The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~ALARIC~

"I don't understand," I whisper. "How?"

"What do you mean how?" she demands. "Have you forgotten what happened a few days ago? I'm pregnant, Alaric. I'm finally pregnant. I know you've wanted this for a very long time. I was terrified when I found out, but a big part of me was also happy to finally give you something that you've always wanted. What we've both wanted for a long time.”

I can't move. My body has forgotten how to work. She's right. I've wanted this for a very, very long time. I begged her in the past for a baby, but she was never willing to have one with me.

But why now? Why does it have to happen when I was interested in someone else?

Did this life fucking hate me? Why did things like this always happen? When would the madness stop?

"I don't know what to say," I confess. “This is the last thing I expected to hear from you today.”

She walks up to me and places a hand on my shoulder. I flinch at her touch. It was much different than Clara's. Things were different now; I didn't like anyone’s hands on me except Clara’s.

"You should be happy, Alaric. This is what you've always wanted. You are going to be a father. You've wanted a child for as long as I can remember. Your dream will finally come true, and I'm thrilled that I will be the one to make that happen. You have no idea how hard it has been on me these few days without you. I searched everywhere for you; I knew I had to tell you that I was having your baby.”

I swallow hard—a baby. I'd gotten Nicole pregnant, and it just so happened to be as soon as I divorced her.

Fuck Alaric. My timing was horrible. Hers was also.

I didn't want this right now. I may have wanted a baby from her in the past, and I may have wanted it desperately. However, it's the last thing I wanted now, at least from her.

That damn curse. It fucking messed my entire life up. And it wasn't about to stop now. It was the reason for most of the horrible things happening in my life. I wish there were a way to get rid of it for good.

Nicole always surprised me. Her reaction to all of this was a total shock to me.

Why was she so happy about it when she'd always told me that she wasn't ready to be a mother? We'd had so many arguments in the past over this. Eventually, I respected her wish not to have a baby at that time. What caused her to change her mind about this quickly? I knew it couldn't be because of the divorce. There had to be another reason.

"We are going to be good parents, Alaric." She whispers. "I promise you that I will be better. I have to be better now that I will be a mother. All I need is for you to try as well."

Fuck. RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

"Are you sure that you are pregnant?" I asked, even though the proof was right in front of me.

She looks down and places her hand over her stomach, "what more proof do you need?" she asks me. "We can go to the doctor if that will make you feel better about this, but I'm telling you, this is your baby. It's our baby."

I felt like everything was spinning out of control, and I had no idea how to stop it.

Everything was about to change in my life. Everything.

. . . . . . . . .

~CLARA~

"What is taking them so long?" I asked Jenna as I paced from left to right.

"I wish I had the answer to give you," Jenna says as she tries to calm me down.

She's been trying to calm me down for a few minutes now. I didn't understand what they could possibly be speaking about for so long.

I'm about to say something else when the door opens, and Nicole steps out of his office. She looks. . . Happy. It's like she's gotten something she's wanted for a while now. It bothers me. It bothers me so badly that I want to ask her what she's up to now. Especially since she mentioned that she had something to tell Alaric that would bring him back to her again.

I don't wait for another second as I rush towards his office. I knew it wasn't a good idea to do this while everyone was probably watching. However, I didn't care. I was too angry with Alaric to care about anyone else right now.

I don't bother knocking as I push his door open. I find him by his desk with a look of despair.

I knew I should have asked right away what was wrong, but my anger had taken control of my body.

"How could you?" I demand.

He finally looks at me, acknowledging my presence. I don't think he even realized I'd entered the room until now.

"Clara?" He says my name like he isn't even sure I'm here.

"HOW COULD YOU?" I repeat myself.

He blinks once, then twice. He looks horrified. He should be.

"I—" he looks down, unable to say anything.

"I can't believe you would kiss me and then disappear without saying a single word to me!" I snap. "I thought you were better than that! I've always known you as a man who didn't run from your problems. I can't believe you left like that and never said a single word to me."

He swallows hard but looks surprised by my words and possibly even a little bit relieved. What was there to be relieved about? Couldn't he hear the anger and hurt in my voice?

"Was the kiss that bad?" I demand. "Did you regret kissing me? Was that why you disappeared without a single word? Were you hoping that we wouldn't have to speak about it if you weren't here? Did you also hope that I would forget about it? Was that your reason for leaving without any warning, Alaric?”