Shattering Truth

Ava Sinclair's POV 

The antiseptic smell of the place wafted through my nostrils, while finally, I was still trying to be conscious. It was as if weight tugged at my eyelids.

"Well, at last," I heard a familiar voice."Ava, you're awake."

I blinked against the light above me, squinting as my eyes adjusted. Elsie's face hovered over mHer auburn hair was pulled back into a messy bun, with faint shadows undermining those usually sharp, bright eyes.

"Where…where am I?" I croaked, my voice hoarse.

"You're at St. Margaret's Hospital," Elsie returned, brushing a lock of hair from my face. "You fainted at Maximus' mansion. Gave everyone quite the scare."

Memories tumbled back in my head in a messy heap-what started as a row with Maximus, ended with dizziness, and finally I was speechless.

"I..what happened?" The words just managed to get out through my dry throat.

Elsie was surprised, her lips pursing into a thin line before she blew out a sigh. "Ava, there's something I should tell you."

My heart stuttered, staredt. "What?"

She hesitated this time, her gaze dropped to her handst. Finally, she looked me in the eye.

"You're pregnant," she said softly.

It just sounded like the big ton of bricks dropped on me at that instant, but I knew at that moment it couldn't be-heard right "pregnant?."

"No," I whispered my head shaking, "That can't be." 

"I know that all this is rather much to go through,The verification had been done based upon the doctor's diagnosis. "Considering your collapse they ran tests."

"No," I said again, louder, perhaps hopeless. "It can't happen. It mustn't. It can't."

The room spun and I leaned forward, reaching for the edges of the hospital bed to steady it.

"Breathe, Ava," Elsie said firm and soft all at once. "You really mustn't freak out. We'll sort it all out."

Tears pricked my eyes as I said, "Figure this out? Elsie, I woke up being married with a man I barely know, now pregnant too? For who, for Maximus? for Nolan?" My voice finally broke at the sound of his name.

"Ava," Elsie said, laying a reassuring hand on my arm, "we'll get through this one step at a time. You don't have to face this alone."

I wanted to believe her, but in my head, that sounded like an impossible feeling-like I woke up into somebody else's life-a life which some other girl dreamed of being with?

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and before I could say anything more, Elsie picked it up off, her eyes scanning across the screen.

"It's Nolan," she said.

My gut was hit with panic. I wasn't ready for this call. "I.I can't," I stammered.

"Ava, you have to talk to him sooner or later," Elsie said, extending the phone out toward me. "Now's better than later.

I reached for the phone, my hands shaking, and pressed it against my ear. "Nolan?"

His voice was sharp, a blade through the static. "Ava. What the hell is going on?"

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "I.I can explain-"

"Explain?" he cut in. "Explain why I had to find out through news reports that you got married? Ava, are you serious right now?"

"It's not what it looks like," I said weakly, searching for words.

"What does it look like then?" he snapped. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you completely betrayed me."

My heart actually broke at his words. "Nolan, please, just let me-"

"No," he repeated again, cutting me off. "I don't want to hear it. It's over, Ava. I'm done."

It was as if he had hung up the line before a word could have slipped out of my mouth. There I sat staring at the phone silently with the silently. I tried calling again but he wasn't talking my calls either.

"Let me talk with him," Elsie exclaimed, seizing the phone from me. She clenched her jaw and began punching his number.

"Nolan, it's Elsie," she said, as soon as he picked up. "You have to calm down, let us explain. Ava didn't-"

Whatever he said on the other end made her lips press into a grim line. "Nolan, you're not being fair. If you'd just—"

He hung up, and Elsie let out a frustrated growl, tossing the phone on the bed.

"Unbelievable," she muttered, pacing the small hospital room. "What a coward."

I stared dumbly at the phone. The man that I'd thought I'd loved-the one who had professed to love me-had vanished into thin air.

"Ava," Elsie said, dropping on her knees beside the bed and taking my hands in hers. "Ava, listen to me. You don't need him. You've been through hell and back and you are still standing. You will get through this too."

I was so confused. "I don't even know who I am anymore, Elsie," I whispered above the storm of my tears streaming over my face.

"You're Ava Sinclair," she returned on an even knee. "And you will figure this one out with a step at a time. Right now, though, we need to come up with a solution concerning Maximus."

I laughed snarlingly. "Of anyone I had to deal with now, Maximus would be the last person I needed."

 On cue, the door opened again. And this time, it was Maximus. He walked into the room and stared at me and Elsie. my nausea growing.

 "I'll just wait by the corner " Elsie said.

I shook my head and answered, "What is it Maximus?

He sounded almost rude. "I got the doctor's report."

"You what? Are you digging into my privacy now," I blew up, frustration overwhelming me in totality.

"The car is outside, we need to go." he went on . "We're going back to the mansion."

"No," I made sure to pronounce very clearly. "I am not going anywhere with you".

There was a silence between us, "Fine. You're attorney can come with you if that's okay. We have things to sort out."

Apparently, that was the end of our discussion, as he walked out of the ward.

"You wanna go?" Elsie asked crossing her arms across her chest.

"His car is outside," I stated. "I think I should.i don't think I have a good option now."

Elsie's face darkened. "You sure about this?"

"I guess so," I admitted. "But you're coming with me."

She nodded, "Damn right I am.let's get you set up."

Her words were confiding. I managed to force a simple smile on my face; at that stage, everything was simply so overwhelming, completely out of control-and everything I wanted was for it to stop.