Riley's Medical Report

Riley

Three Months Later

I climbed the tenth stair, purposefully taking my time. Some of the workers in the office hall were staring at me strangely, wondering why I wasn't using the elevator. If only they knew that I forced myself to check up on my… fiance.

“Good morning, Miss Riley, welcome to the Hamilton-Rodriguez enterprise. Mr Alexander has cleared his schedule for today, he is waiting for you in his office,” Samantha, Alex's secretary informed me with a sweet smile on her face.

I returned the smile and moved towards the office door. I didn't bother knocking because the door was wide open. But before entering, I took a quick look at my wig and makeup.

Alexander was going through some files, but the minute I entered, he raised his head and furrowed his eyebrows. “I thought you weren't coming,” he muttered looking at me with a grimace. He looked like he had something bothering him, and his eyes glazed over to my wig.

I didn't reply to his question, I simply smiled and sat on an empty chair. Alex and I weren't a real couple, it was all fake, and I was aware that Alex was secretly married to Quinoa Salad, his childhood friend. But I couldn't separate myself from him, not only did my family believe we were a real couple; but the news had also spread all over the internet that the rejected lesbian was engaged to the youngest billionaire CEO.

This news had improved Alex's reputation, because of the scandal he was involved in a year ago. He was caught kissing a popular married woman, and everyone had labeled him a gigolo (a man who sleeps with an older woman). The fact that the supposed single gigolo man was in love with a lesbian had made people sympathize with him.

“How is everything going?” I asked with a soft voice. My eyes momentarily scrutinized the environment, looking for signs of his wife's presence.

Alexander closed the files, and stood up from his seat, carefully walking towards me. “Quinoa will be coming very soon. She keeps insisting on making our marriage public,” he informed me with a straight face. I looked at him, trying to read his expression, but I couldn't.

“Huh!” I sighed deeply, and stood up, moving towards him. “Does she know about us?”

“Of course not! It's all fake, I can't tell her. Especially now..” he murmured his last sentence.

“Now... ?” I raised my brows in surprise, wondering what he was talking about.

Alexander took a deep breath and sat down on the table, “she is pregnant…” he paused. “...for me.”

“Wow!” I chuckled to myself, unsure of what to say. I didn't know if I was supposed to be happy or nervous for him. Alex looked sad. He took a deep breath and held my hand.

He looked me deep in the eyes, his brows were furrowed, and he looked like a helpless puppy. “I understand that our relationship is fake, but I don't want to be with Quinoa. I need us to be real, Riley,” he muttered just enough for me to hear.

My eyes widened in shock. After my last confrontation with my family, I have also been thinking about something similar, but I just didn't expect Alex to ask me to marry him.

“Alex… do you understand what you are asking of me?” I looked at him with arched brows.

Alex nodded his head and released my hand. “I know this is a lot for you to take in, Riley. You might not love me… yet, but I really don't want to be with Quinoa. I'm certain that it's not my baby she is carrying.”

“Alex, why would you say such a thing? Also, why did you get married to her in the first place?” I voiced out the question that had been in my mind the whole time.

“I was betrothed to her the instant she was born. Her family and mine are friends. Also, my parents threatened to withhold my inheritance if I didn't marry her,” Alexander's eyes were heavy with unshed tears. “I haven't slept with her in months, I just don't understand how she is suddenly pregnant. I fear my parents are trying to trap me. If we can both enter a public contract marriage, before Quinoa returns, the public will believe Quinoa is just a fling, and my parents will finally be off my back.”

I didn't know how to reply, and I kept staring at him with furrowed brows. “A contract marriage?” I murmured thoughtfully under my breath.

“Yes. Perhaps just for a few months. Let's say two months?” Alex asked eagerly. His voice was filled with joy, and I honestly didn't want to disappoint him because he had supported me all month.

A contract marriage might sound nice and fun to people who want to use Alexander for his influence and wealth, but I no longer care about those types of things. After my family caught ties with me because of my sexuality, I stopped caring about material things and focused on finding true love. I didn't have much time left, so I wanted something real. I needed someone I would be able to rely on and count on.

I genuinely cared about Alex, but I didn't want to give up my happiness again. Lucien had taught me a great lesson, and I didn't want to pass through the same experience again.

After thinking for a while, I sighed. “Alex, I don't think I can –”

It was as though Alex knew what I wanted to say because his eyes widened at once. “Don't!” His index finger was in front of his lips. “Please, think about it for a day, then you can give me a response!” He proposed.

“Okay, fine!” I agreed without thinking and picked up my bag. “I will take my leave. I have a family dinner to attend.”

“Family dinner? That means you will see Lucien?” He asked with an arched brow. “Are you alright?”

A wide grin settled on my lips, and I smacked my tongue. “I have endured my family's cruelty and Lucien's insult for years. How bad can a family dinner hurt?” I asked thoughtfully. But if only I knew how horrible it could go, I wouldn't have said that.

Alexander shrugged his shoulders. “Okay. I am rooting for you!” He murmured under his breath.

The minute I left Hamilton-Rodriguez enterprise, the strong facade I had put on throughout my time in Alex's office broke, and I stumbled and fell on the floor. I hugged my bags tightly, trying to control my tears, but it all came rolling out.

“Am I incompetent? Don't I deserve to be loved? Was coming out as bisexual a bad idea? Will I never experience true love? Is this how my life will end?” A lot of questions passed through my thoughts, as tears kept rolling out of my eyes.

At that point, the doctor's words came back to my mind. I had gone to her hospital two weeks ago after I noticed an unusual lump near my vagina.

Doctor Gabrielle looked devastated as she entered the room with my test report. “Miss Riley,” she had called my name gently. “The lump near your private area is a property of cancer. You have ovarian cancer, and you are in your last stage!”

I didn't know how to reply. I mean I didn't even believe her. “Cancer? How is that possible? I–” I stammered.

Doctor Gabrielle sat in front of me and reached out to pat my shoulders. “Riley, I will advise you as a friend,” she whispered. “Take that vacation you've always dreamt of because you have just three months left.”