Page 213 of Bride By Coronation

I blurt out, "I think I'm pregnant."

He stills, his eyes widening.

My pulse skyrockets.

Why did I choose this moment to say that?

Tense silence builds between us.

"Say something," I urge.

He opens his mouth, and nothing comes out. His heart pounds against my chest.

Fear pummels me. I ask, "Are you mad?"

He shuts his mouth, opens it again, then shakes his head hard.

"Then why aren't you saying anything?" I fret.

"I..." He takes several deep breaths, not breaking eye contact with me.

My voice cracks. "K-Kirill?"

"Is that why you got sick?" he questions.

"Maybe. I couldn't handle the smell. And I don't know for sure, but I've been throwing up every day. The nausea comes, I toss my cookies, then I'm fine," I admit.

"Since when?"

"Since I left."

He furrows his forehead.

"Why do I think you're upset?" I ask worriedly.

He rolls off me and sits up. "I'm not. Just... Just give me a minute to process this, okay?"

I sit up, declaring, "I might not be!"

He arches an eyebrow.

"What?"

"If you've been sick every day..."

I bite my lip, concerned he won't be happy if it's true.

"We need to get you to a doctor. As soon as we land," he asserts.

"I'm not dying. I can make an appointment with my gynecologist," I say.

He scoffs. "We're not waiting. If you're pregnant, you need vitamins and other things. Plus, you've been under a ridiculous amount of stress. We need to make sure everything is okay with the baby!"

I tilt my head, my mouth curving into a grin. "So you aren't upset?"

"Upset? No." He keeps his stern expression and glances at the bed.

My face falls. "If you aren't upset, then what's wrong?"

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