Chapter 349 Morning Sickness
Cecilia’s pov
Me, clinging to the doorframe, heaving my guts out while everyone else freaked out.
Martha didn’t flinch. Her voice cut through the noise, calm and in control.
“Get some water. Help her to the couch. And someone clean up before we all slip.”
People moved fast. I barely registered who did what.
Harper and Yulia got me to the couch, and I collapsed like a deflated balloon.
Black dots danced in my vision. My stomach was empty, but I kept dry-heaving anyway.
By the end, I was just shaking.
“Cece, are you okay?” Harper asked, her hand cool against my forehead.
I gave a weak wave, trying to say, I’m fine. I wasn’t.
Then I realized people were watching.
Martha,Fiona,and Yulia were standing nearby, giving me that look older women get when they’ve already figured it out.
My face went hot.
“I’m sorry about the mess,” I mumbled.
“My stomach’s been weird lately. Probably stress or something.”
Even I didn’t believe it.
They didn’t say it out loud, but their faces did.
They knew exactly what was going on.
Martha spared me.
“You should go lie down,” she said gently. “We’ll handle things here.”
Yulia nodded. “Just rest. I can make you some toast or soup later, whatever you feel up to.”
I gave a grateful nod, even though I wanted to sink through the floor.
We all knew what this looked like.
I was pretending it was nothing.
They were pretending to believe me.
I stood up slowly and headed for the stairs, embarrassment sticking to me like sweat.
Author’s pov
Martha returned home, her thoughts buzzing.
She paced her living room for nearly an hour, going over everything she’d just seen.
Finally, she picked up her phone and called Cassian.
She didn’t call her grandchildren often. They had their own lives, and she respected that.
But this wasn’t something she could ignore.
Cassian was on a private jet headed back to Colorado Springs.
Zane sat across from him, his usual calm replaced by a tight, worried look.
He’d flown into Denver that morning and insisted on bringing Cassian back personally.
Lately, anxiety seemed to cling to him like a second skin.
When Cassian’s phone lit up, several possibilities flashed through his mind.
He glanced at the screen, then turned it toward Zane.
“It’s Grandmother,” he said, trying to sound casual.
Zane’s posture stiffened immediately.
“Don’t worry,” Cassian added. “I won’t mention the injury.”
He stood and walked toward the back of the cabin for privacy.
Zane watched him go, feeling oddly excluded.
It stung more than he let on.
Cassian wasn’t trying to shut him out. He just didn’t want Martha to bring up Cecilia in front of Zane.
“Hello, beautiful,” Cassian said, answering the call with a grin.
“You never take anything seriously, do you?” Martha’s voice was warm, but carried a hint of exasperation. “Are you still abroad?”
“Not anymore. I’m flying back to Colorado Springs. Your birthday’s coming up. I wouldn’t miss it, even if I were on Mars.”
“Good boy.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Martha got to the point.
“Cassian, I saw that Levi has two lovely young ladies staying with him today. He said they’re friends of yours.”
Cassian had been expecting this.
“Yeah. One of them is like a sister to me. She’s been going through some things and needed a quiet place to stay. Levi’s house was the best option.”
“Like a sister?” Martha said slowly. The wording struck her as odd.
She let the silence hang for a beat before cutting to the chase.
“You mean the one called Cece?”
Cassian laughed.
“That’s why you’re the smartest person I know.”
Martha didn’t smile.
“Cece is pregnant.”
His laughter stopped cold.
“You figured that out already? That’s impressive.”
Martha noted the lack of denial. That told her everything.
“Were you planning to keep her tucked away in the mountains forever?”
“Just for now,” Cassian said. “But since you know… would you mind keeping an eye on her?”
Martha was speechless.
Hiding a pregnant girlfriend and then asking her to babysit? The nerve of this boy.
Still, she couldn’t stay mad for long.
At least he finally liked someone enough to try hiding her.
If she pushed too hard, she might scare him back into his emotional shell.
“Don’t worry,” she sighed.”Now that she’s under my place, I’ll look after her whether you ask or not.”
“I knew you were the best,” Cassian said fondly. “Love you, Grandmother. Mwah!”
Martha muttered something about manners, but the smile tugging at her lips gave her away.
This had always been their rhythm. He acted outrageous, and she let him get away with it.
After the call ended, Cassian leaned back and went over the conversation in his mind.
Something about her tone still nagged at him.
“Cassian.”
Zane’s voice came from the front of the cabin.
Cassian returned, pushing aside his unease.
Zane looked up. “What did she say?”
“Just checking if I’m still traveling. Making sure I’ll be back for her birthday.”
Zane relaxed. “We should visit her once we land. She probably misses you.”
Cassian hesitated.
Bringing Zane there was risky since Cecilia was still at Levi’s.
But if he said no, Zane would probably go on his own.And that would be worse.
Better to tag along and control the situation.
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Zane leaned against the window, his tone suddenly thoughtful.
“I heard from Yardley that Secretary Moore’s on some kind of extended assignment.”
Cassian froze.
“Oh?”
Had Zane overheard something from the call? Why bring up Cecilia now?
“Yeah, she’s been gone for a while. Why do you ask?” Cassian said, trying to sound neutral.
“This might sound dumb,” Zane said slowly, “but every time I see her, I get this strange feeling. Like something’s pulling me in.”
Cassian blinked.
Zane wasn’t the type to talk about his feelings.
It wasn’t like him to open up to anyone, especially not these days.
“What?”Cassian stared at him.
“That’s Sebastian’s mate. If you’re catching feelings, you’d better get over it fast. He will literally rip you in half.”
Zane looked startled, then quickly shook his head.
“No, no, it’s not like that at all. I just… I think she reminds me of someone.”
He paused, then added softly,
“I’ve been wondering if she might be my daughter.”