Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Shocking Discovery Made

Ivy’s POV

Saturday morning in our fortified apartment felt like a rare gift. I sat cross-legged on the bulletproof glass-reinforced living room floor, watching Max construct towers with his blocks while Zoe sprawled across the leather sofa, her legs dangling over the armrest. We discussed weekend plans in hushed tones, grateful for this precious respite from our usual Saturday security briefings. Caleb had recently reduced the mandatory family council meetings, reserving them only for genuine emergencies that threatened the organization.

The sharp ring of my encrypted phone from the marble kitchen counter shattered our peaceful conversation. I glanced at the caller identification and recognized the number, though something felt unsettling about it. Medical facility. Unusual timing.

”Hello?”

”Ivy? This is Sarah from Dr. Taylor’s private practice. How have you been managing, sweetheart?”

”Oh, Sarah! I’m managing well, thank you. How are things with you?”

”Excellent, dear. I was anticipating your call to reschedule that appointment you had to cancel. It has been quite an extended period now.”

My stomach plummeted like lead. The appointment. How could I have completely overlooked it? ”Dear God, Sarah, I apologize profusely. These recent weeks have been absolutely overwhelming.”

”No cause for concern, honey. I’m contacting you because I’m updating confidential patient records today, and your file is positioned directly before me on my desk. Since your current birth control coverage has lapsed, I thought perhaps you might consider coming in today? Dr. Taylor has an available slot this afternoon if that interests you.”

The words struck me like arctic water. Birth control coverage lapsed. My mind scrambled frantically, attempting to calculate dates, but everything felt hazy and disconnected.

”Sarah, could you verify my file? How long has my coverage been expired?”

”Let me examine this... appears to be for quite some time now. You had the subcutaneous implant that provides extended protection...”

Her voice dissolved into background static as terror seized my chest. An extended period. An extended period without any protection. The elevator encounter with Caleb blazed through my memory with devastating clarity. This could not be happening again. Not now. Not with everything so dangerously complicated.

I must have produced some audible reaction because suddenly Zoe materialized beside me, carefully extracting the phone from my trembling hands. She spoke briefly with Sarah before disconnecting.

”Ivy, focus on me. Breathe alongside me.” Zoe’s voice sliced through the panic consuming me.

I stared at her as if she were communicating in an alien language. My chest felt constricted, as though someone was systematically squeezing all oxygen from my lungs. Zoe grasped my hands firmly, demonstrating slow, deliberate breaths until I could synchronize with her rhythm.

”Zoe... the elevator... it occurred weeks ago...” I struggled to formulate coherent thoughts.

”I understand, honey. I have arranged your appointment for this afternoon. Go shower and prepare yourself while I request Finn to supervise Max.” Zoe had immediately shifted into emergency management mode.

Minutes later, we hurried from the building, leaving Max under Finn’s reliable protection. Finn observed my distressed condition but wisely refrained from pressing for details when Zoe remained deliberately silent. She knew he would immediately alert Caleb if he suspected anything genuinely serious.

Outside the medical facility, Zoe squeezed my ice-cold hands and met my gaze steadily.

”Whatever transpires inside, we will confront it together. You are not isolated in this situation.”

A solitary tear traced down my cheek as we entered the building. Sarah welcomed us with her characteristic warmth, quickly preparing chamomile tea when she noticed my obvious distress. Dr. Taylor emerged from his private office moments later, beaming at both of us.

”My most cherished patients! I have been wondering when you would visit.”

”Hello, Dr. Taylor,” Zoe embraced him affectionately. Since Finn’s family had essentially adopted her into their inner circle, she had developed a close relationship with his uncle as well.

”I am thriving wonderfully, though I do not see nearly enough of you these days. Austin kept me occupied with the latest genetic research conferences, but I expected more frequent visits from you living so nearby now.”

”Life in this city moves at breakneck speed,” Zoe laughed. ”Plus you are constantly traveling to fascinating destinations.”

”And Ivy, how have you been coping?” Dr. Taylor directed his attention to me, extending his hand.

”Terrified, honestly. I have made a potentially catastrophic error.” My voice cracked with raw emotion.

”Let us not assume the worst before we possess any definitive information. Come, let us conduct a proper examination.” Dr. Taylor guided us into his secure private office.

He began with standard medical inquiries, weaving in lighthearted anecdotes and gentle humor to alleviate my tension. Once my breathing had stabilized, he requested I change into an examination gown for the physical assessment. His professional silence during the examination only intensified my anxiety. He collected blood samples personally, marking them urgent for laboratory processing.

”Results will require a while. Let us wait comfortably.” Dr. Taylor escorted us to a small sitting area within his office, serving coffee and pastries that Sarah had thoughtfully arranged.

We discussed our adjustment to city life and Max’s development. I mentioned my parents’ relocation to the farm, and Dr. Taylor promised to visit them during his next trip to Greenleaf. The conversation helped occupy the time, though my stomach remained knotted with apprehension.

Sarah’s gentle knock announced the arrival of test results. Dr. Taylor reviewed them meticulously before raising his eyes to mine.

”Ivy, you are pregnant. Congratulations on this wonderful news. Max will have a sibling...”

The room spun violently around me. My vision narrowed as consciousness slipped away.

I awakened on the leather couch with Dr. Taylor monitoring my blood pressure. The reality crashed over me in overwhelming waves. Pregnant. Again. Zoe watched me with barely contained excitement dancing in her eyes.

”I am receiving another godchild!” she announced joyfully.

”Only you could make me smile right now,” I managed through tears and nervous laughter. ”At least this time I know who the father is!”

Our shared laughter filled the room, breaking some of the suffocating tension.

”Ivy, you are incredibly resilient. This pregnancy will be different,” Dr. Taylor assured me. ”I will have Sarah schedule all your prenatal appointments immediately to prevent any missed visits. I am prescribing prenatal vitamins, anti-nausea medication, and other necessities.”

”Thank you,” I nodded, feeling slightly more grounded.

”Zoe, I cannot inform Caleb about this. Not yet.” I noticed Dr. Taylor’s expression shift behind his glasses.

”That will be nearly impossible, Ivy. The girls would preserve your secret indefinitely, but Finn and Thorne have become close allies. My boyfriend is not exactly renowned for his discretion,” Zoe warned.

”My nephew was never reliable with confidential information,” Dr. Taylor agreed. ”Ivy, if you will permit me to say so, Caleb deserves to know. I understand your situation is complicated, but...”

”Wait, how do you know about Ivy and Caleb?” Zoe interrupted, clearly surprised.

”Finn introduced us recently. Caleb required information about DNA testing procedures. Actually, I came in today specifically to meet with him. You might encounter him when you leave,” Dr. Taylor admitted reluctantly.

”Finn never mentioned any of this to me,” Zoe muttered irritably.

”Professor, I need your complete discretion. Caleb is getting married very soon, and I will not be responsible for disrupting his life,” I pleaded, knowing he would honor patient confidentiality.

Armed with prescriptions and a complete appointment schedule, we prepared to leave. Dr. Taylor extracted promises for future social visits with his family. Stepping out of his office, I exhaled with relief at the empty waiting room. But as we finished saying goodbye to Sarah and turned toward the exit, I found myself face to face with Caleb and his insufferable fiancée clinging possessively to his arm.