Chapter 18: The First Trimester
Diane's POV
At fourteen weeks pregnant, I was just approaching my second trimester, and the reality of my situation was finally starting to sink in. Twins. I was carrying twins, a secret I held close to my heart, shielding it from the chaos that had become my life.
I glanced at the clock and sighed. It was time to get up and face another day of pretending everything was fine. I had an appointment with Dr. Mia Chen, my obstetrician, in a couple of hours.
As I showered and dressed, I rehearsed the lies I'd been telling my doctor - that I was fine, that the divorce proceedings were going smoothly, that I was moving on with my life.
The truth was far more complicated. Every day was a struggle to keep my emotions in check, to not break down in tears at the mere mention of Liam or Sophie's names.
The betrayal still felt raw, a wound that refused to heal. But I had to be strong.
As I drove to the hospital, I couldn't help but think about how different this pregnancy was from what I had always imagined.
There were no excited phone calls to family and friends, no shopping trips for cute baby clothes, no proud father-to-be accompanying me to appointments. Instead, there was secrecy, stress, and a gnawing fear about the future.
I parked my car and made my way to Dr. Chen's office, my heart racing with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
The waiting room was mercifully empty, sparing me from having to make small talk with other expectant mothers. I buried my nose in a parenting magazine, trying to distract myself from the swirling thoughts in my head.
"Diane Ashton?" The nurse called my name, and I followed her to the examination room.