His Beautiful Addiction

Her brows creased and she quickly turned to her period calendar on the wall,

She just missed it for a few days,

Claire nodded, it was like that sometimes, she might see it a few days later, she would stop by the grocery store in the evening to get some sanitary pads, she already ran out of sanitary pads.

After taking her shower, she came out to eat, Bonnie, her chef placed the tray of food in front of her.

Claire smiled as the aroma whisked into her nostrils. Picking up her spoon she took a spoonful of the macaroni but as she brought it to her lips, her stomach churned and she felt like throwing up. 

Just now, she liked the aroma but the second she brought the food to her lips, the scent of the food became extremely bad to her, and she nearly threw up.

Standing up, she called Bonnie to take the plates away.

"What do you feel like eating? I can make it quickly,"

Bonnie said when she saw that Claire barely touched her food.

"Don't worry, I don't feel like eating anymore, just get me a cup of orange juice."

Her mouth didn't feel like having anything in it for now.

Taking the fruit juice from her, Claire went back to her room and placed it on the side stool, lying back on the bed.

Maybe these were signs of early sickness, she should go to the hospital before it became worse.

She thought as she closed her eyes, and almost immediately, her phone rang, jerking her out from her dizziness,

Claire stretched her hand and picked the ringing phone from the other side of the bed,

When she saw it her dad calling, she groaned, wondering what he wanted to say to her now,

"Hello, Dad."

"My dear, how are you?"

"I'm fine, what about you?"

"I'm good, I'm good, "

"Okay, is there any problem?"

"Not exactly, it's just the both families are meeting tomorrow. I need you to dress your best."

Claire shut her eyes, cursing internally.

"Sure, I'll call Zach and let him know now."

"Alright, take care of yourself."

"Yeah, you too."

Claire tossed the phone aside and groaned, kicking her legs into the air.

Breathe…

She tried to calm herself down,

When she had put herself in order, she picked the phone and called Zach,

"Hey, how are you?"

She said immediately the call connected.

"I'm good, seems you've heard the news already, "

"Yeah, I'm sorry that I'm going to trouble you,"

"No, there's no problem. The dinner is by 5pm, I'll be ready by then."

"where can I pick you up?"

"I live in California, so I'll be coming on my own, you can wait for me at the entrance of the venue so we can go in together, where is the dinner holding?"

"In my house."

"Oh..., okay, text me the address."

"Okay, I'll send it now."

"Thank you very much. I'm so very grateful."

Claire thanked again,

"You're welcome."

She smiled after the call ended. Zach was such a good person, not everyone would go out of their way to help a stranger they just met.

By the time she woke up again, it was past four, and this time she was very hungry.

Screeching her feet on the floor, she walked to the kitchen,

"Chef Bonnie,"

Claire called when she saw her, the woman was in her fifties, so Claire was very comfortable around her.

"I think I'm hungry now."

She said rubbing on her belly. Bonnie laughed and smiled at her,

"I knew you would be, so I prepared something else for you in advance."

Claire smiled, "Thank you, you're the best."

"Stop with the tease," she smiled as she poured the pasta on the plate,

Claire sat on the kitchen dining table, watching her with excitement.

"Do you have stomach ache ?"

Bonnie asked, seeing that she couldn't eat earlier in the day. She placed the food in front of her handing Claire her fork. 

"Thank you." Claire smiled,

"No, I don't, I just woke up feeling nauseous, and when I tried to eat, I felt like throwing up, but it has calmed down now."

She said, stuffing her mouth with food. Bonnie stopped with what she was doing and turned around to her.

Claire blinked as she watched her walk towards her,

Bonnie leaned closer to her and felt her forehead with the back of her hands,

Claire couldn't help laughing,

"ha ha, what is that? I didn't say I was running a fever."

She laughed,

Bonnie tilted her head to the side,

"Are you pregnant?"

"What!!"

Claire exclaimed nearly vomiting the food in her mouth, her face turning hue.

"Ah, don't mind me, you just had early symptoms of pregnancy plus you slept all day, I was just asking. But don't mind me, it can be any other thing. Just go for a checkup before it becomes worse."

Claire swallowed with eyes wide open as she watched Bonnie's smiling face.

Now she thought about it…

What if… what if she was pregnant?

She blinked,

She just missed her period and she had unprotected sex, and she was having early symptoms of pregnancy…

What if…

"Ah… don't mind what I said, it might be false. Don't think too much of it."

Bonnie said when she noticed her staring blankly but that only made Claire tensed the more.

Blinking severally, she looked down on her plate and resumed eating. She didn't even say another word as her head was filled with so many thoughts.

As soon as she finished eating, she changed her clothes and got into her car,

Her guards came around but she waved them off, the last thing she wanted was someone else knowing what she was going to buy.

Claire's heart raced, what if she was pregnant?

Her hands clasped around the steering wheel tightly as she stared forward, her heart was racing but didn't know why she wasn't sad about getting pregnant.

Even though she wasn't expecting to have a baby now, she wouldn't deny that deep down she wanted to carry Leo's child.

Having his child, would end the tyranny of her father, and she might not need to wait up the two months anymore, because no sane man would want to marry a woman carrying another man's child, and who doesn't even love him.

Claire smiled, if she got pregnant. It was the end for him.

When she got to the pharmacy, she got a few sanitary pads, and picked a pregnancy test kit.

After paying for the items, she went home. Making sure that none of her guards saw her, she sneaked into her room.

Her heart raced as she took out the test and read the instructions, quickly she went to the bathroom and peed, dipping the test into the little bowl, she waited for 5 seconds, then she laid it on a flat surface for five minutes.

Her heart banged against her ribcage as she waited for the result.

When it was time, she took a deep breath and picked it up…

…

The next day.

Claire stepped out of her house, a beautiful smile on her chin. She hadn't looked this radiant about going to meet her father in like forever, and her guards were confused for a moment. They drove her to the airport and by the time they arrived at Zach's home, it was a few minutes past five.

Claire smiled when she saw Zach waiting for her outside. 

"Hi..."

She smiled at him. Zach stared at her in surprise.

"You look pretty, but I feel you're a little bit more excited than I expected."

Claire laughed,

"Am I?"

"Clearly!"

"Let's just say something good happened."

"Wow, can you enlighten me on it?"

"Mm… you'll know about it in a moment and, forgive my manner, your house is exquisite." She commented,

"Thank you,"

Zach nodded, watching her weirdly but he didn't pry further. Putting his hand around her waist, he led her into the house.

His parents were already discussing with her father… oh seems her step mother decided to grace the occasion.

Claire laughed in her heart. Well it was perfect, this was her opportunity to tell them what she had borne in mind for all these years.

Smiling brightly, Claire walked to the elders.

"Good evening Mr. Brown, Mrs Brown, I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting,"

"Ah, you don't have to apologize Claire, we're glad you're here."

Claire beamed and her eyes turned to her father and the woman sitting by his side, even without telling her, she knew her father had persuaded her to come. The look in her eyes gave her off,

"Oh come sit down."

Zach's mother pointed to the empty couch by their side and she and Zach sat down next to each other.

"We were glad when we heard that you both agreed to take a step forward in your relationship."

Claire smiled, "I'm glad you approved of me for your son, Mrs. Brown,"

"Oh dear, call me Samantha, no need to be formal."

Claire smiled at her. Seems his parents were as kind as him, too bad she was about to give the them shock of their lives.

"How is work, hope it isn't very stressful for you. You can always quit and join us here in Washington,"

Her father said and she laughed, she knew what he was hinting at.

"Ah, Dad, you know how much I love what I do. But don't worry, I'll move here if we take it further than this."

Her father beamed when he heard her,

"Oh yes of course, Zach wouldn't you want to?"

"Of course yes, I can't wait."

Everyone in the room laughed and Claire smiled shyly.

"Okay, let's go eat, the table has been set already, we can talk over food."

Zach's father spoke and they all stood up, going to the large table.

Claire smiled when she saw the lavish dishes, she was going to eat to her fill.