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Worst Fear 88

Worst Fear 88

Chapter 88 

Chapter 88 

Mason 

(The next day

My phone was already ringing when I stepped out of the shower. I checked the screen and sighed loudly seeing it was my mother. Again. I let it ring once more before grabbing it and wiping my hand on the towel around my waist.. 

Morning, Mom,I greeted

Good morning, son, Julia’s at your place, right?she asked, like it wasn’t even a question. I paused. Yes.” 

Much to my disappointment, when I got back home last night, Julia was waiting at my door. It was too late to take her home. Plus she didn’t look like she wanted to go back home. So I let her stay

Good. You both need to talk about the honeymoon. The sooner you settle on a location, the better. The planner has been waiting for days.She complained

Just ask her what she wants, alright? Let her choose. I’ll go with whatever she wants.I said while rubbing the back of my neck, already tired

She’s a good girl, Mason. Make her feel like it’s real,she added before hanging up like she always did, without waiting for anything I had to say

I threw the phone on the bed and dragged the shirt over my head. I could hear her before I even stepped into the living room

Julia was humming lightly, sitting crosslegged on the sofa, flipping through a glossy travel magazine with her phone beside her

Her long hair was tied in a low ponytail, her face makeup free for once, and she wore one of my old shirts that barely touched her thighs. She looked comfortable, like she belonged there, like this was her home now and not just mine

Your mom called,she said without looking up. She said we should pick the honeymoon spot today.” 

I nodded and sat on the far side of the couch, watching as she flipped the page and pointed at something

I was thinking Greece,she said as her eyes sparkled. She turned the page toward me. Or maybe Tuscany? You like wine, don’t 

you?” 

I didn’t answer right away. I just stared at the picture, clear water, small white buildings with blue roofs, couples smiling on balconies

Whatever you choose,I finally said, sounding neutral Julia turned to me then, her brows knitting a little. You sure?” 

Yeah.She smiled awkwardly, but I could tell she noticed how far my mind was

I was still thinking about last night. About Lydia. About the way she didn’t even try to meet my eyes. The way Marcus hart leaned toward her, whispered something that made her laugh, and how her laugh felt like a small knife digging under my ribs 

Julia folded the magazine and leaned her head on the arm of the couch, letting out a light sigh. I think I have a headache,she mumbled, rubbing her temple

I turned to her quickly, standing. Do you want something?” 

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Chapter 88 

Water,she whispered, eyes shut now

I walked to the kitchen, grabbed a glass, filled it, and brought it to her. She opened her eyes slightly and took it, her fingers brushing mine. She didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t ask questions

I sat beside her again, this time a little closer. She rested her hand on her stomach without thinking, and I noticed it but didn’t speak about it

Instead, I stared straight ahead, wondering how many more moments like this I’d have to live through, half here, half somewhere elan 

wishing the right person was the one beside me

Julia was still holding the empty glass in her lap, tracing the rim with her finger, when she looked up and asked, Are you going to the office today?Her voice was lazy, like she didn’t really want an answer

Yeah,I said, standing and adjusting the cuffs of my shirt

I

She opened her mouth like she had something more to say, but I didn’t wait. I grabbed my phone and keys from the table and headed out, not wanting to have any more dialogue with her

I barely got halfway down the stairs before my phone buzzed again. It was Mom. I almost didn’t pick up, but I knew she’d just keep calling

Where are you going?she asked, already annoyed

To work,I said, unlocking the car

No. Not today. Clear your schedule. Today’s important,” she said, like she owned every hour of my life. I have things to do.” 

No, you don’t. Today, you’re going with Julia to pick her wedding dress. And the engagement outfit too. The designer’s expecting you two in less than two hours,she said sharply

I rested my head against the car for a moment, closing my eyes. Mom-” 

Mason, please,Julia’s voice came through behind me. She had followed me out barefoot, wearing only that same oversized shirt, her hair still a little messy, one hand wrapped over her stomach again

We won’t take long. I’d feel better if you were therefor the baby.I swallowed hard and nodded, not trusting myself to say anything else

The drive to the designer’s studio was quiet. Julia kept checking her phone and humming to the music playing softly from the speakers

She had changed into a soft cream dress and flat sandals, her makeup light, and her hands rested over her stomach most of the ride, like she was trying to make sure the baby didn’t feel ignored

When we got there, the place was already set up with white and gold curtains hanging by the windows and a long mirror stretching across one wall. Three dresses were already on display, and a woman in a black blouse walked toward us, smiling too widely- 

Julia smiled back and took my hand like we were any normal couple, and I let her. She started talking about wasn’t listening anymore

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar silhouette 

and lace, but

A woman is flipping through a rack of dresses. Her back was to me, her shoulders straight, her hair tied up in a loose bun that 

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Chapter 88 

looked exactly like Lydia’s used to be on days she didn’t try too hard. Something about the way she tilted her head s the dresses made my brows form into a knot

I kept staring at the woman across the room. The more I stared, the more she looked too much like Lydia for me to just igno 

Her posture, her hair, even the way she stood, all made something in me more and more sure it was her. I walked towards her without thinking, just to be sure, just to see her face and know

Mason,Julia’s voice came from behind, her fingers curling gently around my wrist. Come with me. I need help with this dress 

I looked at her, then at the woman again, but she was moving, turning slightly, and I couldn’t tell if it was her face or just my head messing with me

Please?Julia pleaded

I followed her, even though I didn’t want to, and she led me behind the curtain where she had changed into a white gown with tiny stones near the sleeves

The dress clung to her back but hung open at the top, where the zip was stuck halfway. She faced the mirror and turned a little, trying to hold the fabric in place

I can’t zip it alone,she mumbled

I stepped behind her, one hand holding the fabric together, the other pulling the zip slowly, but the fabric was tight and the zip refused to go up smoothly. I tugged a little harder

Then the zip popped, and the side ripped 

Mason-Julia gasped, her hand flying to cover the

cover the gap as she spun around to look at me

I didn’t mean to,I said quickly, feeling slightly irritated. It’s not my fault they gave you a dress two sizes too small.” 

She didn’t say anything at first, just held the torn fabric to her chest like it would fall off if she moved

I hit my leg earlier on a chair,I muttered, already stepping away. This day is justbad.” 

She tried to stop me by reaching for my hand, but I pulled away before she could. Mason, wait- 

No,I snapped, my voice louder than I expected. I’m done. I’m not doing this anymore today,” 

I didn’t wait for a reply. I walked out of the fitting area, my head pounding again, my chest still too full, my mind only thinking of one thing

I needed to see her. Needed to know if I was losing my mind or if Lydia was really here

I walked through the boutique fast, scanning every aisle, every mirror, every passing face

Then I saw her

Lydia

I unintentionally smiled upon seeing her face. It’s so mesmerising how just one look at that face could fix all the anger and discomfort building up in me

Chapter 88 

With a wider smile, I approached her, but just before I could reach her, I saw a hand hold hers as he pulled her closer to him

Marcus

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Worst Fear

Worst Fear

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Status: Ongoing Type: Native Language: English
Worst Fear Synopsis : Worst Fear

Lydia’s world was already a crumbling ruin long before she collapsed on the cold, bleach-slick tiles of Westgate Prison. She had been serving her sentence with quiet endurance, forcing herself to survive each monotonous day. Cleaning floors, enduring the harsh routine, and trying to numb her thoughts had become her way of life. But as she gripped the mop handle, her body betrayed her — dizziness washed over her, and before she could steady herself, the world went black.

When she regained consciousness, Lydia found herself lying on a thin mattress in the prison hospital. The sterile smell of disinfectant filled her lungs, and her head ached violently. A familiar figure stood by her bedside — Nurse Gloria, a kind-hearted woman often whispered about by the inmates for her compassion. Lydia had never personally interacted with her before; she preferred keeping her distance from everyone. But this time, she had no choice.

Gloria spoke softly, her voice calm and motherly. “You fainted during your shift,” she explained. Lydia, groggy and disoriented, nodded faintly. Fainting wasn’t unusual for prisoners — malnutrition, exhaustion, and stress were daily realities in Westgate. But Gloria’s next words didn’t fit the routine explanation. She leaned in, her tone serious and almost secretive. “I ran some tests to see why you collapsed.”

Lydia’s brows furrowed. Tests? The nurse’s expression made her heart race. Something was wrong. And then Gloria said it — words that hit Lydia like a lightning strike.

“You’re three months pregnant.”

For a moment, Lydia’s world went silent. The walls, the lights, the nurse — everything faded into a blur of disbelief. Pregnant? That couldn’t be right. Her throat went dry as she tried to process the impossible. Three months. Her hands instinctively flew to her stomach, pressing against the rough fabric of her prison uniform. There was nothing — no bump, no sign of life — yet Gloria’s certainty left no room for denial.

Lydia’s first reaction was refusal. “No,” she whispered. Her voice trembled. “That can’t be right.” But Gloria simply nodded, her expression heavy with empathy. “It’s right, Lydia. I double-checked the results myself.”

The truth settled like a stone in Lydia’s gut. The symptoms she’d ignored — the morning dizziness, the fevers, the missed periods — suddenly made sense. Deep down, she knew this was no mistake. Panic clawed at her chest as she realized what this meant. Her past — the one she’d buried so carefully since the day she was arrested — came rushing back. The man she had loved, the night she had tried to forget, the betrayal that had shattered her life.

Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall in front of Gloria. She couldn’t afford weakness here. Her voice was barely a whisper when she pleaded, “Please… you can’t tell anyone. No one can know about this.”

Gloria studied her for a long moment. Lydia could see the internal conflict behind the nurse’s eyes — between her duty to report and her compassion for the broken woman before her. Finally, Gloria sighed softly and nodded. “I won’t say a word,” she promised. Relief washed over Lydia like a wave, but it was fleeting. Gloria wasn’t finished. “But you have to promise me something too. You’ll come back for regular checkups. No skipping, no excuses. You and the baby need to be monitored. Do you understand?”

Lydia nodded mutely, emotion choking her voice. She didn’t trust herself to speak. The nurse gave her hand a gentle squeeze before stepping away to inform the guards that Lydia needed rest.

The walk back to her cell felt endless. Two guards flanked her on either side, but she barely noticed them. Her mind was spinning, replaying Gloria’s words over and over — three months pregnant. Each repetition felt like a hammer blow. She stumbled into her cell, collapsing onto the thin, creaky cot. The metal door slammed shut behind her, sealing her inside with the suffocating truth.

She stared at the ceiling for a long time before curling up on her side. Her trembling hands hovered over her stomach, fear twisting in her chest. She could barely keep herself alive in this place — how could she protect an unborn child? Westgate wasn’t meant for fragile things. It was a graveyard of hope, a place that crushed even the strongest spirits. What kind of life could she possibly give her baby behind these bars?

The tears she had fought earlier now spilled freely, sliding down her cheeks as silent sobs wracked her body. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, as if she could shield the tiny life inside her from the cruelty of the world beyond her cell walls.

For the first time in years, Lydia prayed. Not for freedom, not for revenge — just for strength. For the chance to protect this unexpected child growing inside her.

As she turned her hand, the faint glint of her wedding band caught her eye. The ring mocked her, its shine a cruel reminder of the life she had lost. Three months ago, everything had been perfect — or so she thought. Her marriage had felt like a fairy tale. Even though her in-laws despised her, she had still believed love could conquer everything. Her husband had been her safe haven, her anchor.

Until the night everything fell apart.

The memory was sharp and unforgiving — flashing lights, police sirens, his face twisted in disgust as she was dragged away in handcuffs. The betrayal in his eyes had hurt worse than the accusation itself. That image haunted her still, burned into her mind like a scar that would never fade.

Now, lying in that cold, dim cell, Lydia finally understood how deep her despair ran. The baby inside her was both a curse and a fragile glimmer of hope. A connection to the man she once loved — and the life she could never return to.

As exhaustion finally claimed her, her last thoughts were of him — the man she’d once trusted more than anyone. His expression, full of hatred and disbelief, was the last thing she saw before the darkness took her again.

And for the first time, Lydia realized she wasn’t just a prisoner anymore. She was a mother — trapped in a place where love and life were luxuries no one could afford. But no matter what, she silently vowed: she would find a way to protect her baby, even if it meant fighting the entire world from behind these bars.

 

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