Page 102 of Insufferable Boss

"Where did you get that?"

He paused, and I leaned against the the kitchen counter, feeling particularly dizzy.

"On your vanity," he replied, confirming my suspicions. I nodded, realizing how careless I had been in forgetting to throw it out. In my mind, I cursed myself as my heart started racing.

Everything now came down to this moment, and I felt completely unprepared. I had pushed thoughts of this revelation aside, avoiding the dilemma of how and when to tell him. But now, it had come back to haunt me.

"Are you pregnant?" he asked directly, and I let out a heavy sigh.

"Yes, I am," I replied, those words being the hardest I had ever uttered. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, yet as I looked at him and saw the confusion in his expression, the weight returned, even heavier than before.

"You weren't planning on telling me?" he asked, and his question terrified me.

At first, he seemed confused and somewhat shocked, but now he appeared composed, as if he had built an impenetrable wall between us.

"I was, I just..." I struggled to find the right words to explain the whirlwind of emotions that had plagued me since I found out.

"You just what?" he pressed, his tone demanding an answer.

"I was waiting for the right time. It's not exactly expected news. I was shocked too when I found out, and I needed time to process it all," I replied, hoping he would understand.

"When did you find out?" he inquired, and I contemplated my response. Finally, I decided to tell him the truth.

"Just before we went on the trip," I admitted.

"But... you drank alcohol with me at the restaurant on the beach."

"Not really," I reassured him. "I initially ordered something alcoholic but then switched to a non-alcoholic option before it was served with your wine. I mostly drank water. I didn't act any differently so that you wouldn’t notice. Besides, you don't drink a lot, so there weren't many moments that required me to drink.”

"And your illness?" he asked, and I nodded.

He understood because truly there was nothing left to say, and he headed over to the couch and took a seat. I turned off the pot of boiling water and joined him, although I chose to sit in an armchair a little distance away.

"So, what's the plan now?" he asked.

I had asked myself this exact question over and over again, and yet I couldn't say that I had found a response.

"I don't know," I replied honestly.

"It's unexpected. I didn't expect you to be ready for this. I mean, I know I'm not," I admitted.

"I'm ready," he said, and my heart nearly stopped. I turned to him, surprised by his words.

"What?" I managed to say.

"I said I'm ready," he repeated. "Why wouldn't I be?"

I looked at him, wondering if he was fully aware or at least expecting the challenges that would come with this. I knew, yet I didn't have the courage to bring it up.

"We're both financially capable of contributing to their care, but if it comes to having to do it alone, you know I'm capable as well. Of course, I'll never keep them away from you..."

"Wait," he interrupted me, and I could hardly hear him over the sound of my pounding heart.

"You want to do this alone?"

"It's unexpected," I told him. "And since I can do it alone financially, I'm not looking to saddle you with any..."

"Saddle me?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. My mouth snapped shut.

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