Chapter 24: Chapter 24

I HAD the worst morning sickness when I woke up that Monday morning.

"I'm sorry, Marcus," I said as I talked to Marcus on the phone. I called him to tell that I won't be able to go to work today.

"No problem, Claire," Marcus said on the other end of the line. "Just take a rest for today. Don't worry about the meeting with Mr. Nakamura. I'll take care of it."

We had a meeting this afternoon with one of our Japanese investors. That's why I informed Marcus that I wouldn't be able to make it.

"Thanks, Marcus. I owe you one." I said before I ended the call.

"Claire… drink this tea." Adam said, placing the cup of ginger tea in front of me.

"Thank you, Adam." I looked at him and smiled. He was really taking care of me. When I ran myself to the bathroom earlier, Adam followed me and rubbed my back as I threw out everything I ate last night.

"Ugh. I thought I would never experience morning sickness," I said as I slowly took a sip on my tea.

Adam held my vacant hand. "Don't worry, Claire. I'm here. I'll take care of you and our baby."

I smiled at him. "Thanks, Adam. I really appreciate—"

I wasn't able to finish my sentence when I felt another knot in my stomach. I stood up on my seat and ran to the bathroom.

I knelt on the bathroom floor as I vomited my stomach out on the toilet bowl.

"Come on, Claire. You can do it…" I heard Adam's whisper behind me as he gently rubbed my back.

"Damn. Now I feel so weak." I said in a small voice as I leaned my back on the tiled floor. I don't think I still have enough strength to stand up. My knees felt like jelly.

"Claire…" Adam gently said as he gently tucked the strands of hair that were covering my face behind my ear.

I suddenly felt shy when I realized how I look. I was sweating hard. My hair was a mess. I smelled awful.

I looked at Adam but I didn't see any trace of disgust on his handsome face. He just looked genuinely concerned.

I watched him as he took a clean towel from the cabinet. Then he crouched in front of me and gently wiped my face with it.

“A-adam...”

“Let me clean you up, Claire.”

“I can do it alone,” I said in a small voice. I suddenly felt shy in front of him. I looked vulnerable right now and I didn't like that feeling. I tried to get the towel from him but he just held me by the wrist.

He gently smiled at me. “Just let me, Claire."

And while he was gently cleaning me up, I felt like something warm was touching my heart. It was an unusual feeling for me. I had never felt this before. Never experienced this before.

"Let's go to your doctor today." Adam said to me. "What do you think?"

I slowly nodded at him. "Yeah. I wanted to ask if this is normal." I pursed my lips. "I couldn't believe pregnancy is this hard."

Adam sighed. "I wish I could take some of your pain, you know."

An amused smile played on my lips. "Really? You're willing to do that?"

"Of course. I don't want to see the mother of my child suffering."

I pursed my lips. "Aw, that's so nice of you." I tried to play it cool, but the truth was, I was touched with what I'd heard.

He just smiled at me before helping me get up. "Come on."

One hour later, we were already ready to go out.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat breakfast before we go?" Adam asked. He was wearing a navy blue polo shirt and dark jeans. His slightly long hair was still wet from the water.

I pursed my lips. "Let's just eat outside?" I chose to wear a baby blue dress and a pair of flat sandals. I also put on lipstick and light makeup to cover up my pale skin.

"Let's eat breakfast there, Adam," I said, pointing at the Filipino restaurant we saw on the road.

"Alright," Adam said. He stopped the car in front of the restaurant and handed the key to the valet. He was still using that Aston Martin. He told me he rented it for three months. I wondered how much he's paying for it. Well, he's already five million richer now.

"By the way, Adam. I already deposited five million in your account."

He stopped walking and looked at me. "Oh. Okay, Claire. I'll check it. Thanks."

I wondered why he looked so surprised when it was written in the contract.

I was feeling hungry when we got seated in the restaurant. But I couldn't find anything to eat on the menu. In the end, I only chose a salad and a pineapple juice.

“Claire, are you sure that's the only thing you're going to eat?" Adam asked, looking at the salad in front of me.

“Yeah,” I said with a smile. I didn't know why my mood suddenly felt better when I saw the pineapple juice in front of me. "This would be enough for me."

I looked at his plate. He ordered a full breakfast.

"Come on, let's eat," I said, smiling at him.

We started eating, and I devoured my food with so much gusto. This was the first time I'd enjoyed eating a caesar salad for breakfast.

But then I stopped when I noticed Adam had stopped eating and was staring at me.

"Adam, what's wrong? Don't you like your food?"

“Oh...” He blinked. “Nothing… I just noticed you have cheese on your cheek.”

“Oh?”

Before I could react, I already felt his hand on my face. He gently wiped something off my cheek.

“There.” He smiled at me.

I didn't know why, but suddenly, my heart suddenly started beating loudly inside my chest. "T-thank you so much, Adam."

"You're welcome, wife."

Adam went back to his food. While I was left there with my heart berating loudly.