19
New York, Mia
I woke up early in the morning, the day of my ultrasound appointment. Sebastian had called the night before, and I’d informed him about today’s schedule. He had graciously offered to pick me up, and now it was time to get ready. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and made my way to the bathroom. A quick shower and my skincare routine later, I slipped into a light pink floral dress.
Bella had already left for work, leaving the apartment quiet and empty. I strolled into the kitchen, intending to prepare a quick bowl of cereal when my phone buzzed. Sebastian’s text let me know he was already waiting outside. I hurriedly packed my bag for the appointment and headed out.
Stepping into the car, I greeted Sebastian with a warm “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” he replied, offering a friendly smile. “Nervous?” he inquired as he started the car.
“Not really,” I responded, my confidence bolstered by the YouTube videos I had watched. The ultrasound procedure didn’t seem too daunting based on what I’d seen.
We drove to the hospital in companionable silence, and upon arrival, we stepped out of the car. Sebastian extended his hand to me, and we walked into the medical facility together.
“Good morning,” greeted the nurse at the reception desk.
“Thornton,” Sebastian promptly stated.
I quickly corrected him, “Anderson. Mia Anderson, I have an ultrasound appointment today.”
The nurse nodded and checked her records. “Yes, Miss Anderson. You can follow me.”
We followed her down a hallway to a room, where she motioned for me to lie down on the white, sterile bed. She smiled kindly. “Today, we’ll find out how baby Anderson is doing.”
“Thornton,” Sebastian grumbled again, causing me to chuckle. His determination to have his name associated with this appointment was so funny.
The nurse began the ultrasound, her calm and soothing demeanor putting me at ease. As she moved the wand over my abdomen, she explained each step of the procedure and pointed out the baby’s features on the monitor.
“The baby is doing well,” she said reassuringly. “Growing, happy, and healthy.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her words. Knowing that my baby was thriving inside me was the best news I could ask for.
The nurse continued her explanation, pointing out the baby’s heartbeat, tiny fingers, and toes. She measured its size and explained how everything was progressing as it should be. Each detail she shared filled me with a sense of wonder and joy.
After the ultrasound was complete, we scheduled our next appointment and headed out of the hospital. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me of the hunger that had been building since breakfast.
“I’m hungry,” I admitted, my craving for food growing stronger by the minute.
Sebastian suggested McDonald’s, but I shook my head. “No fast food.”
“Salad, then?” he offered.
“I’m not on a diet,” I chuckled.
He seemed a bit exasperated, but he persisted. “What do you want, Mia?”
I let out a sigh, feeling indecisive. “I don’t know.”
Sebastian pondered for a moment before suggesting, “Croissant? A chocolate croissant, perhaps?”
My face lit up. “Oui.”NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
He laughed at my enthusiasm and drove us to the nearest pastry shop. Upon returning, he handed me a delicious-looking croissant and a box of colorful macarons. I couldn’t resist, and I devoured them hungrily.
As I savored the last bite, Sebastian cleared his throat, and I noticed a serious expression on his face.
“I need to tell you something,” he began, his tone somber.
I sat up straight and looked at him with concern. “What is it?”
“My parents want to meet you,” he stated.
Sebastian’s revelation left me stunned, my mind racing with thoughts and questions. I stammered out, “Like for real?”
He nodded, his expression serious. “Yes, they want to see, um, the mother of their grandchild.”
I let out a sigh, trying to process this unexpected turn of events. “I guess it’s possible. When?”
Sebastian suggested, “Maybe over the weekend? I can fly you out on Friday, and you can return on Sunday.”
I considered the proposal. Sebastian’s parents lived in Los Angeles, and a weekend trip would allow me to meet them without disrupting my work schedule too much. “That should be fine,” I replied.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Sebastian’s parents had certain expectations or concerns about our situation. “Do they expect something from me?” I asked cautiously.
Sebastian sighed, acknowledging the elephant in the room. “I told you they’re religious, so they will probably try to convince you to marry me. They’ve seen the news and the gossip. They know we’re basically complete strangers.”
I leaned back into the car seat, feeling the weight of the situation sink in. The prospect of discussing marriage with people I’d never met before was intimidating, to say the least. “I mean, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to come. I’ll just make up some excuse,” Sebastian offered.
I shook my head, determination taking hold. It was time to confront my problems and face the reality of the situation. “No, I’ll come. It’s time to just face the reality of it all.”
As Sebastian dropped me off at my apartment, my eyes landed on a car parked in the driveway. I stared at it for a moment, trying to place why it looked so familiar. Then it hit me.
“That’s my parent’s car,” I said in disbelief, a sense of unease settling over me.