4. Trap

KIMBERLY

~•~

I found myself in an unfamiliar room when I opened my eyes. The last thing I remembered was being in the room with Emily and her mother.

The sterile smell and beeping machines brought back memories of my countless visits to fertility clinics with Jackson, searching for answers to our struggles of making a baby.

But I hadn’t been admitted to the hospital in forever. My mind raced with different questions about how I ended up in the hospital.

Finally, the door creaked open, revealing a doctor who had some files in her hand. “Mrs Clarke, you’re finally awake.” She said with a big smile as she walked towards me.

I wanted to correct her but I didn’t want anyone to know Jackson had just given me divorce papers earlier in the morning.

“Who brought me here?” I asked, trying to sit up straight on the bed but the doctor stopped me right away.

“You need to rest for a little while.” She instructed as he gently pushed me back. “A young woman brought you in.”

She was referring to the maid because I doubted it was Emily. She’d rather watch me die than help me. “Okay.” I nodded.

The doctor continued with a big smile on her face. “Congratulations.”

I arched an eyebrow. I had no idea what she was congratulating me for. Instead of congratulating me, she was meant to be sympathizing with me because I just lost my marriage, but then again, she didn’t know about that.

“Congratulations for what?” I asked, my voice laced with confusion.

“You’re going to be a mother.” The doctor announced and I froze.

I didn’t know how to take the news. I didn’t know if I was to be happy about it or be sad about it. I thought something was wrong with me and didn’t imagine myself being pregnant.

“I’m pregnant?” I asked, trying to be sure.

“Five weeks pregnant!” The doctor confirmed and I was left speechless.

A part of me was happy because I wasn’t barren. I was also happy because it meant Jackson would take me back.

At least I was having his child and he wouldn’t divorce me when I was carrying his heir. I rubbed my hands on my stomach as I realized I was going to be a mother.

I had always dreamt of the day when I would have my child. The doctor’s reassurances echoed in my mind, ‘Nothing is wrong with you, Kimberly. You just have to be patient.’

“Can you call in the person who brought me here?” I requested and the doctor brought in Caro.

“Caro, can you call Jackson and tell him to come to the hospital? Tell him it is an emergency.” I instructed Caro as soon as she walked into the room.

She tried calling Jackson but his number was unreachable, so she decided to call his sister instead. She made it sound like it was very urgent and they said they would try to reach Jackson and be on their way soon.

“Are you okay?” Caro asked when she hung up the call. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” She sympathized with me and I returned a half smile.

“Yes, I’m okay,” I replied. “You can wait outside until they arrive.”

As I waited for Jackson’s arrival, my mind raced with thoughts of this unexpected turn of events. I couldn’t stop thinking of how Jackson and his family would react to the news of me being pregnant.

After a few minutes, the door creaked open and Emily walked inside the room. Her mother followed behind her.

“What is the emergency?” The mother asked, glancing at me as I lay on the hospital bed. They weren’t the ones I wanted to see or talk to.

“We should have gone to the doctor first instead of coming here,” Emily added.

They were about to turn back and leave but paused when I spoke. “I’m pregnant,” I said. “Five weeks pregnant,” I added.

I didn’t miss the shocked look on both their faces. “Pregnant for who?” Emily asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

What did she mean by that question? Who else would I be pregnant for if not Jackson?

“I’m pregnant for Jackson.”

His mother let out a dry chuckle. “He divorced you in the morning and you get pregnant some hours later?” She asked as she paced around the room.

“If you think this is an attempt to get him to be with you, it won’t work,” Emily said, her tone low and firm.

I couldn’t believe they thought I would lie about being pregnant. “Is Jackson on his way?” I asked, ignoring their snide comments.

Before any of them could respond, the door swung open. It was Jackson and he was accompanied by Paige and a little boy. The little boy must have been the son he talked about.

I had never met Paige but when I did my research on Jackson’s past relationship, I had found her picture and it wasn’t hard to recognize her in person.

My face twisted in disgust as they walked inside the room together. He didn’t even have the decency to come alone. He had to bring the woman he was leaving me for.

“What’s going on?” Jackson asked as he approached the bed. Paige held his arms and gave me a daring look.

“She says she’s pregnant for you.” His mother announced, her voice filled with disdain.

Jackson’s eyes grew wide as he cleared his throat and began. “I don’t understand, how is she pregnant?” He asked, turning to me with a confused expression registered on his face.

That wasn’t the reaction I expected. He was meant to be happy about the news but from the look on his face, it seemed like I had ruined his life.

“I was also surprised when the doctor told me about it,” I said, my voice cracking slightly.

Jackson took multiple deep breaths and asked everyone else to excuse us. “You think you can trap me with a baby? Or lie about having a baby?” He hissed, his voice low and venomous.

I blinked my eyes multiple times as tears escaped from the corner of my eyes. Even if his family didn’t believe me, I never imagined Jackson would think I was lying about it.

“Jackson, I’m not trying to trap you,” I said in between sobs. “You can confirm from the doctor, I wouldn’t lie about having a baby.”

Jackson snorted in disbelief. “You could have easily bribed the doctor to fabricate the whole thing.”

My lips parted and I blinked in disbelief.

“What? No, Jackson, I’m telling the truth.” I sat upright on the bed. “I didn’t bribe any doctor. I’m pregnant with your child and we don’t have to go through with the divorce anymore.”

“Of course!” Jackson let out a cold and mocking laughter. “This was your plan all along. Do you think a baby will keep me tied? And don’t think for a second that I won’t make sure that the doctor pays for her part. She’ll lose her job and everything.”

I was about to speak but he didn't give me the chance to say anything.

I wanted to convince him I was telling the truth. Plus he had the money and influence to make her lose her job and I didn’t want that for the innocent doctor.

“I’m with Paige now and nothing you do can change my mind.” He continued without an ounce of pity. “If you’re pregnant, you have to find the real father of your child because it isn’t me.”

A painful lump formed in my throat as I heard him speak. I had been loyal to him throughout the marriage even if I was aware he didn’t love me.

It felt like a slap in the face listening to him say he wasn’t the real father of my unborn child. I was left speechless and didn’t know what to say.

I hadn’t seen this side of Jackson before, he had become an entirely different person.

“As soon as you’re discharged, you’re going straight to your parent's house where your bags will be waiting for you.” His voice interrupted me from my thoughts.