Page 205 of Sinful Pleasure

Alone once more, I turned my full attention to the white box in my hand. My fingers shook as I gripped it, my pulse racing.What happens next depends on what this box contains.

I turned the small white box over in my hands, my breath catching as I saw the words written on it-Pregnancy Test.

My throat felt tight, my saliva refusing to go down.

Maddox doesn’t know.

He doesn’t know about the random waves of nausea or the moments I’ve spent over the toilet, vomiting for no reason.

Maybe it’s paranoia. Maybe it’s all in my head. But I had to be sure.

That’s why I asked Betty to buy the test and bring it to me when I knew Maddox wouldn’t be around.

For what felt like an eternity, I paced the room, clutching the test in my shaking hands.

What if it’s positive? What then?

My heart pounded as I finally forced myself into the bathroom.

The moment I finished, I placed the test down on the counter and backedaway like it was some ticking time bomb. My chest heaved as I left it there, retreating to the bedroom.

I sat on the bed, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. My heart felt like it had dropped to my feet, my pulse racing so fast it hurt. A thousand scenarios played out in my head, each one more overwhelming than the last.

What do I do if it’s positive? How do I tell Maddox?

The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the pounding of my heart. I stared at the wall, frozen in place.

Don’t be a coward, Allyn. You have to do this.

With trembling legs, I walked back to the bathroom. My hands were unsteady as I picked up the test.

Positive.

It hit me like a freight train. I stared at it, unblinking, unmoving, my mind struggling to process.

I’m pregnant.

My knees buckled, and I sank to the floor, the test clutched tightly in my hand. My thoughts spiraled.I’m carrying Maddox King’s child.The weight of it consumed me, making it impossible for me to breathe.

But before I could gather my thoughts, the sound of the front door slamming shut snapped me back to reality.

The heavy, forceful entrancecould only mean one thing— Maddox.

Panic surged through me. I scrambled to hide the test, locking it back in the box and shoving it into a drawer.

With my heart still hammering in my chest, I took a deep breath and headed downstairs, steeling myself for whatever came next.

When Maddox looked up, I didn’t see the usual warmth.

Instead, I saw only darkness, rage coiling within his eyes. I tensed.

Was I really going to do this?

Was I ready? No.

But I knew deep down that he had every right to know.

“Maddox, can we talk?” My voice was barely above a whisper, my words falling out like fragile glass.

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