(Bradga; RPF) Affair of the Heart

Chapter One

Chapter One

Christian was stunned into silence. Of all the things he might have imagined her telling him, her being pregnant was not one of them. He dropped the handful of clothes in his grip and collapsed onto the end of the bed next to her.

"Chris, I'm..."

"How could this happen?" he suddenly questioned. "We've always been...careful."

Her tears fell more earnestly then. "I don't..."

He turned to face her. "How could you let this happen? I...we've talked about this. I don't want more kids!"

She stood, her anger just beneath the surface; now directed at Christian rather than at the situation.

"How could I let this happen?" she snapped back.

Before she had a chance to continue, Christian's eyes narrowed. He stood up and stepped closer to her.

"How far along are you?" he suddenly questioned.

Stefani's moment of truth was upon her. Before she lost her nerve, she answered his question.

"About...about six weeks."

///////////////

Same Day

Pacific Palisades, CA.

Cooper/Shayk Residence

Bradley couldn't help but smile as he watched his nineteen-month old daughter doze off on his chest as he lay on the couch in the spacious family room of their home. Little Lea had been sick and was finally beginning to feel better.

"Is she asleep again?" Irina asked irritably as she stepped into the room.

Bradley sighed as he sat up. "Yes, she's asleep again, Irina. She's been sick. Kids sleep a lot when they've been sick."

"I wanted to take her with me to this shoot so..."

"So you could show her off," he finished for her. "She's not a prop for show-and-tell. Go to your shoot, she stays with me."

Just short of throwing a tantrum, Irina stalked from the room.

Bradley sighed as he heard the front door slam, which woke Lea from her nap. He ran his hand over her sweaty blonde head.

"Sorry, baby girl," he said softly. "Mama didn't mean to wake you."

"Mama?" Lea questioned softly as she looked around.

Bradley smiled. He took issue with a lot of things Irina did and said, but deep down he knew that she loved their daughter just as much as he did. It just wasn't easy pretending anymore that they loved each other. Lea was, and had been for a long time the only thing still holding their relationship together.

"Maybe we'll go see Stefi later while Mama is out," he suddenly said to the toddler.

Lea's eyes lit up. "Tefi?"

Bradley laughed. "Yes, Stefi. Would you like to see Stefi? We haven't been to see her in a while."

Lea nodded as she rested her head back against her father's chest. Her eyes against drifted shut and Bradley laid down so they could both take a nap.

///////////////

Stefani saw it the moment the news registered with Christian. His eyes darkened and she saw the rage cross his face.

"Six weeks?" he asked, almost to himself as he did the math in his head. "You're six weeks pregnant."

She nodded slowly, her hands automatically covering her belly.

"You...fucking whore!" he screamed, making her jump. "I can't believe this! Motherfu...it's Cooper's, isn't it? You've been fucking him!"

She shook her head. "I'm so...so sorry, Christian. I..."

His hands clenched into fists and he fought for control. "Sorry you fucked him? Sorry you got knocked up with his bastard? Or sorry you got caught? Huh, which is it?"

She sat back down on the end of the bed, defeated.

"Does he know?" Christian asked suddenly.

When she shook her head, Christian laughed. "Maybe I'll just go tell him."

Her eyes widened as he packed the rest of his things and headed for the door. She watched as he turned around and tossed a little black box at her.

"I was going to give that to you when I came home in a couple of days," he said. "I was going to ask you to be my wife."

Crying in earnest, Stefani whispered. "I'm sorry."

"You're not sorry," he lobbed at her angrily. "You're just a little slut who wanted him from the beginning. I should have known better. He's why you kicked Kinney to the curb. I should have seen it and never gotten involved. I hope you're happy now. You can have your pretty boy and he can have his whore. If his girlfriend will give him up."

With that, he turned and left.

Stefani sobbed as she heard the front door slam.