Two Hundred and seventeen

CHAPTER 217

Nicholas stopped the car when he reached his house. The sound of the car horn brought Alan out of the house. Alan's face looked very curious as he stood at the door, waiting for his son. The wait continued until Nicholas and Brittany got out of the car.

"Brittany?"

"Hello, Uncle Gray. I'm sorry to visit so late at night," Brittany said, handing Alan a bag of oranges. "I brought you some fruit."

"Thank you," Alan said, accepting the plastic bag of fruit. Alan looked at Nicholas and realized that his son was trying to give him a code by blinking his eyes. Alan smiled and opened the door behind him. "You'd better go in first. It's very cold outside."

"Okay, Uncle."

Brittany was left sitting on the sofa, while Nicholas sat opposite her. Alan followed and sat next to Nicholas. Alan looked at Brittany and smiled a little. "I haven't seen you in a long time. Nick said you were sick, an accident?"

There was a small gasp from Brittany, who smiled politely as she squeezed the hem of her calf-length skirt. "Um, Nick was right. I had a bad accident, an unpleasant experience. But I'm fine now. What about you and Aunt Emma? I haven't seen her yet."

Alan sighed, then looked toward the closed door in the corner of the room. "Ah, she's old. It's natural to get sleepy easily."

The joke made the atmosphere more relaxed. Brittany was not as hesitant as before. She finally dared to reveal her purpose for coming to Nicholas' house. "Look, Uncle. I'm planning to stay overnight here. Can I stay for a while?"

Alan's face turned anxious. He leaned forward and observed Brittany closely. Lowering his voice, Alan continued, "Nothing bad happened out there, right?"

"Oh, no, you don't have to worry. I just need some time to myself before I talk to my parents about something."

Nicholas then interrupted their conversation. "I'll talk to Mom about the details, you don't mind if Brittany stays here for a while, do you?"

"Oh, sure. You can stay here as long as you want, Britt." Alan smiled and took one of the oranges from the plastic Brittany handed him. "You're like family, so don't be shy just because you haven't visited us in a while. I'm going to bed, you guys get some rest, it's late and cold outside. Don't forget to turn on the heat in the guest room, Nick."

"Okay."

"Thank you, Uncle Gray."

After Alan left, Nicholas quickly directed Brittany to their guest room. He opened the door and said, "A few days ago, Alicia stayed here too. She was being chased by Ace and it seemed dangerous, but she didn't feel comfortable lingering, so I'm going back to her flat to look after her. You don't mind if I leave, do you?"

"It's okay."

"I'll go, see you later, Brittany."

Brittany looked around, it had been a long time since she had been to Nicholas' house. She used to love coming over to Nicholas' house to play, or just to wait for her father to arrive. The girl landed her butt on the bed, she felt the bed and smiled a little. Laying down, Brittany began to think of the best way to talk to her parents about being pregnant.

"How can I talk to Mom and Dad?"

As Brittany lay in bed, contemplating how to broach this sensitive topic with her parents, she couldn't shake the anxiety that bothered her. The room felt both familiar and unfamiliar, filled with memories of laughter and innocence, in stark contrast to the gravity of the disclosure she was about to make.

Back at the Gray residence, Nicholas stepped out into the cold night, his breath visible in the air. He got into the car, contemplating the events unfolding around him. The intertwined fates of Brittany, Alicia, and himself were like a complicated puzzle, and he couldn't help but wonder how it would all come together.

As Brittany gathered her courage to talk to her parents, the moon cast a soft glow in the room, creating an ethereal atmosphere. She knew that the conversation would be difficult, but she had to face the truth. During her inner struggle, a soft knock echoed on the door.

Nicholas stood at the entrance, worry etched on his face. "Hey, Brittany. Can I come in?"

Brittany nodded, and Nicholas walked into the room, closing the door behind him. He sat beside her on the bed, their gazes meeting in the dim light. "I just wanted to check on you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Nick. You can go see Alicia."

Nicholas nodded his head, he cleared his throat softly as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his thick coat. "I want to ask you something."

"Alright, and what is it?"

"Don't you want Kevin to take responsibility for your pregnancy? He may have made a mistake, a crime, but he wants to take responsibility. It's something that has to do with your future. Are you sure about your choice?"

Without hesitation, Brittany nodded her head. "I'm sure, Nick. I only found out his true nature after the incident yesterday. If he really wanted this baby, he wouldn't have crashed the car and left me there alone."

"You're right," Nicholas replied, although in his heart, he still had his doubts.

"I'm just worried about you, Brittany. This is a big decision, and I want to make sure that you do what's best for you," Nicholas said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Brittany appreciated Nicholas' concern, but assured him with a determined look. "I've thought about it, Nick. I can't let Kevin's mistakes dictate my future. I want to focus on what's best for me and my baby."

Nicholas nodded, acknowledging her strength, but a shadow of doubt remained in his eyes. "I respect your decision, Brittany. Promise me that you will lean on us-your friends and family during these challenging times."