Chapter 1

When it rains, it pours.

***

"It is time."

Today was not just a downpour. It was a superstorm, a tornado, a hurricane, all in one.

She was not just talking about the weather outside. But more about what she felt inside as she locked herself in the bathroom.

It was joy, pain, excitement, misery, and heartbreak, complete chaos, all at once as she stared at the white stick in her hand.

Positive.

It was a plus sign that symbolized new life.

Wow! Perfect timing.

Damn!

Just her luck!

"Charlie, it is time." Again, her friend called her outside the bathroom. "We have to leave."

Truthfully, she did not know what to do as she sat on her bathroom floor, staring at the stick in her hand. She wanted to be happy. But she could not.

Her heart was unequivocally tearing into pieces as the storm brewed stronger, destroying everything in its path.

"Charlie, are you ok in there?" She could hear the anxiousness in her friend's voice as she knocked again on the door. "I know it is hard, but we have to go."

Of course, her friend was right. She could not miss the ceremony. She had to be there despite everything going on with her life.

Today, he was the only thing that mattered to her. The rest of her circumstances would have to wait as she gathered herself and exited the bathroom.

"I am sorry about that." She said, handing the stick to her friend. She knew she could not keep something as important as this from her friend.

"Oh my! Charlie! You are pregnant." Her friend giggled with glee as she hugged her.

She knew that was how she was supposed to react to the news. But with her current situation, she could only smile.

Deep down, she knew she was happy, but it was difficult to express her true feelings when her heart lay in pieces. Maybe after all of this was over, but not today.

"I know all this seems overwhelming, but you are strong, Charlie." Giana grabbed her hand as they walked side by side toward the small crowd that gathered around the grave.

Not many people came because they did not know anyone else who cared. But this group was her only family, the only people who had been there for her.

They were the only people who mattered.

"I will miss you, Buddy." She whimpered as she felt the gushing tears slipping from her eyes, mixing with the rain as they fell to the ground.

Yeah! It was a day of mourning as the sky cried with her.

"I am sorry for your loss."

Those words were supposed to ease her pain. But why did she feel like a knife kept twisting against her heart whenever someone said that to her?

It was as if it was mocking her despair, emphasizing how miserable her life was, had been, and would always be.

"Are you ok, Charlie?" Her friend's comforting voice resonated in her ears, brimming with concern and anxiety, as she stood beside her on the muddy, grassy lawn in the pouring rain.

She nodded despite what she truly felt. Of course, she was far from ok. But she could not tell her that. In front of her friend, she wanted to show a brave front.

She had always been the stronger one, the shoulder that everyone relied on. She could not appear weak now, not when everyone was counting on her.

"Charlie, we should get back home. The rain is getting stronger." Giana tried to pull her back to the car, but her feet would not let her leave.

She could not leave him yet, not again.

The rain did not scare her. It was just water. It could not hurt her. But she was terrified with the pain she felt in her heart as it squeezed the life out of her.

"You might get sick. Think of the baby." Her friend reminded her.

She knew her friend only had her good intentions. She was only looking out for her and her baby. But all she could think about was the life she just lost.

"Yeah, you are right." She had to think of the baby growing inside her, too.

She knew she should be happy that a blessing was coming her way. But it was hard when she just said farewell to someone she loved.

"You were supposed to name my baby. But you left too soon." She whispered as she stared one last time at his burial ground. "I only pray that you will finally find peace and happiness in heaven."

"See you later, Buddy."

He had never liked saying goodbye. He did not like the sound of its finality. So, whenever they would part, he would say see you later.

But today, she wondered how long she would wait until they saw each other again. She guessed only time could tell.

After a few days of mourning, she knew it was time to face her reality.

"What are you going to do with the baby?" Her friend asked. "Aren't you going to tell the father about the baby?"

She had thought about that a million times in her head. She knew the right thing to do was tell him about his child. She had no right to keep it from him.

"Yeah! I guess it is time that I look for him." She had no choice but to break her promise to herself.

She had sworn that she would not look for him. She would move on with her life and keep him a memory she would cherish forever.

"Let me help you." Her friend grabbed her tablet and started a search engine. "You said he works for a Prince. What was his name? The Prince?"

"Maybe his face had been caught by the cameras while he was with the Prince." Her friend explained as she typed the Prince's name. "Then, maybe an article might have mentioned his name."

That might work, she thought as she let her friend twiddle on the screen. Then, several images popped up on the flat white surface.

Prince Elijah?

No! That could not be.

"Did you put Prince Elijah?" She asked, visibly confused with what she was seeing before her.

Hundreds of photos, videos, and images of the man she slept with appeared on the screen.

"Yeah, Prince Elijah Drummond," Giana repeated. "Why is there a problem? Did you see Hunter?" Her friend asked as she scanned the pictures one by one.

She saw him alright.

But damnit!

What shit had she had gotten herself into? She could already feel another storm brewing inside her. She feared, this time, it was about to sweep her life upside down.

What the fucking hell!

"Hunter was not the driver."