My Pregnancy Contract With The Billionaire

Chapter 15

Cristine sat across from the doctor in the quiet of Andrei’s study, her fingers tapping nervously against the arm of her chair. Andrei was seated beside her, his usual cool, composed expression set as he listened intently. She was still adjusting to this unusual intimacy of shared consultations and private discussions in this grand estate, where every conversation about conception was delicately personal yet entirely procedural. The doctor had arrived at Andrei’s invitation, a gesture he’d made to try to make the process easier and clear up any lingering doubts they both might have had.

After a moment of rifling through her notes, the doctor finally set her papers aside and looked at the two of them with a calm smile.

“Well, I’m happy to report that both of you are in excellent health,” she began. “I’ve reviewed your previous results, and there’s absolutely nothing that should be preventing conception on either side. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of timing.”

Cristine felt a pang of both relief and frustration. Knowing they were both healthy meant that the struggles of the past attempts were down to other factors beyond their control. She glanced over at Andrei, who nodded slightly, his jaw tensing as he listened.

“Now,” the doctor continued, “I know that trying to conceive under specific circumstances and timelines can be stressful. And stress, as we know, is one of the biggest barriers to conception. If I may suggest, it might help to try and relax, enjoy more time together, and perhaps try not to think of it as a process, but rather as part of the experience.”

Cristine’s cheeks warmed, but she did her best to appear unaffected, nodding along with the doctor’s advice. Spending time together, connecting—these were things she’d once hoped might develop naturally between them. She glanced at Andrei, wondering how he felt about it. But his face remained unreadable, giving no hint of his thoughts.

“Of course,” the doctor continued with a warm smile, “I’m not suggesting you ignore the goal; rather, I’m saying that shared moments and connection can ease the tension for both of you. This can sometimes make the process smoother, both emotionally and physically. As unconventional as this arrangement may feel, I’d recommend letting the experience be something that brings you closer in a genuine way.”

Andrei’s eyes flickered in Cristine’s direction, and she caught the hint of something softer in his expression. She knew he wasn’t one to open up easily, but perhaps this advice could change things, help break down the walls he kept so firmly in place.

The doctor reached into her bag and pulled out two bottles of vitamins. “I also have some supplements that can aid in this process. While both of you are healthy, these might help balance any additional nutritional needs and can also support overall reproductive health. These vitamins are tailored specifically to support fertility, so they should be beneficial.”

Cristine reached forward, taking her bottle, examining the label as she tried to avoid meeting Andrei’s gaze. She felt strangely vulnerable, her heart racing with a mix of embarrassment and anticipation. There was something undeniably intimate in the simple act of both of them receiving fertility vitamins, a shared commitment toward this complex goal.

The doctor rose, signaling the end of the consultation, and Cristine stood with her. Andrei extended his hand as well, nodding gratefully. “Thank you, Doctor,” he said, his voice more relaxed than usual. “Your insights are greatly appreciated.”

Once the doctor left, silence settled over the study. Cristine turned to Andrei, unsure of what to say, still replaying the doctor’s advice in her mind. She’d thought of this arrangement as businesslike, devoid of unnecessary emotion or closeness. Yet the doctor’s suggestion to connect, to enjoy each other’s company as part of the process, had opened a door to something she hadn’t expected.

Andrei cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “Would you be open to a walk around the gardens this evening?” His tone was polite, almost formal, but there was a warmth in his eyes she rarely saw.

Surprised, Cristine nodded. “Yes, I’d like that.”

Later that evening, Cristine found herself walking beside Andrei down the winding paths of the estate’s gardens. She had explored these gardens before, often finding a sense of peace in the flowers and soft whisper of the trees. But tonight, with Andrei’s presence by her side, it felt different—more intimate, in a way that made her heart race.

They walked in silence for a while, Andrei’s hands clasped behind his back as he occasionally looked over at her. She sensed that he, too, was searching for words, perhaps attempting to bridge the gap that had settled between them since the start of their agreement. She appreciated the quiet; it allowed her time to think, to process what this new “connection” might mean for them both.

Eventually, he spoke, his voice thoughtful. “The doctor’s advice… I hadn’t considered that part of this process would require us to, well, spend time together.”

Cristine laughed softly, glancing at him with a shy smile. “Neither did I. But it’s good advice, I think. Maybe the pressure is something we can work on together.”

He nodded, his gaze focused on a patch of lilies beside the path. “You’re right. Perhaps we’ve been approaching this with too much formality, and not enough… comfort.”

The words hung between them, an unspoken invitation for honesty. As they continued walking, Cristine felt her heart soften, the walls she’d kept around herself easing just a little.

“Andrei,” she ventured quietly, “I know this is meant to be just business, and I want to respect that. But I also think… maybe there’s a way for us to make this arrangement feel less… impersonal.”

Andrei looked over at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. “I can understand that,” he replied, his tone cautious but sincere. “I think… perhaps we’ve both been cautious in our own ways. But if we’re in this together, then maybe there’s room to be… less guarded.”

They stopped near a bench nestled among roses, and he gestured for her to sit beside him. As she settled in, she felt the warmth of his presence beside her, a silent reassurance that, perhaps, there was more to this arrangement than either of them had initially anticipated.

The next few days passed with a lighter atmosphere. Andrei took the doctor’s advice to heart, suggesting small, shared activities. They began having breakfast together, often in the quiet warmth of the kitchen instead of the formal dining room. It felt simpler, more relaxed, and allowed them to settle into a natural rhythm. They talked about small things—his work, her past memories with her grandmother, and even the quirks of the staff around the estate. Bit by bit, Cristine found herself warming to him, enjoying the snippets of conversation that made her feel like she was getting to know him beyond his guarded exterior.

Andrei also made an effort to share more of his life. He showed her his study, where he spent hours working on projects she didn’t entirely understand, yet she appreciated his openness. He even invited her to join him in the library one evening, where they spent hours discussing books and exchanging stories, an experience that left her feeling closer to him than she’d thought possible.

One afternoon, they found themselves back in the garden, this time tending to a small section that Andrei had grown fond of—a patch of wildflowers that seemed out of place among the manicured bushes and neatly trimmed trees. Cristine laughed as she watched him carefully tend to the flowers, his serious expression softening as he worked.

“I never would have thought of you as a gardener,” she teased, nudging him playfully.

He chuckled, glancing at her with a rare, genuine smile. “Even I need an escape,” he admitted. “These flowers don’t demand anything from me. They just… exist.”

It was a simple statement, but it spoke volumes. She realized that behind his calm, sometimes distant exterior was a man who sought peace, who carried burdens he rarely shared.

That evening, as they sat down to dinner, the air between them felt lighter, the barriers they had carefully maintained beginning to fade. Cristine found herself feeling strangely comfortable, even hopeful, about their future attempts. She’d come to see that there was more to Andrei than she’d initially thought—a complexity and warmth that he rarely showed.

As they finished their meal, Andrei cleared his throat, his gaze focused on her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. “Cristine,” he said quietly, “I just want to thank you for… being open to this. To us… connecting.”

She smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her. “Thank you for letting me in. It’s… meant a lot.”

The doctor’s advice to relax, to connect, had brought them to a place of understanding. And while Cristine knew there were still challenges ahead, she couldn’t help but feel that, perhaps, they were finally on the right path.