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Chapter 2

The next morning came and the first light of morning filtered through the curtains and Andrea awakened from her sleep with her senses slowly coming back to her.

The room was quiet until the chirps of the birds sounded across the room. She turned slightly with her eyes blinking against the morning light, and she realized she was not alone on the couch.

Beside her was Tyler and his features muffled in sleep. For a moment, she watched him and the events of the previous night flooding back.

A mixture of emotions swirled within her, she felt confused, curious, and she felt a touch of regret. The room felt different and was charged with a strange energy, and the reality of what had transpired last night settled over her like a heavy blanket.

Suddenly, the silence was interrupted by the flapping of bird wings with the sound echoing in the room.

Andrea jolted with her heart racing. Tyler, too, awakened from his sleep, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of surprise and realization.

"Morning," Tyler said, his voice husky from sleep. He yawned and stretched with his movements sluggish.

Andrea's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her gaze darting away from his. She felt exposed and vulnerable in the light of day. "I... I should go," she stammered, her words barely audible.

Tyler reached out and gently touched her hand, his touch surprisingly comforting. "No need to be ashamed, Andrea," he said softly, his eyes warm and understanding. "It was just a casual thing between two consenting adults. Nobody else needs to know."

His words offered a strange kind of solace, and Andrea nodded, acknowledging the truth in them. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. With hurried movements, she put on her clothes, avoiding Tyler's gaze.

As she gathered her belongings, she felt a pang of guilt, a sense of having crossed an invisible line.

This encounter had been impulsive, driven by a surge of emotions and desires. Now, in the cold light of day, it felt like a mistake—a momentary lapse in judgment.

Without a word of goodbye, Andrea walked out of the room with her footsteps echoing in the corridor.

She felt a strange mix of relief and dismay as she made her way back to her own life, leaving behind the enigmatic billionaire and the night they had shared.

Andrea finally arrived back at her apartment. The morning light spilled into the room as she closed the door behind her, and the events of the previous night feeling like a hazy dream.

Just as she began to exhale a sigh of relief, she saw Nancy sitting on the couch with her hands folded and her feet tapping on the floor. Her expression a mix of worry and irritation.

"Where on earth have you been, Andrea?" Nancy exclaimed with her voice mixed with a blend of relief and annoyance.

"I was worried sick when you didn't come home last night, and you didn't even answer your phone!"

Andrea bit her lip, feeling a pang of guilt. She hadn't meant to cause Nancy any worry, and yet here she was, explaining a night that was too bizarre to share. "Lou, it's a long story," she began tentatively.

Nancy's eyes narrowed as she folded her arms, clearly not in the mood for excuses. "Well, I hope it's a good one, because you've got some serious explaining to do."

Andrea took a deep breath and began recounting the events of the previous evening, from the lavish charity event to her unexpected encounter with Tyler William.

She tried to capture the strange mix of emotions she had felt, the whirlwind of passion and regret that had led to an intimate night.

As she spoke, Nancy's expression shifted from frustration to disbelief, and then to amusement. "Wait, let me get this straight,"

Nancy interrupted, her eyes wide. "You met Tyler William, the billionaire, at the event, got intimate with him, and then sneaked out in the morning without saying goodbye?"

Andrea nodded, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. "Yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it," she admitted, feeling a sense of relief in finally sharing the bizarre details of her evening.

Nancy burst into laughter, her annoyance replaced by amusement. "Izzy, you've got to admit, that's one heck of a story! I mean, who gets to do something like that?"

Andrea couldn't help but laugh along with her friend. "I know, right? It's like something out of a cheesy romance novel or a crazy movie."

Nancy grinned. "Well, I hope you at least had fun, even if it was bizarre. And don't worry about the whole sneaking out thing. It's your life, your choices."

Andrea felt a wave of gratitude for her understanding friend. "Thanks, Lou. I needed to hear that."

As they continued to chat and laugh about the absurdity of the situation, Andrea felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

It's been a month since the charity event and Andrea went on with her life. Andrea and Nancy sat at their dining table enjoying their meal.

As they sipped on their coffee, Andrea's face suddenly turned with discomfort. She placed a hand on her stomach with her expression shifting from confusion to nausea. Without a word, she hurriedly got up and ran to the bathroom.

Nancy watched her friend's abrupt departure with growing concern. Something was definitely not right. Minutes felt like hours as she waited, her worry deepening with each passing second. When Andrea finally returned to their table, she looked pale and exhausted.

Nancy couldn't contain her worry any longer. "Andrea, what's going on? You don't just get sick like that out of the blue."

Andrea sighed, her face reflecting a mix of exhaustion and frustration. "Lou, I don't know what's happening. I've been feeling so tired lately, and this is the second time today that I've thrown up."

Nancy's eyes widened, and a worried furrow creased her brow. She leaned in closer, her voice soft but concerned. "Andrea, I hope it's not what I'm thinking."

Andrea furrowed her brow in confusion. "What are you thinking, Lou?"

Without a word, Nancy got up from the table and disappeared into her room. She returned moments later, holding a small white box in her hand. She placed it gently in front of Andrea. It was a pregnancy test.

Andrea blinked in surprise, her heart pounding in her chest. "Why are you giving me a pregnancy test, Lou?"

Nancy looked into her friend's eyes with a mixture of empathy and trepidation. "Andrea, the symptoms you've been describing—they sound like pregnancy symptoms. I just want you to be sure. Take the test."

Andrea's mind raced as she processed Nancy's words. She had never considered the possibility of being pregnant, but now, faced with the test in front of her, she couldn't ignore the growing knot of anxiety in her stomach.

Taking a deep breath, Andrea nodded and went to the restroom to take the test. She returned to the table and placed the small stick on the table, the indicator slowly changing color. They both sat in tense silence, their eyes fixed on the test as they waited for the result.

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