King of My Heart

7. "Don't go."

(1188 words)

Days passed and it so happened that Ethan had to go to another city for a business meeting.

"Can it not be a Skype meeting?" I asked him as he packed his stuff to leave the following morning.

"My love, I'm also not happy about this but it's quite an important meeting and I'm afraid I need to be physically present for it." He replied, placing a kiss on top of my head.

"You'll be gone for three days! I'll miss you so much." I felt a lump form in my throat.

"Anastasia, I'll miss you too, my beautiful wife." He said, kneeling in front of me and taking my hands in his.

"Don't go." My voice broke.

"Anastasia Ethan, you are not allowed to cry. I'll be back in three days, by your side. I promise." He kissed my knuckles.

"I'm concerned about your safety."

"Nothing will happen to me. I promise to take all kinds of security measures; I won't go anywhere without bodyguards; I'll take care of everything, okay? So you don't have to worry."

"Okay." I knew that no matter what, he had to go.

"That's my good girl. Now let's get to bed, hmm?" He said in a smooth and consoling voice. I nodded my head and let him escort me to our bed. I revelled in the feeling of his arms around me that night as I was going to be deprived of it for a few days.

———

*THE NEXT MORNING*

"Ethan, don't worry at all. I'll keep Ana company." Sophia said to him as he was about to depart.

"Thanks, Sophia. I'm glad you're here with her." Ethan offered her a smile before turning his attention to me.

"Take good care of yourself, okay? I'll keep in touch with you." He whispered to me as his beautiful eyes looked into my sad ones. I nodded my head, unable to get words out.

"I love you." He muttered with utmost sincerity.

I took in a deep breath. "I love you too, Ethan." He kissed my forehead and then my cheek and then to my dismay, he stepped back.

"See you in three days." He announced and giving me one last look, he left, and I could feel a void in my chest.

"Don't be sad, Ana." Sophia put her arm around my shoulders and rubbed my arm when Ethan was gone.

"Yeah... it's just the first time after our marriage that he has to go to another city. I'm not used to sleeping alone at night anymore." I explained, playing with my fingers.

"I understand...but you have me! I won't let you feel lonely." She said to cheer me up and I gave her a grateful smile, even though nothing could fill the void that Ethan's departure had created.

———

Ethan: I love you and miss you already, my beautiful wife.

I saw his text on my return from college and it rendered me glad.

Me: I miss you too, babe! Stay safe.

Him: my life is colourless and meaningless without you.

I chuckled though I felt the same way.

Me: you're being cheesy again....

Him: you know you love it.

I grinned at the screen. God, I love this man.

Him: I'll call you in the evening. Take care.

I sighed before tossing my phone away. It was lunchtime but I didn't feel hungry. Instead, I felt weird. Before I could decipher what I was actually feeling, I felt my vision cloud a little and my mouth salivate like crazy.

I'm going to vomit.

I dashed to the bathroom just in time and emptied the contents of my stomach in the toilet bowel. I panted when I was done, just sitting there on the bathroom floor, perplexed. I hated vomiting and couldn't recall eating anything to upset my stomach. I flushed and forced myself up. Feeling lightheaded, I clung onto the sink for support. What is happening to me?

When I finally regained some strength and my vision became clear, I rinsed my mouth with mouthwash to get rid of the horrible aftertaste of vomit. I felt utterly disgusted.

Washing my face, I headed back to my bedroom and contemplated if I should visit the doctor. It was just one vomit, it's not a big deal. I decided to just lay down and rest and thankfully, soon I felt better.

———

"Ana, why aren't you eating anything?" Sophia interrogated as I only sipped on fresh juice for dinner.

"I don't feel like it." I answered. Though I was feeling better, I didn't have much of an appetite.

"Is it because you miss Ethan?"

"I guess so." I responded. Just then, my phone began ringing and automatically a smile spread across my face.

"Lemme guess, that's Ethan." Sophia said with a smile.

"Yeah," I grinned. "Please excuse me."

"Oh of course."

I retired to my room and quickly attended his call. "Hey, love. So much time you took to pick up." Ethan's voice from the other side calmed me.

"Hey, sorry about that. How are you?"

"I don't think it's going to be an easy task sleeping without a certain gorgeous girl by my side." He said, making me blush.

"That's why I asked you to stay. Anyway, how'd the first meeting go?"

"It went well. Though I feel a little skeptical about getting the project." He answered.

I scrunched my eyebrows together. "Why is that?"

"I'm not sure. They laid out some strange proposals and suggestions, and they aren't ready to negotiate them. Do you think they'll hand the project over to me?"

"I can't comment on that because I haven't heard the proposals and know nothing about this." I replied.

"Well you must know about how your lovely voice gives me pre-mature ventricular contractions." He said and I burst out laughing at his adorable way of saying that my voice made his heart skip a beat.

But my laughter was stopped abruptly as I felt a certain weird sensation in my stomach.

"Anastasia?" The feeling of nausea took over me and my breathing sped up a little.

"Ethan, can I text you in a bit?" I managed to say to him.

"Is everything okay?" Concern laced his voice.

"I—I haven't eaten and I'm lightheaded. If you don't mind—" I lied and was cut off.

"Anastasia, that's so irresponsible! Go and eat right now and then text me." He commanded.

"Okay."

"I love you, Anastasia."

"I love you too, Ethan." I was able to utter and quickly hung up before running to the bathroom and throwing up once again into the toilet bowel. As I was done, I felt fear as I focused on my fast heartbeat and breathing. Being a medical student, I could tell what that probably meant.

I most likely had food poisoning.

———

*THE NEXT DAY*

After college, I sat in the doctor's office, waiting for her to make a diagnosis. I hated vomiting and I just wanted medicines to make sure it didn't happen again.

"Anastasia Ethan?" The doctor returned to her chair behind her desk.

"Yes, doctor? Is it food poisoning?"

"Mrs. Ethan, you're pregnant."