Chapter 468: Destined but Not Meant to Be

“Oh, I can’t help myself!”

Cecelia Archer ran over and grabbed Amina’s arm. “I’m just so happy for you! You deserve this. The best is yet to come. Really, congratulations!”

Amina’s eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Cecelia. I couldn’t have made it this far without you. And you too, Faye. You’re both such wonderful people. I’m so lucky to have met you.”

As they spoke, the three women grew emotional, their eyes welling up as they hugged each other and started to cry.

Damien Vaughn rushed over to pull Cecelia Archer back.

“You’re pregnant! What are you doing, crying and jumping around like this? Be careful! You might hurt the baby!”

This was the first time Brandon Jacobs, Faye Fisher, Zeke Walton, and Amina were hearing about Cecelia Archer’s pregnancy.

“You’re pregnant? When did it happen? How far along are you? Why didn’t you tell me? This is wonderful! Congratulations!”

‘Not too long ago, Zeke Walton and Amina were going through hell. If I had told them I was pregnant then, it would have been like rubbing my happiness in their faces, wouldn’t it?’

‘Besides, Brandon Jacobs and Faye Fisher’s relationship has never been great either.’

But now that everyone seemed to be doing well, she didn’t feel any guilt about it anymore.

“Not long. It probably happened on our trip to Seacliff. I’m only a little over a month along.”

Zeke Walton said, “A little over a month? That’s around the same time as us. Is it one or two? Cecelia, maybe you and Amina will end up giving birth around the same time.”

Cecelia Archer was stunned. “What do you mean? Amina…”

Zeke Walton proudly wrapped an arm around Amina.

“Amina’s pregnant too. We just found out yesterday. It’s twins.”

AHH!!

Cecelia Archer, Amina, and Faye Fisher held hands and shrieked with excitement.

“Really? See, I told you the best was yet to come! Amina, you’re incredible! Two at once! You’re so lucky!”

Amina and Cecelia Archer started chatting about their pregnancy experiences. Although Faye Fisher was genuinely happy for them, she couldn’t join in on the conversation.

They all chatted from nine in the morning until well past one in the afternoon. Even after they finished lunch, the three women were still chattering away, reluctant to leave.

Zeke Walton had no choice but to be the one to spoil Amina’s fun.

“My mom has been texting me all morning, saying she wants to get you this and that. I told her we’d head back after lunch, but she just texted again to hurry us along. Sorry, everyone. Amina is our family’s most precious cargo right now. My mom wishes she could keep her under constant supervision. I’m afraid we have to head out.”

Damien Vaughn had been wanting to get Cecelia home for a nap for a while, but he hadn’t said anything so as not to be rude to their friends. This was the perfect opportunity.

“Alright, time to go. We’re heading out too. This mom-to-be needs her afternoon nap. She’s been chattering nonstop for hours. I’m getting tired just listening to her.”

They all started making plans to meet again, said their goodbyes, and went to their separate cars.

Back in the car, Faye Fisher’s smile vanished. She leaned back in the passenger seat, her face expressionless as she gazed out the window.

Brandon Jacobs drove silently for a few minutes and glanced at her.

“Why so quiet? What are you thinking about?”

If he didn’t speak, Faye Fisher naturally wouldn’t either.

“I’m not thinking about anything. Take me to the hospital. I’m going to see my dad.”

“Seeing both of them pregnant today… you must be feeling a little down, aren’t you?”

Even though she wouldn’t say what was on her mind, Brandon Jacobs was no fool. He had just pinpointed the source of her melancholy.

Faye Fisher turned her head and gave him a long, meaningful look.

“What are you trying to say?”

Brandon Jacobs said, “Last time at the hospital, we promised our parents we’d have a child soon. I’m sorry, I’ve been so busy lately. Let’s make that a priority again. I want to build a real life with you. Let’s have a baby.”

‘The two of them had no feelings for each other. They had tried several times but had never managed to consummate their relationship. For him to suddenly say he wanted to build a real life with her… Faye found it laughable.’

‘But what was even more ridiculous was that Wyatt Wynn had disappeared. She hadn’t seen him in a long time.’

‘She had expected to see him at Zeke’s get-together today, but Zeke said he’d texted Wyatt Wynn. Wyatt was out of town on business and wouldn’t be back anytime soon.’

‘Even though Faye knew she had forced herself on Wyatt Wynn that night, was it really necessary for him to avoid her like this?’

‘It’s not like she was going to cling to him and refuse to let go.’

Faye Fisher felt so lonely. Her life felt aimless, with nothing to look forward to. So when Brandon Jacobs suggested having a child at a time like this, she was surprisingly willing to agree.

‘It seemed to be a woman’s instinct to want to be a mother.’

‘No matter who the father was, the child would be hers.’

Faye Fisher needed a child to fill her emptiness and loneliness, so she tacitly agreed.

Brandon Jacobs dropped her off at the hospital entrance.

“I’ll pick you up around dinnertime. We’ll leave tonight. I’ll make it up to you with the private honeymoon we never had, and we’ll aim to conceive by next month. Then the three of you can be pregnant together and raise your children together. The kids will have companions as they grow up.”

As he spoke, Faye Fisher could almost picture it: herself, heavily pregnant, hanging out with Cecelia Archer and Amina; the three of them raising their babies together; their children growing up and chattering away with each other.

It felt as if her life had a glimmer of hope again.

True to his word, Brandon Jacobs picked her up at dinnertime and took her home.

The two ate a quiet dinner. Afterward, Faye Fisher went upstairs to pack some clothes, which she put in the car’s trunk, and then Brandon Jacobs drove off with her.

They weren’t going far, just to a small resort town near Veridia to spend a few quiet, secluded days away from the world.

It was a good plan, but just as they got onto the elevated highway, Brandon Jacobs’s phone rang.

He assumed it was work-related and initially planned to ignore it, but the person immediately called a second time.

Faye Fisher felt he didn’t need to put on such a show for her. He should see who he needed to see and answer the calls he needed to answer. She wasn’t going to be petty about it.

“Just answer it. What if it’s important?”

Brandon Jacobs’s phone wasn’t connected to the car’s Bluetooth, so he pulled it out of his pants pocket.

He never expected to see Donna Thorne’s name flashing on the screen.

Since Donna Thorne had come to Veridia, she had only contacted him twice.

The first time was at the airport when she had lost all her identification.

The second time was when she found a job, earned her first paycheck, and paid back the five thousand he had lent her.

When things were fine, Donna Thorne never called or texted. She never bothered him.

Brandon Jacobs had a gut feeling she was in trouble.

“Hello.”

A man’s voice came from the receiver. “Hello, this is the Cervia District Police Station. Am I speaking with Brandon Jacobs?”

Brandon Jacobs raised an eyebrow. “Where did you say you’re from?”

“The Cervia District Police Station. Donna Thorne is a suspect in a case of fraud that resulted in a death, and she has been taken into custody. Her boss has absconded, and we are in active pursuit. You’re listed as her only family member, is that correct? Please come down to the station to assist us with the investigation.”

Faye Fisher watched from the passenger seat as the color drained from Brandon Jacobs’s face. With a wry smile, she turned her head back toward the window.

‘It seemed they were fated to meet but not destined to be together. They were never going to make it.’

“I’m sorry, Faye…”

“It’s fine. Go take care of your business. Just pull over here. I’ll grab a cab home.”