The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188 Chapter 188

-Ava’s POV

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Isabella once called what was happening between Grayson and me a story. A story that had been told countless times before, but maybe ours, with the constant ups and downs and endless back-and-forths, was just a little longer. Maybe a little more

tedious.

And I would know because I was the one living it.noveldrama

So, what was happening right now? It was that inevitable breakup part-the one where we separate, realize we’re meant for each other, and come back together for the happily ever after.

But a few things didn’t match the usual rhythm of the tales told and written.

Like how Grayson and I, no matter what the world wanted or what destiny had in mind, weren’t meant for each other.

How it was over between us, and absolutely nothing would bring us back together.

And how this most definitely wasn’t a story.

“This came in for you today,” My mother’s voice cut through the stillness, making me slowly raise my head. My eyes landed on the envelope in her hand before I looked back down at my clasped hands, saying nothing.

“I read it.”

Of course, she did. Like she read everything that came here when I lived under her roof, making sure only the things she deemed acceptable made it into my hands.

“Dr. Griffin fired you.”

‘Well, that makes writing my resignation letter easier,’ I thought to myself but didn’t say it. Just like I hadn’t said a single word for two days. Ever since I cried in her arms. Ever since I collapsed into this couch. Ever since my entire world imploded. I hadn’t eaten. I hadn’t moved. I was simply…here. Existing.

Well, I did move once yesterday. The nausea had crept up on me, and I’d barely made it to the bathroom before vomiting everything I’d barely eaten the day before.

“Ava.”

Her voice brought me back to the present. Slowly, I forced myself to look at her. But the moment of softness I thought might remain was gone. Instead, I saw that look. The one I’d grown up with. The Evelyn Pierce look. Cold. Calculating.

I let out a soft laugh. It was kind of catchy. The Evelyn Pierce look.

“Ava,” She snapped again.

I blinked, forcing myself to focus on her-or at least try to. Maybe this wasn’t real. Maybe I’d wake up and… What is that nauseating smell?

“Ava Lilian Pierce!”

Her sharp tone jolted me fully into reality. Every fragmented thought vanished. The smell disappeared. And the pain came crashing back, sharper than before.

15:11 Sen 2 Feb

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“I’m sorry I got fired,” I whispered finally, though the words barely felt like my own. My voice sounded foreign, hollow, as if it belonged to someone else entirely.

She let out an annoyed sigh, tossing the envelope to the side. Then, with a calculating air, she sat down across from me. “It wasn’t even that good of a hospital anyway,” She said, her tone dismissive as always.

I didn’t argue. What was the point? Why bother telling her that I loved working there? That it wasn’t “just” a hospital. It was where I’d seen the first glimpses of Grayson’s humanity-the day he saved Mikayla’s mother instead of focusing on his own needs.

But none of that mattered now. None of it. Because my life was a disaster and someone was trying to kill me.

I giggled bitterly at the thought. Someone was trying to kill me, and here I was, fired, alone, and utterly useless. Grayson hadn’t even let the guards come with me. He’d dismissed me so thoroughly, so completely, that he didn’t even care about the threat hanging over my head anymore.

Well, the message did say “The Queen is Next.” But I’m not his queen anymore, so problem solved, right? Another giggle escaped me.

I was so smart. If only I’d been this smart when I met him. I would have known to stay the hell away.

“That man has driven my daughter to insanity,” I heard my mother mutter under her breath.

I blinked at her, startled, before realizing I was smiling. M

“Uh… I don’t know,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes. “I don’t know what it is or why it happens. Can I… can I please have some water?” I pushed myself up slowly, wincing as my body protested.

She didn’t answer immediately, but I saw her walk to the corner of the room, filling a glass with water from a bottle before handing it to me. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes were sharp, searching. And then, as she handed me the glass, she asked, “What is a cryptic pregnancy, Ava?”

I stared at her for a long moment, wondering if I’d heard her right. A cryptic pregnancy? Of all the things to ask about, why that?

I almost wanted to laugh. I could feel the bitterness bubbling up inside me. Seriously? After everything that had happened after all the chaos, this is what she chose to focus on? A medical term?

But instead of laughing, I just sighed, the weight of it all pressing down on me. “I’m not in the mood for this, please. I’m really not in the mood,” I muttered, hoping she’d drop it.

But, of course, she didn’t. She stood there, waiting for my response. And so, reluctantly, I gave it to her. “In a cryptic pregnancy, the individual is unaware of their pregnancy for a significant portion-or even the entirety-of the pregnancy. It happens for a number of reasons, like hormonal imbalances, or because the symptoms just aren’t noticeable. Or maybe there are psychological factors involved. You know, stress, or….. focus on other things, things that distract you from your body’s changes.”

I didn’t know why I was explaining it to her. It just came out, the words spilling from my mouth before I could stop them. Maybe I was just trying to make sense of it all, too.

I went on, my voice quiet, almost detached. “When something stressful or traumatic happens, like… something big, the body might start responding. It releases stress hormones, and that can trigger symptoms that were once suppressed. Like, nausea, vomiting…” I trailed off, realizing what I was saying, and as soon as the words left my lips, I felt the full weight of them settle

1. in.

No. No.

I shook my head, trying to shake off the thought. But it was there, lingering, heavy in my chest.

Her eyes were already on my stomach, and I could feel her gaze burning into me, assessing, calculating. My

stomach

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churned, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at her.

Before I could stop her, she said it-she said exactly what I was dreading “From my calculations, ports out two

mone and two weeks pregnant.”