CHAPTER 74
ANNA’S POV
I woke up with my body sore from the night before, my legs feeling heavy against the sheets, but the first thing I noticed was the empty space beside me. Ryan wasn’t there. His side of the bed was already cold, and I didn’t even hear when he had gotten up, which only reminded me that today was his big day, and he must have left early to settle everything before the inauguration.
I pushed myself up slowly, dragged my body to the bathroom, and let the warm water from the shower run over me while trying to ease the tension in my body. By the time I was out, my stomach was twisting again, and I barely had time to lean over the sink before I was throwing up.
Ughhhhhh! Morning sickness.
I rinsed my mouth, patting my lips dry, and stared at my reflection. My hands went straight to my stomach, rubbing softly over the little bump that was barely there yet, but enough to make me smile.
“I can’t wait to meet you,” I whispered softly to my stomach, brushing my fingers in small circles. “I wonder if you’ll look like your dad or like me… maybe both. If you’re a girl, I’ll call you Kiera. If you’re a boy , Kurtis. and if it’s both of you… then Kiera and Kurtis,” I said, smiling as I kept rubbing. “We’ll figure it out when the time comes.”
I slipped into my robe, still smiling, when a knock landed on my door and Mom’s voice carried through.” Anna, dear, are you up?”
“Yes, Mom,” I called back quickly, pulling the tie of my robe tighter as if she could see me.
“Ryan sent you a dress,” she said. “Open up.”
I walked to the door, pulled it open, and there she was, standing with a garment bag in her hands. She passed it to me with a little smile. “Hurry and get dressed, dear. We’re leaving soon. Your dad and Ryan are already gone. Grandma, Grandpa, and I are waiting downstairs.”
“Okay, Mom. Thank you.”
She left me with the bag, and I shut the door before unzipping it. My eyes widened the moment the fabric came into view. It was a black dress, shimmering slightly under the light, with delicate stones stitched into the bodice that looked like stars scattered across the night sky. The slit ran high along the leg, and the neckline dipped low enough to tease just the right amount of cleavage, sexy, bold, and yet elegant, the kind of dress that screamed Ryan had chosen it himself. It looked expensive, like something no one else could ever wear except me.
I slipped it on carefully, and it hugged me perfectly, every curve fitting as if it had been tailored exactly for me. Ryan always knew my size, always knew what would make me look stunning, and as I turned in
1/3
74
+15 BONUS
the mirror, I couldn’t stop staring at myself. Even without makeup, the dress made me look drop–dead gorgeous. I dabbed on some powder, added a little lipstick, and kept everything simple. The dress didn’t need anything extra.
Spritzing on a bit of my perfume, I smiled at the reflection staring back at me. My heart thudded just thinking about Ryan’s face when he saw me in it.
When I walked out, they were all waiting in the living room. The second their eyes landed on me, the room went silent, and their mouths literally dropped.
“Good heavens,” Grandma whispered, her eyes wide. “Ryan won’t be able to close his mouth when he sees
you.”
Mom’s eyes softened, tears brimming as she took my hand. “You look so beautiful, Anna. Absolutely breathtaking.”
Grandpa chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “Your young man is going to lose his mind.”
Their words made me blush so hard that I had to look down, but I couldn’t help the smile stretching across my face. Together, we stepped outside, and the limousine was already waiting at the front, polished and shining with guards standing near it.
I slid into the seat, but as the driver pulled away, I couldn’t shake it, the sinking feeling that sat heavy in my chest. My hands tightened in my lap, and I glanced out the window, my gut twisting as if something was waiting for me, something I couldn’t yet see but could already feel.
And that feeling refused to leave me
