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Erica's POV

The week goes by in a blur. Wedding preparations have already begun. Moana is our wedding planner. She complained about how people are so unprofessional and impatient.

I don't know why Joe wants the wedding so soon. In three weeks. That's barely enough time to pull off a grand wedding. People take months to plan for the perfect wedding, but he wants in three weeks. That's a lot of pressure on Moana.

We have already discussed the theme. I want a winter wedding. Winter in autumn. Wherever she's going to get the snow!

The venue for the reception is at La Grande Frost, a five star hotel belonging to Joe's family. The great hall is already being decorated. When you have money, yeah, I'm sure you can pull off a grand wedding.

"Hey Erie, come checkout these cakes. Choose the one you prefer," Moana calls.

We are currently in a bakery, choosing out my cake. The baker places different plates with slices on the counter top. A Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle cake, a Fudge with Peppermint Chocolate Mousse and Meringue Buttercream cake and a chocolate peppermint cake. I choose the second option.

Tomorrow, we're going to choose my dress, invitation cards and I don't know what else. I go back home totally exhausted. I immediately fall asleep.

I wake up and prepare for my day. In my mind, I have this ballroom princess gown with lace covering it all. Backless and strapless. With sequins covering the whole chest area. I also want a small train with it. And I definitely want an intricate design covering the skirt.

And that kind of description is what I give the designer. She takes out a ballroom gown and hands it to me.

"This is far from what I want," I state.

"We're going to give you a custom made design. It's just an addition to that. Now, if you please, try it on so I can take your measurements."

I do as told. The gown is quite big for me. But she holds it until it's just fitting right. She marks it and tells me to remove it. She says it'll take only a week. That's on schedule.

"You know what, Moana? You choose the invitation cards and everything else. I am so exhausted," I say.

"It's your wedding. And besides, you guys put the whole weight on me," she complains, "but you go and have some rest. I don't want to get an earful from that excuse of a brother."

"But you love him."

"Unfortunately."

When I reach home, a full wave of dizziness hits me at the door. I slowly walk to my room where I find Joe on the bed.

"Hey babe," he greets, standing to give me a hug.

I gently sit down on the bed.

"Are you okay, love," he asks, concern covering his features.

"Yeah, I'm just tired. I need to rest."

"Come on, then."

He lays down on the bed and gestures for me to join him. I take off my shoes and join him. I put my head on his chest and I'm lulled to sleep by his heartbeat..

When I wake up, which is the next day, I find Joe gone. I look around and see a note on the nightstand.

Sorry babe. I had to go and I didn't want to wake you up. There's breakfast in the microwave. Have a lovely day.

I walk into the kitchen. The smell of fried eggs and toast greets me. But it also turns my insides. I rush into the bathroom and gag everything I have in my stomach. Or at least what is left of it.

After cleaning myself, I go and eat the eggs first. A fresh wave of nausea hits me and I puke them out in the bathroom.

The hell is wrong with me!

"Let me try the toast," I say to myself.

I pick up the toast, bring it closer my mouth and I wait for two seconds. Nothing. I divulge it and I don't get nauseous again.

Oh, thank God!

I think I should visit a doctor later in the day. That is, if I get the time.

I definitely don't get the time. But my health forces me to pay her a visit a several days later.

I walk over to the receptionist in the clinic. I request to see Dr. Hernandez but I'm told she has a patient. I decide to wait for her.

Doctor Kierra Hernandez has been my family's doctor ever since we moved to the States. She's a middle aged woman with blonde hair, brown eyes and perfectly strong jaw. She's a beautiful woman and looks a lot younger than her age.

A few minutes later, she walks out of her office with another beautiful young lady who I assume is the patient. After waving her off, she turns to me with a bright smile.

"If it isn't my favourite patient," she gushes while walking me to her office.

"Oh, don't flatter me," I say.

She laughs. "Tell me, what's wrong today?" Her face turns all serious.

I take a seat in the calming space that is her office. I always feel a little better just sitting in here.

"I really don't know, doc. I've been feeling dizzy and just this morning I puked my whole breakfast. I've been feeling immensely tired today. I think I'm coming down with something."

"Let's take a few tests, shall we?" I nod.

She walks over with a stethoscope and checks my heartbeat. She also checks my blood pressure and she nods her head. She writes her findings on a notepad.

She then gives me a cup for my urine test. I usually get uncomfortable thinking about someone in the lab seeing my urine, but I do as told anyway.

After I bring the cup back, she rests it on a tray with my name written on the white paper tag and then she pulls out a needle and takes my blood sample.

After both samples are sent to the lab, we have a little catching up. A few minutes later, her computer dings.

"Ooh, here are the results," she says and walks over to the computer. After moving her mouse around, she exclaims. "Oh, dear."

"What is it?"

A huge smile covers her face. "Oh, it's nothing, dear. Nothing bad. In fact, I'm proud to deliver this news to you."

"Alright, um, what's it then?"

"Erica, you are two weeks pregnant."

Oh!

My!

Gosh!

"Are you serious?" My hand unconsciously flies to my stomach.

"Yes."

I'm going to be a mother!

I can't wrap my finger around it. I'm pregnant for the man I love. Joe's going to be so happy to hear the news.

I know when to tell him. The wedding is just a week away. So, I'll tell him then. This will be the best gift he'll receive.

After Kierra tells me what I should and shouldn't do, prescribing some drugs for me and me begging her not to tell anyone, I go back home.

It's a little after dark when I get there. The whole place is covered in darkness. I go to switch the lights on and when I do, I see Drake seated on the couch.

"What the hell are you doing here? And how did you get in?" I ask, feeling anger rise up my gut.

"I heard you're getting married," he says while standing up from the couch.

"So?"

He starts walking over to me. "I thought I should pay you a visit, silly. You know I love you." He's standing right in front of me.

"You have a funny way of showing it." I remember back to when I caught him with a woman.

"I thought, if I can't have you as my sex toy, no one else will."

"What the hell does that mean?"

He starts going around me. "It means, I'll have to…"

He stops mid sentence and before I can turn around, he has a handkerchief over my face. The pungent smell hits my nose pretty bad.

"…have you killed." He finishes.

My vision starts to blur. I slowly start to lose the will to fight and I fall to my knees with Drake supporting my back.

All I can think of right now is my baby. I can't lose my baby. He or she see the light of day. That is if and when I get the energy to fight back.

***

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TQ17

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