Note:  Isabella's best friend's name is Victoria and not Veronica. It's a typing error. I have changed it in the previous chapters but if you still find it somewhere let me know. Enjoy!

Isabella

Shifting my butt on the wooden chair I looked around at the cafe I was currently in. People came in and went with their coffees, some sat down like me but was enjoying their morning coffee along with some croissant or light breakfast but I just had a cup of hot coffee which was getting cold as I let it sit there, untouched. I wasn't here for the coffee, I wasn't here to enjoy my morning. I was here to meet him. Only he can help me in this difficult situation.

I exhaled loudly and moved my gaze outside the glass wall, people hustled on the street, moving on with their lives while mine has been stuck in place for weeks. The chime of the bell grabbed my attention and I looked up to see the familiar face of Sean. Instinctively I smiled and stood up when he saw me. "Hey!" He greeted me with a hug and let me melt in his warm arms. "How are you?" He asked after letting me go and we took our seats opposite to each other. "Fine as can be," I replied. Sean ordered a coffee for him and then a silence enveloped us.

"You want to move again?" He asked me. For the past years, the only reason I have called him to meet me was because I had to move, which was the same reason I asked him to meet me today. "Yes," I said but had a small frown when he just nodded his head at me. Usually, he would ask me questions that if my reason for running around has found me again, what happened but today he just nodded with pursed lips. "Why?" He asked.

Hearing this question my heart started beating erratically. Closing my eyes and with a deep inhalation I blurted out "I'm pregnant"

Sean, who was taking a sip of his hot coffee suddenly started coughing violently. I pushed a glass of water towards him with my lips curled up in concern and pity. "You are what?" He asked, a bit loudly. I looked at the people who were looking at our table and gave them a nervous laugh. "You heard it," I said through gritted teeth. "How?" He asked which earned him an annoyed look from me. "I mean who's child is it?" He asked. "It's a drunk hook up," I replied, my cheeks heating up in embarrassment. "Izzy.." Sean called out in clear disappointment. "How can you be so irresponsible?" He asked. "I've already had that lecture please don't give it again. Can you help me?" She asked.

"You have a place to spend the night?" He asked. I shook my head in denial and sipped on the cold coffee. "Fine, stay with me for the night. Until you find a place." He said. "You have a plan?" Sean asked, keeping his elbows on the round table and leaned forward, ready to listen to my 'plan' but frowned disappointedly at me when I shook my head at him. "I have yet to think." I verbalized.

"You ran away without thinking?"

"Yes."

"What are you running from this time?" Sean asked and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "The father?" He questioned and I shrugged because partially it was the truth. "I don't want to talk about it now, Sean," I said. He understood my expression and nodded. "You tell me about you, what's on with your life?" I asked. "I got promoted, I'm a Lieutenant now." He said with a smirk on his face. "Wow!" I said in awe and surprise.

"Congratulations," I said with a huge smile on my face, feeling happy after weeks. "Thanks," Sean replied and we continued to chat over a cup of coffee. I forgot my worries for a moment then.

But all came back when I laying on the bed in Sean's room, my eyes fixated on the fan above that moved around with a loud squeak. I looked at the door of the room that was left ajar and sighed hearing Sean snoring louder than the squeak from the fan. Rubbing my face I laid back straight on the soft pillow. Sean's apartment was not that big. Just one bedroom enough for a bed, closet, and study table. A small but spacious kitchen and a fairly big living room where there was a huge couch and a plasma TV. His priorities were very clear.

A chuckle escaped my lips thinking that but it vanished when I remembered the time after New Year. I started feeling fatigued, my body started aching and I fell sick all the time. I wasn't able to work properly but I still refused to go to the doctor. Victoria, being the stubborn and concerning friend she lied to me that she was in an emergency room and I rushed there to see her, only to find that an appointment was made under my name. She was there by my side when I learned about my pregnancy. She was there by my side when I was contemplating whether to abort the baby or accept the gift. She was there by my side when I weighed the pros and cons and decided to have the baby. She was there by my side when I went to Vernon's headquarters to tell him that I'm carrying his baby and he should be ready to take some responsibility for it, but what happened after that made me take this step of running away.

"You stay here, I will go and talk," I said to Victoria who frowned deeply hearing that. "No!" She immediately protested. "Vic, you have a high temper. You talk two syllabi and yell the rest." I said. She opened her mouth to protest but kept her mouth shut when she realized I was right. "Fine." She said and sat on the couch. I smiled at her and walked to the door of Vernon's cabin.

My heart was beating very fast at this stage, I feared that I might have a heart attack at this point. "All the best," I mumbled to myself and gave a light pat to my belly before knocking on the door. I heard a soft feminine voice asking for me to come in. I frowned, last time I check Vernon was guy, definitely a guy. Curious, I pushed the brown door and entered a spacious and elegantly designed cabin.

In the center, there was a huge mahogany table and a lady was sitting behind a black chair. "I'm here to meet Mr. Vernon Morris," I said, confused. "He is busy." The redhead said and smiled at me. "What do you need from him?" She asked, her eyes moving from my head to my toes, clearing judging me. "I wanted to have a talk with him," I said. The redhead stood up from her chair and slowly walked towards me. "And what is that talk?" She asked. "That's personal," I replied to which she scoffed. "Don't worry, you can tell me. I'll be sure to tell him." She said and stopped in front of me. My hand unconsciously went to my belly, an action her eyes caught and raised a brow at me. "Don't tell me you are here to tell Vernon that you are carrying his child." She said, in amusement. My silence made her laugh out loud which was annoying to me.

"What's so funny?" I asked. "This." She replied while pointing at my belly. "God, it's so amusing. I get it he is smart, handsome, rich but you sluts really need to step up your game." She said. My eyebrows furrowed hearing her label my character. I couldn't help it, my hand rose and landed on her cheek that had turned pink from laughing, which had now died down. Her fiery red hair covered her entire face as she still held her stinging cheek. "How dare you label me as a slut?" I asked in anger. "You don't even know me," I added. "I don't need to." She gritted out in anger and was now so close to me that I could feel her ragged breath on my face.

"Listen here you little minx, you leave this building as soon as your fat feet take you. If my eyes ever land on you ever again, the thing in your stomach will pay a heavy price." She threatened. I flinched, not by her words but by her eyes that have now turned red, showing how much she meant every word that just left her mouth. I gulped and took a few steps back before leaving the cabin, tears stinging my eyes.

I didn't leave the city because of her threat, I left it because of Victoria. I knew she would do everything in her power to provide me well and will be now more stubborn than ever. I had too much self-respect to accept that help. Also, I knew that I wouldn't be able to give my baby a good life there so I left Phoenix. Without letting my best friend know.

***

Hey guys!

I'm sorry again I skipped a Sunday but I was busy doing some research for the story so it got delayed. I know this chapter is small but I hope you enjoyed it.

I have also deleted the comments that I had received from the previous version of this book. I think it might mislead the new readers as the story's pace has changed and now the chapters are different. Please don't be offended if your previous comments are not there.