Chapter 4 Pregnant? Oh no!

(Bella)

I shove the papers on the table and Judy picks it up, her hand running through the papers in excitement.

A smile crosses her face as he mutters. "Finally," she turns to Ashley and Elena, giving them a knowing smile and then back to me.

"Alright. Let's wrap it up real quick. Go in there and pack your things. The buyers are waiting, hurry up Bella," she spat, crossing her legs and relaxing into the couch.

I stare at her, all of them, sobbing my eyes out.

Where do I go from here?

My life has been centered around Dean. 

I drag my feet upstairs, each step feels heavier than the last. My heart torn apart as I packed my clothes, glancing around the house I'd started to set up as my forever home.

The one I'd build a family with Dean and live happily ever after. Fresh tears came pouring out, my eyes feels so heavy, my chest too tight to breathe.

Once done packing my personal stuff, I sit on the bed, thinking of where to go.

I really do not want to bother Derrick but he'd be so mad if I don't. And he's the only family that I have since mom passed, or perhaps the one l know of till –.

The thing is.

I'd have a sister, which I got to know on mom's dying bed, a secret or rather her past that she kept to herself. An elder sister but according to mom, she was forcefully taken by her first husband's family, after he passed, leaving her with nothing.

They left the country, leaving no trace. The only memory she has of her was her baby picture and so do I.

Mom had me after she remarried two years after.

I'd promised her on her dying bed that I'd look for her but all attempts had proved abortive since I only have her baby picture and a name, which I doubt she still bears.

I take a deep breath. Now's not the time for this as I could literally feel my eyes drench

with tears.

In a swift motion, I reach out to my phone and dialed his number, pressing it to my ears.

"Derrick," I sniffled.

"Bella," his voice sounded through the phone and then he goes silent when he realizes I was crying.

"You're crying. Damn it, what's wrong?" he asks.

"Can you come pick me up? I'd explain later," I say, wiping the tears blurring my vision.

"Hang in there, Bella. Be there in thirty minutes," Derrick's protective voice comes out.

I hang up and rolled my box downstairs. Judy, Elena and Ashley turns to look at me, their faces beaming with smiles like they've won a lottery.

"Oh, poor thing." Judy's voice comes in a mock scrutiny. "Don't be too sad. Just go back to the streets, I'm sure you're better off there," 

Elena gives a mock laugh. "That's where she belongs anyways," Ashley laughs along.

I look at her, all of them. A mix of anger and disbelief washing over me. 

I feel like slapping off that smug smile on Ashley's face. Judy and Elena, they have always been like this, nothing new.

Exactly thirty minutes. I hear the honk of Derrick's car. I stood up but then I halt, my head is spinning and I feel like throwing up.

I steel myself, gathering the last strength in me as I walked out of my home, not sparing them a glance.

"Bella!" Derrick comes running up to me before I reach the ground.

I hear him calling my name, tapping my cheeks gently but everything went blank after that.

********

My eyes slowly opens, and a white ceiling comes into view, the sterile smell. It clicks.

I realize I'm in a hospital. I try to piece together what happened and how I ended up here.

The last thing that flashes through my mind is Derrick rushing to me before I could hit the ground, him calling my name and tapping my cheeks gently, everything goes blank after that.

The door cracks open and Derrick scurries in, relief etched on his face as he sees me awake.

He sits beside my bed, taking my hands. "Bella. How do you feel?" 

I nod, disoriented. "I'm fine. How did l get here, what happened?"

"You fainted, Bella."

"Huh?" I exclaim, gently pulling myself up, and sits on the bed instead. "We should go, Derrick. I'm fine now," I tell him.

He shakes his head. "Your results will be out soon. We need to be sure, at least know the reason why you fainted," he says, concern etched in his voice.

I give him a tiny smile. "I haven't had anything to eat. That's why," I divulged.

Derrick stands up. "What? I need to grab you something then," just then the door opens again and a doctor walks in, holding an envelope.

Derrick sits back down.

"How do you feel Mrs Brennan?" That name brings back the hurt. I just give him a tight lipped smile but I don't correct him. "I'm fine now, I need to be discharged,"

"Sure. But you need to stay away from stress, it's not good for your condition," he says giving me a gentle smile.

Condition?

He seems to be oblivious of me saying I'm okay.

I'm about to ask but Derrick beats me to it.

"What condition?" Derrick, my cousin asked even before I could.

"Oh, Mrs Brennan is five weeks pregnant. Congratulations," he says handing the envelope.

Did I just hear right?

Pregnant, how didn't I know?

Oh, no!

I hesitate and Derrick takes the envelope instead. The doctor turns and leaves.

"Bella you're pregnant!" Derrick says excitedly but I kept a straight face.

His smile fades realizing I wasn't upbeat about it.

Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks without warning. "I can't be pregnant," I mutter whilst sobbing.

"Why? You've always wanted to," Derrick stares at me, confused.

Just then I realize I haven't told him about what happened.

"Dean and I are divorced."

"Huh?" Derrick exclaims, wide-eyed.

I take time narrating what happened, tears strolling freely from my eyes. Derrick looks horrified, confused just as I was earlier.

"You see why I can't be pregnant. Not now, I can't raise a child on my own, I don't know how to," I let out, my voice thick with emotion.

Instead of replying, Derrick wraps his arms around me, offering comfort through his silent hug.

I sink into his hug, sobbing on his shoulders. He pats my back gently, reminding me that I'm not alone. Eventually we pull away.

He holds my gaze. "First, you need to eat something. We'd figure this out later, okay?"

Bless him, the only person that truly cares about me right now. What would I have done if l didn't have him?

I nod.

I watch Derrick's back till he was out of the door. I'm left in the deafening silence of the hospital room.

I take the test results, my eyes gawking at it in disbelief.

God, I can't be pregnant. I'm emotionally drained to care for a child right now.

My life's a mess.

How do I get through this?