Chapter 5
STACY'S POV
That evening, my house felt colder than usual. I curled on the couch like a broken child, hugging my knees close to my chest.
Hillary sat beside me, rubbing my back gently.
"Stacy… please," she whispered. "You can't keep shutting him out like this."
"You don't understand, Hill," I sobbed. "He doesn't care about me. He only cares about the baby."
"But he said he was looking for you before he even knew you were pregnant," she argued softly. "What if he's real?"
"He's not," I muttered bitterly. "No man is that good."
Before she could reply, a knock echoed through the room.
My heart jumped. We both froze.
"Were you expecting someone?" Hillary asked, her eyes snapping toward the door.
I shook my head slowly, as I quickly wiped the tears that rolled down my cheeks.
Another knock came, firmer this time.
My stomach twisted. Hillary stood up first. "Let me see who it is."
My breath caught as soon as she opened the door. He stood there - the stranger again.
The man who had turned my world upside down in one single night. His face was serious and calm.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered, standing up.
"I came to see you," he said simply, taking a step forward.
"How did you even find my house?" My voice was shaky.
He glanced around. "I asked around. I followed the little details. I needed to see you."
Hillary looked between us and stepped aside. "Come in," she said softly.
He walked in, his presence filling the small space. I suddenly felt exposed. Weak and vulnerable.
"What do you want?" I asked, folding my arms over my rising chest.
He looked at me for a long moment. "Get dressed." His tone was sharp and direct.
My brows knitted in confusion. "What?"
"I need to take you somewhere."
"No," I replied quickly. "I am not going anywhere with you. You just walk into my house and command me around?"
His jaw tightened. "Please, Stacy. Just trust me once."
"I don't even know your name," I snapped.
"That doesn't matter now," he said quietly. "Just… get dressed."
He sounded so intentional and I was curious to know what he's up to, but at the same time, I didn't want to trust him.
Hillary tugged gently at my sleeve. "Maybe you should give him a chance."
"This is crazy," I muttered.
"He came all the way here," she added. "Let's just hear him out."
He didn't say anything more. He just looked at me… like he was afraid I would disappear again.
I swallowed hard. After a long pause, I walked to the room and changed into a simple red dress.
When I came out, he was already waiting by the door.
I picked up my black hand bag from the couch and we walked to his car.
As we drove, silence hung thick between us. Streetlights passed by, but my mind was far away.
"Where are we going?" I finally asked.
"Home," he replied casually, his eyes fixed on the highway.
My heart skipped. "Whose home?"
"My family house."
I turned sharply. "What?" my eyes widened.
"I need to make things right," he said, hands firm on the steering wheel. "I want my family to meet you."
"Meet me? Why?"
"Because I want to marry you, Stacy."
The world suddenly stopped spinning.
"What?" I breathed slowly.
"I want you," he said with so much certainty it scared me. "I've never thought about anyone the way I think about you. Not once. I love you, Stacy, and I know you're meant for me.."
Emotions rushed through me all at once. A mix of fear and hope.
"But… but we hardly know each other," I stammered, my hands slightly shaking beside me.
"I know enough," he replied with a small grin around his lips.
I tried to speak again, but no words came.
I looked at his side profile and suddenly realized... I didn't even know his name.
"You never told me who you are," I whispered.
He glanced at me, at least this once, and gave a small smile.
"Kirk," he said. "My name is Kirk."
I smiled weakly. "Kirk…"
It felt strange but somehow warm on my lips. I didn't know if this was right, but I knew I wanted it too.
"You really mean this?" I asked.
"Every word," he said. "I'm sure about you, Stacy."
For the first time since everything fell apart, a small light flickered inside my heart.
Had I finally found peace?
Had the heavens finally answered my tears?
The car slowed down in front of a large, beautiful house. Soft lights glowed warmly from inside. The environment looked rich, calm, and perfect.
We stepped out.
When we entered, the dining table was already set. Candles, flowers and plates were neatly arranged. It felt like a dream.
"You planned all this?" I asked, letting out a soft chuckle.
He nodded. "For you."
My chest tightened with emotion. "It's so beautiful." I whispered as I stared around the beautiful sitting room.
"Wait here," he said. "Let me call my parents."
He turned and headed upstairs.
I stood in the living room alone, my heart drumming violently. I placed my hand softly on my stomach, whispering, "Maybe everything will be okay."
Then a slow clap echoed. My body stiffened instantly.
A familiar voice filled the air. "Well, well… look who we have here."
My blood instantly ran cold when I turned. It was Arnold, my ex.
He walked out from the kitchen, holding a glass of wine, a deep smirk on his face.
I stumbled back in shock. "Arnold?! What are you doing here?"
He raised a brow. "You're in my house, Stacy. You should be asking what YOU are doing here."
My heart shattered all over again. "Your house?"
He chuckled darkly. "You didn't know? Kirk is my brother."
The world tilted. "What?" My voice barely existed. "Ho… how… you…"
"And wait…" His eyes dropped to my stomach. "You're the girl Kirk wants to marry?"
My hands trembled, my chest rising and falling as my heart drummed loudly. I could swear he could hear it.
"And you're pregnant?" he added cruelly. "Wow. Congratulations."
"Stop it," I whispered. "Just stop."
He stepped closer. "That baby could also be mine, you know."
"That's not true!" I snapped, taking a step backwards.
He laughed coldly. "From the records, you're about one month pregnant… and that's exactly when we had our little moment too."
"Shut up!" I screamed, my voice breaking.
Tears rushed down my cheeks like a storm I could no longer hold back.
My chest burned. My hands trembled. I felt like I was drowning in my own shame.
"You think this is easy for me?" I choked, staring at Arnold. "You ruined my life!"
Our voices clashed in the hallway.
Anger, pain… Regret. Everything spilled out at once.
Then footsteps echoed. I turned sharply, my heart dropping.
Kirk stood there with his parents.
His eyes moved from my tear-streaked face to Arnold standing too close to me.
The warmth in his smile vanished instantly.
"What is going on here?" His voice was sharp and confused.
Arnold chuckled under his breath. "Ask your future wife."
My stomach twisted violently.
Kirk's gaze snapped back to me. "Stacy?" There was hurt in his eyes. "What is he talking about?"
My lips shook. I tried to speak, but only sobs came out. My whole body felt weak, exposed.
"I didn't know," I cried. "I swear I didn't know you were brothers!"
The words poured out like poison I had been holding too long.
"He was my boyfriend first," I said, pointing at Arnold through my tears. "He cheated on me. I was broken. I ran into a bar and that night just… happened. I never planned for any of this. I never meant to hurt you, Kirk."
His mother gasped, her expression twisting with disgust.
"You slept with both my sons?" she asked, her voice cut through me like a blade.
"Yes…" my voice cracked. "On the same night."
Kirk's eyes no longer held love. Only shock and betrayal.
His mother turned her face away like I was something filthy.
"She is not what I imagined for you," she muttered bitterly.
My knees nearly gave out.
Kirk looked like someone had ripped his soul apart.
Then his father stepped forward, firm and authoritative.
"Enough."
He looked at my stomach, his eyes unreadable.
"This situation is complicated. We will wait."
My heart pounded painfully.
"When the time comes, we will conduct a paternity test," he continued. "And whoever is the father of this child… will marry her."
My breath caught.
My vision blurred with tears
"What?!" My heart screamed.
Kirk stared at me, horrified.
Arnold's lips curled into a slow, wicked smile.
My life wasn't just broken. It was destroyed.
And as everyone's eyes burned into me, I buried my head in shame.
One terrifying thought echoed in my head, louder than everything else…
Who would I end up with?
Arnold… or the stranger who accidentally became my everything?
Who's my baby's daddy?