Our Accidental Forever
Chapter 35: A Shattered Plan

Chapter 35: A Shattered Plan

Arec’s POV:

I sat alone in my office, staring blankly at the sleek surface of my desk. The polished wood reflected the light from the window, but it all felt distant, out of focus. I wasn’t seeing the desk. Hell, I wasn’t seeing anything at all.

Ella’s words played over and over in my head, like a haunting echo I couldn’t escape.

"I’m pregnant."

I’d had meticulously crafted this plan, a simple, businesslike arrangement to secure my place as CEO. A fake marriage, a mutually beneficial contract. It was supposed to be clean. Efficient. No strings attached. Just enough to satisfy my grandmother’s ultimatum and get her off my back.

But now... everything was upended. I had thought I could control every outcome, anticipate every twist. But this, this wasn’t something I’d planned for. Not even close.

A baby.

I slumped back in my chair, running my hand over my face, the weight of it all crashing down on me. I felt a cold sweat prickling the back of my neck, and for a moment, I didn’t know if I could breathe. The tightness in my chest kept growing. A baby wasn’t part of the deal. How would this change the contract? My future? And then there was Ella. What was this going to mean for her?

I never imagined myself being a father. Hell, I’d never even wanted kids. I wasn’t made for that kind of responsibility. And now, whether I liked it or not, the decision had been made for me.

I clenched my fists, the frustration building. I wasn’t angry at Ella, how could I be? We both got ourselves into this mess. It was a mistake, a drunken one-night stand that neither of us had really thought about afterward. But it was the situation itself that made me feel like I was sinking into quicksand.

The contract marriage was supposed to be my escape. The one way I could gain the CEO position without having to actually commit to anyone. I’d promised myself it would be temporary, strictly business. After it was all over, I’d be free. But now... "this baby"... it was a responsibility I wasn’t prepared for.

Could I even go through with the original terms anymore? How could we end the contract in a year or two, pretend the marriage had run its course, when there was a child involved?

The thought of modifying the contract crossed my mind, but it felt... wrong. Cruel. I couldn’t just treat Ella like this was still some kind of business deal. I owed her more than that now. And what about the baby? I couldn’t walk away from my own child, could I?

I stared at the stack of paperwork in front of me, spreadsheets, reports, and plans for the company’s future. None of it seemed to matter anymore. All of it felt trivial compared to what was looming over me now. How could I balance fatherhood with becoming CEO? Would this ruin everything?

I needed to talk to someone, anyone. My thoughts were spinning out of control, and I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my own mind. Without thinking, I grabbed my phone and scrolled to Sam’s number. He was always good at making sense of things, even if he did have a habit of teasing me relentlessly.

The phone rang twice before Sam picked up. His familiar voice cut through my haze.

"Yo, fake groom! What’s up, man?" he greeted, his tone light as always.

I hesitated, unsure where to even begin. "Sam... I need to talk to you."

"Uh-oh. You sound serious," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "What’s going on? Did Grandma change her will and leave the company to the cat or something?"

"No, it’s worse," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

"Worse than that?" Sam chuckled, clearly not picking up on my mood yet. "Did you lose a bet and now you have to wear pink to the office?"

I didn’t respond. Silence lingered on the line, and I could almost hear the gears turning in Sam’s head.

"Alright, spill it," he said, his voice suddenly more focused. "What’s eating you?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. "Ella’s pregnant."

There was a pause. Then, an outburst of laughter.

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you serious? The Ella, Ella? The one you’re about to fakingly wed? Dude! You got your fake wife to be pregnant?! You can’t make this stuff up!"

I could hear him snickering on the other end, and despite everything, I had to fight the urge to smile. That was Sam for you, never taking anything too seriously, even when the world was crumbling around you.

"It’s not funny," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "This wasn’t supposed to happen."

"Oh, I’m well aware," he said, still clearly amused. "But seriously, Arec, this is golden. If you were gay like me, none of this would’ve happened. But nooo, you had to be straight, and now your situation is bending you into all sorts of awkward positions."

I rolled my eyes. "I’m glad you’re having fun at my expense."

"Come on, man. I’m just trying to lighten the mood. You’re telling me this isn’t even a little funny? Fake marriage. Real baby. You’ve gotta see the humor in that."

I let out a breath, shaking my head. "It’s not just about the baby, Sam. This complicates everything. The contract, the CEO position... it’s all a mess now."

Sam’s tone softened a bit, the teasing edge fading. "Yeah, I get that. But look, this doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Sure, it’s a curveball, but you’re Arec freaking Weston. You can handle this."

I sighed, staring out the window. "I don’t know if I can. I didn’t sign up for fatherhood, Sam. I’m not ready for this."

"Nobody’s ever really ready, man," Sam said. "But you don’t have a choice now. This kid’s coming, whether you like it or not. So you’ve gotta step up. And I know you will, because you’re not the kind of guy who just bails on people."

His words hit harder than I expected. Sam had always been my voice of reason, even when he was making fun of me.

"I never wanted this," I admitted quietly. "The whole point of the contract was to avoid getting tied down."

"I know," Sam said, his voice calm now. "But things change. Life doesn’t always go according to plan. And sometimes, the things you didn’t plan for end up being the best parts. You’ve just gotta roll with it."

I let his words sink in, the weight of them settling in my chest. He was right, even if I didn’t want to admit it. I couldn’t back out now. The baby was real. The responsibility was real. And like it or not, I had to face it.

"What do I even do now?" I asked, my voice quieter.

Sam chuckled softly. "First, you take a deep breath. Then, you tell yourself it’s gonna be okay. And after that... you talk to Ella. You guys are in this together, whether you like it or not. So figure out a plan, make sure she knows you’re not gonna leave her hanging. You’ve gotta man up, bro."

I sighed again, leaning back in my chair. "You’re right."

"I know I am," Sam said with a smirk in his voice. "And hey, if all else fails, I’ll be here to remind you that this is all your fault for being straight."

I couldn’t help but laugh, despite everything. "Thanks, Sam. I needed that."

"Anytime, man. Just remember, you’ve got this. And if you ever need someone to babysit, don’t call me. I’m terrible with kids."

"Noted," I said, smiling to myself as I hung up the phone.

The reality was starting to settle in. This wasn’t what I’d planned for, but Sam was right, I couldn’t run from it. I had to figure out how to make this work. For Ella. For the baby. And for myself.

I wasn’t sure how I’d pull it off, but one thing was clear: I couldn’t do it alone. And the first step was making sure Ella knew I wasn’t going anywhere.