Billionaire's Pregnant Ex-wife novel Chapter 3

“Don't cry, sweetie… I'm here…” She gently took me into her arms and caressed my hair with her thin and rough hands.

“Don't scare me again, Mom,” I told her.

“I promise, sweetie, so please stop crying.” Mom lifted her frail hands and wiped the tears from my cheek until it was completely dry, then she looked deep into my eyes with love gleaming in her gaze. Mom loved the unique color of my eyes, and she always gazed into my eyes whenever she had the chance. I was suffering from a rare eye condition called Heterochromia Iridum, which makes the color of my irises different from each other, the left eye being emerald green and the other the color of a blue ocean.

“Your eyes are the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen, Lily. You're unique and beautiful too, and wherever you go, you seem to stand out from everyone else. At your age, you’re supposed to be enjoying your life, but look at you, you have me as a burden. I'm sorry that you didn't finish college so you could take good care of me.”

“You're the best thing that happened to me, Mom. I will never tire of loving you and will never consider you a burden on my shoulders.” I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight. It was my simple way of showing how much I love her.

“It's already late, Mom. You need to sleep now. I'll help you to your bed,” I told her when the hug ended. I took the photo album from her lap and helped her get up from the sofa. Mom was so light that I could carry her into my arms without difficulty.

“I need to tell you something important, Lily,” she said the moment I laid her on the bed. Mom sounded urgent.

My gaze drifted to the wall clock and saw the time, so I shook my head. The doctor forbade her from sleeping late; it was bad for her health.

“Some other time, Mom. Okay? You should sleep now.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Goodnight, Mom,” I whispered. She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. Moments later, she was fast asleep.

I listened to her soft snore as I watched the rise and fall of her chest.

“I love you,” I whispered, a tear falling on my cheek, and I quickly wiped it with the back of my hand before making my way to my room.

—

The unnerving silence welcomed my ears the moment I reached my room. It was cold inside. The wide-open windows allowed the wind to get in.

With a ton of questions running through my thoughts, I finally fell asleep.

—

I woke up from the piercing sound of my alarm clock. A grumpy sigh escaped from my lips as I reached the top of the night table and turned the alarm clock off before burying my head under the pillow. I hadn’t been in that position for long when a knock sounded on the door.

Despite my inner protests, I got up from the bed and padded across the carpeted floor with my bare feet. It must be urgent, I thought to myself, forcing my sleepy eyelids to open. The room next to mine is my mother’s room. She’s the only person I know who would knock on my room at this hour. Perhaps she needed to go to the bathroom and required my help.

The last sign of sleepiness escaped my body when I unlocked the door and saw the women waiting outside. Celine stood in the doorway in her usual white scrub uniform. A beautiful smile lit her face as she held my favorite black forest cake in both hands. Mom was beside her, seated in her wheelchair. A smile stretched on her lips as she looked at me. Mom’s face was thin and pale, but it couldn’t conceal the genuine happiness that shone in her eyes.

“Happy twenty-fourth birthday, Lily!” They greeted me in unison just as I was about to ask them about the occasion.