Alessia sat at the head of the conference table, her pen tapping softly against her notepad. The meeting had been dragging on for over an hour, and her head was pounding. Her team was deep in discussion about finalizing the logistics for an upcoming client meeting point. Maps and plans were spread across the table, laptops open, voices chiming in with ideas and solutions.
“Alessia,” one of her managers asked, drawing her attention back to the room. “Do we finalize the East Side location, or should we consider the downtown venue?”
She blinked, trying to focus, but the nausea that had been gnawing at her all day suddenly intensified. She placed a hand on her stomach, her face pale. “Let’s…” she hesitated, her voice weaker than usual, “stick with the East Side. It’s more accessible and aligns with the client’s preferences.”
The manager nodded, and the team resumed their debate, but Alessia couldn’t concentrate. The fluorescent lights seemed too bright, and the room felt stifling. A wave of dizziness swept over her, and she pressed a hand to her temple, willing herself to stay composed.
“Excuse me,” she said abruptly, pushing back her chair and standing on shaky legs. All eyes turned to her. “I’m not feeling well. Please continue without me. We’ll review everything tomorrow.”
Her assistant Claire rose from her seat, concern etched across her face. “Are you alright, Alessia? Should I call someone?”
“No,” Alessia said, forcing a small, tight smile. “I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”
Without waiting for a response, she left the room, walking as quickly as her unsteady legs would allow. By the time she reached her office, she felt like her body was betraying her. The nausea rolled over her in waves, and her head throbbed with every step. She grabbed her bag, sent a quick email to Claire to reschedule her meetings for the rest of the day, and headed home.
At home, Alessia collapsed onto her couch, her body aching. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this sick. Her mind darted to the stress of the last few weeks—Zayden’s health scare, ending her engagement with Christian, and the weight of running Kane Enterprises on her own. Maybe it’s just stress, she told herself, closing her eyes and trying to will away the discomfort.
But deep down, a nagging thought lingered.
The next morning, Alessia woke up feeling worse. Her stomach churned, and the moment she tried to sit up, a wave of nausea sent her running to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before she began vomiting, her entire body trembling.
After rinsing her mouth and splashing cold water on her face, she leaned against the sink, breathing heavily. Her reflection stared back at her, pale and drawn. A chill ran down her spine as a thought struck her.
No. It can’t be.
Her hands instinctively moved to her stomach, and the bad feeling in her chest grew stronger. She hurried to her bedside table and rummaged through the drawer until she found what she was looking for—a small box containing a pregnancy test.
Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, Alessia stared at the test in her hand, her heart pounding in her ears. The instructions were straightforward, but her mind was racing too fast to focus. What if I’m pregnant? she thought, her stomach twisting with both fear and uncertainty.
She took a deep breath and did as the instructions directed, placing the test on the counter and stepping back. The minutes felt like hours as she paced the small bathroom, wringing her hands. Her thoughts darted to Christian and the tumultuous end of their relationship. Could it be his? Of course, it could only be his, she thought. The idea made her chest tighten. What do I do if it is?
When the timer on her phone buzzed, she froze. Slowly, she approached the counter and picked up the test, her hands trembling. Her breath hitched when she saw the result: two pink lines.
Positive.
Alessia sank to the floor, the test clutched in her hand. Tears sprang to her eyes as a flood of emotions overwhelmed her—shock, fear, confusion. She was pregnant. She had spent weeks trying to piece her life back together after Christian’s betrayal, and now everything had changed again.
She placed a hand on her stomach, her mind racing. “What am I going to do?” she whispered aloud.