Chapter eight

JANE' POV

She looked around and suddenly realized that she had been dreaming. The icy cry was from her dream.

She rubbed vigorously on her eyes as sleep tended to overtake her. It was almost time for dinner and she knew Benjamin wouldn't spare her if she delayed.

She swayed back and forth until she stumbled into a rigid form before her.

"Have you suddenly become too clumsy not to see what's in front?" He mocked, pushing her off his body.

She staggered before regaining her balance.

"I'm sorry, sir. I…" He waved her off before she could finish the statement "You can save your excuses for someone who has a need for them."

She ran towards the kitchen in a flash, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by a chilly movement around her bowel.

Her mind flashes back to moments ago when she was forced to wash Benjamin's car under the rain. The sudden change in her body system could be as a result of rain that fell heavily on her.

She ignored the feeling and went ahead with preparation for dinner.

Even though she promised herself that she would remain strong for her brother, she suddenly felt wobbly on her legs and before she knew it she was lying face down on the kitchen floor.

I couldn't fathom why her clumsiness increased lately.

She was either bumping into people at will or falling down at every given opportunity.

Lifting her off the floor was not part of the plan. I had sworn not to have any body contact with her.

Still couldn't believe that she shared my bed with me the days I was unconscious, but as I took a glance at her fragile form, the sudden urge to protect her was all I could feel.

Her disheveled hair flustered over her face as the evening breeze breathed on her stiff form in my arms revealing the slight cut on her forehead. “She must really be so delicate to have sustained an injury just by tripping.” I concluded before laying her softly on her bed.

“Benjamin, what Happened her?” I heard a familiar voice ask from the door.

“Dad! I didn't know you were back already” I exclaimed happily as he pushed the door open.

“Well, you would have known if you picked your calls earlier.” My dad hinted, a bit of annoyance in his tired voice.

“What Happened to her?” He asked again, moving closer to the bed to have a better look at Jane.

Have never been the one to feed dad with lies, but right now it seemed like the best thing to do. Jane has gradually charmed my father into liking her and caring so much about her more than any other person in the family.

If he learned about what happened to her in his absence, he would definitely be mad at me.

“I do not know. Saw her on the floor some minutes ago.” I coldly admitted, running a hand through my ruffled hair.

Whatever I said didn't sound convincing to him, the glare on his face confirmed this.

Suddenly, his face smothered into a grin as a loud sneeze was heard from Jane

Jane's eyes fluttered open and shock was visibly seen on her pale face.

“Is that how much you missed me in my absence?” Dad asked her as his free hand casually played with her disheveled hair.

I felt something rupture in me as a broad grin appeared on her face.

I couldn't explain the open display of emotion between the duo. If I didn't know better, I would have believed that he felt something for her.

If he cared so much about her, he might as well get married to her than forcing her on me.

His relationship with Mom hasn't been enviable lately. They got into unnecessary arguments each time they sat together under the same roof, the same reason why they have compensated each other with numerous travels and vacations; anything to rid them of each other's presence.

Dad noticed the way she recoiled in pain and asked if she was okay

She forces a smile “I think I slipped while climbing the stairs.”

“Can these two just spare me the unnecessary display?” I clamoured in my mind, angry at the thought of having to witness such an annoying scenario.

Dad frowned before sparing me a weary glance. “I suppose you would have done better by calling the family doctor, what if she's in danger?”

She could be in danger for all I cared. I couldn't care less if she was hurt. I just wanted her out of the house and into the streets where she belongs.

“I..” I began before she cut me off “I'm okay, sir. Told him not to bother” she hinted, shocking me with the smooth, yet obvious lie. She was definitely a good liar and I hoped dad would come to see her for who she truly is.

She tried to get up to affirm this, but her whole body seemed weak and even the fake smile on her face couldn't hide this.

“I'm Calling the doctor immediately” dad announced as he made for his phone in his shirt pocket.

Suddenly, the door opens, bearing the concerned face of Madam Joan and the family doctor.

“Have you felt nauseated in the past few days?” The doctor asked, while examining her eyes.

“Yes, more often than necessary. I threw up countlessly yesterday and even today” she admitted in a weak voice.

Dad raised a brow “Did you inform anyone about this?”

“It was nothing serious. I didn't want to bother anyone.”

Dad opens his mouth to scold her but is silenced by the doctor's next statement.

“She's pregnant