Chapter 001

~KATERINA ~

"Wha-what are the results doctor?" I inquired as soon as the doctor entered the waiting room holding test results. I shifted uncomfortably in the chair, my heart pounding wildly against my ribcage as though it would escape from my chest the next second.

" Congratulations Mrs Thompson, you're pregnant!" The doctor said with a big smile on his face. My eyes widened when I heard his words, " Re-really doctor?" I stuttered, not sure if I had heard him right or if my ear was playing some dump trick on me.

It felt surreal. I have been waiting to hear those words escape the doctor's mouth for like forever. If it was a dream, I didn't want to wake up from it. I wanted to dream forever because the reality was too harsh and my fragile heart couldn't take it anymore.

" It's real, Mrs Thompson. I have run a few tests and all gave the same results. Here are the medical reports, see for yourself." The doctor handed me the test papers. Taking in a nervous breath, I stretched my sweaty hand to grab the papers, my heart skipping a million beats per second. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself then looked at the bottom of the paper.

" By the analysis of the urine sample presented in the hospital laboratory, the pregnancy test is positive." The paper read. My lips slowly curved into a smile and I could feel tears burning in my eyes, this time it wasn't tears of sadness. However, it was tears of happiness. A single teardrop rolled down my cheek and fell on the test reports.

" I'm pregnant. It's true I'm pregnant." I repeated the words over and over again so that it could stick in my head.

When I explained to the doctor how I was feeling a few minutes ago, he told me that I might be pregnant. However, I denied his assumptions, telling him that it might be a fever or something. I didn't believe I was pregnant because I have been disappointed too many times. I didn't want to put my hopes up, afraid that my heart would be shattered like it has always been.

Lucas and I have been married for four years. We have been trying to have a baby for the past four years of our marriage and finally! The heavens have answered our silent prayers. My hand found its way to my still flat belly and I rubbed it gently, my lips curving into a smile and tears burning in my eyes. I still couldn't believe that indeed I'm pregnant.I can't wait to break the news to Lucas when he comes back home today from the business trip.

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My mind jolted back to the present when the car stopped all of a sudden, I looked through the car window and that's when I realised that we had already arrived at my residence.

The drive back home from the hospital was a blur that I didn't notice how many minutes had passed. I was lost in my own world, a beautiful world that I had created in my head. A world where our little angel was included and it was pure happiness, there was no sadness, pain or regret.

I couldn't stop myself from envisioning how life would be once our little angel is born. I imagined the smile on our faces and tears in our eyes as we stared at our sweet little angel for the first time. I imagined Lucas playing with her in the flower garden as I watched with a big smile from the balcony. I imagined us reading bedtime stories to her and watching her as she slowly drifted into a deep slumber. I imagined what the little one would look like. Will she have beautiful blue eyes like her Dad's or will she have brown hazel eyes like mine? Will she inherit her father's jet black hair or will she inherit her mother's brown hair? I know this sounds crazy but…I couldn't stop asking myself questions.

" Thank you James." I said with a smile when my chauffeur opened the car door for me and I carefully got out of the car, being cautious.

I headed straight to the mansion with a smile on my face. I stopped at the door and looked around the ground floor, it was calm and quiet, even a pin drop could be heard. The image of our little one running all over the place shouting " Mammy! Daddy" and bringing this mansion to life popped into my mind and I couldn't help but smile. My hand found its way to my belly and I caressed it gently…

It will not be this quiet or feel this lonely once the baby is born. This place will be filled with laughter and happiness…

I headed to the kitchen and found Liz, our house manager preparing vegetables. I asked her to have a rest for tonight because I wanted to prepare dinner myself, my husband's favourite dish. I wanted him to have a good meal once he comes back home from the business trip. I know how horrible the hotel food tastes sometimes and that's why I decided to prepare his favourite dish, beef wellington. Lucas loves my cooking and there's no doubt that he missed it.

When I was done in the kitchen, I headed to our room to freshen up...

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A smile spread across my face as I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror before me. I was wearing a red sleeveless long dress with a split on my right thigh. The dress fitted me perfectly, revealing the curves of my body. I applied light make-up to enhance my features, painting my lips red to match the dress.

" I can't wait to tell Daddy about you, just hang in there sweetie." I muttered under my breath, feeling a little bit nervous. When I was done dressing up, I headed to the dining room and set up the table, lighting the candles to spice up the dinner.

The wait was killing me. A microsecond felt like a second, a second felt like a minute and a minute felt like an hour. It has been one and half hours but… Lucas hadn't shown up. I tried to call and text him, letting him know that I was waiting for him so that we could eat dinner together. However, he didn't answer any of my phone calls nor did he respond to any of my texts.

The food had already turned cold and the candles had burned out. Lucas should have arrived a while ago since it was already 10pm. I felt a knot at the tip of my stomach, my heart sinking when the thought of my husband not making home tonight popped in my head.

' Perhaps something came up concerning the business, he'll be home soon.' I encouraged myself and continued to wait for him.

Another hour passed by and there was no sign of Lucas. I called him again a few times and texted but it was the same, he didn't call back nor text. With a heavy heart, I stood up and began to collect the plates.

When I was about to pick the last plate, the door clicked open. Slowly, I turned my head towards the door and there he was, standing 6 '2 tall in a black business suit which fitted him perfectly and looking handsome like always…

I blinked a few times just to make sure that my eyes were not playing some tricks on me. For a second, I thought that Lucas wouldn't make it home tonight but here he was, standing at the door holding a brown envelope in his right hand which I didn't give a damn about. All that mattered at the moment was the fact that he had come back home just like he promised me…

I placed the plates back on the table and rushed to him, wrapping my hands so tightly around him. God, it felt so fucking good to be in his arms again. I felt safe in his arms. It felt like home, somewhere that I belonged, as if those strong arms were made just for me. I felt tears burning in my eyes and my grip around him tightened ten folds, burying my face in his chest and inhaling his strong scent deep in my lungs.

Lucas was hesitant to hug me and I couldn't help but frown. However, he hugged me eventually and a big smile spread across my face.

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes after pulling back from the hug. I don't know why I was being so emotional. Perhaps it was because of the hormones as a result of the pregnancy.

" Where have you been my love? I tried to call you but you didn't answer any of my calls. I tried to text you back but…you didn't answer any of my texts." I complained.

" I was busy with something." He answered briefly. I knew Lucas would never ignore me on purpose because he always answers my calls whenever I call him. My heart melted when I gave it a thought.

" I wanted us to have dinner together, that's why I called you a couple of times. I prepared your favourite food and dessert. However, I think…I'll be required to reheat the food." The corner of my lips curved into a smile. For my husband, I didn't feel any burden of reheating the food even if it's a thousand times. I'll gladly do it because I love him so much.

" There's no need for that," He cut me short and I creased my eyebrows in confusion, wondering what was wrong with reheating the food.

" Why? The food is too cold and that's not healthy, you know." I tried to reason out, worried for his health.

" I don't feel hungry." The frown of my face only deepened when I heard his words. Lucas has never said no to his favourite dish, this was the first time. I looked into those crystal blue eyes that I loved so much and that is when I realised that something was off…

There was something in his eyes which I couldn't wrap my fingers around. His eyes were cold and distant, they didn't have any warmth in them like it always does whenever he comes back home from a business trip. I was so happy to see Lucas that I didn't notice the slight change in his temperament.

I swallowed the lump down my throat, " Is-is everything okay? Did the business trip fail?" I inquired just like any woman would ask her husband when she notices a change in his behaviour. Perhaps he had something that was troubling him that's why he was behaving strangely. I didn't want to blame him before finding out what was wrong.

" Everything is fine with me,unless you have something to tell me." He said with an emotionless face as though he was accusing me of something. I couldn't remember the last time that Lucas looked at me like that. As though I had committed unforgiving sin.

What was wrong with him? I couldn't remember us fighting before he left for the business trip. On the contrary, he made love to me the night before he left and promised me that he would come back to me in one week. We have been talking while he was away and the conservation was smooth.

Why the sudden change?

"I…I'm fine." I said, putting on a small smile to mask the sadness that I was feeling in my heart.

" That's good." His deep voice brought me back to the present. "I would like you to go through these documents. If you don't like anything, let me know. I'm going to take a shower, I feel exhausted." He handed me the brown envelope and I took it hesitantly, wondering what was inside the envelope.

" Lucas…" I called when he was about to turn around and walk away, "I...I have something important that I need to tell you." I stuttered, feeling a little bit nervous because I didn't know if it was the right time to tell him about the news. However, I couldn't keep quiet any longer. I wanted him to know that he's going to be a father soon. Who knows? It might light up his mood.

" I'm so exhausted, Katerina. Can't it wait for tomorrow?" He asked, heaving a deep sigh. I could see the exhaustion in his eyes and my heart sank when I heard his words. Heaving a deep sigh, I nodded and tried to put on a smile. He turned around and walked out of the dining room without looking back.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the brown envelope and pulled out the documents carefully. I turned the documents around to have a look of what was written on it and my heart stopped beating for a while.

" THE DIVORCE AGREEMENT." The papers read and it had our names on it. Lucas had already signed the papers, leaving the place where I was supposed to sign pending…