Page 59 of Velvet Chains
At first, I chalked it up to stress. To the insanity that my life has become since Victor crashed into it.
But now, with a sickening sense of dread, I realize it might be something else entirely.
Something that will change my life forever.
Fuck.
Why do I feel like this scene is familiar?
Right in every freaking dark romance surprise pregnancy trope… this scene is practically a requirement. The heroine, hunched over the toilet, realizing with dawning horror that her missed period and sudden queasiness might not be a coincidence after all.
No, no, no, no, no. This can’t be happening. Not to me. Not now.
I’m just starting to wrap my head around being a mafia wife. I can’t throw a baby into the mix, too!
I’m spiraling, my thoughts racing faster than a hamster on a wheel when suddenly, the bathroom door bursts open.
I yelp, scrambling to my feet and whirling around to face…
Victor and Ser. Standing shoulder to shoulder, wearing matching expressions of concern.
Well, Ser looks concerned.
Victor just looks mildly annoyed. Like he can’t believe he’s been reduced to chasing his fake wife to the bathroom.
“Lu? Are you okay?” Ser rushes to my side, her hand on my forehead like she’s checking for a fever.
I bat her away, pasting on a smile that feels more like a grimace. “I’m fine, Ser. Just… ate something that didn’t agree with me, I guess.”
She narrows her eyes, not buying it for a second. “Uh-huh. Sure. Because you’re totally the type to hurl after a few bites of fancy food.”
I glare at her, silently begging her to drop it. But Ser’s on a mission now. She looks me up and down, her gaze lingering on my midsection.
And then, like a switch being flipped, her eyes go wide. Her mouth drops open. She looks from my stomach to my face and back again.
Oh, shit.
“Lu,” she whispers, her voice strangled. “Are you…?”
“No!” I yelp sharply enough to surprise myself. “No, I’m not… that. Definitely not. No way. Not possible.”
Victor, who’s been watching this exchange with a raised eyebrow, takes a step closer. “Not what? What’s not possible?”
I can feel the blood drain from my face. I open my mouth, but no words come out. How do I even begin to explain this?
Hey, honey, remember all those times we had wild, unprotected sex? Surprise! There might be a little Morozov on the way!
Yeah, no. Not happening.
Ser, bless her, jumps in to save me. “Not food poisoning!” she blurts out, a little too brightly. “Lu Lu never gets food poisoning. She’s got a stomach of steel. This must be… uh… stress! Yeah, stress. From all the, um, excitement lately.”
She gives Victor a pointed look, like hello, you’re the cause of said stress, buddy.
Victor frowns, clearly not convinced. “Stress doesn’t usually involve violent vomiting, in my experience.”
“What, the mob never makes you want to puke your guts out?” I mutter under my breath.
Ser snorts, then quickly turns it into a cough when Victor glances at her.
