Chapter 21
Areyou sure about what youre telling me? I ask, disbelief filling my voice.
Completely, Miss Kingsley. Id like you to visit me next week. We need to take steps to ensure you have a safe pregnancy.
Su... Sure, I whisper, amazed.
Ill schedule an appointment for you for Monday, next week.
Perfect. Thank you so much.
In m shock, I completely forget about the bathroom, so the shower had begun to overflow. The essential oils of jasmine and rosemary permeate the air, and the water is overflowing and soaking the soles of my feet.
I watch the warm, soapy water run down the tiles and into the drain just below me. The doctors words repeat over and over inside my head.
Pregnant. I’m pregnant.
Instinctively, one of my hands flies to my belly. Ive been feeling a little strange, so I ordered some blood tests among other things. I thought that because of the stress, I might have become anemic.
But I never stopped to consider that it might be a pregnancy.
I’m not sure what went wrong. Damien and I used protection... most of the time. But the truth is, I dont care.
I dont care to know where I did or didnt go wrong, because I know inside me that this isn’t a mistake.
Were going to have a baby, I whisper.
Suddenly, tears spill over my eyes. Emotion clouds all my senses as I bring my hands to my belly and begin to cry.
With awkward, hurried movements, I lean over the tub and turn off the faucet.
A baby. Were having a baby...
My legs finally give way, and I fall to the floor. I kneel, my face bowed to admire my flat abdomen. But inside it, a life is forming that will become ours to care for.
Hello, little one... are you comfortable in there?
I cant help but chuckle as I think of Damien.
I must tell Damien.
For a moment, I fear how he might react to the news. But I know he loves me, and he’ll probably want us to have this baby. Because for me, there’s no doubt that I’ll stay with him.
Feeling a rush, I stand up and dry my soaked legs. I hurry to get dressed without caring what I wear, pulling on some gray sweatpants and one of Damiens t-shirts that I occasionally wear to bed.
And then, with a wide smile still plastered on my face, I run out of the bathroom and head downstairs to the first floor of the house.
Immediately, my good mood is spoiled by utter chaos.
What are you guys doing here?
I immediately stop as I notice a group of security guards scattered around the room.
One of them looks at me and hurries toward me, clutching my shoulder. Miss Kingsley, you must come with us.
Why? Tell me whats going on, I order.
Theres an intruder in the house, maam. They shot one of the security guards to get on the property.
Someone’s been shot?
The guards start to lead me down toward the parking garage, but I stop them.
I have to go get Damien, I declare, starting to push past the man.
He looks at me with impatience. Mr. McAllister has given orders for us to get you off the property in case of any emergency situation.
I dont give a damn. I need to go find Damien.
The man tries to stop me, but I run off before he manages to catch me. I look around for Damien, desperate.
Damien! I call out.
Behind me, I can hear the voices of the security guards, but aside from that there is only silence through the house.
Damien is nowhere in sight.
Damien! I call again, this time far more desperate.
Then I hear it.
A sudden, deafening sound bursts through the walls. In an instant, the world stops.
There’s an impact that echoes through my chest and breaks my heart.
Damien!
Without a care in the world, I run all the way to the kitchen, following the line of reinforced glass panels all the way to the door that leads to the patio. Then I see him.
Brandon, standing in front of Damien, with the gun pointed straight at his chest.
His handsome face is towards Brandon as he shoots. His body take the bullet, then he falls to the ground as blood begins leaking from his abdomen.
His white shirt suddenly turns red, like the flowers he had filled my apartment with just days ago.
No!
On impulse, I run to him. Desperately, I cross the lawn without a care in the world. My breath leaves my body in ragged gasps, and all my thoughts are set on him.
My body meets his as I fall to him, my hands rushing to cradle his head. Damien, please, wake up! I beg.
My eyes well up with tears. Damiens lips have begun to turn pale.
As I look at him, I think that if he dies, I may die with him.
What do you think youre doing?
Brandons voice finally reaches me. Chaos begins to burn around us, but I dont notice it. Instead, I only notice the way he looks at me, with those unhinged eyes full of anger.
Jealousy. Now I understand it all.
What did you do? I demand, crying bitter tears.
Brandon takes a step toward me. Even in death, you still prefer him, he whispers.
Of course. I choose him. I love him! I shout.
Brandon looks at me and shakes his head. No. You cant love him. Youre mine. Mine, dont you understand?
One of the guards arrives on the scene. He shouts my name, and Brandon looks at guard, who is soon joined by many more.
Immediately, the scene changes. Brandon takes off running across the field as he’s chased by a series of bodyguards. Those remaining stand around me.
We have to call 911... I whisper.
Tears well up in my eyes, and I realize my hands have become stained with blood, so red that they look dyed with ink.
One of the guards runs over and places his hands on Damiens chest, applying first aid while two others protect us.
My eyes close as I hear the body slump, and then I start to hear someone screaming.
But none of that matters to me.
Damien, Damien, I call out.
You cant die. You cant leave me now. You cant...
Slowly, his eyes open. And through the iridescent corners of his irises, I think I witness a glimpse of life and recognition.
Damien. I sigh with relief and kiss his forehead. Youre going to be okay, I promise him.
My lips tremble as they touch his skin, which is far too cold and sweaty to be healthy.
I know that little by little, Im losing him. But I cant do it. I need him to hold on to me, and to life.
You cant leave me now, I cry. You cant leave me...
Andrea...
Im pregnant, I announce, forcing a smile to my lips in this moment of pain. And its your baby, so damn it, dont leave me now!
Desperately, I bury my face against his neck and begin to cry.
His words reach me one last time.
Pregnant... he whispers, and it seems like he understand.
I raise my head just in time to see eyes close as a smile creeps over his lips.
Almost as if it were a farewell.
As if his eyes never intend to open again.