Updated Mar 22, 2026 • ~5 min read
Chapter 7: Pregnancy Reveal
MAREN
Week twelve.
End of first trimester.
Doctor says I’m out of the danger zone.
Baby is healthy. Strong heartbeat.
Everything looks good.
Which means it’s time.
Time to tell Jasper.
I’m terrified.
We’re meeting at his apartment tonight.
Our usual Thursday.
I have the ultrasound photo in my purse.
Proof.
Sienna hugged me this morning.
“You can do this.”
“What if he freaks out?”
“Then he freaks out. But he deserves to know.”
She’s right.
***
I arrive at 8 PM.
Jasper answers the door.
Smiling.
God, he’s beautiful.
“Hey.”
He kisses me.
Deep. Familiar.
I almost lose my nerve.
But no.
I have to do this.
“We need to talk.”
His smile fades.
“That sounds ominous.”
“It’s… important.”
We sit on his couch.
He takes my hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Exactly. It’s just…”
Deep breath.
“I’m pregnant.”
Silence.
Complete, shocked silence.
He stares at me.
Processing.
“You’re… what?”
“Pregnant. Twelve weeks. From Miami.”
More silence.
Then:
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I’ve seen a doctor. Had ultrasounds. Blood tests. It’s real.”
He stands.
Paces.
Runs hands through his hair.
“Twelve weeks. You’ve known for… how long?”
“Six weeks. Since I found out.”
“Six weeks. And you didn’t tell me.”
His voice is careful.
Controlled.
But I hear the hurt underneath.
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of this. Your reaction. What it means for us. For our families.”
He turns to face me.
“Did you think I wouldn’t want to be involved?”
“I didn’t know what you’d want.”
“I’d want to be there. From the beginning. Doctor’s appointments. Decisions. Everything.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner.”
He sits beside me again.
Takes both my hands.
“You’re really pregnant. With my baby.”
“Yes.”
His eyes drop to my stomach.
Still flat.
Hidden.
“Can I…?”
I nod.
He places his hand on my abdomen.
Gentle. Reverent.
“There’s a baby in there.”
“There is.”
“Our baby.”
“Our baby.”
He looks up at me.
Eyes shining.
“I’m going to be a father.”
Not a question.
A realization.
“Yes.”
Then he smiles.
Wide. Genuine. Happy.
“Holy shit. We’re having a baby.”
Relief floods through me.
“You’re not angry?”
“Angry? Maren, this is… this is incredible. Terrifying. But incredible.”
“Really?”
“Really. I want this. Want you. Want our baby. All of it.”
I start crying.
Hormones. Relief. Joy.
He pulls me close.
Holds me.
“We’ll figure this out. Together. Okay?”
I nod against his chest.
“Okay.”
***
JASPER
I’m going to be a father.
The thought terrifies me.
Exhilarates me.
Maren is pregnant.
With MY baby.
A baby.
Jesus.
“What do we do now?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought past telling you.”
“We need a plan.”
“For what?”
“Everything. Doctor’s appointments. Telling our families. The business implications.”
She pulls back.
Face pale.
“We can’t tell our families.”
“Maren—”
“No. You don’t understand. Uncle Conrad will lose his mind. He’ll think I betrayed him. The company. My mother’s memory. Everything.”
“He’ll get over it.”
“You don’t know him. This will destroy us. The agency. Everything.”
She’s panicking.
I take her face in my hands.
“Hey. Look at me. We’ll figure it out. But we can’t hide this forever.”
“Why not? At least until after Hartley. Until we have the account secured.”
“That’s two months away.”
“I know. But if we tell them now, they’ll sabotage everything. Each other. Us. The baby.”
She’s probably right.
Conrad is vengeful.
My board is conservative.
This will be a scandal.
“Okay. We wait. Until after Hartley. Then we tell them together.”
“Together?”
“Yeah. United front. We’re having a baby. They can accept it or not. But we’re not backing down.”
She looks uncertain.
“You promise? You won’t change your mind?”
“I promise. I’m all in, Maren. You. Baby. Everything.”
She kisses me.
And I feel it.
The shift.
This isn’t just a secret affair anymore.
This is real.
Permanent.
Forever.
And I wouldn’t change it for anything.
***
MAREN
He wants this.
Wants the baby.
Wants me.
I didn’t expect that.
Expected anger. Rejection. Accusations.
But he’s… happy.
Protective. Committed.
“I want to come to your next appointment,” he says.
“It’s not necessary—”
“I want to. Please.”
How can I say no to that?
“Okay. Next appointment is in two weeks. Tuesday at 2 PM.”
“I’ll be there.”
He pulls out his phone.
Adds it to his calendar.
Like a normal expectant father.
Except we’re not normal.
We’re Ross and King.
Enemies having a baby.
This is going to explode spectacularly.
But for now?
For now, I let myself be happy.
“Have you thought about names?” he asks.
I laugh.
“It’s twelve weeks. We don’t even know the gender.”
“Still. Have you thought about it?”
I have.
Late at night.
When I can’t sleep.
“Maybe. A little.”
“Tell me.”
“If it’s a girl… maybe Elena. After my grandmother.”
His expression softens.
“That’s beautiful. And if it’s a boy?”
“I don’t know. What about you?”
“If it’s a boy… maybe Thomas. After my grandfather.”
I tense.
The man who started this whole feud.
Jasper sees my reaction.
“Or not. We’ll figure it out.”
Yeah.
We will.
Somehow.
END OF CHAPTER 7
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