CHAPTER 18
The morning sunlight streamed through my window as I sat cross-legged on the living room floor, surrounded by an assortment of ribbons, balloons, and decorative banners. I had spent the entire night planning the perfect way to reveal my pregnancy to Alexander. I wanted this moment to be special, a memory we would cherish forever.
In the center of the room was the pièce de résistance: a small, elegantly wrapped gift box containing a tiny pair of baby shoes, accompanied by a handwritten note that read, "You're going to be a daddy."
I envisioned Alexander's reaction—his handsome face lighting up with surprise, the way his lips would curl into that warm smile I loved so much, and the way he would sweep me into his arms, promising to be the best father to our child. I wanted this to be perfect.
The dining table was set for two, adorned with soft candles and a bouquet of white roses. I had cooked his favorite meal—roast lamb with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans. The apartment smelled divine, a mixture of lavender from the candles and the rich aroma of the meal.
As the clock ticked closer to 7 PM, I made a final sweep of the apartment, adjusting the decorations and making sure everything was in place. I couldn't wait to see his face when he walked through the door.
---
When Alexander finally arrived, I heard the familiar sound of his key in the lock. My heart leaped in anticipation as I smoothed down my dress and stood by the table, ready to greet him.
The door opened, and there he was, dressed in a tailored suit, his expression unreadable. "Hey, love," he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.
"Hi," I said, my voice trembling slightly with excitement.
He glanced around the room, his eyes taking in the decorations and the candles. "What's all this?" he asked, his tone cautious.
"It's a surprise," I said, my smile widening. I walked over to him, taking his hand and leading him to the dining table. "Sit down. I've prepared something special for us."
He hesitated for a moment before taking a seat, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me. "Isabella, what's going on?"
"I'll tell you in a moment," I said, pouring him a glass of wine and setting the plate in front of him.
We ate in relative silence, the air between us thick with anticipation. I couldn't help but notice that he seemed distracted, his gaze drifting toward his phone every few minutes. I tried to push my doubts aside, focusing on the joy of the moment.
---
When dinner was finished, I stood up and retrieved the small gift box from the counter. My hands were trembling slightly as I walked back to the table and placed it in front of him.
"This is for you," I said softly.
Alexander raised an eyebrow, his expression wary. "What's this about?"
"Just open it," I said, my heart pounding in my chest.
He sighed and pulled at the ribbon, lifting the lid to reveal the tiny pair of baby shoes. For a moment, he said nothing, simply staring at the contents of the box.
Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet mine. "What is this?" he asked, his voice low and sharp.
"It's—" I began, my voice faltering under his intense stare. "Alexander, I'm pregnant."
---
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, the silence that followed deafening.
"You're what?" he said finally, his tone cold and disbelieving.
"I'm pregnant," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. "We're going to have a baby."
For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of emotion in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by an expression of pure anger.
"You've got to be kidding me," he said, standing up abruptly and pushing the chair back with such force that it scraped loudly against the floor.
"Alexander, please—"
"No!" he shouted, cutting me off. "What the hell were you thinking, Isabella? Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
His words hit me like a slap, and I took a step back, tears already welling in my eyes. "I... I thought you'd be happy," I said, my voice trembling.
"Happy?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why the hell would I be happy about this? Do you realize what a mess you've just created for me?"
"A mess?" I echoed, my heart breaking with every word he said. "This is our child, Alexander."
"No, this is your child," he said, his eyes flashing with anger. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't want this."
"Alexander, please, we can figure this out—"
"No!" he shouted again, his voice echoing in the small apartment. "You don't understand, Isabella. I have a life, a peaceful life, and this? This ruins everything."
---
I watched in horror as he began tearing down the decorations, ripping the banners from the walls and knocking over the candles.
"Stop it!" I cried, trying to grab his arm, but he shrugged me off.
"You've ruined everything," he muttered, pacing back and forth like a caged animal.
Tears streamed down my face as I stood there, helpless and broken. "How can you say that?" I whispered. "After everything we've been through, how can you say that?"
He stopped and turned to face me, his expression cold and unyielding. "You have two choices," he said, his voice low and deadly. "Either you get rid of it, or you lose me forever."
The words struck me like a physical blow, and I felt my knees give out beneath me. I sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably as he grabbed his coat and headed for the door.
"I'm done," he said, his hand on the doorknob. "You figure this out, Isabella."
With that, he walked out, slamming the door behind him and leaving me alone in the wreckage of what was supposed to be a beautiful moment.
---
I don't know how long I sat there, crying on the floor. My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest, and my mind was a whirlwind of pain and confusion.
How had everything gone so wrong?
I placed a trembling hand on my stomach, tears streaming down my face as I whispered, "I'm so sorry."
Blaming myself for everything, I replayed his words over and over in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. I should have been more careful. I should have taken birth control. This was my fault.
As the night stretched on, I remained on the floor, clutching my stomach and crying for the life I thought we'd have together, for the man I thought I knew, and for the child who deserved so much more than this.
For the first time, I felt utterly and completely hopeless.