Chapter 22 - Daria
I thought I was out of the woods thanks to how well everything had been going over the last few weeks, but after getting up and heading to the kitchen for breakfast that morning, a new text completely reversed that idea for me.
A part of me didn't even want to read it when I saw that unknown number again, but I couldn't stop my gaze from shifting down.
It's either family or the Fokins...you pick.
The message made my stomach clench, and I hated everything about it. That worry and dread ate away at me the longer I looked at it, forgetting all about my breakfast.
That familiar feeling I used to get while being around Rurik came back in full swing, settling in my skin to leave me feeling unbearably uncomfortable.
He had a pull on me for so long, and while I had been against marrying Ivan initially, I knew the latter was the better situation. While it had initially been a punishment, being with Ivan granted me the freedom of not dealing with my brother.
Despite our tumultuous start together, we were both changing, and so was our connection.
Rather than feeling his icy, domineering presence while he searched for every angle he could provoke me from, he was starting to let me in, and we were both doing better thanks to his change of heart.
Ivan was showing me that same attentive care he had before when he thought I was Zoey, and regardless of how much I once hated him for treating me like a prisoner, I found myself caring for him.
The thought of Rurik somehow ruining that made my heart ache.
Being contacted by him or one of his associates reminded me too much of those painful memories, and I didn't want anything to do with it. I was his puppet before, and if Ivan's reaction had been any indication, I hurt people because of it.
I hated it then and I still hated it...while my brother used me to get whatever he wanted, I had to live with the reminders of my actions, aware that I had no choice in taking them. I had to stomach it, not him. And since Ivan showed me another way, I was done with it.
Looking down at the message made me feel sick, and I couldn't even stand to finish my food. Instead, I deleted the message and forced any thoughts of Rurik out of my head.
I was with Ivan. Regardless of whatever my brother was planning or doing behind the scenes, he couldn't reach me.
Even if he tried, the Fokins were too strong to let anything happen.
Reminding myself of that, I urged myself to relax again.
Even when I eventually got out of my head about it, I didn't have the same energy I normally did, and instead of heading upstairs to tuck myself away for a few hours, I went to the couch and turned the TV on.
After some time of half-watching a few brainless reality shows, light footsteps entered the room before Veronica's gentle voice reached me.
"I'm surprised you aren't in the studio," she said, leaning against the back of the couch across from me.
I let go of a breath and shrugged. "I didn't feel like it today...I'm pretty tired."
Despite it being a fairly tame response, a touch of concern moved through her eyes. "I noticed you didn't finish your breakfast either. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
Her quiet worry was a comfort, but I didn't really want to be fussed over. I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just feeling a bit under the weather. I'm sure it's just a stomach bug."
While that edge of skepticism lingered in her gaze for another moment, Veronica didn't press. "All right...just let me know if you need anything."
I nodded and thanked her, and she eventually disappeared to continue with her work.
Even if I registered how tired I felt for seemingly no reason, and was aware of the lingering discomfort in my stomach, I didn't think much of it until Veronica poked a bit. But after the fact, I couldn't help but notice more of the queasiness as time went on, and I couldn't bring myself to leave the couch.
After another hour passed, those footfalls returned, and a small box appeared in front of my face.
I pulled back slightly while my eyes adjusted to the sudden intrusion, and then my brows furrowed when I saw the label and picture on the box.
Craning my neck, I met Veronica's steady gaze. "A pregnancy test?"
She nodded simply and handed it to me. "Yes...I think it's worth trying. Even if it's false, at least you'll know."
A small part of me didn't even want to find out, reeling at the idea. But I swallowed hard and nodded, taking the box from her. I knew she was right.
"Let me know when you're done."
Reluctantly, I got up from the couch and left the warm blanket across my lap behind. I sighed and went straight to the bathroom.
Mustering up the courage, I followed the instructions, capped the test again, then placed it on the countertop and waited with my arms crossed over my chest.
The minutes seemed to take a lifetime, but when I turned around and looked down again, my heart was immediately in my throat.
There was no way.
Seeing that single small word on the little screen confirming Veronica's suspicion made my stomach drop, and my hands shake.
I couldn't believe it. I didn't know what to think or how to feel. There were too many thoughts to process, and my mind went blank instead.
I was pregnant.
We hadn't been trying to reach that outcome, but when I thought back to every time we slept together, he hadn't exactly been trying to avoid it either.
With my hands slightly clammy, I let go of a shaky breath and numbly went to the door. I needed to tell Veronica...maybe she'd be able to help level me out again—
But the moment I stepped out into the hallway, my eyes widened the moment I saw them. My heart stopped, and I could've sworn my blood went cold.
Face to face with Olivia while Dima stood behind her, I had nowhere to go. Nowhere to run and hide.
The realization that Ivan never told them I had been living with him all that time hit me, and I knew at once that I just found myself in deep shit.
Olivia looked at me like she had seen a ghost. "...Zoey?"
I could hardly breathe, feeling the weight of it all crushing me at once. "Daria..."
At the correction, she seemed to regain her bearings much faster than I did as she muttered, "What the hell are you doing here?"
Dima's brows furrowed. "Ivan said you had been handled...not brought back here."
As the reality sank in for her, Olivia's features twisted with anger. "...you've been living here this entire time?"
Aching with the burning embarrassment of being caught and not having Ivan there to back me up, I swallowed hard and nodded.
Then, Olivia's gaze flickered down to the test in my hand. Her eyes widened. "Don't tell me..."
My stomach twisted at the turn of events, and I wanted nothing more than to shrink and disappear completely.
Feeling even sicker than I had before, I wasn't prepared for the inevitable onslaught of brutal words Olivia had in store for me.