Divorced Heiress
Chapter 124

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Abby's hands trembled slightly on the table and she couldn't even take a sip of her steaming chamomile tea. I kept silent, afraid that any word I said would make her burst into tears. It was evident that she was holding back the urge to cry, I could see it in her glassy eyes and her gaze lost in any corner of the cafeteria, the same one she used to visit with her father when she was a little girl.

Seeing her like that made my heart ache, in front of me was not the same cheerful and witty Abby as always, the one who spoke without stopping about whatever was on her mind. No. This Abby was the complete opposite of who she used to be.

The news of her pregnancy had affected her greatly, and I didn't know what to do or say to make her see that it wasn't as bad as she thought. Abby was drowning in a glass of water.

I took a sip of my cappuccino and took a deep breath, determined to make her see reason, to show her the positive side of the situation.

"Abby..." I started to say, but she cut me off without the slightest intention of listening, we knew each other so well that words were not necessary to understand what was going on in each other's minds.

This time was no exception, she knew what I was going to say, and I knew that with just one word coming out of my mouth, she would let out the tears that had accumulated in her eyes.

As soon as she finished speaking, she lowered her head so that no one could see her cry, I was the only one witnessing her silent sobs, and I didn't care about what she had just said, in one way or another, I would make her see that she was wrong, and that this was great news. Abby was going to become a mother.

"Do you remember when I told you I was pregnant?" I asked directly, getting her attention. I wasn't lying when I said that I would make her change her mind, even if I had to remember that miserable moment, the one I went through because of Paul's lies and obsession.

"Do you remember the situation I was going through back then?" She asked, her tears stopped and she stared into my eyes, her eyes filled with water. Without bothering to wipe her damp cheeks, she looked at me as if she was remembering every detail of that day in my room, when I saw her again after so many years apart.

In a way, I remembered it with her.

Flashback

"I'm pregnant." I blurted out directly, without beating around the bush, and she stopped searching for my dress for tonight.

Her gaze showed surprise. Yes, she was very surprised, so much so that she had to sit down on the bed and fan her face in a dramatic way, worthy of the drama queen.

"It can't be, is that why you're here? He didn't want it?" She asked with a mix of worry and anger on her face, alternating her gaze between my face and my belly covered with a bathrobe.

I thought that if it had been like that, it wouldn't be as tragic as the real reason, but the truth is, he didn't even know that I was pregnant.

"He cheated on me with my friend." I informed her of the real reason, so she wouldn't jump to her own conclusions, and her face completely fell apart.

I sat beside her and told her about the tragic moment when I found Alexander with Rachel just when I was about to tell him the news that he was going to be a father. I also updated her on the dealings of his family and some of his friends who didn't really like me. Abby kept cursing and insulting the Lancaster family, the friends, and especially Rachel, who eventually revealed her false friendship.

"You know what? This shows that you are stronger than anyone could imagine. If I were in your place, I would be dying, no! I would be seeking revenge. But look at you, cool as a cucumber, with all the attitude, that's my friend. Even more so, that bastard doesn't deserve a woman like you,

and that bitch, ha! What kind of friend did you get? She doesn't have an ounce of dignity, that bitch. Karma will take care of them, you just sit back and watch as they pay for it." End of the flashback.

I looked closely at Abby, who shook her head and looked away towards the view from the window beside us.

"I'm not as strong as you, Sarah." Abby said after a few seconds of silence. She wiped the moisture from her cheeks, but it was in vain, as more tears escaped from her eyes uncontrollably.

"Don't you realize? Just because your situation was tragic doesn't mean mine isn't, starting with the fact that I'm just starting a relationship with your cousin. Do you think the master of contract sex is ready to be a father? God! I bet he's never even considered the possibility of being a dad someday in his entire life. Secondly, my family is in prison, and not for stealing a candy. What will I tell my child when he asks about his grandmother or his uncle? What answer can I give him? That his grandmother was obsessed with Leonardo Doinel and that his uncle was obsessed with you, which led them to commit more than one crime, endangering the Doinel family's lives. And third, but no less important... Sarah, I won't be an exemplary mother, I am not prepared to bring a child into the world. In case you didn't know me, I'm Abby Dubois, the woman who doesn't just lack a screw but the entire hardware store, nice to meet you."

Abby poured out her emotions, expressing the reasons that had her overthinking and considering herself as a bad mother for the baby growing in her womb.

"Abby, forget about what other people might think or what your child will ask you in the future. No one is prepared to be a mother, there is no manual for being an exemplary mother. But when you hold your baby in your arms, you will know how to give them the love they deserve. I'm telling you this as a woman who had everything against her and still made sure Tristan received all the love he deserved, even though he grew up without his father. You just need to answer one question, and don't answer me, answer yourself, without thinking about anyone else but yourself, what does your inner self dictate? What does your soul say? Doesn't the idea excite you even a little?"

I insisted once again, and it seemed like my words touched the most sensitive part of her being, as her gaze lingered on my face longer than it should have been, as if she was contemplating the right answer to my question.

I immediately knew that she had answered herself when the corners of her lips curved slightly, with an almost non"existent smile. I knew my goal had been achieved, Abby was putting aside what people might say and focusing only on what she wanted. "And now what do I do? What do I have to do? Do you think I should tell Vincent right away?" She asked after a few minutes of silence, enough time for her face to light up with her own glow, and her nervous smile became more noticeable. A genuine smile appeared on my face, glad to see that she was starting to accept it.

"No. The first thing you're going to do is go to your first prenatal appointment, that way we'll know if everything is in order, and once you're sure, you'll tell him. And while we're at it, I'll get a check-up too, my symptoms are not normal. I was almost sure I was pregnant." I confessed, furrowing my brow, making an effort not to think that something was wrong with me, as a delay was not something to be taken lightly. I have never had an irregular cycle.

"First appointment, making sure everything is going well, breaking the news to Vincent. Understood." Abby enumerated each step with her fingers as if she was storing them in her memory, and nodded confidently.

"Okay, you'll accompany me to my first check-up, I'll schedule an appointment for tomorrow morning." She said, more motivated than before, taking out her phone and typing on the screen, while taking the first sip of her tea. I simply nodded my head in response to her request.

"Everything is ready then. So, we have nothing to do here. I'll finish my tea, and we can go back to L&J before Alexander causes a scandal throughout the city for your disappearance."

My eyes widened in surprise, and the smile disappeared from my face as I remembered that little detail. With Abby going through her crisis, I had completely forgotten about Alexander.

I knew Alexander must be causing a commotion. I was certain that he was in a bad mood due to the worry of not knowing where I was after finding out that I had fainted at the company. At this point, he had probably already worried my parents.

However, I didn't want to give it much importance. I took my time to enjoy a pleasant moment with my friend, not remembering the last time I freed my mind from all the responsibilities that I had recently been burdened with.Upon returning to L&J, we came face- to-face with Julian who was leaving his office with some documents in his hands and Abby looked at him with narrowed eyes, as if she was throwing daggers with her gaze while accusingly pointing her index finger at him.

"You! You're a gossip!" Abby approached him immediately, and Julian abruptly stopped when he saw us walking towards him, his gaze filled with concern mixed with fear at seeing Abby like a panther ready to attack.

"Abby, Sarah, we were so worried. Sarah, is everything okay? Are you alright?" Julian decided to ignore Abby's threat and spoke directly to me with evident concern. Although I was annoyed that Julian had told everyone about my fainting spell, I wouldn't take the same attitude as my crazy friend. At least I understood that he did it because he cared about my health.

I opened my mouth to speak, but closed it again when Abby spoke for me, evidently angry.

"Can't you see she's fine? Do you see any missing limbs? Of course she's perfectly fine! But you decided to stir things up, worrying Alexander and half the world. You always exaggerate everything!" Abby continued to scold him, moderating her tone of voice. She didn't shout because that would attract attention from everyone, and we weren't in the right moment or place for that. She knew her limits.

"Abby, it's okay, leave it. He didn't do it with ill intentions, he was worried about me, it's normal." I spoke calmly in an attempt to calm her down, but she looked at me as if I was now against her.

Julian looked embarrassed by Abby's complaints, and in his gaze, I could tell he was questioning whether it was right to inform everyone about my fainting spell. If I were in his place, I would have done the same.

"Worried, worried. Well, stop worrying, she's fine. Want a reason to worry? I'll give it to you! I'm pregnant!" When Abby exclaimed, everything seemed to freeze before my eyes.

Julian stood motionless, looking with surprise at Abby who was blushing, who seemed like she was about to explode with anger. Yes, it was evident that she was very angry with Julian and couldn't control her emotions after finding out about her pregnancy, but it seemed like she was unloading everything she had inside on the poor guy in front of us.

Suddenly, Abby's body tensed and she froze upon hearing a very familiar voice behind us.

"You're pregnant?" Vincent's cold voice chilled me to the bone. This was not the way he should find out. Honestly, I wouldn't want to be in Abby's shoes, but it was her own fault for not being able to keep her mouth shut or control her emotions. "Abby, answer."

Abby couldn't even turn around to face him, she stood still, wide-eyed, staring at Julian as if she was telepathically asking him to save her. However, there was nothing to be done, Vincent would find out anyway, and Abby had to face the situation. "Sarah, can we talk in your office?" Julian spoke first, far from saving Abby, he was pushing her to sort out her mess, and that was the wisest thing he could do.

"Abby, I'll be in my office, you need to talk to Vincent." I said, looking at her completely pale face, I couldn't bring myself to look at my cousin.

"This was supposed to be the final step, you can't do this to me, Sarah, I'm going to panic." Abby whispered with evident terror in her voice, and her eyes began to well up again. I took her hand to caress it with my thumb, as a sign that everything would be fine. "Forget the steps, there's nothing left to do but tell him everything. You can do it. I'll be in my office if you need me." I whispered back, and she tightly held onto my hand, as if she had no intention of letting me go, but I looked at her with a warning glance, and she let go.

I gave her a smile, showing her my full support, and walked towards my office accompanied by Julian, leaving her alone with Vincent in the middle of the hallway.

I let out a tired sigh as I entered my office and closed the door behind Julian. I had taken the day off to be with my parents, but I was as exhausted as if I had been working as I usually did.

"Now I understand Abby's temperament, for a moment I wanted to disappear from the face of the earth with everything she told me, and I ask you to forgive me, I was very worried about you and then Alexander arrived unexpectedly with Tristan, they were asking about you to the point that your parents were concerned and I thought it was appropriate for him to know the truth, I'm really sorry." Julian explained his reasons, while his remorse and embarrassment were evident on his face for everything.

"It's okay, Julian, I'm not upset with you, Abby exaggerated a little. Was that what you wanted to talk about? Or did you use that pretext to leave Abby alone with Vincent?" I asked as I reached my seat, letting my body drop, which was beginning to tense up due to recent events.

Julian sighed and sat in the chair in front of me, placing the documents he had with him on the desk.

"Actually, there is something I want to talk to you about." He said after a few seconds in which he sought comfort in his seat and although he tried to hide it, I could tell the nervousness in his fingers drumming uncontrollably on the desk.

I intertwined my fingers on the desk, carefully observing Julian, waiting for whatever he was about to say, which, to be honest, I had no idea what it was.

"Is something happening with L&J or the collaboration? If it's about your royalties, you no longer need to give up your share, with the money from Paul's accounts being returned, Doinel is going to recover in a snap, it's just a matter of time for the investments to get back on track. Besides..."

"Sarah, I'm not going to talk to you about business or money." Julian interrupted me, in the middle of my clarification on that topic that I assumed he was going to talk about, but clearly, I was mistaken. I remained silent, waiting for Julian to let out what was clearly difficult for him, and after taking a deep breath, he said the least expected words.

"Sarah, I'm in love with you."