|TWO MONTHS LATER|

BRIANNA

Adrian truly kept his promise about paying for my mom’s treatment. After we returned from our trip to Spain, Adrian contacted his personal doctor, and my mom was admitted to their hospital. She’s been there for over a month now, and today, she’s finally home.

“It’s so good to have you back, Mom.” I said, hugging her again. She looked healthier and wasn’t as skinny as she had been before.

“It’s good to be home.” She chuckled, hugging me back. I inhaled deeply, savoring her familiar flowery scent.

“Thanks for everything, Adrian. I can’t even imagine this happening without your help.” I said to Adrian, who was sitting on the couch. He gave me a brief smile.

“It’s fine, no need to thank me.” He replied, his voice warm but modest.

“Okay! What does everyone want for lunch? Should we have homemade food, or should we order something?” I asked enthusiastically.

“We should definitely order!” Mariana chimed in excitedly.

“Pizza and soda, anyone?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes!” everyone replied in unison.

“Alright, lunch is on me,” I declared as I grabbed my phone—the new iPhone Adrian had bought for me two months ago. I quickly placed the order, asking for two boxes of pizza, each with four different types of soda to cater to everyone’s preferences.

Once the order was placed, I returned to sit beside Adrian. He clasped his hand over mine, and I looked down at our hands. We fit so well together. After our time in Madrid, things between us didn’t just stop there. We continued having fun whenever we could, even sneaking around in the office. The people at work were starting to notice that something was going on between Adrian and me, and frankly, they weren’t wrong. I occasionally overheard whispers about our relationship, but I chose to ignore them with a smile.

Despite how close Adrian and I had become, I wasn’t entirely sure what we were. He hadn’t asked me out, and I couldn’t tell if we were just casual or if it was something more serious. To me, though, it felt like something more. I used to swear I would never love a man or get into a relationship, especially after seeing how my mom’s life turned out, but now, I had a change of heart. I loved Adrian—the arrogant man beside me. I hadn’t told him yet, though, and I couldn’t be sure how he felt about me.

“What are you thinking about? You look like something’s bothering you.” He whispered softly into my ear, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“I’m fine. Just thinking about some meaningless things.” I shrugged nonchalantly.

“I don’t think meaningless things would make you look that worried.” He stated, his voice sharp with observation. That smart-ass.

“I’m serious. It’s nothing,” I repeated, but before he could respond, the doorbell rang.

“Looks like the pizza’s here!” I said, practically leaping out of my seat to answer the door. Phew! Thank goodness for the doorbell.

I opened the door to find the delivery guy standing there with two boxes of pizza and a bag of soda in hand. I grabbed the items from him and handed over the payment, adding a ten-dollar tip. He flashed a bright smile at me before turning to leave. I closed the door behind him and returned to the living room.

“Who’s ready for pizza?” I asked cheerfully as I placed the boxes and bag of soda on the table. Pizza always seems to bring out the best in everyone.

Mom and Mariana shared one box, while Adrian and I took the other. I picked up a slice of pizza, taking a bite before chewing. Almost immediately, a wave of nausea hit me, and I felt the food rising in my throat. I quickly covered my mouth and hurried to the nearest bathroom.

“Brianna! What’s wrong?” I heard Mom’s concerned voice as I rushed away.

“Don’t worry, Ma. I’ll go after her.” Adrian’s voice was steady, but I could hear the urgency in his footsteps as he followed me.

I made it to the bathroom, bent over the toilet, and vomited. I felt someone step behind me and gently hold up my hair. This had been happening for a while now—whenever I ate certain foods, I would end up vomiting. I had my suspicions about why, but I didn’t want to admit it.

After emptying my stomach, I flushed the toilet and rinsed my mouth with water from the faucet.

“Are you okay? Are you sick?” Adrian asked, his voice laced with worry.

“I’m fine. It’s probably just a fever or something. I’ll be okay,” I replied weakly, standing up and preparing to leave the bathroom.

“Are you sure? It could be something more serious. If you want, I can take you to my doctor,” he suggested, his concern obvious.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, pressing my hand against his chest to reassure him. “I don’t like hospitals. I can’t stand the smell of injections, drugs, and all that stuff.”

“Alright, if you say so.” He exhaled deeply, still unconvinced but agreeing nonetheless.

When we returned to the living room, I was met with two pairs of worried eyes.

“Are you okay, Brianna?” Mom asked, her gaze intense. I could tell she was suspicious.

“Yes, Mom. I’m fine. And if I’m not, I will be,” I assured her. She hummed, but I could tell she wasn’t fully convinced. Mom only acted like this when she was observing something but didn’t want to address it right away.

“Okay, Mom, spill,” I sighed, leaning back in the chair.

“What? There’s nothing to say,” she replied innocently.

“You and I both know you have something to say, Mom,” I stated firmly. She chuckled.

“You’re pregnant,” she said simply, not mincing words.

My eyes went wide in shock. “What? That can’t be. How did you know?” I asked.

“Well, the symptoms are obvious. Only a blind person wouldn’t notice,” she replied matter-of-factly.

Her words confirmed what I had been suspecting, but I was too afraid to admit it. For the past two weeks, I had been experiencing symptoms—nausea, morning sickness, sore breasts, and I had missed my period—but I kept denying it to myself.

“You’re right. I’ve noticed the symptoms for about two weeks now,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Wait... Did I hear that right? You’re pregnant?” Adrian asked, his voice rising in disbelief.

“Yes,” I whispered, tears beginning to well up in my eyes. This wasn’t how I planned my life. I hadn’t intended to fall in love, and I certainly hadn’t planned to get pregnant by a man I wasn’t even dating. Everything felt so messed up.

“Why are you crying?” Adrian rushed to my side, pulling me into a hug.

“This isn’t how I envisioned my life,” I wailed, my voice cracking with emotion.

“What? You don’t like the fact that you’re pregnant with my child?” he asked, his voice laced with confusion.

“It’s not that...” I paused, sniffing. “I never planned for any of this. It all happened so suddenly. I never wanted a relationship with a man in the first place.”

I broke down in tears, my emotions overwhelming me.

“It’s going to be okay,” Adrian murmured, gently patting my back and kissing my forehead.

“I love you, and that’s all that matters,” he said, his voice sincere and full of conviction.

I pulled back slightly, staring at him in shock. “You love me?” I asked, barely able to believe it.

“Yes, I do,” he replied, his gaze softening. “You’re the only woman who made me realize how much of an asshole I was. You didn’t worship me like every other woman, and most importantly, you changed me. Not many women can say that.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips, despite my tears.

“I promise to love you and our unborn baby, no matter what,” he added, wiping away my tears.

“I love you so much, Adrian, even though you’re still kind of an asshole,” I said, chuckling through my tears.

“I am your asshole, and I hope I’ll be your asshole forever,” he grinned, dipping his head and capturing my lips in a deep, tender kiss.