The tow lines on the test kit showed that l was pregnant.l stared at the two red lines, unable to believe it. My fingers shook while l was holding the kit. "It can't be ...." l mumbled, already all the worst-case scenarios playing inside my head.

I threw it inside the trash can placed beside the sink and turned on the faucet. I need to calm down. Most of the time, these test results came out as false. However, I knew that the test being wrong in my case had less than a twenty percent chance. I had already done two tests and in. both, it was confirmed I was pregnant.

A wave of nausea hit me again, making me gag. L had already emptied my stomach in the morning and I hadn't eaten anything since then. Nothing came out but the sick feeling wouldn't go away.

Turning off the faucet, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My face was a shape paler, my eyes seemed to have lost their shine and my cheeks were hollow. I looked disheveled. My eye deterred towards the trash can where the test kit

glared back at me.

Dread and horror had been hovering over me since this morning, and now that l knew what the results were, they itched on my skin. what was I going to do now? Most importantly, l didn't know who the baby's

father was. I wouldn't have felt sickened by myself if I knew who I slept with.

Two weeks ago, a series of events turned my life upside down. That day would be the worst day of my life. Not only was I cheated upon, I mistakenly slept with someone else.

Tears burned in the back of eyes. My stomach was in knots and ghastly feeling intensified with every passing minute. if only I knew that one day which I thought would be the most special—turned out to be the ugliest—I wouldn't have gone there. Hell,if I knew drinking one bottle was enough to get me tipsy and lead me to sleep with someone else, I wouldn't have touched the bottle.

--

TWO WEEKS AGO,

"Hey, it's Mike. please leave your message"

Mike's recorded voice blared again for the fourth time. I sulked, hundreds of questions in my head. I had already called him for the fifth time but he wasn't answering my calls.

I left another text, hoping he would see all the twenty texts and would come over as soon as he could.

Turning off my phone, I gazed at the night view of Brooklyn through the floor-length window of the hotel room. The scene was so beautiful and it would have been romantic if only Mike was here.

I checked the time again. Eight-forty.

where was he? Nervousness and anticipation got the best in me as paced back and forth around the room, butterflies dancing in my stomach. Maybe he was on his way so he didn't bother answering me. maybe he got stuck in traffic. maybe—

I let out a grumble and plopped on the king—size bed. Oventhinking wouldn't

TO BE CONTINUED

provide me with any sanity. My fingers sporadically brushed with the soft rose petals, which I had scattered over the bed. the bed.

the sudden ping of my phone made me jump. I checked my phone in a hurry only to find Amelia's text. My shoulders sagged again.

Amelia - sorry, love. I have been shifted to entrance no.4

I didn't see Mike, though. is he there with you?"

I texted, with a lot less enthusiasm than I had a few hours ago.

Me—No, he is not here yet. I don't know if he will come or not.

Amelia—that bastard! How dare he make you wait! Wait till I see him in the morning.

I smiled. My best friend knew how to lift one's mood. we texted for a while, then when she had to go to her work, I went back to overthinking again.

-

Nine fifty-two. it was fucking nine fifty-two and yet, Mike wasn't here. My worry and frustration turned into anger 💢 and sadness 😔.I felt like I was being stood up.On our second anniversary night, I had planned to surprise Mike, but this was the way I was rewarded.

I wouldn't have felt so upset if it was some other day. But today, it was our anniversary. this was special for both of us. I thought Mike would be as excited as I was about our second anniversary celebration. Last year, he threw a big party, invited our friends, and celebrated our first anniversary in the jolliest way. He surprised me last year, and this time, I took the lead but look what my outcome turned out to be.

For five hours straight, I have spent decorating this huge room all by myself. I looked around, the candles were already half burnt, the excitement buzzing inside the room all gone. Ever the balloons seemed sad 😔 .

fuck him. I gritted my teeth and unscrewing the champagne bottle, I chugged the content down my throat one go. The chilled liquid was smooth but my throat burned a little. The more I drank,the more I felt hurt. Tears pricked at the back of eyes as I reached to unscrew another champagne bottle. It would be such a waste if all this hard work goes to waste.

Holding the bottle in one hand, I started at the cake on the coffee table. In bold letters, the words HAPPY SECOND ANNIVERSARY, LOVE glared at me.

Grinding my teeth, I wiped off the inscription written with white chocolate and sulked it. This wasn't how I had been supposed to celebrate, but I was left with nothing. the faint jazz music played in the background. I rose 🌹 form the couch and swayed my hips along with the rhythm. I let go of the frustration binding me, and danced like I was lady Gaga.

I didn't know for how long I was dancing like a drunk horse when I heard a knock on the door. I halted, unsure if I heard it right or not. the sound came again this time louder. Mike? it has to be him. I knew he would come. the anger I felt started to dissipate, and the ray of hope bloomed again.

I let out a barfly laugh, my leg wobbling as

I tried to wipe my figures as it was messy with chocolate. once cleaned, I walked up to the door and unlocked it.

"Mike?"

I blinked, trying to keep my gave clear. I mumbled Mike's name once again, but there was no answer. Mike stood tall,much taller than I knew, and was breathing heavily. His breathing was ragged, his face hidden in the darkness. The lights were dimmed inside the room, and so was the hall.

As I was reciprocating, whether it was Mike or somebody else, he suddenly pushed himself in. I reached to catch him in case he fell. "Mike, you okay?I asked softly. I was drunk myself, so the question should be asked to myself as well.

He groaned, and the voice felt unfamiliar. surprising me, he grabbed my wrist and turned me around. He pinned me to the wall. My naked back came in contact

with the cold wall.

I couldn't see his face properly, but I could feel his gaze. A shiver ran down my spine. "Help....help me," he whispered, leaning closer to my face. Was I too drunk or have I never realised how fucking sexy Mike's voice was?

"I....need your help," he spoke, his voice deep and etched with tension. my hand were pinned on either side as he brushed his lips on my cheeks. I inhaled his scent, rich spice and masculine— and whatever I was thinking turned into clouds.

I opened my mouth to say something, having the feeling the man wasn't Mike but the moment I opened my mouth, he crashed his lips on mine. A rush of current mixed with heat passed to every nerve of my body.I swear I would have fallen if not for him holding me tightly. My mind turned into ielly but then, the sudden actualization that man wasn't Mike crossed Mt mind again.

I moaned, trying to push him away but I was too drunk and he was stronger in breaking my walls. the more I resisted, the more passionately he kissed me. he guided his tongue inside my mouth and our tongues clashed. Liquid heat pooled in my lower belly.

he rasped, his hands snaking behind my back. All the worries and all the tension seemed to fade as we kissed.

My body was on fire and with every touch he landed, it ignited to thousands of degrees. my pussy pulsates as he grinded his body with mine. Fuck. I was never this turned on. Never this needy to want someone. I blamed it on the champagne.

he lifted me and took me to where the. bed was roughly, he pinned me to the mattress, and within seconds, my clothes were ripped apart. My chest rose and fell as I hastily removed his clothes. He groaned. I whispered.

when a shimmer of light passed by the room, I noticed the sharp eye gazing intensely at me. My belly flipped, and the throbbing sensation was becoming painful.

"Fuck" he grunted and came on top of me. He was naked, his cock taughting my wet entrance. My mind was in a mess— a horny mess—and the need to be fucked by him was the only thing I wanted.

There weren't any warnings, soft whispers, nothing. He slammed inside me and Iiterally cried out. "Christ," he confided through his gritted teeth as he started to pump inside me. My nipples were so hard they could cut diamonds, and when they grazed against his hard chest, I couldn't contain my moans.