Chapter 8 Are You Pregnant?

Maeve's POV

My whole body went cold at Herman's words. The idea of us continuing this — this thing even after marriage made me physically ill. The fact that he could suggest it so casually, as if it were the most natural solution in the world, terrified me more than his usual possessiveness. What kind of person could contemplate maintaining such a relationship without a hint of shame or hesitation? The Herman I grew up with would never have suggested something so twisted. When did he become like this? Or was he always this way, and I just never saw it?

"I need to get out," I whispered, my voice shaking. The car had stopped in front of my office building, a modern glass structure that somehow felt suffocating this morning. Todd was waiting for me to exit, unaware that I had called in sick today. I couldn't tell them I needed to go to the hospital instead — Herman would be suspicious the second if I did.

The privacy partition slid down with a soft whir. "Miss Crowley?" Todd's voice came through, perfectly professional as always.

"Th-Thank you," I managed to say, practically tumbling out of the car. I waited until the black sedan disappeared around the corner before pulling out my phone with trembling hands.

"Maddy?" I said when the call was connected. "I need a favor. Denis isn't available today. Can you come to my office and pick me up, please?"

Twenty minutes later, a cherry-red Ferrari screeched to a halt beside me. Maddy stepped out, her short red bob perfectly styled. She cut an impressive figure in her crisp white blazer and tailored black pants — every inch the successful doctor she was. I always thought she had a natural gravitas about her, enhanced by her sharp features and what she proudly called her resting bitch face.

"Emergency rescue deployed," she said with a smirk. "You are lucky it's my light day. Hop in."

The place we were heading for was her family's pride and joy — one of the most prestigious private hospitals in Woodhaven City. Being the daughter of a medical investment tycoon, Maddy had followed in her father's footsteps, though she had chosen orthopedics over his pharmaceutical empire.

The hospital stood apart from the usual medical complexes I was used to — all warm brick and gleaming windows, with carefully manicured gardens surrounding the entrance. It looked more like a luxury hotel than a hospital. If things had been different — if Kayla and I hadn't been switched at birth — I probably wouldn't even know someone like Maddy, I thought as we walked through the automatic doors. But then again, if things were different, I wouldn't be here for this reason at all.

Maddy handled the paperwork with practiced ease, exchanging meaningful looks with the receptionist that I pretended not to notice. We both knew I had no ID to present, and I was grateful she didn't mention the strings she was pulling to get me in.

The examination room was where my carefully maintained composure began to crack. The familiar sight of the stirrups, the medical instruments laid out on their sterile tray — it all brought back memories of previous surgeries. My hands gripped the edge of the examination table, knuckles white.

"Your blood pressure is quite high," the doctor noted, her gentle voice doing little to calm my racing heart. "Try to take deep breaths for me."

The results confirmed what I already knew. The doctor explained the recent bleeding was normal in early pregnancy, but her next words made my stomach drop.

"Given your medical history and the complications with your fallopian tubes, you should be aware that if you lose this pregnancy, conceiving again would be extremely difficult. I strongly recommend taking every precaution. Termination would be..." She paused, glancing between Maddy and me. "Well, it's something to consider very carefully."

The silence that followed felt suffocating, a choking cloud that settled heavily in the room. I could feel both women watching me, their eyes like searchlights, waiting for some kind of response. But what could I say? How could I easily bring up the idea of abortion when so much was at stake? My thoughts scattered like startled birds, refusing to form coherent sentences.

"Who's the father?" Maddy's question cut through my panic like a knife. "Why did you say you want an abortion on our way here?"

I stared at my hands, still clutching the examination table. The fluorescent lights suddenly seemed too bright, the room too small. This wasn't a conversation I could have here, not with the doctor still present, not with the weight of everything else pressing down on me.

"I..." My throat felt tight. "Can we talk about this tomorrow? Over coffee maybe?"

"Fine," she said, her expression softening slightly. "But I'm not letting this go. You know that, right?"

I nodded, still not meeting her eyes. If only you knew, Maddy. If only you knew.

After the examination, I stepped into the corridor while Maddy stayed behind to chat with the doctor. The obstetrics wing was quiet at this hour, with only the occasional nurse hurrying past. My eyes wandered to a bulletin board covered with pregnancy care information — proper nutrition, exercise recommendations, warning signs to watch for.

Almost unconsciously, my hand drifted to my stomach. There was no bump yet, nothing visible to show how drastically my life had changed, but knowing what was growing inside me made everything feel different somehow.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

The sharp voice made me jump. Kayla stood at the end of the hallway, her designer handbag clutched tight against her side. Her face twisted with shock and anger as her eyes darted between my face and where my hand had been resting on my stomach.

"Are you..." Her voice rose, echoing off the sterile walls. "Are you fucking pregnant?"