PREGNANT AFTER ONE NIGHT STAND

I feel just like a death row inmate who can’t turn back! All because of Cedric! He had to change our destination. Instead of going to the apartment, we ended up at his house! Just because he received a dinner invitation from his mother.

Getting angry would be pointless. I was flustered because I felt underdressed. Too casual and, well… just not right! I was wearing a knee-length cotton dress with long sleeves, adorned with a bright yellow flower print. I wore a thin scarf as an accessory to cover the traces of Cedric still lingering there.

My stomach wasn’t too noticeable, probably because I opted for a loose but comfortable dress. As for my shoes, Cedric had replaced them with ones more accommodating for pregnant women. Whatever. Now, my top priority was making sure Baby was comfortable and my ears were at peace without this increasingly talkative man’s scolding. Unfortunately, I’ve already fallen for him. Annoying, isn’t it?

Oh, back to the sudden issue of going to Cedric’s house. “Cedric, I look so odd like this.”

He just laughed at my complaint. “Odd? You look stunning like that. It was Mom’s request, not mine. As a dutiful son, I’m obliged to fulfill her requests, right?”

My lips pouted. “Why not go with Krystal?”

Cedric smiled, pretending to be mysterious. “She had something to attend to.”

I furrowed my brows. “A meeting? Anna said the meeting ended at four this afternoon. She was asked to go home right away. She told me earlier.”

“No, something with her boyfriend.”

I was way behind. As far as I knew and observed, Krystal didn’t have a boyfriend. Who would be lucky enough to approach her? Just one glance from Krystal and guys would run away in fear. Not to mention how incredibly intelligent she is. Even before anything happens, the confidence of men out there shrinks suddenly.

Oh, there’s only one person I can think of… “Mr. Andrew?”

Cedric didn’t answer my question. Instead, he got busy and pretended to focus on the steering wheel. Annoying, right? “Cedric, are we really going there?”

“Why wouldn’t we?”

I felt like crying! “Embarrassing, Cedric.”

“Embarrassed in front of who? My mom?”

I nodded softly. I couldn’t imagine myself sitting there, looking sweet, served with so much food without any help from me. Even when I said I should bring something for his mom, Cedric refused. He said it wasn’t necessary. Where’s the sense of dignity and embarrassment when meeting your future mother-in-law, being so relaxed like this!

“Joice, just reduce those negative thoughts. My mom would be so happy to have you there. Having dinner together. She still wants to chat with you a lot. What are you afraid of? Your appearance? Seriously, I’m not lying. You look beautiful.”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

I pouted. “I’m afraid of not being well-received, Cedric. I told you about all my fears earlier.”

My head received a soft caress. For a moment, I closed my eyes and absorbed what Cedric was doing to me. Slowly, his fingers descended and held my hand so tightly. While the other one was used to drive. The road ahead was congested, but Cedric could always take advantage of the opportunity.

Then, the back of my hand received a long kiss from him.

“That’s why you should reduce those negative thoughts. My mom has been bugging me about you. Since the beginning, I told her about our situation, and she can’t wait to meet you. If not for Krystal holding her back, I don’t know how chaotic it would be if my mom suddenly showed up at the office to meet you.”

My jaw nearly dropped. Is Cedric serious?

“My mom doesn’t care about your background if that’s what you’re worried about. I understand and know your fears, Joice. But what can I do? I love you. You, whom I cherish and fight for… you. Especially now that there’s Baby. It makes me even more determined.”

“Especially now that there’s Baby? What do you mean, Cedric?”

He glanced at me briefly and then quickly returned his gaze to the road ahead. He released my hand, refocusing on the steering wheel even though we were still stuck in traffic.

“There’s something you’re hiding from me, Cedric?”

“Uh… yeah… well, something like that.”

Is Cedric feeling embarrassed, or is there really something he’s hiding? I couldn’t judge someone’s expression when the person I was observing was so focused – or pretending to be – on the steering wheel. “Cedric,” I pressed impatiently.

“I’ll confess after the dinner, alright?”

“Cedric,” I repeated. This time, I was extremely impatient. “I don’t like being lied to, and you know that perfectly well. Or do you want me to ignore you again?”

Cedric grinned when he looked at me. “The threat is extraordinary.”

“Just tell me!”

“Okay, okay. But never feel so down on yourself like earlier. I don’t like it.”

I waited for him to speak, not answering his request. That can wait. I wanted to know what he wanted to tell me.

“Long before the night you got drunk,” Cedric glanced at me briefly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as his eyes seemed a bit shy when looking at me. “I was already captivated by you.”

I blinked softly, rapidly digging into my memories of the Cedric I knew when he first started working here. I didn’t feel anything unusual during our introduction. His gaze was ordinary, not that of a fierce or overly curious man directed at me. I could distinguish how men looked at me, whether during meetings with Krystal or when I had my own affairs outside office hours.

“You said it was since the beginning of working together. Is that true? I still remember your words.”

He smiled again, making me doubt the words he once said. “Cedric?”

“Long time before that.”

My eyes widened and turned to him. “When did you meet me, Cedric?”

His smile remained on his lips. “Well, we’re already here.”

I suddenly realized that what he said was true. Even the tall black gate was already open, and Cedric just stepped on the gas pedal gently, entering his luxurious house. The feelings from earlier were still tumbling around. How could we have arrived already? Does Cedric have a Doraemon door or something? It was too quick!

Suddenly, nervousness overwhelmed me. It was worse than the first time I set foot here. If before, I was filled with anger and disappointment, now my feelings were even more chaotic. And there was no Krystal as a conversation partner, only Cedric.

Oh… why am I trembling like this?

“Come on.” Since when did Cedric open the door for me? He stood tall in front of me, looking even more handsome. Although I knew he had been busy all day, dealing with many things together with Krystal. I occasionally entered my boss’s office just to provide them with whatever they needed. His tiredness wasn’t apparent; his smile never left his lips.

It seemed like he was delighted to see me so nervous.

“Joice?” he said, extending his hand.

As I looked up, those eyes once again touched a chord in my heart. This time, with a tone full of trust. His conviction was so strong that I believed him, believed that when I accepted his hand, he made sure many things happened in my life. Especially happiness.

His gaze told it all.

For this moment, I hoped my fears would start to fade away. Especially with everything Cedric was giving me, encouraging me to trust and cast away my fears. As I touched his hand, he held it firmly.

“You don’t need to be afraid. I’m here.”

***

“Have some more, dear,” Mrs. Iriana said as she offered me the sweet and sour shrimp she had intentionally cooked for me. I was already full, but with this much attention, I felt hungry again. Seriously.

I couldn’t remember when was the last time I received such attention from a motherly figure in my life. Sure, there was Granny Sumi. She always cared for me, but it still felt different, right? Granny Sumi had to work at her little shop to make ends meet for us. The small shop was inherited from my grandfather, who passed away when I was three years old.

I also felt my long hair being gently stroked by this still-beautiful middle-aged woman. Her smile reminded me of her son. The difference was in their eyes. One was exceptionally firm, making anyone she spoke to intimidated when meeting her for the first time, and even more so when they found out how terrifying Krystal could be when on a mission. Meanwhile, Mrs. Iriana had a calm and gentle demeanor. So motherly.

“What kind of food do you like? No restrictions from the doctor, right?” she asked again.

“No, Ma’am. Everything is normal. I can eat anything.”

“Except soda,” Cedric suddenly interrupted. I gaped in disbelief as the man across from me spoke like that. “What’s wrong, Joice? Did I do something wrong?”

Cedric needed to get his lips sewn shut forcibly! I know about that issue too! I only had a little bit and pretended to be in pain to get pampered! Not to be attacked like this!

“Yes, you can’t have soda for now. Anya likes it?”

I shook my head vigorously. “Yesterday, I was craving it. Cedric bought pizza and got a bonus cola. I wanted some, Ma’em.”

“Cedric.”