Chapter 14 - THE PREGNANCY
Camille told Julian in person.
No lawyers.
No fathers.
Just the two of them in a private room at her obstetrician’s office because she refused to discuss pregnancy in Hawthorne building.
She looked tired rather than glamorous.
“Seven weeks.”
Julian sat.
“And you don’t know?”
“No.”
“When?”
Camille’s eyes filled.
“You and I were together that week.”
“So was Elias.”
“Yes.”
Julian stared at floor.
He had slept with Camille two nights after returning from London. He remembered because they had been trying to repair tension over wedding planning.
She had been unusually affectionate.
Now memory felt contaminated by unknown.
“Why did you tell me Elias was one time?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
“Same reason for everything.”
“I know.”
“Was second time before or after you knew about Nora’s necklace?”
Camille swallowed.
“After.”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“Jesus.”
She continued:
“I thought you were pulling away.”
“My father was pressuring marriage date.”
“I was angry.”
“Elias came over.”
“It happened.”
“Do you love him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
Julian closed eyes.
“Camille.”
“I know.”
She began crying.
He felt no romantic pull to comfort her as partner.
But she might be carrying his child.
That changed responsibility.
He handed tissue.
“Whatever paternity is, no public humiliation from my side.”
She nodded.
“I don’t want you trapped because baby.”
“Good.”
They agreed noninvasive prenatal paternity testing when medically appropriate.
Elias was informed.
He sat silent for nearly minute.
“Could be mine.”
“Yes.”
He looked terrified.
Not career.
Fatherhood.
“I don’t know if I’m ready.”
Camille laughed through tears.
“Neither does biology.”
They began awkward conversations.
Julian told Nora immediately after.
Nora went quiet.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Say.”
“If child is yours, our relationship changes.”
“Yes.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
“Do you want child?”
“If mine? Yes.”
“I mean I would be father.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He thought.
“Not planned.”
“But I would want them once real.”
Nora nodded.
“That helps.”
She also felt shame.
She had just started sleeping with Julian.
Now ex-fiancée pregnancy.
People online would call her mistress though timeline false.
She said:
“I don’t want secret relationship.”
“Me either.”
“But I don’t want public rollout during paternity.”
“Agreed.”
They kept.
Ben called Nora later after gossip leaked anyway through clinic employee? Privacy breach would be serious. Better paparazzi saw Camille at prenatal clinic and speculated. No confirmation.
Ben:
“You sure you want this life?”
Nora hated question because valid.
“I don’t know.”
He said:
“You almost married me because you wanted quiet.”
“I didn’t almost marry you. You asked.”
“Fair.”
Silence.
“You still love him?”
“Julian?”
“Yes.”
Nora hesitated.
“Maybe.”
Ben sighed.
“Then quiet was never goal.”
He had known her.
Nora cried after.
Julian noticed mood.
She told.
He felt jealous then understood.
Adult history.
No possession.
Paternity test two weeks later.
Elias Wren: probability 99.99%.
Julian was not father.
He felt relief so intense he hated himself.
Camille saw.
“Don’t apologize.”
“I’m not.”
“Good.”
Elias cried.
He said:
“I want be involved.”
Camille looked surprised.
“Even after everything?”
“This isn’t punishment.”
“This is child.”
That maturity began his redemption.
No instant couple reunion.
They decided co-parent planning independent of romance.
Camille publicly confirmed pregnancy later without naming father until they chose.
Eventually Elias acknowledged.
Public scandal huge.
Camille’s social image collapsed further.
Nora saw comments calling her promiscuous and worse.
She told Julian:
“She did wrong things.”
“This is not accountability.”
Julian issued no defense? Elias and Camille released privacy statement.
Good.
Meanwhile Grant’s reaction to Camille pregnancy was vile.
He told Julian:
“At least you escaped another man’s child.”
Julian stared.
“Never say that around me again.”
Grant laughed.
“You’re soft.”
“No.”
“I’m not making a baby responsible for adults.”
Growth.
Then legal news.
Silas Trent’s health deteriorated.
Prosecutors secured sworn deposition from hospital.
He confessed sabotage.
He also said Grant paid not only after crash but before.
A $150,000 transfer to Silas consulting six days before.
Grant claimed security retainer.
Silas:
“Payment was for keeping Helena from leaving with records.”
If proven, stronger conspiracy.
No murder intent still.
Then Silas said one final thing:
“Everett told me where Helena would be.”
“He knew she was going to Julian.”
Everett’s involvement deeper.
The web tightened.
Nora listened.
Her mother’s fear vindicated.
But instead of satisfaction, she felt hollow.
She asked:
“Does proving Mom right bring her back?”
Julian said:
“No.”
They sat quietly.
Then Nora leaned against him.
He kissed hair.
No solutions.
May you like
This was intimacy too.
---
