Chapter 2 The Unexpected News

It started as a faint whisper in the back of my mind.

At first, I told myself it was just stress. The divorce, the sleepless nights, the endless arguments playing on repeat in my head-it all had to be taking a toll on my body. I wasn't eating well. I wasn't sleeping well. It made sense.

But the symptoms grew louder. Morning dizziness, constant fatigue, the way my stomach churned at the smell of coffee-a smell I used to love. Every time I brushed it off, another wave of unease would hit me, each one harder to ignore.

"Stress doesn't make you nauseous, Elena," Mia said, her voice laced with exasperation as she leaned against my kitchen counter. She had her arms crossed, her eyebrows raised like she was scolding a child. "And you can't just pretend your period isn't two weeks late."

I sighed, trying to focus on the mug in my hands. The tea had gone cold. "I'm sure it's nothing, Mia. I've been under a lot of pressure."

I hope I'm right. Definitely pressure, pressure from work and social public announcement about my divorce.

Mia snorted. "Pressure doesn't make you want to puke every time you smell food, either." She grabbed her bag from the chair and pulled out a small rectangular box. "Here. Take this."

I blinked at her. "Is that... a pregnancy test?"

"Of course, it's a pregnancy test. What did you think it was, a lottery ticket?" She shoved it into my hands. "Go. Now."

I hesitated, the plastic box feeling heavier than it should. "This is ridiculous. I'm not-"

"Humor me," she interrupted, her voice softening. "If it's negative, great. We'll go out for drinks, and I'll never bring it up again. But if it's positive... well, then you need to know."

No way. I'm definitely not pregnant. I mean my period should be around the corner soon.

I stared at her for a long moment before giving in. "Fine," I muttered, trudging toward the bathroom.

---

The box sat on the edge of the sink as I paced the tiny bathroom. I had followed the instructions to the letter, and now there was nothing to do but wait.

Two minutes had never felt so long.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I looked pale, my eyes slightly hollowed from too many sleepless nights. I barely recognized myself anymore.

When the timer on my phone buzzed, I froze. For a moment, I couldn't bring myself to look. I wanted to pretend everything was fine, that my life wasn't spiraling out of control. But I couldn't avoid it forever.

Taking a deep breath, I glanced at the test.

Pregnant.

The word seemed to leap off the tiny screen, punching me square in the chest.

My knees buckled, and I sank onto the bathroom floor, the test clutched in my trembling hands. My heart raced, my mind spinning as a hundred questions flooded in all at once.

Was it Ethan's?

Or Daniel's?

The thought of Daniel made my stomach churn. Not because of him, but because I barely knew him. One night, that's all it had been. A night I couldn't stop replaying in my head, no matter how hard I tried to bury it.

But Ethan... my ex-husband. The man who had betrayed me, torn my heart into pieces. Could this baby be his?

The irony of it all hit me like a freight train. I had spent years with Ethan, trying to build a life, only for it to end in shambles. And now, after one night of trying to forget, my life was more complicated than ever.

---

Mia's voice brought me back to reality.

"Well?" she asked the moment I stepped out of the bathroom. Her eyes darted to the test in my hand, and she gasped. "Oh my God. Elena."

I nodded slowly, unable to speak.

She pulled me into a tight hug. "Okay, okay. We'll figure this out. You're not alone in this, okay?"

Her words were comforting, but they didn't make the weight on my chest any lighter.

"I don't know what to do," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Mia pulled back, her hands on my shoulders. "First, you need to see a doctor. We need to confirm this, make sure everything's okay."

I nodded again, grateful for her decisiveness when I felt like I was falling apart.

---

The doctor's office was too bright, too sterile. I sat in the waiting room, my hands clasped tightly in my lap as I tried to steady my breathing.

When the nurse finally called my name, I followed her down the hall, my heart pounding in my chest. The examination room felt impossibly small, the air thick with the weight of my anxiety.

The doctor, a kind woman with warm eyes, smiled gently as she entered. "How are you feeling today, Elena?"

I swallowed hard. "Nervous," I admitted.

She nodded, pulling on a pair of gloves. "That's completely normal. Let's take a look and see what's going on, okay?"

I lay back on the examination table, the cool gel shocking against my skin as the doctor prepared the ultrasound.

The room was silent except for the soft hum of the machine. Then, a faint, rhythmic sound filled the air.

A heartbeat.

I stared at the screen, my breath catching in my throat. There it was-a tiny shape, a flickering light.

The doctor smiled. "Congratulations, Elena. You're pregnant."

The words felt surreal, like they belonged to someone else. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

This was real. This was happening.

And I had no idea what to do next.