79. Double Trouble.

[Claire]
"What are you doing at the office?" My father asked as he walked into my office.
"Working." I answered lazily as I looked through the pile of papers on my desk.
"Have you decided what to do?" He asked me and I looked up from my desk.
"Yes." I replied and he took a seat opposite me.
"Okay, spill it."
After the argument we had at home, my father did not raise the issue about abortion again, my mother must have talked some sense into him because he stayed out of my way and let me be.
I didn't go into work for a few days because I wanted to relax and take care of my health as well as that of my child.
I went back to work after the doctor cleared me to, my baby was still growing slowly but it was getting better, at least growth didn't stop and I stopped feeling so much abdominal pain.
My nausea also reduced and I only threw up in the mornings, my mother had made me a kind of juice that helped with my vomiting.
Ever since she found out about my pregnancy, she began extra sensitive towards me, she was always making sure that I didn't skip any meals and that I was eating healthy.
I also stopped drinking alcohol or coffee immediately.
My child was a source of joy to me and I barely cried anymore, I still felt sad and sometimes stray tears escaped my eyes in the shower but that was all, I was dealing with the heartbreak and I was moving forward.
There were times when I felt like the father of my child should know that he was expecting a child but I just couldn't bring myself to contact him, somehow I felt bad that he didn't try to contact me, even after what he said about me.
It just sucked that I couldn't just order my heart to take him out of there.
My love for him was true but it was sad that his love for me wasn't.
It was however time for me to live that behind and build a better life for me and my child, starting with the company, I couldn't let the company go to rot because it was my heritage and my child's by extension.
"I'll keep it a secret." I said and he burst out laughing.
"Is that your plan." He laughed. "You seem to forget that pregnancy cannot be hidden, what happens when you begin to show?"
"I will not show for the next six months, there are ways to hide it and outfits to wear that will just make it look like I've only added see weight." I said.
"So what happens when the child comes?"
"As long as we've closed the deal and signed all the documents, they will not be able to back out besides people will have stopped talking about the scandal when it happens, I don't think anyone will bring that up."
"And what if they do?"
"That's easy, I even hope they do." My eyes brightened up. "We will pay a bunch of blogs, top influencers and women movements to oppose them, it will cause such a heated debate and help to promote the company."
"That's a very risky plan but I love it." He beamed. "Free advertisement is great besides, there is no such thing as bad press, we can always use it to out advantage and we just have to support a women's rights movement." He added.
"You're right father." I smiled and walked closer to him. "I am after all my father's daughter." I leaved down and hugged him.
"I'm sorry if I made it seem like I would ever pick the company over you and my grandchild." He apologized and my heart melted.
"It's alright father, I'm sorry for making things difficult for you but I promise to make things right."
"I believe you my dear."
"I'm afraid I have to look after my health so I can only work for a half day." I told him and he nodded.
"That's fine, I'll have my secretary inform your secretary about the dates we need to meet with the shareholders." He said.
"That's fine, I'll stay home and work on the presentation, I'll email it to you when I'm done so that you can check it out." I said and he nodded.
"Alright, I'll leave you now, I have some work to do." He said and I smiled as he pecked me on the head.
At least I didn't lose both ways.
.
.
[Luke]
I stared at an unfamiliar face in the mirror, my eyes were bloodshot red from lack of sleep and crying.
After my father's heart attack, he had been rushed to the hospital where he was currently fighting for his life.
The doctor said he had an underlying heart condition and the heart attack had worsened it, they had operated on him but then my father had fallen into a coma and it was unclear whether he would wake up or recover from his heart condition.
Of course the media was unaware of this as the state of the King's health was very private, he was being cared for at the royal family's hospital and he's room was heavily guarded.
I prayed to God just like I had before my mother died but I wasn't certain that he would answer me, the people needed a King and if my father didn't recover, that responsibility would fall onto me, I wasn't ready to lose my father neither was I ready to be King.
"There you are." Sir Thomas rushed to me when I exited the bathroom.
"Why? Is there any news?" I asked him quickly.
"Yes, but it has nothing to do with the King's health."
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
"You cannot stay here anymore." He said and my frown deepened.
"What do you mean?" I asked him.
"The palace authorities had voted, in the absence of the King, you are to take over his responsibilities." He said and I froze.
This was the most dreadful situation ever.
"I c-can't, Tom, you know that I can't." I cried out.
"Don't let anyone see you like this." He shook his head and pushed me into an empty ward. "Nobody can see you like this." He said and wiped off my tears.
"But I just can't."
"No, you can, I know you can and I know that you will, I'll stay here with the King while you take care of the responsibilities, your mother would want you to do this." He said and I groaned loudly.
"It's all my fault, I did this to him."
"No, it's not your fault, he has been hiding his condition from you for a long time, I begged him to tell you about it but he just didn't want to make you suffer." He said.
"Why, why does life punish me like this, first it was my mother and now my father." I cried.
"You have to be strong, Luke, you cannot be like this." He said.
"I don't know what to do, Tom." I confessed as I sat on the floor with my hands iny hair.
"You should take a break." He said. "Maybe go and see that woman." He suggested and I looked up immediately.
"What?"
"This is an unofficial suggestion." He sighed. "It's obvious that you need someone now more than ever, I don't advise you to speak with her because you need to just get used to your reality but you could see her from afar." He said.
"She hates me now, I just know that she does, I don't want to see the look of hate on her face so I am not going to show my face in front of her." I sighed. "I don't understand why we can't be together but from what happened to my father after I told him about her, it's seems the best thing will be to stay away from her and the child forever."
"Good." He smiled. "You're talking like a King now."
I stood up feeling very empty and dejected, I kept my head down as we walked out of the room, my legs felt heavy as I walked and I had never felt so miserable in my life.
"Luke!" Liam and Megan rushed to me when I walked out of the room with Sir Thomas.
"I'll go check on the King, excuse me." Sir Thomas said and left.
"Liam." My eyes watered as I stared at my friend.
"Luke, I'm so sorry, I heard about your father and I just wanted to—"
I didn't let him finish speaking before I hugged him tightly.
"Thank you for coming, Liam."
"Always, brother." He tapped my back and hugged me tighter.
"Megan, thanks for coming." I held her hand after pulling away from Liam.
"How is the King." She asked and I shook my head.
"He still hasn't responded."
"Luke, we know that this is a bad time but we have something to tell you." Megan said and I noticed how nervous the both of them were.
"What?" I asked looking at Liam.
"I'm pregnant."