CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Jerome peeled out of the driveway, his tires screeching in protest. The workers nearby stopped what they were doing, their eyes wide with surprise. What kind of emergency was this?

As he sped away, Jerome grabbed his phone and dialed the ava's number. A maid picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?"

Jerome's voice was tight with urgency. "Get ava to the hospital, now! And send me the address!"

she replied, "Right away, sir. I'll text you the address."

Jerome's eyes darted to the road ahead, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What had happened?

He floored it, weaving through traffic with a sense of desperation. His phone buzzed with an incoming text – the hospital's address.

Jerome arrived at the hospital after a frantic one-hour drive. He rushed in, panic etched on his face. His mind was racing with worst-case scenarios.

As he entered the hospital, he spotted two of his maids and his security man, who had obviously helped transport ava to the hospital. Jerome rushed over to them, his anxiety palpable.

"They're still attending to her," one of his maids replied.

They waited anxiously for two minutes before the doctor emerged. Jerome quickly approached her, his voice laced with concern.

"Please, what's going on?" he asked.

The doctor looked at him calmly. "And who are you to her?"

Jerome's response was immediate. "I'm her fiancé."

The doctor nodded. "Okay, come with me."

Jerome followed the doctor to her office, his heart racing with anticipation. Once they were seated, Jerome asked, "What happened to her?"

The doctor hesitated before speaking. "After several tests, we discovered that she...is pregnant."

Jerome's eyes widened in shock. "Pregnant?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor nodded. "Yes." She handed Jerome some papers, which he took and stared at intently. His eyes scanned the results, and a mixture of emotions crossed his face.

"Ava is one week pregnant...and some days," Jerome muttered to himself, his voice filled with wonder.

As the news sank in, Jerome's expression transformed. His face hardened, and then, suddenly, a wide smile spread across his face.

"Can I see her now?" Jerome asked the doctor, his voice filled with excitement.

The doctor smiled. "Of course. Just go out, walk straight, turn left, and the first door on your right is her room."

Jerome nodded hastily and rushed out of the doctor's office, eager to see Ava and process the life-changing news.

Jerome entered the room, and his eyes immediately locked onto Ava. She stood by the window, staring outside, her back to him. The sound of the door opening didn't prompt her to turn around.

Jerome walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and kissed her neck. "Thank you for making me a soon-to-be dad," he whispered.

She didn't turn around, but a faint smile played on her lips. Jerome's enthusiasm was infectious, but her demeanor remained subdued.

"Calm down, are you that happy?" Ava asked, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and trepidation.

Jerome's face straightened, and he leaned in to kiss her. "Yes, I am happy. Really happy," he whispered.

Ava bowed her head, and Jerome asked, "You look down, aren't you happy?"

Ava's voice was barely above a whisper. "I...I am happy, I just am not ready."

Jerome's gaze locked onto hers, searching for answers. What did she mean, not ready?

Jerome suggested, "Okay, why don't we just tell your parents about it and start preparing for the wedding?"

Ava didn't respond, her expression unreadable. The silence between them grew thicker, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Jerome tried to lighten the mood, but Ava's somberness was palpable. He stayed with her for a while, getting her food and keeping her company. Eventually, she ate and began to look a bit better.

********************************

Detective James Thompson and other officers prepared to catch the killers. As they headed to the address, the other officers hid nearby, waiting for his signal.

Thompson approached the old building, noticing its dilapidated state. He climbed the creaky stairs, his eyes scanning the surroundings. On the upper floor, he found a group of men sitting in a room.

They eyed him suspiciously. "You don't look like someone who's suffering," one of them said.

Thompson's expression turned pitiful. "My parents abandoned me. I'm struggling to survive. I need help." His voice cracked, convincing the men of his desperation.

One of them whispered, "We can help you. We'll pay you if you work for us."

Thompson's acting skills had paid off. The men believed him, unaware of his true identity.

As he listened to their conversation that looked as if they were whispering, Thompson could swear that he heard the word gay.as if they were planning to sell him to a rich gay man.

Thompson's eyes narrowed. He was grateful for his training in taekwondo and hand-to-hand combat. He knew he could defend himself if necessary.

With his cover intact, Thompson continued to gather information, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

As promised, the men led Thompson to their vehicle, supposedly to take him to his new workplace. Thompson played along, pretending to be naive. Unbeknownst to the men, the police were still hiding, watching the scene unfold.

The police quickly entered their van and followed the vehicle carrying Thompson. Their plan was to track the men to their destination and arrest everyone involved.

Upon arrival, the men led Thompson out of the vehicle. A group of men approached, eyeing Thompson. "Is this the guy?" one of them asked.

The men who brought Thompson nodded. "Yes, this is the guy."

One of the men sneered. "Enjoy yourself. You've been sold already."

Thompson's expression turned cold. He laughed, then threw a punch at the man. A fierce fight ensued, with Thompson taking down several men. However, he was soon outnumbered and started to take a beating.

Just as things seemed dire, gunshots rang out.The officers shot out. shooting to disperse the crowd. The men returned fire, but the police outnumbered them.

In the end, more officers arrived, and the men were either caught or fled. About six men, including those who bought and sold Thompson, were apprehended and handcuffed.

As the police took the men away, Thompson stood panting, his adrenaline still pumping. James, his colleague, approached him, patting him on the back.

"Good job, Thompson," James said.

Thompson nodded, still catching his breath.

*********************************

By evening, the doctor discharged Ava, and Jerome escorted her out of the hospital. The tension between them was still evident, but Jerome remained supportive, knowing that Ava needed him now more than ever.

The news of Ava's pregnancy spread rapidly, like wildfire. Kira was among the first to know, and soon everyone in their social circle was buzzing with excitement.

Jerome had shared the news with his friend Ryan, who couldn't wait to spread the word. Before long, everyone knew – including Ava's parents.

They were overjoyed and quickly sprang into action, finalizing the wedding date to avoid any potential scandal. That night, Jerome called Ava's parents to discuss the details.

The conversation was filled with laughter and excitement. Ava's mother was particularly thrilled, rejoicing at the prospect of becoming a grandmother. She had always cherished the memories of holding her little ones close, and now she couldn't wait to welcome a new generation.

As they talked, Jerome could sense the happiness radiating from the other end of the line. It was a moment of pure joy, one that he would cherish forever.