Chapter 86: Chapter 86



That afternoon, Joelle returned to the office and asked for some time off. She scheduled an appointment with the OB-GYN at the downtown hospital across the street. Before her check-up, she bumped into Rafael.

“Joelle? Are you not feeling well?”

Joelle felt a deep sense of anxiety. Outside the OB-GYN office, most of the people waiting were couples attending check-ups together. She wasn’t expecting much from Adrian, but that didn’t stop her from wishing someone was there with her.

“Rafael, I’m here to see if I might be pregnant.”

Rafael’s eyes narrowed slightly, though he managed to keep a smile. “When was your last period?”

“It should have come at the end of last month, but it never did,” Joelle answered.

Rafael quickly calculated the dates in his head. With the middle of the month approaching, it seemed likely that Joelle could be pregnant. His heart ached, but he quickly reminded himself that he had made the decision to let go when Joelle got married.

It was only when Rafael discovered that Joelle was unhappy in her marriage to Adrian that he began to reconsider. Now that she might be carrying Adrian’s child, Rafael knew it was time to give up.

“I’ll go with you for the test,” he offered.

Step into new worlds at g Ɐ lnσ ν𝓮 ℓs․conn Joelle felt a wave of gratitude. “Thank you, Rafael. Please keep this between us for now.”

“I will,” he assured her.

Rafael stayed by her side as she went through a series of tests, and then they waited together for half an hour for the results. Joelle had a strong feeling that she was pregnant, though she couldn’t explain why. Adrian had been eager to be intimate with her, and they hadn’t used any precautions recently. If she wasn’t pregnant after all that, Joelle might start questioning Adrian’s ability.

But the thought of pregnancy had come so suddenly that Joelle wasn’t ready to accept the idea of becoming a mother just yet. Rafael handed her a bottle of water. “Don’t worry, Joelle. This is just part of life. Whether you feel ready or not, you can start preparing now.”

Joelle placed her hand on her abdomen and murmured in agreement. She couldn’t shake the thought that Adrian might not love this child. He was likely just trying to fulfill his grandmother’s wish. Joelle quickly resolved that she would love this child with all her heart. If the baby lacked a father’s love, she would make up for it tenfold.

Soon, the results were ready. Rafael went to retrieve them for her. When he returned, there was a faint smile on his lips. “Should I say congratulations?”

Joelle froze and stood up. “So, I’m…?”

“Yes.” Rafael handed her the report. “Joelle, you’re going to be a mother.”

Joelle read the report. She was four weeks pregnant. It must have happened on the day she visited the lakeside park with Katherine. That day had been marked by a traumatic event—something she wished she could forget, something that brought her shame.

Adrian had rescued her that day and taken her back to his place, where they had sex several times. It must have happened back then. Joelle felt a rush of joy and tears. Though she wasn’t fully prepared to welcome this child, she was still happy. Now, she had someone else in this world who was truly connected to her.

Rafael gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief, his smile carrying a hint of hidden sadness. Seeing Joelle’s happiness, he decided to accept things as they were.

Joelle shook her head. “Rafael, please don’t tell anyone, especially not Adrian.”

Rafael looked confused. “Why not?”

Joelle wiped her eyes and said, “I want to see if Adrian cares about me without knowing about the baby. I don’t want to use the pregnancy to keep us together. And I definitely don’t want to use this baby to make him love me. If his heart belongs to someone else, then I’ll take the baby and leave him.”

Rafael’s eyes brightened, sensing there might still be a chance for him. “You’re planning to divorce him?”

Joelle nodded with a faint smile. “So please, Rafael, keep this secret for me.”

“I promise.”

That evening, Adrian returned home and asked how her check-up had gone. Joelle didn’t reveal that she was pregnant. Adrian, on the other hand, showed no particular reaction. He took off his suit jacket and looked down at her. “Then let’s pick up where we left off tonight.”

Joelle bit her lip. “The doctor said my health isn’t great right now, and it’s not the right time for anything intimate. Besides, I’m not ovulating. I need to rest for a bit.”

Adrian paused and asked, “For how long?”

Not wanting to raise any suspicion, Joelle gave a reasonable answer. “About two weeks.”

“Fine.” Despite his own desires, Adrian would never push Joelle when it came to her health. In matters like these, he always respected Joelle’s boundaries and her well-being.

“Then get some sleep.” He turned over and lay on his side, facing away from her. In the darkness, Joelle’s face remained calm, but her heart was racing as she grappled with the weight of hiding such a big secret.

“Adrian, if we were to have a child, would you love me?” Without missing a beat, Adrian replied, “I wouldn’t.”

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