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.

I said

I flinched away before he could

across his face was

a private clinic," Christina offered after a

Thomas Carter - he's absolutely brilliant, very discreet. No waiting rooms, no

"Carter?

Medical, top of his class." Christina's smile was knowing, intimate. "He handles most of the Upper East

guilt through me. Here I was, carrying her desperately wanted great-grandchild, while planning to divorce

irony would have made me laugh if I weren't so focused on not throwing up in a

studied me for a long moment

plans. Dr. Carter's clinic on East

occupied the first two floors of a pristine townhouse, its discrete brass plaque the only indication

elbow as we entered felt like a brand, her solicitous attention more suffocating than

thermometer,

felt achingly familiar -

but heading

meant blood work. Blood work meant pregnancy hormones.

held a warning. "Don't be

I insisted, hating how weak I sounded. "Just...

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

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

see Sean's response. The room felt like it was slowly spinning, though whether from fever or emotional exhaustion, I

"would you prefer to discuss

won't be necessary," I managed. "Whatever you think