CHAPTER 2: SHE'S PREGNANT

Kristie used both hands to cover her face. Then, in the most tender tone, she blurted out, “Yes, yes. I will marry you, Ryan.”

Ava felt her world crumbling right before her own eyes. Tears formed around the corners of her eyes and rolled down. Her heart was pounding. She had come with good news. But then, her pregnancy might have been her worst mistake.

With a broken and shattered heart, the damsel found her way out of the hall. She walked to the corner and began to cry out her heart.

“Take this,” Molly said and threw two dollar notes at her. “You will need it to take care of your wretched body.”

Ava couldn't say a word. Her tears would not let her. As a matter of fact, Ryan held the answers to the questions in her head.

Molly chuckled and continued. “In case you're wondering, Ryan never sent you the invitation card. I did. I wanted a loser like you to see that my brother has finally come to his senses.” She hissed. “Get out of here before you're thrown out.”

She left Ava alone. The sound of chatters and media bustles distracted the sorrowful lady. Ava raised her head to see Ryan walking out of the hall with his newly engaged fiancé. From where she was, she could hear the media questions.

“Mr Ryan, there are rumors you've been in a relationship with someone else. Reports have that she's a lowlife and—”

Even before the reporter could be done, Ryan waved it off.

“Such a person does not exist in my life.”

The response was like a bomb set in Ava's heart. What happened to her Ryan?

★★★★★

Later that night, Ava was outside Ryan's home. The mansion was fully lit and bore a load of memories. But everything seemed to have changed. The security wouldn't even let her through the gate.

A few minutes later, a Rolls-Royce approached and swerved right towards the gate. That was Ryan. Ava quickly jumped to her feet and blocked the flashy vehicle.

In the car, Kristie threw a cold glance at her fiance.

“Who the heck is this bitch?” She queried.

Ryan forced a smile. “I will handle this. Just give me a minute.”

Ryan and Kristie knew themselves from childhood. As a matter of fact, the business relationship their parents had started even before they were born.

“Ryan!!” Ava's voice thundered. But it was just an inaudible movement of her lips to those in the car.

Ryan opened the door and stepped out. Then, he slowly shut it and walked to her.

“What are you doing here, Ava?” He asked her firmly.

“What is going on?” Ava asked. “Who's the lady? She's in your car, right?”

Ryan smiled. “You mean Kristie. She is the woman I will marry.”

Hearing those words, her feet became unsteady. Tears were beginning to well up her throat again.

“Have… have you been using me?” She croaked out. “I love you, Ryan. You can't do this to me.”:

Ryan smirked. “I don't love you. You see that woman in the car, that is the woman of my dreams, not an orphan who has nothing to offer me.”

At this point, Ava's heart had been ruptured completely. Her hands slowly moved to her belly. She was pregnant by this man. How was she supposed to tell him now?

“From this moment, you are no longer allowed to come to this premises. It's over between us.”

Ryan ordered the security to move her. They did. She stood like a lost sheep and watched with teary eyes as the Rolls-Royce rolled past the gate.

★★★★★

The next morning, Ryan sat in his swivel chair, attending to some documents when his friend, Erik, walked in.

“Hello, buddy,” Erik said.

Ryan giggled as he saw him. “Erik, you're back from your trip.”

Erik grinned and walked over to a couch at the extreme of the office. Then, sat down and rubbed his palms.

“I came in this morning and headed here immediately.”

Ryan chuckled as he stood up and joined his friend. “You're back quite early. You said you were going to stay away for three months. It's merely two weeks and you are back already.”

Erik grinned. “Oh well, I had to return for a crucial reason.”

Ryan crossed his legs. “Is there a problem? What could have made you cut your trip off? By the way, do you need wine?”

Erik hissed. “I didn't come here for a drink. I know my way to a tavern.”

Ryan sensed the uneasy look on Erik's face. “What is the problem, Erik?”

“You,” Erik replied instantly. “I saw the news. You are engaged to Kristie. Why?”

Ryan heaved a sigh. “Can we not talk about this at the moment?”

“And why exactly is that?” Erik pressed on. “As far as I'm concerned, you love Ava. How could you have done that to her?”

Ryan uncrossed his legs. “I made the best decision for my career. You don't expect me to choose love over my inheritance, Erik.”

Erik scoffed. “So, what you are trying to tell me is that this whole thing happened because you don't want Brad to take your place.”

The silence from Ryan was a yes. Brad was his younger brother. Their father didn't approve of his relationship with Ava. Coming from a family as wealthy as his, he wasn't allowed to marry just anyone. Whoever he had to marry, would definitely have to strengthen the family's fortune.

“So, that's it. Ryan, I don't why, but I suddenly feel like you are making the worst mistake of your life. You owe Ava an apology.”

Ryan cocked his hair. “You don't expect me to fold my hands and do nothing while my brother is given the title of heirship. I had to show my father that I'm worthy of it.”

For a few seconds, no one said a word. Erik could see that his friend's mind was already made up.

“What about Ava?” Erik asked.

“What about her?” Ryan fired back.

“How is she? She must have seen the news.”

Ryan sighed heavily. “Well, she was there at the event last night.”

Erik stood to his feet in surprise. “You invited her to the event to break her heart. You're cold-blooded, man.”

“It's not like that,” Ryan said in his defense. “I didn't invite her.”

“Then, who did?” Erik persisted. “She wouldn't have been there without her invitation card. If it wasn't you, who sent her the card?”

“Molly,” Ryan replied abruptly. “Listen, Erik. I didn't plan for this to happen the way it did. But then, it happened. Hmmm… she was at my place after the event. Well, I didn't go easy on her. I ended it while Kristie watched.”

Erik was disappointed in his friend. He slowly sat down without saying a word.

“Listen, Erik, we're joining hands with Kristie’s father. The richest family and the second richest family. We'll be very strong. About Ava, she'll be fine. Trust me, I have it all under control.”

While they were still talking, the door slid open and his secretary walked in.

“Sorry for the interruption, sir,” she said to him politely. “But you have a delivery.”

A delivery? Ryan thought. He wasn't expecting any package.

“Are you expecting something?” Erik asked.

He shook his head. “None that I can think of.”

He received the brown envelope from the secretary and she left. Ryan carefully unsealed it and took out the white paper inside. Then, he unfolded it and perused.

It was only a matter of seconds before his heart sank into his belly. It was a pregnancy result.

“... The patient, Ava Woods, tested positive and is four weeks pregnant…”

On reading the medical report, Ryan felt a bomb explode inside his bowels.