CHAPTER 388
Arianna swallowed hard before forcing out the words.
"I need you to get me a pregnancy test."
For a moment, Rochelle said nothing, but the understanding in her eyes was immediate.
“Good,” Rochelle said with a determined nod.
“We’ll take it from here. Don’t worry about anything. Just go take a shower and try to relax, okay? I’ll take care of everything else. I’ll get the test, and we’ll figure out what’s next. You don’t have to go through this alone.”
Arianna gave a tight nod, the simple act of having someone by her side easing a fraction of the tension in her chest. As she turned to head to the bathroom, Rochelle’s voice stopped her.
“Just remember Arianna,” Rochelle called out softly.
“No matter what that test says, you’ve got options. You’ve got control. We'll take it from there, together.”
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her phone and keys and left the apartment, shutting the door softly behind her.
.............
Arianna sat motionless on the sofa, staring at nothing, the weight of the moment pressing down on her like an invisible force.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—memories of Xander, of Harmony’s smirks, of the gut-wrenching moment he had ignored her calls.
The nauseating uncertainty of what came next.
Eventually, she pushed herself up and made her way to the bathroom. The warm water cascaded over her, washing away the physical exhaustion, but doing little to quiet the turmoil inside her.
As she stepped out, she wiped a hand across the fogged-up mirror, revealing her reflection.
She looked the same—yet different.
Her figure was still slender, but her stomach, her waist… Had they changed?
Was it just her mind playing tricks on her? Or was there something—someone—inside her?
Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched them into fists at her sides. Fear. Anger. Hope. Dread. They all churned inside her like a storm she couldn’t escape.
She dried herself off, slipped into loose pyjamas, and walked back into the living room. Rochelle had returned, a small bag in her hand, her face unreadable.
"I got everything you might need," she said gently, setting the bag on the table.
Arianna hesitated before sitting down, her fingers brushing over the bag.
In addition to the pregnancy test, Rochelle had picked up vitamins, supplements, and other essentials—things Arianna hadn’t even thought about. And food.
With a soft smile, Rochelle gestured to the table.
"I got you some porridge. Come eat."
Arianna instinctively opened her mouth to refuse, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she found herself nodding.
"Alright."
She needed to take care of herself. Not for Xander. Not for Harmony. But for herself. And if she was pregnant… then for the innocent life that had no part in this mess.
She moved to the dining table, sitting down as Rochelle slid the warm bowl toward her.
"Eat," Rochelle said, her voice softer now.
"You need it."
Arianna met her gaze, seeing the unwavering support there, and something inside her loosened just a little.
She picked up the spoon, taking a small bite. It was warm and comforting. Familiar.
For the first time that night, the ache in her chest lessened—just a little.
"I will," she murmured, the words quiet but certain.
Arianna sat in silence, the empty bowl pushed aside as she stared at the small white box on the table.
The pregnancy test. It sat there, untouched, yet it felt like it was taking up all the space in the room—suffocating her, demanding an answer she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.
Her fingers twitched, but she couldn’t bring herself to reach for it. Her chest tightened, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
What if it’s positive? What if it’s not? What does it even mean for me… for Xander?
Rochelle, sitting beside her, watched quietly, her expression unreadable. After a long moment, she reached out, gently taking Arianna’s trembling hand in hers. Without a word, she picked up the test and placed it in Arianna’s palm, closing her fingers around it.
"You don’t have to be ready," Rochelle said softly, squeezing her hand.
"You just have to know."
Arianna’s breath hitched, her throat tightening as she looked up at her best friend. Rochelle’s eyes were steady, filled with unwavering support. No judgment, no pressure—just the silent promise that she wouldn’t face this alone.
Arianna swallowed hard, nodding slowly. Her grip tightened around the test, and with a deep breath, she stood.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Rochelle gave her one last reassuring squeeze before letting go.
"I’ll be right here."
With hesitant steps, Arianna walked toward the bathroom, the weight of the moment pressing down on her with every step. She closed the door behind her, her fingers gripping the test so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
It was time to find out the truth.
"Okay. I’ll wait for you outside," Rochelle said softly, giving Arianna a final look before watching her head into the bathroom.
Rochelle felt an unexpected tension knot in her stomach. She couldn’t sit still, her mind racing in a thousand directions. She paced back and forth across the living room, her thoughts spinning.
She couldn’t help but feel like the baby, if it was real, belonged to her, too.
After all, she’d be there for Arianna no matter what. They had been through so much together, this child would be part of that bond.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, each minute heavier than the last. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the bathroom door opened.
Arianna stepped out, her expression unreadable. Rochelle’s heart pounded in her chest as she walked over to her, trying to keep her composure.
“How... how is it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Arianna said nothing at first, her eyes distant. Slowly, she reached out and handed Rochelle the test.
Rochelle hesitated for a moment before taking it, her hands trembling slightly.
She glanced down at the two red lines that marked the result.
For a moment, she was paralyzed, unsure of how to feel. The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air, and she found herself pulling Arianna into a tight hug without thinking.
Arianna’s body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, and slowly, her eyes began to glisten with tears.
Arianna would have been overjoyed if this had happened before yesterday.
She and Xander had been so hopeful, so eager to start this new chapter of their lives together.
But now… with everything that had unfolded, everything that had changed, the joy was complicated, tangled up with uncertainty and heartache.
Rochelle held her tighter, not knowing exactly what to say, but wanting to be there for Arianna in that moment, no matter what came next.
Arianna stared blankly at the wall, her mind spinning with the haunting thoughts of Xander and Harmony. Harmony’s words echoed in her mind—It was always part of their plan to get her pregnant. The baby would be hers. The idea that the life growing inside her could be nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game sent a wave of nausea crashing over her.
Her stomach twisted with anger, but it was quickly overtaken by a crushing sense of betrayal. Was that all their time together had been? Were those tender moments, those passionate nights, just a ruse to get her pregnant? Had Xander’s affection been nothing more than a means to fill a void in Harmony’s life—his true love—a void that only this child could fill?
The thought made her heart race with anxiety, and her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the counter. How could she have been so blind? Had she been nothing more than a tool in their plan all along? Was everything they’d shared just a lie? The uncertainty gnawed at her, the weight of it nearly unbearable as she tried to make sense of the shattered pieces of her heart.
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