The Secret Pregnancy of the Billionaire's Ex-Wife

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Last Shred of Dignity

Why had he been pretending to care about me? He was the one who'd made me stand in the rain yesterday!

Now, his concern just felt even more fake, even more disgusting.

Christina shifted beside me, her perfume making my stomach roll.

I couldn't go to the hospital.

If I had, my pregnancy would've been exposed.

It sounded silly, but I didn't want anyone to know about the baby-I needed to hold on to whatever little self-respect I had left.

Especially in front of Christina.

"That's not your business." I siad coldly and pressed my forehead against the cool window.

"Sean," Christina's voice was honey-sweet with concern, "maybe it's because of my presence? I could get out here, and you can take Angela to the hospital? Her condition seems serious, we shouldn't delay."

"Don't be ridiculous," Sean snapped, though his tone softened as he continued. "This isn't about you."

I caught Christina's perfectly practiced look of contrition in the window's reflection.

"Angela, I apologize if I've misunderstood. I thought you might be uncomfortable because of my relationship with Sean."Christina played the victim, acting hurt.

fine." I said

toward my forehead, but I flinched away before he could make

flashed across his face

offered after a

he's absolutely brilliant, very discreet.

together. "Carter?

Christina's smile was knowing, intimate. "He handles most of the Upper East Side's more... delicate situations. Elizabeth's heart specialist actually consulted with him about her upcoming

of guilt through me. Here I was, carrying

I weren't so focused on not throwing up in a car

studied me for a long

Peter, change of plans. Dr. Carter's

first two floors of a pristine townhouse, its discrete brass plaque

we entered felt like

thermometer, but my

gesture felt achingly familiar - a

my temperature. "Not dangerous yet, but heading that way. I'd like to start an IV to bring

sharp, panicked. An IV meant blood work. Blood work meant pregnancy hormones.

held a

insisted, hating how weak I

eyes flickered between Sean and me, professional mask firmly in place. "There are other cooling methods we can try, though they're less efficient. Christina, would you mind helping my nurse set

She squeezed Sean's arm as she passed – a casual gesture that spoke volumes about their comfort level

response. The room felt like it was slowly spinning, though whether from fever

was carefully neutral, "would you prefer

managed. "Whatever you think is best, as long as it doesn't involve