Dawn's Pov

"Okay, that is just disturbing. It's the second time today and I'm starting to worry." Becky stated whilst letting my hair go as I spat the final piece of my brunch into the office toilet and flushed.

"I don't understand. What's wrong? I thought you were fine."

I turned on the faucet and washed my hands. I didn't tell her. I'd wanted David to be the first to hear the news but after last night, I wasn't sure he would care much. He didn't seem to care about me or pay any attention to me.

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and threw it into the waste bin.

I knew I couldn't hide it forever. Eventually, he was going to find out but for now, it was best I kept the news away from him, at least until I figured out the reason for his bizarre behavior.

Becky cleared her throat. "Hello? I'm still waiting for an explanation."

I switched off the faucet and turned around to meet her accessing eyes gauging me.

There was no use hiding it. Relaxing on the sink, I heaved out a breath and let the words leave my mouth. "I'm pregnant."

Her next response was an eye roll. "If you don't want to tell me what's going on, it's fine, you don't have to lie about it."

Tension fluttered in my belly. My brows knitted together. "I have no reason to lie to you, Becky, I am pregnant."

She blinked, glanced at my stomach, and shook her head. "Are you being serious right now? You're pregnant?"

"Yes," I rested both palms on my flat belly. The thought of having a tiny life force growing inside me right now made me smile. "I'm going to be a mother."

"Oh my...You're not lying. You're having a baby, Dawn. Oh my God, I'm going to be a godmother soon. This is great news!" Before I could blink, I found my body smoldered against hers in a hug. "I'm so happy for you. Our kids are going to be best friends! Holy! We have a baby shower to plan and then we need to go shopping! I know this cool baby store, you'll love it!"

I laughed softly and wiggled out from her embrace. "Don't get ahead of yourself yet."

She laughed with me. "I'm sorry, I'm just so excited. Does David know, what did he say, did you get his reaction on camera?"

My smile dwindled. "I haven't told him yet."

"What?" She frowned. "Why?"

It felt like all the happiness had been drained from my body. I sighed. "It's complicated."

"What's complicated about letting your husband know you're pregnant?"

"I haven't gotten the chance to, plus David hasn't always wanted kids."

She gave me a slight eye roll. "So? My Dad wasn't interested in kids either but after my big brother, he had three more."

"It's different." I persisted. "You won't understand."

"Fine, you're right. I might not understand and you probably have your reasons for not wanting to tell him right away but news flash, when your tummy starts getting bigger and you start eating like a glutton, your dear husband is going to need answers." She huffed. "I mean, come on, he's rich, doesn't need to worry about hospital bills or childcare, hell, he doesn't have to worry about rent! He's a freaking billionaire."

"Millionaire."

"Right yes! Millionaire, whatever but my point is, good or bad, he needs to know. It's not like he's going to tell you to get rid of it or something. Gosh, you married people complicate everything."

"I want to tell him, I do but lately, things have been complicated between us. He's acting strange and until I figure out why I'll keep this to my—"

"Dawn?" Someone called from behind the bathroom door. "Boss is asking for you."

I turned to Becky and simply sighed because that was all I could do.

David's Pov

"Thank you so much for visiting today, I haven't seen Alexander talk this much in days," Stella stated while walking me down to the parking lot.

After the successful play date that went better than I could ever have anticipated, I let out a massive sigh of relief.

It was a positive tick off the list and the next was to set out a time to break this news to my stepmother.

"I'm sure he's going to be sad when he wakes and finds out you're gone," She added with a soft chuckle as we reached the car Tanner had left behind for me.

"I'll make sure to come by often," I assured. "My wife will be worried if I don't return soon."

"I understand."

"If anything comes up just give me a call and I'll be here, okay?" I added, unlocking the doors.

She nodded. "I can't thank you enough, David."

"Don't mention it." I smiled and opened the driver's seat, prepared to enter when she reached for my shoulder to stop me.

"Wait a minute." She pulled out a pink book from her satchel that I recognized immediately. "I think you should have this. It belonged to Stacey."

The warm feeling inside of me was quickly replaced with anguish. "I can't." I declined politely.

"I only read through a few pages and didn't dare to read on because it had private things about both of you. I'm sure she would've wanted you to have it." She persisted, stretching it forward for me to take.

"This is too much, Stella. I don't think I deserve it."

"I think you do." She smiled. "Think of it as your item of closure. It'll be able to let you feel less guilt and maybe finally let go."

"Stella, it's—"

"Please, David."

I glanced at the book and shifted my gaze back to her. The look in her eyes made me instantly relent.

Releasing a sigh, I accepted the journal. "Thank you. I'll keep it safe."

Dawn's Pov

Earlier today, I'd made it a mental note to visit my mother but after working hours were over, I was dragging, too tired to do anything but drive home.

A part of me wondered if David was back. I couldn't help this longing that welled up from deep inside. I didn't know if it was the hormones or just me insanely missing my husband but I just wanted to be with him so bad.

Half an hour more of driving and I was swiveling my car into the driveway way.

The garage lights were on. It meant he was back.

When I entered the living room, he was sitting on the couch and reading a book that he suddenly tucked aside when he saw me.

"You're home." He got up and strolled my way, shirtless as always, smelling nice as always, looking so damn hard to resist as always. "I've missed you, my love." He told me, smiling as though he hadn't treated me like absolute shit earlier.

"That makes one of us." I dissed and sort to walk toward the stairs but he got in front of me.

"What's wrong?"

He had that oblivious look in his eyes again; the look that usually made me feel I was overreacting. I hated it.

"You might have the ability to turn your moods on and off when you feel like it but I don't, so if you'll excuse me." I side-stepped and stormed my way to the stairs.

"Dawn." He called out but I ignored him and continued to climb. He followed me.

"Honey, wait, I'll explain everything."

"Not interested." I deadpanned.

"Baby." His callings persisted but right now, I just wanted to clean up and force myself to sleep.

Still ignoring him, I walked into our bedroom, tossed my bag on the bed, and headed straight for the bathroom but he beat me to it and stood in front of me.

"Leave me alone, David, I don't want to talk to you."

"You know I can't do that, my love. I know you're mad. I fucked up."

"Again." I reminded.

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Fuck, yes, again but I'm sorry."

"Apology not accepted now let me pass."

"I can't." He placed both hands to barricade the door.

"Stop acting like a child and let me use the bathroom," I demanded, stomping a foot.

"I won't, my love, not until you forgive me."

"No, I won't because it's always the same with you. You do this a lot and you do this without caring about how I feel. You're hurting me, you're really hurting me and these days it's like I don't even know you anymore."

"My love, you're—"

"Do not call me that." I cut him. "I'm sick of it. One day, you're distant and the next you suddenly want to love me again, I am utterly sick of it." I sniffed a little, feeling my eyes well up tears. Stupid hormones. "I've tried to make sense of all this but it keeps falling back to the same place." I looked him in the eye. "David, if there's another woman, you should at least be honest enough to tell me and—"

"There isn't." He interrupted defensively but his voice softened immediately. "There's no other woman in my life."

My voice shook a little. "I don't believe you."

"Baby, look at me." He cupped my face with his hands, his eyes reflecting love and honesty, and remorse. "It's always been you. It's always going to be you. No one else."

I shook my head. I didn't want to believe him. "You're lying." Tears pricked my eyes. "You're lying to me, stop it."

"Shit. Don't cry, Dawn, please don't cry." He caressed my cheek.

My lower lip trembled. "Why won't I when all you do these days is make my heart ache."

"I'm sorry." He soothed my cheek with more caresses. "You're my woman and I'm sorry for the way I behaved last night. Truth is, i—" he paused and sighed. "I found out a friend of mine which I cared about died a couple of days ago and it took a huge toll on me. I wasn't out there or behaving strangely because I cheated on you, I'm just finding it hard dealing with what I feel."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I murmured, my words barely audible as tears clog my throat.

"You were sick and I didn't want to burden you with my problems."

I gazed at him. His expression was raw and true. I didn't know what to say.

Was this why he was having those nightmares?

Was Stacey perhaps his friend who died?

"I'm sorry I kept it from you." He gazed at me, eyes glistering, voice low and heavy. "I thought I could handle the grief on my own but I couldn't and I took some pent-up annoyance out on you last night."

"Don't keep any more secrets from m,e David. I don't ever want to doubt your intentions so please be honest with me."

He nodded. "I will. I promise."

"It's okay, come here." I pulled him into a hug and let him squeeze me for what felt like an eternity.

"I love you, Dawn." He nuzzled into my neck and murmured. "I would never hurt you on purpose. Never."

"I love you too, David, and I know you wouldn't."

That night, there was no sex. David didn't touch me like he usually did. He just held me tight against his body and the tremendous weight of his distress was evident with every breath he exhaled next to me.

It seemed like the carefree days of our relationship slowly began to shrivel and I feared that sooner or later, things were going to change in a very drastic way.