Page 44 of Tormented Hearts

"Phoenix," he calls softly, his voice laced with concern. "Maybe you should see a doctor."

Phoenix shakes her head, forcing another smile. "I’m fine, really. It’ll pass."

But even as she says the words, she isn’t sure if she believes them.

The next few days pass in a blur of meetings, paperwork, and quiet moments shared between Luca and Phoenix. Phoenix continues to immerse herself in Luca’s world, learning more about the operations he runs and the people he deals with. She finds that the more she knows, the more confident she feels, even though it still scares her at times.

But as her confidence grows, so does the unease in her body. The nausea comes and goes, sometimes mild, sometimes overwhelming. She finds herself growing more fatigued, her energy draining faster than it used to. At first, she assumed it was because she wasn’t used to the constant stress of Luca’s world, but now... she isn’t so sure.

After a particularly long day, Phoenix sits on the couch in the penthouse, her legs curled beneath her as she tries to relax. Luca is in his office, finishing up some work, and Phoenix has planned to join him later. But as she sits there, her stomach twists violently, sending a wave of nausea crashing through her.

She presses a hand to her mouth, her heart racing as she rushes to the bathroom. It isn’t the first time this has happened, but it is the worst it has been so far. She kneels by the toilet, her hands trembling as she tries to breathe through the nausea.

It feels like everything is spinning out of control.

After a few moments, the nausea subsides, leaving Phoenix feeling weak and drained. She sits back on her heels, her hand still pressed to her stomach as she tries to make sense of what is happening. Was this really just stress? Or was something else going on?

Phoenix stands slowly, her legs shaky as she walks back into the living room. Luca has finished his work and is standing in the doorway, watching her with a concerned frown.

"Phoenix," he calls, his voice soft but firm. "You need to see a doctor."

Phoenix sighed, knowing he is right. She couldn’t keep pretending this was nothing. Something was wrong, and it wasn’t going away.

"Okay," she whispers, nodding. "I’ll go."

Luca crosses the room, pulling her into his arms as he kisses the top of her head. "We’ll figure this out," he promises, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Phoenix closes her eyes, leaning into him. She has spent so long trying to prove her strength, trying to show Luca that she could handle this world. But now, as her body seems to betray her, she realizes that maybe being strong meant admitting when she needed help.

A few days later, Phoenix is sitting in a small, private clinic, waiting anxiously for the results of her tests. Luca has insisted on coming with her, refusing to leave her side even for a moment. He is sitting beside her now, his hand resting on hers, his expression unreadable as they wait for the doctor to return.

Phoenix’s mind races with possibilities. She has been trying to prepare herself for the worst, but the uncertainty is making her nerves fray. She has tried to downplay it at first, thinking it was just stress or anxiety, but now, as they wait for answers, she can’t shake the fear that something more serious is going on.

Finally, the door opens, and the doctor steps in, holding a file in her hands. She smiles warmly at Phoenix and Luca, her eyes kind and reassuring.

"Ms. Phoenix, I have your results," the doctor says, her voice calm.

Phoenix’s heart is pounding in her chest, her hand tightening around Luca’s as she braces herself for the news.

"Everything looks normal," the doctor confirms with a smile. "But there is something we discovered in the blood work."

Phoenix frowns, her stomach twisting with nerves. "What is it?"

The doctor’s smile widens, as she glances between Phoenix and Luca, her voice soft as she speaks.

"You’re pregnant."

The words hang in the air, heavy with significance.

You’re pregnant.

Phoenix feels her heart stop, her breath catching in her throat as she stares at the doctor, trying to process what has just been said. Pregnant? It didn’t seem real. She had come here expecting to hear that her body was reacting to stress, to the constant turmoil of the past few weeks. But this? This is something she had never imagined.

She turns slowly to look at Luca, her eyes wide with shock. His hand is still wrapped around hers, but he is frozen, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, neither of them speak, both struggling to find words in the midst of this revelation.

Finally, Luca blinks, his grip on her hand tightens. "You’re..." His voice trails off, as if he can’t quite bring himself to say it. His dark blue eyes flicker to hers, searching her face for some kind of confirmation, even though the doctor had already given it.

Phoenix nods slowly, her mouth dry as she whispers, "I guess I am."

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