"Always remember that I'm so proud of you, my baby!"
I chuckled, feeling a warm smile spread across my face. Listening to my best friend get me ready for the day always lifted my spirits. "I know! It still feels so surreal, Zette!"
"Wait!" She paused dramatically, then asked, "Have you texted Jake yet?"
Her question instantly dampened my mood. Hunter was my fiancé—the absolute love of my life.
This morning, I had sent him a message that read, "I'm so pumped for today, honey! Wish me luck!" followed by a red heart and a kissing face emoji. But now, that message sat at the bottom of the screen, unread. So were the ten messages I'd sent earlier, in the morning and last night.
I let out a long, resigned sigh and forced a smile. I had to sound as excited as I could for Suzette, so she wouldn't worry. "Of course, I texted him! Though he hasn't replied yet, but I'm sure he's busy with work. He'll call me later."
Suzette didn't look convinced. "When was the last time you and Hunter—"
"You know what, Zette? I've got to head out now. I'm already running late," I cut her off quickly, eager to change the subject.
Today was the day of my promotion, and I was determined to stay positive. I didn't need her reminding me of how strained things had been with Hunter lately. He'd just started his own architecture firm, which meant he needed more time for himself. I wasn't going to let that spoil my big day.
I said goodbye to Suzette, then placed my phone carefully on the dressing table. I took one last look at my slender figure in the mirror. Dressed in a crisp white suit and black block heels, I could see why Suzette often called me a runway model. Maybe I wasn't as tall as the models she admired, but I still had a slim, graceful build.
I ran both hands over my flat stomach, taking a deep breath to steady myself. My green eyes met my reflection, filled with a mix of excitement and nerves.
My chestnut brown hair was styled into a cute, tight bun high above my head, giving me a polished look.
I closed my eyes and smiled, feeling a surge of confidence. Today was my day.
With that thought, I grabbed my bag, slid my phone into it, and quickly headed out of the room, gently closing the door behind me. I hurried down the short flight of stairs and sauntered across the small office space towards the living room.
As I reached the living room, a sudden knock at the door made me pause. My brow furrowed. I wasn't expecting any parcels, nor was anyone scheduled to visit today. So, who could it be?
I quickened my pace, already running late. Whoever it was, they'd better get to the point quickly.
I reached for the doorknob, turned it slightly, and peeked out through the small opening I'd created. My eyes immediately locked onto Hunter's face. I was about to smile, thinking it was him, until my gaze shifted to the person standing beside him—my twin sister, Navira. They were holding hands tightly, but as soon as they saw me, they both jerked apart abruptly.
Confused, I narrowed my eyes at them, before opening the door wide. Planting myself at the entrance, I let my gaze flit between them.
Hunter Rivers, my boyfriend of thirteen years and soon-to-be fiancé, stood there. I'd stared into those brown eyes for most of my life, but something was different now. A flicker of something between guilt and casual indifference – a very unsettling combination – danced in their depths.
Beside him, my twin sister, Navira Santiago, chief editor of Vague, one of Aubigo's most prominent fashion news outlets, stood tall in a vibrant pink body-con dress. Her bright blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, and in her high heels, she almost matched Hunter's height.
Navira's usual confidence seemed to waver as she fidgeted nervously, her eyes darting around my face without ever meeting mine directly. That was strange—she never avoided eye contact. The tension in the air thickened, and I couldn't ignore the voice of reason inside my head: 'What exactly are Hunter and Navira doing here together, with their hands intertwined? And why are neither of them saying anything?'
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and finally broke the silence. "Hunter?" I said, glancing at him before shifting my gaze to Navira. "Navi?" My voice carried a hint of restraint, less warm than usual.
But Navira was quick to speak, her voice almost trembling. "Nova, we need to talk to you."
I flinched inwardly. We? Did she just say we? What could Hunter and Navira possibly have in common that required a joint conversation? More pressing, why were they even together in the first place?
But I didn't voice any of these thoughts. Instead, I crossed my arms tightly across my chest and kept my gaze fixed on Navira. "Go ahead," I prompted, my tone steady but guarded.
Navira hesitated, glancing at Hunter for a brief moment, who held her stare with a strange intensity.
I watched them in confusion, trying to read what was behind their silence. What kind of drama was unfolding here?
"Can we come in first?" Navira finally asked, her voice tentative.
I was skeptical—my mind raced with the ticking clock and the fact that I had only fifteen minutes before I needed to leave for work. But somehow, it felt easier to let them in than to keep them standing there, silent and mysterious.
I stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Sure," I said cautiously. "Come in."
They stepped inside together, and my keen eyes caught every subtle gesture—something felt off. An odd vibe hung between them, thick and unspoken.
Hunter hadn't even attempted to hug or kiss me since he arrived, nor had he responded to most of my texts, leaving them unread. Instead, he lingered by Navira's side as if tethered—afraid to let go even for a second.
"I only have fifteen minutes before I need to leave for work," I said, voice sharp with impatience. I threw Hunter a cold, steely glare that clearly said, 'We'll talk about this later.' Then, my gaze shifted to Navira, waiting for answers.
Her face was painted with a false guilt, like she was forcing herself to feel guilty, even though I couldn't quite figure what for.
Without wasting time, Hunter finally broke the silence. "We're going to cut straight to the chase," he said, his voice steady but tense.
I paused, studying his face carefully. The look on his expression told me that whatever they were about to say wasn't good news. My heart hammered in my chest as I searched his features, trying to read what was coming next.
"Well, are you just gonna stand there?" I asked, growing increasingly impatient. My voice carried a sharp edge, eager for some clarity.
Navira stepped forward again, her demeanor suddenly dramatic—almost theatrical. She moved close to me, placing a hand on my right shoulder, the other pressed dramatically to her chest as if she were in a soap opera.
I narrowed my eyes at her, unimpressed.
"Before we say anything," Navira began, voice trembling with forced sincerity, "I want to tell you that we are really sorry, Nova. We didn't mean for any of this to happen. We never wanted to hurt you. I..."
Her eyes welled with fake tears, a performance so exaggerated it made me roll my eyes internally.
I looked over her shoulder, stealing a quick glance at Hunter. His gaze was fixed on Navira, a grave expression etched into his face, as if he was already resigned to what was coming.
Confused, I took two cautious steps back from Navira. My eyes darted between them, trying to process what I was witnessing. Something about this scene felt eerily familiar—like I'd seen it before, in movies or reality TV, and now I was starting to suspect what they were about to reveal.
And then, Hunter's voice shattered the silence.
"We're getting married," he blurted out.
My whole body froze, as if Hunter had suddenly plucked me from reality and thrown me into an infinite abyss of disbelief. For a moment, all I could do was stand there, stunned, until I burst out laughing—loud and unrestrained.
"Of course we're getting married! Right, Hunter?" I managed to say through my laughter, voice trembling with a mixture of shock and sarcasm.
Before Hunter could respond, Navira quickly stepped in, her tone serious but calm. "He doesn't mean you, Nova," she said softly.
I watched, bewildered, as she moved closer to Hunter, taking his right hand in her left and locking eyes with me. Her voice was steady, almost eerily so. "He means us."
That was the moment I lost it. I erupted into a fit of hysterical laughter, the kind that leaves you breathless, trying to convince yourself it's all some twisted joke. Tears stung my eyes as I struggled to process what I'd just heard. When I finally stopped, I looked at them, my voice shaking.
"You have got to be kidding me... you can't possibly be—"
"I'm pregnant, Nova. I'm carrying Hunter's baby," Navira interrupted, her words cutting through my chaos like a knife.