, sitting next to me on the bed.

I looked at him with concern. “Is everything okay?”

He nodded, though his eyes flickered with something unspoken. “Just some business I needed to take care of.” His tone was too casual, almost evasive, making me uneasy.

Sensing my unease, he quickly changed the topic. “How about we go check on Marco and see if he’s finished his work?”

I nodded, though my mind lingered on his phone call. Ace’s reluctance to discuss it made it clear that he was hiding something from me.

We walked towards Marco’s office, the tension palpable. Despite Ace’s attempt to steer my thoughts away from the call, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever had happened was serious. The way Ace had avoided my gaze when he spoke only heightened my suspicion.

Ace knocked on Marco’s door, and we heard a muffled “Come in.” We entered, finding Marco at his desk, surrounded by papers and his laptop open in front of him.

Marco looked up, his expression shifting from concentration to a warm smile when he saw us. “Hey, everything alright?”

Ace gave a slight nod, but then subtly signaled to Marco that they needed to talk. It was a quick gesture, but I caught it.

I glanced between them, assuming it had something to do with the call Ace had received. Marco’s eyes flicked to mine, and then back to Ace, a silent understanding passing between them.

“Raven, how about you relax in the living room for a bit?” Marco suggested gently. “Ace and I need to discuss something real quick.”

I hesitated but nodded, sensing that this was a conversation they didn’t want me to hear. As I left the room, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease. What were they hiding from me? What had Ace’s call been about?

Settling into the living room, I tried to distract myself, but my mind kept drifting back to Ace’s call and the tension between him and Marco. They were hiding something, and it felt big. The unease I felt was hard to ignore, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever they were keeping from me, it was only a matter of time before I found out.

I tried to distract myself by turning on the TV. They had been upstairs for quite a while, and the longer they stayed, the more anxious I felt.

Finally, I heard them coming down the stairs. They entered the living room, and I could see the concern etched on their faces. Ace sat down next to me on the sofa, and Marco took a seat on the coffee table in front of me. Their expressions were so serious, it made my heart race with worry.

I looked between them, feeling the tension thick in the air. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Ace glanced at Marco, prompting me to do the same. Marco took a deep breath, breaking the silence. "There's something we need to tell you."

I nodded, urging him to continue.

Marco's eyes met mine, and he said, "When the doctor came to look at you the other night, she suspected something, so she drew some blood to confirm it."

He paused, looking at Ace and then back at me. I could feel my pulse quicken as I waited for him to continue.

Finally, Marco said, "You're pregnant. The call Ace received was from the doctor, confirming the blood test results."

The words hung in the air, heavy and surreal. Pregnant. It felt like the ground had shifted beneath my feet. Shock, fear, and a crushing wave of sadness washed over me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked from Marco to Ace, trying to comprehend what this meant for me.

“How far along?” I managed to ask, my voice quivering.

Marco shook his head slightly. “We’re not sure. We’ll need to go back to the doctor to find out exactly.”

The tears I had been holding back began to spill over. The idea that this child could be Ivan’s filled me with a dread so deep I could hardly breathe. I had always been so careful, religiously taking my birth control. The only reasonable explanation was that it happened during those horrific days with Ivan. The thought of carrying his child made me feel sick with horror.

“What if… what if it’s his?” I whispered, my voice breaking.

Marco moved closer, taking my hands in his. His touch was gentle but his eyes were filled with intensity. “It’s your body, Raven. Whatever decision you make, we will support you. You’re not in this alone.”

Ace, who had been sitting silently, pulled me closer into his arms. His voice was soft but resolute. “We’re here for you, no matter what. We’ll get through this together.”

The sincerity and determination in their words brought a flicker of comfort. But the fear and uncertainty were still overwhelming. I felt a gnawing dread about what the future held and the implications of this pregnancy. I needed to know for sure, but I was terrified of what the truth might reveal.

“What if I can’t do this?” I whispered, voicing my deepest fear.

Marco squeezed my hands gently. “You don’t have to decide anything right now. We’ll go to the doctor, we’ll find out for sure, and then we’ll figure out the next steps together.”

Ace nodded in agreement. “One step at a time. We’ll deal with whatever comes.”

Their unwavering support was a lifeline, a small beacon of hope amidst the storm of my emotions. I knew I had to face this situation, to find out the truth, but the prospect was terrifying.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself. There were so many questions swirling in my mind, so many fears about what lay ahead. But with Marco and Ace by my side, I felt a tiny bit stronger, a little more prepared to face the unknown.

As I sat between them, their comforting presence gave me the strength I needed to keep going. The path ahead was uncertain and filled with potential pain, but I knew I wouldn’t have to walk it alone. With Marco and Ace’s support, I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, I could get through this.