Zak was stunned, completely and utterly stunned as he looked at her, at her clothes, at her tear stained face. He felt as if he had been sucker punched, but he had no idea what Delilah was going through right now. For him this was bad, but for her? It must be terrifying...

Since her revelation, she had fallen quiet and the heaviness had settled in when he moved them both to the lounge, Zak only returning to his room, to grab a pair is basketball shorts.

"What are you wearing?" He asks her causing Delilah to smile slightly.

"I tell you that I could be pregnant and you ask about my clothes?"

He shrugs "I'm kind of out of my depth." He admits.

She laughs slightly "You and me both."

He hears her sniffle and watches as she clutches the hot drink between her hands. He has given her tea, because tea was suppose to make everything better, in England it was meant to anyway.

"Have you done a test?" He asks.

She shakes her head.

"I can't believe you're even having sex with him.." Zak admits.

"Well I can't believe you even have sex."

He looks at her "What? What wrong with me? I'm a fucking catch!"

She shakes her head "See how ridiculous it sounds? Of course I'm sleeping with him, I'm meant to be his girlfriend?!"

"Why are we shouting?!"

"I don't know!.. I don't know." She frowns looking back at her mug.

"You need to get a test. Or 12. As well as go to the doctors." He speaks.

She rubs her face "I can't deal with this right now, this and these old ass clothes."

"They do look pretty old." Zak laughs.

She flips him the bird and looks at Zak "Can you... Never mind."

"What is it?"

"Will you come with me? To the doctors office?" She asks quietly.

Zak nods. "Of course I will."

+++

"I hate coming here." Zak says quietly making Delilah look up from her hands.

The brown walls and dark carpets did nothing to lift his mood or Delilah's as they waited to be seen. The phone rang constantly and the receptionist looked tired and bored.

"Then why did you? You should have said. Or you could have waited in the car?"

He takes her hand "I'm here for you."

She smiles weakly at him, ready to burst into tears when the doctor calls her name.

Wiping her eyes, she gives his hand a squeeze before heading into the room. But as she goes to close the door, a foot comes through making her squeak.

"I'm with you entirely." Zak speaks coming into the room.

Delilah feels a surge of relief and takes the seat opposite the doctor whilst Zak
sits down cautiously beside her. She then looks at Zak who's sat with one ankle on top of his knee, one hand holding hers, with calm and serenity written across his features.

She knew he'd be calm and at peace, probably relieved of the lucky escape.

"Delilah and..."

"Zak." He introduces himself.

"Nice to meet you Zak. Now Delilah, how can I help you today?" The doctor asks looking over his glasses at her.

"I think I might be pregnant."

"And you're here for a confirmation test." The doctor concludes making her nod. "Right let's get this underway. How are you feeling in yourself?" He asks whilst collecting the kit.

"I've been feeling sick this week, tired, emotional.."

He nods.  "And you're last period?"

Delilah shakes her head as Zak shifts looking uncomfortable for the first time. "I don't know. I- It's never been regular."

The doctor nods again before handing her a small tube. "I'll need a urine sample. Bathroom is down the hall to your right."

"I'll wait here." Zak speaks. "Obviously." He frowns to himself before going quiet. Delilah feels the awkwardness and leaves the room quickly wanting to get this over and done with. Pronto.

But by the time she's come back, World War Three is kicking off and Zak is red faced.

"What's going on?" Delilah asks looking between them.

"I was merely—"

"Tell him!" Zak interrupts the doctor "Tell him we haven't had sex and that this isn't my doing? Sitting there lecturing me on safe sex! She's not Mary and I'm not Joseph! I didn't knock her up!"

"Zak!" I snap.

"He started it! Look." He points to the leaflets on safe sex, Delilah purses her lips making Zak glare at her. "Don't you dare laugh. I'm only here to support you."

A snigger escapes and Zak heads for the door mortified at the whole incident when Delilah grabs his hand "Please. I'm sorry."

He stands at the door, looking torn, he looks at the wooden door and then back to her beautiful but pleading eyes, shaking his head, he returns to his seat whilst Delilah hands over the urine sample.

The doctor goes into the other room to conduct the test whilst Zak sits with his arms folded.

"Thank you for staying.." She whispers.

"You better make me some spaghetti bolognese for this."

She giggles quietly and lays her hand on his arm "I promise."

"I hope you washed your hands." He adds playfully making Delilah roll her eyes.

"Of course I did. Don't be so childish. You'd think he would have known that you're not inexperienced."

"Why cause I'm good looking?" He asks.

"No, because you're a poster boy for S.T.Ds."

His gasps and looks at her making her laugh.

Happiness surged in his chest at her laugh and the smile spread across her face. But even more so that she had forgot to wear her contacts or had decided not to wear them before coming to see him. Letting him see her eyes without her feeling awkward or insecure.

"Okay." The doctor spoke coming back making Delilah's laugh die down.

Zak instantly glares at the doctor for being able to do that and retook her hand.

"Now you said your periods weren't regular, do you know when the last one was?" He asks.

She shakes her head "Maybe two? Three months ago?"

He types on the computer before looking back at the pair. "Have you had screenings for any diseases and infections?"

"Regularly." She admits not wanting to reveal that she had them done because she felt like Jack was away a little too much. And whilst the mouse is away...

"Oh, just found it." He smiles and looked at the screen. Whilst irritating Zak further, suspecting he only asked to glance at him. "Three weeks ago. That's good."

Delilah's face heats up and she doesn't risk a look at Zak.

The doctor watch goes off making Delilah look up from the poster of a baby and the symptoms of meningitis dotted around the blue eyed boy. "Miss Winters, I can confirm, you're not pregnant."

"I-I'm not?" She stutters.

Zak's hand clenches down on hers as relief fills his body. He didn't want to think of what Delilah would do if she was. The idea of her stuck with a man like Jack, made him feel sick.

"Test is negative."

Zak grins and looks to Delilah who throws herself into his body, hugging him tightly. The doctor explains it could be her anxiety making her sick and asks a few more questions before settling on stress.

"May I suggest safe sex and a form of contraceptive?" The doctor asks as he wraps up the appointment.

"Yes. Yes I want contraceptive. Please." Delilah responds with a final nod.

[31]

"Are you happy?" Zak asks as we are eating dinner.

I had spent the whole day with him, away from my phone and away from the world. Just me, him and Gracie in his amazing home.

"As in now? Or life?"

He tilts his head "Both."

"I'm happy now, yes." I respond.

"And life?"

I look up at him and shrug. "Are you?"

"I'm happy now, content with life." He answers.

"Why only content? Is it because you haven't got Krystal here?" I ask spinning my fork and collecting the spaghetti.

"She hasn't been here since the meal at your apartment. I ended it with her, it didn't feel right anymore." He replies.

"Oh." I answer before eating.

"You sound surprised."

"I kinda am. I thought you two were a good match."

"Like you and Jack?" Zak asks watching me. "Sorry."

"I don't know what the hell I'm going to do. He's willing to do that, what is next?" I ask feeling worry settle in.

"You decide if you want to forgive him? Or if you move on from him?"

I sigh "But I have nothing."

"Possessions more important than happiness?"

"You tell me?" I ask gesturing to his lavish home.

"I didn't say I was always happy." Zak responds making my shoulders drop.

"Happiness is more important. It always will be."

"There we go then. You decide on what is best for you both.. And seriously what the fuck is up with your clothes, you look like you're attending court on the bottom half and you look like you're a grumpy old woman on the top half."

"Jack got rid of my clothes." I admit.

He sets his fork down and twists his ear  in my direction "I'm sorry?"

"He.. He got rid of my clothes when I got home last week. All I have is what he bought."

"Delilah, baby... I'm not saying this because I have an agenda of my own. But this is getting controlling, this is psychological abuse. You get that, right?"

I lower my head "I know. But like I said, I have no idea what I'm going to do."

"Get rid of him. Like, yesterday." Zak responded making me sigh.

"And then what? I don't have anything or anywhere to go."

"Surely that's better than being in a relationship like that."

"It's not all that bad. He has been looking after me for the past week."

"Only because he thought you were pregnant. Delilah he's controlling you and you can't see it!" Zak snapped.

"Stop shouting at me! I-- Forget it. Thanks for coming with me today. But I have to go."

Abandoning my food, I grabbing my phone and left the house quietly and quickly, ignoring his protests. Starting the car, I headed home, one because I had nowhere else to go and Poppy hadn't bothered to contact me in almost two weeks. Too busy with Trent to worry or talk to me now...

That was her only downside, she often forgot her roots when a man was around. She would conveniently forget who helped her move house, who went to the clinic with her, who wiped her tears when she got dumped, who spent hours helping her get ready for a date that lasted less than an 15 minutes before she walked out.

As I pulled up outside the apartment, I debated on going in, or staying in the car. But seeing as I didn't have a pillow or blanket, I got out and headed in. Only to find my home smelling beautiful and warm.

Moving around the apartment slowly, I found Jack, sat on the sofa.

With a woman on his lap.

"What the fuck is this?!" I shout.

He slides the woman off his lap and pulls me out the room as I look at her. She seemed familiar, seriously familiar...

"Where have you been all day? I've been worried sick." He whispers.

"Oh, really? Looked like it as well."

"I have the solution to our problem. Now hear me out.." He spoke. I folded my arms as my eyes narrowed at him. "Her name is Alice, she works with me... I've been seeing her."

Anger spiked my soul instantly.

"Listen!" He demands "You don't want to have a baby, but how about surrogacy?"

"I-is she pregnant?" I ask.

He chews his lip. "Yes."

I slap him across the face making him stumble slightly before anger flashes and he grips my chin "I've gave you everything! Everything! You show me respect! Now you're gonna put up, and shut up. You know why? Because right now, anything you own belongs to me, you will welcome Alice and you will be nice."

"The fuck I will."

His grip tightens making me whimper "Do as you're told Delilah."

Letting me go, I stepped away from him in shock at the sudden attack.

Whilst most people would say it wasn't an attack, it was still a touch that I didn't want, one that hurt and one that I never expected.

"I love you. But I need this too. We will be a family." He speaks kissing my forehead and leaving me stood in the kitchen.

So not only is he a manipulative, lying bastard, he's also a cheating, abusive manipulative lying bastard! And I have nothing if I leave...