Chapter 189

Ava's POV

A sudden rush of cold sweat washed over me, my heart pounding. Pregnant? How could that be? I knew how pregnancy happened, but how had this happened to me?

Then, before I could process it, laughter bubbled up from deep inside. It was shaky, uncontrolled, alien. I couldn't stop it. A sharp, hollow laugh echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls as if it belonged to someone else—the laughter of utter despair.

My mother's frown deepened, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion and frustration. "What's so funny?" she asked, her tone low and clipped, holding back irritation.

But I couldn't stop laughing. It was all too much. Isabella's words replayed in my mind: "From all the sex you've been having." And there had been a lot—more than I'd ever imagined in such a short time, especially after Grayson took my virginity. It hadn't been a focus before, not until I wrote that list.

Now I was pregnant. With Grayson's child.

The laughter cracked and died, leaving a hollow ache. My throat tightened as my eyes dropped to my stomach, my trembling hands hovering above it. A child. A human being. Grayson's child.

Grayson. The man who didn't want me. The man who wanted nothing to do with me. The man who never wanted a child.

"No," I whispered, my voice trembling. My fingers hovered over my abdomen as if touch would deny the truth. "No, I can't be pregnant."

But deep down, I knew. The moment my mother spoke, something clicked. My body had been waiting for confirmation. Yet, I couldn't accept it. I couldn't let it be real.

"You're wrong," I said, my voice breaking. "This… this can't be happening." My eyes darted around, searching for escape. "Where is Father?" I demanded, grasping for a distraction. "I haven't seen him."

My mother looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. "You've been here for three days, and now you're asking about your father?" Her hands flew to her pearls, clutching them. "He's gone."

I froze. "What?"

"He's not dead, Ava," she snapped. "He's overseas. His expertise is needed for a procedure."

"Oh. Okay." I nodded slowly. Then, without thinking, I climbed off the bed and headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" my mother demanded.

"Overseas," I said, my steps unsteady. "To help Father. He needs help, and I can help him." My thoughts raced.

"That's enough," she barked, cutting through my thoughts. "I've tolerated this behavior for three days, but no longer. This descent into madness because of that man has to end. You are going to shower, then eat, and for goodness' sake, you are carrying a child!"

Her words hit me like a slap. All the anger, frustration, and helplessness poured out in a raw scream. "I do not want this child!"

The words shook the room. My breath came in ragged gasps as I stared at her, my vision swimming.

"I don't want this child," I repeated, tears blurring my vision. "This can't be happening to me. How could this happen to me?" I laughed and cried hysterically. "How could Grayson do this to me?"

The questions poured out: "Why did this happen? Who did this? Why won't he believe me? Why didn't he listen? How could I be pregnant? Why me?"

The room spun. Panic clawed at my throat. "What am I going to do?" I whispered, my hands shaking. "I can't—I don't want to be pregnant. I can't—"

My breaths came faster and shallower. My chest heaved. "I can't breathe," I gasped, stumbling against the wall. "I can't—"

My mother's face swam before me, alarm etched on her features. "Ava," she said, her voice steady but urgent. "Ava, look at me. You need to breathe. Slowly. In and out."

But I couldn't. My body wouldn't listen. The walls felt like they were closing in. My legs gave out, and I slid to the floor, clutching my chest as tears streamed down my face. "I can't do this," I choked out.

"Ava!" My mother's voice was sharper, demanding my attention. She crouched in front of me, gripping my shoulders. "You are going to be fine. Just breathe. You hear me? In through your nose. Out through your mouth. Now."

I tried to focus, but my body refused to cooperate. The panic had taken hold. I didn't know how to stop it, how to handle any of this. I couldn't face what was happening, couldn't face the truth.

I was pregnant. With Grayson's child. And my entire world was falling apart.

The panic consumed me. My vision blurred, dark spots creeping in as my chest tightened. My heart pounded, drowning out everything else. I felt myself slipping—losing my grip on reality.

I tried to hold on, but it wasn't working. My breaths were shallow, fast, erratic. My fingers clawed at the floor.

Then, a deep, guttural growl tore through me.

The sound echoed, a powerful vibration cutting through the panic. My eyes widened. The growl had shocked my system back to life.

I gasped, sucking in a deep breath. The air hit my lungs like a jolt. I held it, and as I exhaled, it felt like the remnants of my panic were expelled with it.

The suffocating feeling faded, my heartbeat slowing. I could think again.

But the world still felt like it was crumbling. The reality of my situation threatened to crush me.

Then my mother whispered, her voice soft, almost reverent: "We had it all wrong."

Something in her tone made me look up. She wasn't looking at me with frustration, impatience, or coldness. This was different. She was staring at me like she'd uncovered a long-sought answer. Like she was truly seeing me for the first time.

"You are the twin the essence was transferred to," she said, her voice low but steady. "You are the twin with the power."

I blinked, struggling to process this. Twin? Power? None of it made sense. My mind was still reeling, and now this cryptic nonsense.

"I—what?" I croaked, my throat raw. My head was spinning. "What twin? What are you even talking about?"

But she wasn't done. Her next words shattered what little understanding I had left.

"You are his mate. You are Grayson Blackwood's fated mate."