Pregnant II

Cara didn't know how to feel at that moment. She was only twenty, and single, yet her life was already complicated enough with her mother's illness. She didn't want another burden on her shoulders, especially one of raising a child alone.

'How could this have happened?' she thought in fright, her face etched with worry and distraught. She was sure of her safety the night she had that affair with Scarlett's boyfriend. If she had foreseen the future, she would've taken contraceptives as well.

After what happened and how Dom degraded her, she never wanted anything to do with him or Scarlett, but now she was carrying his seed. Feeling stranded, she held her head as she thought about how to break the news to Patricia.

'My mother will be devastated…I shouldn't tell her just yet," she reasoned.

Feeling lost and confused, Cara decided to confide in someone who might understand her situation. She decided to confide in her friend, Isabella for advice first.

Isabell was a fresh face in the movie industry, with a rising career that shone like a star. Despite her success, she remained humble and approachable, which made it easy for Cara to form a strong bond with her.

As they grew closer, Cara found the courage to confide in Isabell about the painful experience she had with Dom and her former friend Scarlett. Cara sat nervously on the edge of the sofa in her mother's ward, staring at her phone. Taking a deep breath, she dialed Isabell's number and waited anxiously for her to answer.

"Hey, Cara! How's it going?" Isabell's cheerful voice came through at last.

Cara tried to sound casual, but her voice cracked a little as she responded, "Not great, honestly. I don't really know how to say this, but I…I just found out that I'm pregnant." she muttered.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Isabell spoke again. "Oh, Cara. I'm so sorry…I don't know what to say. Are you okay?"

Cara took a deep breath before replying. "Honestly, I'm freaking out a little bit. I don't know what to do. I mean, I don't even know if I want to have a baby right now. And what's worse is who the father is." She broke into a silent sob.

"Who? Tell me." she inquired with so much care and concern in her voice.

Cara sniffled, putting a palm over her mouth. "It's Dom."

Isabell was shocked. She knew about their past escapade but never imagined that one little encounter could result in a pregnancy.

"Cara, I know this is a scary situation, but you're not alone. You have me and I will always support you in any way I can, I promise. And as for the father, I think you should tell him. He might've been a jerk to you but…has a right to know."

Cara's heart sank at Isabell's words. She knew it was only a reasonable thing to do, but the thought of facing him and telling him about the pregnancy was terrifying to her. "I don't know if I can do that, Isabell. He hates me…he thinks what happened between us was my doing. He insulted me and… I'm just not ready to face him again."

"I understand that, Cara. But keeping something like this a secret is only going to make it worse. You need to talk to him and figure out what your options are. Whatever you decide, I'm here for you." Isabell's voice was firm but kind as she spoke.

Cara felt a sense of relief wash over her as she listened to Isabell's words. It was comforting to know that she had someone to rely on, someone who would support her no matter what. "Thank you, Isabell," she said softly. "You always make me feel better." she sighed, sniffling and wiping her cheeks.

Isabell laughed lightly. "That's what friends are for, Cara. Just promise me you'll think about what I said, okay? And don't be afraid to reach out to me if you need anything."

A wide smile appeared on her face.

"Of course. I will."

As the call came to an end, Cara turned to her mother, who was still sound asleep with the oxygen mask on. Letting out a sigh, Cara slumped back onto the couch and gazed up at the ceiling, lost in thought as memories of her past flooded her mind. She couldn't help but recall the night she met Dom, the man who exuded an icy, domineering presence that still sent shivers down her spine.

Despite their misunderstandings, she found herself fixated on him in recent days. It seemed impossible to erase him from her mind, especially since he was the first man she ever slept with; the man who took her virginity.

As night fell, Cara took a stroll to clear her head and grab a refreshing drink. She was at a crossroads and needed to decide the fate of her unborn child. Should she defer to the father's wishes or terminate the pregnancy? The weight of the choice was too heavy for her to bear alone.

After wandering through the bustling streets of Norville, she sought respite at a nearby café. As she settled into a quiet corner with her juice, a commotion broke out as Everly Harrington, a prominent figure in the Andreas/Harrington group, entered with her entourage. Everly's eyes darted around the room until they landed on Cara, and she began to approach her.

She froze at the spot.

'Why is she coming towards me?' she panicked within her but managed to keep cool. As she drew closer, Cara recognized her as Everly Harrington, but she did not know that she was Dom's mother.

"Hello Cara, How are you doing?" Everly greeted her with a warm smile.

"I'm fine, thank you," Cara replied, trying to sound calm.

"Please, can we talk? I have something important to discuss with you," Everly requested. Cara nodded in agreement even though she had no idea what it was all about. They moved to a secluded table at the back of the café.

"I know about your past relationship with my son, Dom," Everly began, cutting straight to the chase and Cara's heart skipped a beat. She was so shocked to learn that she was Dom's mother, but fought to keep her cool. She had no idea how much Everly knew and how much she was going to reveal.

"I understand that it was a difficult time for both of you, and I am sorry for any pain that my son may have caused you," Everly continued, her voice gentle and soothing.

Cara was relieved that Everly didn't sound angry, but she was still apprehensive about what was to come.

"Well…what do…you want to speak to me about?"

"I will be very straightforward because there's no point in beating about the bush. I want a suitable wife for my son, and you're the one I've chosen for him."