CHAPTER 4
✧༺✰༻✧
Aiden I'm pregnant For You
***
No," she whispered hoarsely.
"No, it can't be. I'm...i'm...pregnant?" she said louder with wide eyes.
____
Sophia stood with wide eyes staring at her too.
Salma stood from the tiled floor, her legs trembling as she made her way to the couch. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she stared into space.
"He didn't use protection? And you don't remember his face?" Sophia asked sitting beside her.
Salma glanced at her and slowly shook her head.
"I only remembered his dark hair and the flame like tattoo on his shoulder," Salma muttered barely audible but Sophia heard her.
"What are you gonna do now? You said your dad won't be supporting your career but at least you still have you fame right?" Sophia asked.
"Haven't you seen the scandal about me?" Salma asked more tears pouring out of her eyes as she passed her phone to Sophia.
"What?!" Sophia eyes widened as scrolled through Salma's phone.
"These are all lies. You and I know that so called stranger was your first and you never had any plastic surgery," Sophia said slightly enraged.
"Everything is gone, and I'm stuck with a baby that I can't recall it's father's face," Salma said her palms covering her face.
Sophia gulped doubting whether to ask the questions she had in mind but still went ahead.
"Are you gonna get an abortion?"
Salma shook her head her brow's furrowing.
"No. That will make the scandal seems through and besides this baby is also my flesh and blood I can't kill it."
Sophia hummed with a nod.
"Wait, what about the CCTV camera footage? You can check that," Sophia said her voice laced with hope.
Salma sighed frustrated.
"I paid someone to delete it," she blurted out.
Sophia stare at Salma in disbelief.
"You caused you own problems," she thought out loud.
"Anyways congratulations and dinner is ready" she added making her way to the kitchen.
Salma stood up and pulled out the two ATM cards she had brought along.
One belonged to Mr. Rodriguez, and the other was a secret. She put on a hoodie and nose mask, then rushed out, making her way to the nearest ATM machine.
At the ATM, she inserted the first card.
"CARD BLOCKED" appeared on the screen. She chuckled dryly, expecting it.
She tried the second card, and it worked. She withdrew a substantial amount of cash and headed to a nearby boutique and supermarket to buy essentials for her new life.
After a successful shopping spree, She booked a flight on her phone, and sent a voice message to a contact saved Aunt Helen, before returning to Sophia's place.
Sophia was still lounging on the couch, watching TV.
"Thought you ran away," Sophia said nonchalantly.
"Your dinner is in the fridge; you can microwave it."
Sophia didn't even glance her way, but Salma could sense a hint of concern beneath her casual tone.
Salma smiled to herself, feeling grateful for Sophia's understanding.
She dragged the shopping bags into the bedroom and spent almost an hour organizing everything. The clothes were packed into her suitcase, and the extra bag had her essentials. Then, she headed out, heated her dinner, and sat down beside Sophia, watching TV together in comfortable silence.
"I'm leaving the country tomorrow," Salma said, breaking the silence.
"What?!" Sophia gasped.
"You know staying here would only push me to commit suicide and besides I want to start life afresh," Salma explained.
"I'll miss you," Sophia hugged Salma squeezing the breath out of her.
"Too tight," Salma muffled.
"Oh, sorry," Sophia laughed, breaking the hug.
"I have a flight to catch, and it's getting pretty late," Salma said, standing up and stretching her arms.
"Alright, good night," Sophia smiled warmly.
"Sweet dreams," Salma yawned, heading back to her room.
Sophia switched off the TV and headed to her room too. She collapsed onto her bed, unlocking her phone.
Since she wasn't feeling sleepy yet, she decided to scroll through Instagram and check her messages.
The first pictures that popped up on her For You Page (FYP) were of Aiden Hart – every woman's dream man.
The photos were from a recent photoshoot, and he was posing shirtless, showcasing his breathtaking physique. Sophia couldn't help but drool; she had a huge crush on him.
Her eyes devoured the pictures, and she noticed the famous birthmark of the Hart family, passed down through each and every member of their bloodline.
She zoomed in on the picture and stared closely at the birthmark – it was shaped like a flame, just like Salma had described. She released the zoom and took a look at Aiden's chiseled features, his piercing eyes, and his perfectly messy hair.
"Guess I found the mystery stranger," Sophia grinned, standing up excitedly.
She was about to take a step when a thought crossed her mind. She lay back down, smirking at the thought, her mind racing with possibilities.
NEXTDAY~
The 5:00 AM alarm blared to life on the nightstand, its sound echoing through the room. Salma groaned, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She yawned, sitting up in bed, and scanned the room.
After another yawn, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and slid into the bathroom. Within an hour, she was done bathing and getting dressed. She wrapped a scarf around her head and put on a pair of sunglasses before dragging her luggage out of the room.
Sophia was still fast asleep, and Salma didn't think it was necessary to wake her up. Instead, she scribbled a short note and left it on the counter before slipping out of the building.
4 HOURS LATER, TORONTO PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CANADA ~
Salma stepped out of Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She dragged her two suitcases behind her as she made her way onto the busy streets.
She pulled out her phone and dialed a number saved as 'Aunt Helen.' The call connected almost immediately, and a warm smile spread across her face.
"Good morning, Mom," she greeted, her voice filled with affection.
"Morning, my sunshine! Has your flight arrived in Toronto yet?" Helen asked, her voice sounding cheerful despite the early hour.
"Yes," Salma replied with a slight nod, even though Helen couldn't see her.
"Just stop a taxi and tell them North York. I'll come get you from there," Helen instructed.
"Okay, Mom. I can't wait to see you," Salma said before hanging up.
She had a special bond with Helen, who had been like a mother to her throughout her life.
Helen was Mr. Rodriguez's older sister, and despite not being her biological mother, she had taken Salma and her sister Alisha under her wing.
Helen was a kind-hearted woman in her early sixties who had lost her husband and was unable to have children of her own.
Helen chose a quiet life unlike Mr Rodriguez, though she owned the biggest restaurant in Toronto due to her amazing special recipes.
Salma hailed a taxi by waving her hand, and the driver pulled over. She settled her luggage in the trunk before getting into the passenger seat.
"North York, please," she told the cab driver before he could ask.
"Okay, ma'am," he replied with a nod, and they set off towards their destination.
As the taxi navigated through the morning traffic, Salma gazed out the window, her mind wandering to the new life she was about to start in Canada.
She felt a mix of emotions - excitement for the unknown, but also anxiety about being a single mother.
After what felt like an eternity, the taxi finally stopped in front of a cozy-looking house in North York. Salma's heart swelled with affection as she saw Helen waiting on the porch, a warm smile on her face.
"Here we are, ma'am," the driver said, coming to a holt.
He stepped down pulling Salma's luggage out of the trunk.
Salma paid the fare and stepped out of the taxi, her eyes locked on Helen's. They exchanged a tender hug, and Salma felt a sense of comfort and security wash over her.
"Welcome, my dear," Helen said, holding Salma close.
Salma smiled, feeling a lump form in her throat. She knew she could count on Helen to support her through this challenging time.
As they walked into the house, Salma noticed the warm and inviting decor. The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air, making her stomach growl with hunger.
"Let's get you settled in," Helen said, leading Salma to a cozy bedroom.
"We'll talk about everything later. For now, rest and get some food in you."
Salma nodded, feeling grateful for Helen's kindness. She already told her about the pregnancy and the scandal.
She freshened up quickly and made her way to the dining room were Helen was already setting the table for breakfast.
The ate in silence and after that Salma help with the dirty dishes. Helen smiled from the living room as she watched Salma.
Salma never knew her mom and for some reason known only to the Rodriguez family not even her name was mentioned talk more of her appearance but Helen often told Salma she's a carbon copy of her Mom.
Salma soon finished with the dishes and settled in the living room sitting on a couch opposite Helen.
"Do wanna talk more about it yet or rather not talk about it at all?" Helen asked, concern etched on her face
Salma exhaled closing her eyes for a moment. She opened them with a calm expression as she slowly nodded.
"Let's talk," she said barely audible.
"You made the right choice by the way and I'm proud of you," Helen spoke each word coming out sincere.
"Thanks alot." Salma smiled.
"I can't wait to be a Grand Aunt" Helen giggled.
"More like grandmother. I don't see you as an aunt. You're more than that, and I don't know how I could ever show my appreciate for everything you've done for me, including the love you showered me. I love you so much," Salma said, her eyes getting teary as she stood up, walked over to were Helen was and gave her a brief tender hug.
"I love you too sunshine." Helen smiled.
NEXT_DAY
LOS ANGELES, SOPHIA'S APARTMENT~
Sophia grinned, admiring her reflection in the mirror.
She was dressed in a stunning red fitted knee-length dress that accentuated her curves, even though she wasn't particularly curvy.
The dress hugged her in all the right places, making her feel confident and beautiful.
Her face was painted with heavy makeup, which added a touch of glamour to her overall look.
Her hair cascaded down her back in wavy curls, framing her face perfectly.
"One last touch," she giggled, picking up the bottle of Guerlain's Spiritueuse Double Vanille perfume. She spritzed a little on her wrists and neck, savoring the sweet, creamy scent.
"No wonder Salma loves this brand," she smiled.
"the fragrance is out of this world."
She added a bit more red lipstick to her lips, making sure she was perfectly polished.
As she glanced at the time, she noticed it was a few minutes past 7PM. She had been invited to a party schedule for 8PM and didn't want to be late, especially since Aiden would be there too.
With a sense of urgency, Sophia grabbed her purse and rushed out of the building.
Her ride was parked in front, waiting for her. She hastily got in, and the car zoomed off, taking her to her destination.
VIP PARTY VENUE~
The car screeched to a halt, and Sophia stepped out, walking into the building. Heads turned, and a few eyes fixed on her. She scanned the small crowd until her eyes landed on Aiden.
He was deep in conversation with a business associate, but Sophia waited patiently until he excused himself to answer a call.
She carefully trailed behind him, making sure he didn't notice her presence until they reached an empty hallway.
"How can you say you haven't gotten any information about the lady from that night, Rafe?" Aiden asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
"I'm sorry, boss. Without the footage, it's impossible to track her down. You both weren't the only ones who stayed at the hotel that night," Rafe replied.
Aiden sighed and ended the call. Suddenly, a familiar fragrance hit his nostrils, and his mind flashed back to that night.
He turned swiftly, and his eyes locked onto Sophia's wide smile.
"Aiden, you've been looking for me?" she asked.
Aiden's expression turned puzzled.
"Who are you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sophia's expression remained sincere as she replied.
"I'm Sophia, the lady at the hotel that night, sorry for barging in I was drunk."
"So you're the one who messed with my head, huh?" Aiden asked, as his gaze intensified.
Sophia lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I didn't mean to. But I have something important to share with you."
"What is it?" he asked, curious.
Sophia took a deep breath before blurting out,
"Aiden, I'm pregnant for you."
🖤𝑻𝒐 𝑩𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆𝒅... 🖤