CHAPTER 76: PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The notification popped up on Ella’s phone as she dried her hands in the bathroom.

Clara is LIVE: "I Owe You All the Truth"

Ella stared at it for a long second. Her thumb hovered over the screen.

She didn’t want to look.

She shouldn’t look.

But of course... she tapped it.

And just like that, Clara’s perfectly filtered face filled the screen, her mascara smudged ever so artfully, her lips trembling, one hand placed protectively over her slightly rounded belly.

The lighting was soft. The mood? Tragic.

"Hi everyone," Clara sniffled, voice wobbling just enough to seem raw without losing control. "I—um—I didn’t want to do this live. But I think it’s time. You all deserve to hear the truth... from me."

Ella arched a brow. The truth?

The truth was buried under a mountain of Clara’s carefully edited Instagram posts and sob-story captions about being "cut off" and "betrayed by family." The truth was something Clara hadn’t touched in years.

Clara sucked in a shaky breath. "First of all... I want to say I’m so, so sorry to Ella. If you’re watching this... I’m sorry for everything. I made mistakes. I was jealous. I said horrible things about you—out of fear, and pride, and... pain."

Ella’s brows knitted together. This wasn’t an apology. Not really. It was performance art.

Clara continued, fingers fluttering nervously across her collarbone. "But you have to understand... I didn’t choose this. I didn’t ask for my mother to fall in love with your father. I didn’t ask to be thrown into a world I didn’t belong in. One day, we were poor, then suddenly I was living in a mansion, and you looked at me like I didn’t deserve to breathe the same air."

There it was. The subtle shift—from apology to manipulation.

Clara’s tone grew softer, more pitiful. "All I ever wanted was a sister. And I know now that I pushed you away because I was scared. Scared you’d never accept me. And maybe... you never did."

Comments flooded the bottom of the live:

"This is so raw omg"

"Ugh families are so complicated"

"You don’t deserve the hate Clara stay strong mama"

Ella stared at the screen, emotionless.

She hadn’t accepted Clara because Clara had treated her like a trespasser in her own home. Had worn her clothes, used her perfume, maxed out her card, and told anyone who’d listen that Ella was just "a spoiled brat with a coma mom complex."

But Clara didn’t mention that.

Of course not.

She wiped her eyes delicately with a tissue, camera zoomed in just enough to show the single trail of a tear sliding down her cheek.

"And to the media," Clara said, lifting her chin a little, "please... stop harassing Ella. She doesn’t deserve the cruelty. Whatever happened between us... it’s in the past now."

And just when Ella thought she’d heard enough—Clara dropped the real bomb.

"I wasn’t going to say this yet..." Her hand slid down to her stomach, voice trembling again. "But... I’m pregnant."

There it was.

A beat passed. Then comments exploded:

"PREGNANT?? OMG"

"Wait who’s the dad??"

"Plot twistttttttt!!!"

"Does Ella know???"

"I wasn’t going to announce this like this," Clara whispered, smiling shyly through more tears. "But maybe it’s fate. Maybe this baby... will be the bridge that heals our family."

Unbelievable.

Ella almost laughed. Clara had managed to hijack her own apology and turn it into a redemption arc and a pregnancy reveal all at once.

Classic.

She clicked out of the live before she could see any more.

—

Ella walked back to the living room, fingers clenching her phone a little too tightly.

Nicholas looked up from where he was lounging on the couch, shirtless, hair still messy from their earlier cuddles. He was reading something, but his eyes immediately flicked to her face.

"What is it?" he asked, already pushing himself up.

She shook her head. "Clara went live."

His expression darkened. "What did she say?"

Ella hesitated. "She apologized."

Nicholas raised a brow. "Did hell freeze over?"

"And announced she’s pregnant."

Nicholas blinked. "She’s what?"

"I don’t believe it," Ella muttered, pacing. "It’s too convenient. The tears. The apology. The subtle victim complex. The pregnancy. All perfectly timed."

Nicholas stood and walked over to her, his hands catching her waist. "What are you feeling right now?"

Ella met his eyes. "Honestly? A little angry. A little sad. And also... like I should’ve seen this coming."

He pulled her in gently, resting his chin on top of her head. "Whatever stunt she’s pulling, you don’t have to deal with it alone."

Ella pressed her face into his chest. "It’s not even about the baby. Or the apology. It’s the fact that she always, alwaysspins the story before I can catch up. She’s already the victim before I even open my mouth."

Nicholas exhaled slowly. "Let her play the public. I’ll handle the press if it gets to that. But Ella... she doesn’t get to live in your head rent-free. Not anymore."

She nodded into his chest, clinging just a little tighter than she meant to.

Later that day, while Nicholas was on a brief call, Ella’s phone started pinging with mentions on social media.

@gossipLuxe: "Clara J. dropped MAJOR bombs in her live—apology to estranged sister Ella + a PREGNANCY announcement 👀 Ella, girl... your move "

@truthtea_: "I’m not saying Clara is manipulating the media but... I’m saying it. Watch how she spins this into a PR baby."

@clara4ever: "You can tell Clara is trying to be better. People grow. Maybe this baby is her redemption arc. Leave her alone 🥺"

Ella tossed the phone face down on the couch and walked to the window, watching the sky turn gold with the setting sun.

Nicholas finished his call and came to stand behind her. "It’s starting, isn’t it?"

She nodded.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Then we fight smarter."

Ella leaned back into him. "I’m tired of fighting."

He pressed a kiss to her temple. "Then let me fight for you."

And for the first time in hours, Ella let herself smile.