“So Hera, how far gone are you?” Diana asked just as I was about to put a forkful of the Chinese fried rice on the plate before, a delicacy that was made from scratch by the head chef, Elena and if I wasn’t exaggerating, I’d say it tasted better than the one they sold at the Chinese restaurant across the street of my old neighborhood. I dropped my fork on my plate and took a sip of water to wash down the food I’d already eaten. “Nineteen weeks.” I told her while glancing at Aziel who was sitting across from me at the dining table. I wasn’t sure if that was the exact weeks I’d been pregnant for seeing as I never visited the hospital or had a doctor tell me how far I was gone. All I did was count from the last time I saw my period to that current day. “Oh really?” She glanced between Aziel and me. “You’ve been seeing each other for that long?” She asked and I found myself tongue-tied even though all I had to do was nod my head or say yes. Ever since she had requested to speak to Azi

I woke up around 7 am the next morning and decided to clean up in the bathroom before having my morning coffee. I was dressed in a pair of jeans and a cute short-sleeved top. My outfit was paired with a pair of brown sandals. After checking myself in the mirror for the umpteenth time, I decided that I looked good enough for a doctor's appointment and it was time to leave the room for the kitchen. I was just about to enter the kitchen when I saw a middle-aged woman standing by the sink. I paused and blinked multiple times just to be sure that I wasn't seeing it wrongly. My brows furrowed as I cautiously walked into the kitchen. She must have noticed my presence 'cause she suddenly turned around, startling me. "Err g-good morning." I greeted, slowing down my pace as I walked further into the kitchen. "Ah, you must be Ms. Hera." She said with a friendly smile on her face that made me feel as if she had known me for a while. I nodded slowly still not knowing who she was or how she kne

“Is there anyone you would like to invite?” Aziel asked me as he typed away on his laptop. I didn’t even need to think about it before shaking my head. “Except Alex.” I told him. It was a Sunday morning. Aziel had immediately asked for us to discuss our wedding plans—which was in six days—right after breakfast. The wedding was originally supposed to be a week ago like he had told his parents during our last dinner with them but well, Aziel was quick to realize that wedding preparations couldn’t be rushed like he had been wanting to. It didn’t matter if it were a real wedding or not. “So maximum of five guests.” He nodded without taking his eyes off his laptop screen. “Five? Aren’t you going to invite people? Your friends maybe?” I asked even though I wasn’t really sure he had friends. “No. Just Cole and my mother.” “So you don’t have friends?” I asked him. “No other friends besides Cole?” I didn’t take Aziel for a loner but I would totally understand if he didn’t have any friend

I didn’t leave my room until around past 9 am the next morning when I was sure he would have left for work. I was avoiding Aziel as I wasn’t ready for the conversation he wanted us to have. I’d decided that if I ended up having that conversation with him, I would just tell him that I didn’t care and he didn’t need to talk about it with me. My stomach suddenly growled when I brushed my teeth reminding me that I didn’t have anything to eat last night. Going to bed without dinner wasn’t something I did intentionally, I mean yes I was avoiding Aziel but I’d left my home around past eleven the previous night to go grab some of the leftover cookies I made in the afternoon. I had thought he would have retired to his room for the night seeing as the next morning was Monday and he needed to arrive at work early. So imagine my shock when I got to the living room and saw him seated on the couch, working. I had immediately bolted back to my room before Aziel could as much as notice my presence.

"Groom, will you have Hera Garcia to be your wife, to live with her, respect her, and love her as God intends with the promise of faithfulness, tenderness, and helpfulness, as long as you both shall live?"The words echoed in the church, sounding louder in my ears than the ringing of the church bells. Aziel’s head turned towards me, fierce green eyes staring deeply into my brown ones. I stared back just as fiercely, squeezing his hand so tight I almost snapped his fingers. Was he going to break the silence?He better not think of bailing on me. Turning away from the crowd to look at the priest standing behind us, Aziel nodded once. “Yes.” A wave of relief suddenly washed through me. “Bride, will you have Aziel Walker to be your husband, to live with him, respect him, and love him as God intends with the promise of faithfulness, tenderness, and helpfulness, as long as you both shall live?” I glanced up at Aziel, nervously nibbling on the inside of my lower lip. Squeezing his hand