Chapter 48

ELEANOR

It’s been three days since Ivan’s and Rebecca’s wedding, and I was so happy that everything went well. They were on their honeymoon and Jasmine’s baby was sick, so I offered to help Mrs. Tanner.

“Ellie, is the pineapple cake ready?” Mrs. Tanner asked me as she walked into the kitchen.

“Yes, I will frost it and send it out,” I told her.

After placing a few pineapple slices on top of the cake, I put it on display.

“Oh my! This looks so beautiful, dear,” Mrs. Tanner exclaimed.

“Thank you, Mrs. Tanner. I hope it’s as delicious as it looks.”

“Don’t worry about that. I know it’ll be exceptional,” she said.

Someone walked out of the kitchen with a tray of baked buns. As the aroma wafted toward me, I felt my stomach churn and bile rise up my throat.

“Ellie, are you all right?” Mrs. Tanner asked me, but I quickly ran toward the bathroom.

I threw up the little food that I ate for breakfast.

“Ellie?” I felt Mrs. Tanner’s warm hands on my back.

She helped me off the floor, and after I rinsed my mouth, she guided me outside. A few of the staff were looking at me with concerned looks, but Mrs. Tanner waved them all off.

“Let’s go and take a seat,” she said and helped me into her office.

After I took a seat, she handed me a glass of water.

“How long have you been feeling this way, Eleanor?” Mrs. Tanner asked me.

“For a few days. I thought it must be because I ate something, but that would have passed by now,” I mumbled.

My head started to spin a little, but I tried to ignore it and looked at her.

“I had the worst morning sickness when I was expecting Ivan too, dear. But don’t worry, it will pass,” she casually said.

It took me a couple of minutes to register what she said, then I looked up at her in horror.

“I…I’m not pregnant, Mrs. Tanner,” I told her, but I frowned.

~Was I?~

“You have the symptoms, Eleanor. You keep vomiting, and I saw you eat buttercream today. I thought you said you don’t like buttercream,” she asked me, and this made me think back through the past few days.

I have been acting a bit bizarre, trying out weird combinations of food, and feeling sensitive to smells and getting up in the morning.

“Do you think I’m pregnant?” I asked her.

“I can’t tell for certain, dear. But you can always check. There’s a pharmacy a few shops from here. Why don’t you get a pregnancy kit and check?” she suggested.

“I’ll do that after my shift is over,” I told her.

When I was about to get up, I felt like the whole world spun, which made me abruptly sit down again.

“I don’t think you are in a good condition to work. Why don’t you go home and get some rest?” she suggested.

“What about the pregnancy kit?” I asked her.

“I’ll run and buy it right now. Why don’t you wait here for a few minutes,” she said and then walked out of there.

I did some deep breathing as I waited for Mrs. Tanner to get back. Finally, the office door opened again, and Mrs. Tanner walked inside with a paper bag in her hand. She handed it to me.

“The pregnancy kit is inside, and a warrior is waiting for you outside in the car,” she told me.

After I thanked her, I left the office. As I walked out of the bakery, I saw a Porsche waiting for me, so I quickly climbed inside the car.

Ten minutes later, the warrior parked the car in front of the house. I made my way upstairs and immediately made my way to the bathroom.

I took out two pregnancy kits, and after reading the instructions, I did as it said and placed both of them on the countertop while I set the timer on my phone for three minutes.

My heartbeat accelerated, and I felt like time had slowed down.

~What if I am pregnant? What will I do?~

We were still chasing rogues and trying to get justice for my mom. I didn’t know if I was ready for this. My hands slowly glided down to my stomach as my eyes looked down at the nonexistent bump. But the thought of having a baby growing inside me sent jolts of electricity through my body.

~Ping!~

My three minutes were up.

I wanted to snatch the pregnancy kit and see the results, but I held myself back.

With trembling hands, I picked up the pregnancy kit and brought it closer. As I peered down at the tiny screen, I gasped. There were two pink lines on the screen.

I quickly picked up the second one to see that it had the same result. I backed up until my back hit the tiled wall, and I slid down to sit on the bathroom tiles. I couldn’t believe it.

~I’m pregnant.~

~I am carrying the next heir to the Costa family.~

Happy tears slid down my cheeks while I rubbed my belly. In that moment, I knew everything was going to be okay.

“I’m so happy to have you, baby,” I said as a nostalgic smile formed on my face.

I wanted to run to Xavier this instant and tell him the news but then thought it would be better to surprise him with something.

~Ring, ring. ~

I looked at the caller ID to see that it was Rebecca, so I answered it without a second thought. “Hello.”

“Hi, Ellie. Ivan and I get back from our honeymoon tomorrow. Would you want to go shopping? I know a great place in the human town.”

This sounded like a good idea, but I didn’t think Xavier would agree to let me leave the pack after everything that was happening here right now.

“It would be great to have someone to go shopping with.”

“Okay.” I would make it work.

“Thank you so much, Ellie.” Rebecca squealed, and I smiled. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

“Bye, Becca.”

***

It took all I had to not tell Xavier about the pregnancy last night. Though, I didn’t work up the nerve to tell him about my shopping date either.

“Good morning,” Xavier said as he walked into the kitchen wearing his pajamas.

I looked at the time to see that I only had thirty minutes before Rebecca came here.

“Good morning,” I said as I took a sip of my coffee.

Xavier made his way to the coffee machine and made himself a cup of coffee then took a seat at the table.

“Xavier, Rebecca wants to go shopping, can I go with her?”

“Why are you asking my permission for that? You can go wherever you want,” he asserted when I began fidgeting with my fingers.

“Well, we are going to the human town,” I said when I saw a dark look cross his face. uncomfortable silence filled the kitchen when Xavier finally spoke.

“You can go and come straight back home. But be careful, okay?”

“Really?” I asked him as my eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes, so far, the rogue activities have subsided. Plus, I just sent a warrior to the human town to check in and make sure everything was as expected. He came back this morning and no rogues were spotted anywhere.”

“Thank you so much, Xavier,” I said as I quickly got up from my place and pulled him into a hug.

Xavier wrapped his hands around my waist and placed a kiss on my lips. As we pulled back, he smiled.

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” I told him as I grabbed my bag from the countertop.

When I was about to walk out of the kitchen, he held my arm and pulled me toward him.

“What?”

“Take this,” Xavier said as he placed his credit card in my hand.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“For you to use. And there’s no limit, so buy whatever you want,” he told me, but I shook my head, and when I was about to hand it back to him, he glared at me.

“Take it, Eleanor. Or I will come with you and make sure that I pay for everything you buy,” he threatened.

“Fine, I’ll take it,” I said, took the card, and stepped back.

“I’ll see you later,” I said, and he nodded his head.