The Baby Shower.

Alexandria’s POV.

"But Pregnant?" I thought as the doctor’s words registered in my head, my voice shaking with disbelief.

I stared at the doctor, my mind reeling.

"That's impossible. I must have heard wrong."

A forced laugh escaped my lips, but the doctor's serious expression told a different story.

"How can this be happening now?" I whispered, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut.

“No,” I said in denial, feeling my eyes burn with tears.

Rihanna's hand found mine, her grip warm and reassuring.

"Sandra," she called softly, her voice cutting through my haze of shock. I looked up, tears flooding down my face.

"What am I supposed to do now?" I sobbed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Rihanna's expression was sympathetic as she began to rub my back without uttering a word to me. I broke down completely, surrendering to the emotions that had built up inside me.

Seeing how badly I reacted to the news, The doctor discreetly excused himself, leaving us alone.

I sobbed in Rihanna's arms uncontrollably, all the painful memories of the past days flooding my mind.

Asher's betrayal, the divorce, the humiliation... How could I be pregnant with his child after everything that had happened?

“No, this shouldn't be happening. How am I supposed to move on?” The thoughts were almost too much to bear.

"I don't know what to do now," I said to Rihanna when I found my voice, feeling helpless.

"My family will reject me when they find out I'm pregnant with my ex-husband’s baby. They're already angry about the divorce."

“Sandra, you shouldn't be worried about that. They would understand,” Rihanna’s eyes were filled with concern as she said those words to me.

“My family would understand? Are you kidding me, Rihanna? You have known me too long and well enough to tell such a joke at the time,” I said almost in an outburst.

"What about you tell Asher about the pregnancy," she suggested gently. "It might make him give the marriage another chance for the sake of your baby, saving you from your family’s wrath.”

But I shook my head, feeling a surge of fear.

"No, I won't do that," I said firmly.

"I'd rather not tell him about it. Have you forgotten that Theresa is pregnant with his child too? It's going to be useless."

“Fuck,” Rihanna cussed, feeling annoyed.

"I forgot about that," she muttered.

"But it doesn't mean he won't accept the baby because it is his… you guys used to be married too, it wasn't like you were the one who cheated…

“It doesn't mean Rihanna,” I cut her off, feeling a ripple of anger.

“He's made it clear how he feels about me. And with Theresa in the picture, I don't have any hope that he'll accept the baby. Her baby is enough for him,” I said hopelessly looking downcast.

"I understand," Rihanna sighed. "But what will you do now?" she asked and I shrugged, trying not to think about what I would be doing next.

I took a deep breath knowing I couldn't run away.

"I'll just go home and think about what to do for now," I admitted. “I need to figure out how to face my family, especially my father."

Rihanna's eyes were filled with concern as she hugged me warmly.

"It's going to be fine, I trust you," she assured.

The decision to leave the hospital and go back home was one of the toughest I'd ever made. But I knew I couldn't run away, especially since I had nothing. So I took a deep breath and headed home.

My father greeted me with his usual gruff demeanor. He sat on the couch in the corridor, his expression a mixture of anger and disappointment.

I felt a pang of hurt but I still tried to greet him cheerfully. "Hello, Father.” But he just grunted and walked away, leaving me feeling like a leach.

My family valued marriage above everything else, and divorce was unheard of. In over 60 years, there hadn't been a single divorce in my family. They'd rather live in misery than get a divorce. So when my marriage failed, I was a disappointment to everyone.

I climbed the stairs slowly, feeling overwhelmed by my emotions. Locking myself in my room, I wondered how my father would react when he found out I was pregnant. He'd be furious, and I wasn't sure I could handle his anger.

But then, I thought about Rihanna’s words. Telling Asher about the pregnancy might change his mind. Maybe he'd give us another chance. Forgiving him wouldn't be for my sake, but for our baby's sake, and to save myself from my family's wrath.

My family would never accept a baby born out of wedlock, and I also didn't want to bring an unwanted baby into the world but if Asher and I were to be back together, it would be different.

I just had to listen to Rihanna, that’s the only solution that made sense in my head.

Making up my mind, I grabbed to head out in the direction of what used to be formerly my home, Asher’s place. When I arrived at his mansion, I turned off the ignition, relaxing quietly in the driver’s seat feeling my my heart start racing with so many negative thoughts.

I found myself losing all confidence.

“What was I doing here? Why did I think telling him about the pregnancy would change anything? Would he come back with me abandoning Theresa? No, that was impossible but I knew I had to try. I knew I had to take a chance at least.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and walked into the yard. I headed straight towards the main house with the pregnancy test results clutched in my hand.

When I approached the entrance, I saw Balloons and streamers decorating the door, and a banner reading "Welcome to our Baby Shower" hung above the entrance. My heart sank as thoughts of Theresa filled my heart.

Has she moved in already with Asher? What's going on? Why is there a baby shower celebration here? I quickly pushed open the door and slipped inside, trying not to draw attention.

I spotted Asher, Theresa, and a room full of guests celebrating. A banner at the center of the decorated wall read "It's a boy!" And I felt like I'd been punched in the gut as I watched them.

Asher was laughing, smiling, and completely carefree - not like he ever was around me. It hit me like a ton of bricks: he was happy without me.

He didn't care that our marriage ended the way it did. He wasn't guilty or remorseful - he'd moved on like I never meant anything to him.

My confidence and courage crumbled, and as tears pricked at my eyes, I turned to quietly disappear just as I came. But Asher's gaze unexpectedly locked onto mine, as if he had sensed my presence.

Theresa, noticing his distraction, followed his gaze, and sneered when she recognized me.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The bad omen has arrived," she announced loudly.

The room fell silent, and all eyes turned in my direction. "Alexandra, what are you doing here?" Asher asked, striding towards me with Theresa following behind him.

I tried to open my mouth to speak, but the words suddenly got stuck in my throat.

"You can't even answer a simple question but showed up here uninvited." Theresa spat at me, her eyes burning with anger.

"Alexandra, this is a celebration, not a funeral, you shouldn't have come. Learn to love yourself enough to only be at places you are needed,” she added, charging at me like a viper.

I tried to muster words to say, but my voice betrayed me again.

"Why are you suddenly acting dumb? Did you come here to curse my baby?" Theresa yelled, losing her temper. "Please, Asher, do something about her. She's making me want to throw up," she said disgustingly, turning to leave.

Immediately, Asher's expression turned cold and unwelcoming, and he charged at me.

"You need to leave Alexandria. You're no longer welcome here."

He raised his voice, calling out, "Security!"

Uniformed men seemed to materialize out of nowhere, their footsteps echoing as they approached us. They stopped beside me, their presence imposing. One of them nodded curtly, indicating it was time for me to go.

As I turned to obey, something inside me shifted. I finally found my voice, and the words spilled out…

"Wait, Asher." I turned back around to face him.

"I am pregnant,” I announced.