02

Zia POV

Raymond's stepbrother pulled up to Lorenzo's mother's house, and I thanked him with a smile. "Thanks so much," I said, feeling grateful.

He smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You don't have to do that. Have a great time with your mother-in-law," he said, his voice friendly.

I smiled again, feeling a warmth in my chest. "Bye," I said, as I got out of the car.

Just as I was walking away, he rolled down his window and called out, "Always smile, you're so beautiful with that genuine smile!" He was still smiling at me, and I couldn't help but blush.

My heart skipped a beat as I felt a flutter in my chest. I looked away, trying to hide my embarrassment, but I couldn't help but feel a little pleased at the compliment. I waved at him, still feeling a bit shy, and he drove off, leaving me with a warm feeling in my heart.

As I approached the door, my heart raced when my eyes met Lorenzo's. His cold gaze made me feel like he was sucking the life out of me. I forced a smile and tried to sound cheerful. "I'm here, sorry for keeping you waiting?" I said, trying to hide my nervousness.

But Lorenzo just scoffed, his harsh words piercing my soul. "I don't need your apologies. Just compose yourself," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. I felt a surge of anger and hurt, but I couldn't show it. I had to keep up the act.

I faked a smile and followed him to the dinner table, my heart heavy with frustration. But when I saw my mother-in-law's warm smile, my heart skipped a beat. "Hey Zia, you look absolutely stunning!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with genuine admiration.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I bowed my head in gratitude. "Thank you, mother," I said, trying to sound sincere. But inside, I was dying to escape the toxic atmosphere that Lorenzo had created.

As I sat down at the table, I felt overwhelmed by the smell of all the food. There were different dishes in front of me, and the aroma was suffocating. I think it was because I was pregnant, but it made me feel really uncomfortable.

When my mother-in-law gave me a plate of fish, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I started to feel dizzy and my mouth began to water. I knew I was going to vomit, so I quickly got up from the table.

"Excuse me," I said, trying to sound calm. I rushed to the bathroom, my heart racing. I leaned against the sink, taking deep breaths to try and calm my stomach. The thought of food made me feel sick, and I didn't know how I was going to get through this meal.

As I returned to the living room, I caught my mother-in-law sharing her suspicions with Lorenzo. "I think she's pregnant," she said, her eyes fixed on me.

I quickly intervened, my voice laced with nervousness. "I'm not pregnant, ma," I said, trying to sound convincing.

But my mother-in-law's gaze pierced through me, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and accusation. "Why do you always get tense when I mention children? Don't you want to have babies? Why are you even married if you're not ready for kids?" she asked, her questions hitting me like a barrage of arrows.

I felt my hands grow clammy, and I started rubbing them together under the table, searching for a way to escape her intense scrutiny. But before I could respond, Lorenzo surprisingly came to my rescue.

"It's not her fault, mother," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "I'm the one who's not ready. We've talked about it, and I told her I want to enjoy our first two years together before starting a family. It's my decision, not hers."

As Lorenzo spoke up for me, I felt a wave of relief. But at the same time, I was surprised. Lorenzo had never taken my side before, so why was he doing it now? I wondered if he was really trying to help me, or if he had an ulterior motive. I couldn't figure it out, and my mind was filled with questions. Was he being genuine, or was he just looking out for himself? I didn't have the answers, and it left me feeling curious and unsure.

Returning back to our apartment, I felt so weak and decided to take a nap. As I lay in bed, exhaustion consumed me, and I drifted off to sleep, hoping to shake off the feverish feeling. But my slumber was short-lived, as a vivid dream jolted me awake. I checked the time, realizing I had slept for over an hour.

The dream still lingered in my mind, a bittersweet memory that brought tears to my eyes. In the dream, Lorenzo was holding me close, comforting me, and we were happy, with a baby in our arms. I placed my hand on my stomach, longing for that dream to become a reality.

"I wish that could be possible," I whispered to myself, my voice cracking with emotion. "Maybe Mira was right, maybe this pregnancy will change everything."

As I struggled to get out of bed, my body felt weak and heavy. As I slowly made my way to the living room, my body felt like lead, my legs shaking beneath me. The dream had left me feeling fragile and emotional. I needed to distract Lorenzo from noticing my weakness.

I saw him sitting on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the TV as he watched the news. I headed towards the dining room to get some water, hoping to revive myself. But as I passed by him, I caught his gaze fixed on me, his eyes narrowing slightly.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized he was scrutinizing me. I knew I had to quickly shift his attention away from me before he noticed my frailty.

I decided to act tough and faced him. I stood up to Lorenzo, trying to sound brave despite my fear. "What are you doing with Sophia at the hospital? Are you two back together?"

Lorenzo sneered at me. "You're questioning me? Since when do you care about my business?"

I shot back, trying to hide my nervousness. "I'm not asking questions, I'm stating facts. I saw you with her, and I want to know why."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed. "So, you're teaming up with Raymond? What's going on between you two? I saw him dropping you off, and how you blushed when he complimented you!" His tone was cold.