Chapter One: Four Months Pregnant, What Do I Do?

Ciara's POV

I stared into Doctor Hazel's eyes, searching for clarity, as she announced, "Miss Ciara, I'm pleased to inform you that you're four months pregnant."

I stuttered repeatedly, struggling to process the news and react accordingly.

My mind raced with questions and emotions, leaving me speechless and bewildered.

I know it sounds incredible, but I didn't realize I was four months pregnant until now. Before you judge me, let me explain - my stomach, which was usually flat, became even flatter than usual, which should have raised some red flags. But, surprisingly, it didn't. What actually brought me to the hospital was my sudden and frequent need to use the restroom, which was out of character for me and had me worried.

"How come it doesn't show?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around the news.

Doctor Hazel beamed a reassuring smile. "It's a cryptic pregnancy, Miss Ciara. In some cases, the bump doesn't become noticeable until labor day. That's why you've still been experiencing your period. Don't worry, it's not uncommon. The good news is that your baby is very healthy. The period will likely stop around the third trimester."

What good did this pregnancy news bring me? None.

I was devastated. For Christ's sake, what will my parents say of me when they get the news that their only daughter had gotten herself pregnant over a silly birthday celebration.

Even though it was a memorable one night of pleasure, the best sex, but having given it thoughts over the past weeks, I became ashamed of myself. How could I be so loose and such a whole to sleep with a stranger that I only met that day.

I had spoken to Ava only once after the incident. I was mad at her and at myself for making such a stupid mistake of going to that club four months ago. But now she was the only one that could help me with money. I was short on my allowance. I needed to do something before my mom did something horrible to me.

I concluded with the hospital and left in my car, driving straight to Old Towne. I pulled up at Ava's bungalow, exited my car, and when I tried to enter, the door wouldn't budge, so I knocked.

The first knock went unanswered, and at about the fourth, when I had given up hope that she would answer, the door made a sound and gently creaked open.

"I'm sorry for knocking a lot, I just wanted to borrow some money from you—" I began to say, but paused in shock at the man who gripped her waist from behind.

It wasn't Jarden, my boyfriend; of course, it was never going to be him. He was out of town.

It was the same blue eyes that looked me dead in the eyes and hurled a five-dollar bill at my face, saying callously, "It was nice having you; now get lost," after we had the best sex, and I thought I had a hold on him. Turns out, I was being delusional.

He was shirtless, wearing blue jeans that exposed his toned pelvis and equally toned abs.

Scanning him from chest to thigh, I profusely blinked to ensure I saw correctly.

"Yep, it's him," Ava said loudly.

I tilted my head slightly and pointed to them. "Don't tell me it's what I'm thinking."

"It is exactly what you're thinking, girl. It's him." She said, "I hired him to seduce you. You think you're it? Just because you were a virgin, you thought you were better than me and could intimidate me. Guess who's fallen now," she laughed.

"Let's go inside, babe," she eyed me before turning to him.

I stood frozen and watched in shock as she backhandedly shut the door in my face, and I heard them laugh loudly.

How could my own best friend humiliate and betray me like this? I felt utterly alone, with no one to turn to.

So, I went home to announce my pregnancy to my parents, hoping for some support. I pulled up to the familiar mansion of my father, Maverick Thane, and trudged inside. To my surprise, my parents were in the living room, beaming with happiness. But what made my heart sink was the presence of my boyfriend, Jared, sitting there with a smug grin on his face.

"Here, Ciara, come over here, I got you something," he said in his usually sweet tone, which now felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

Jared wasn't a sweet boyfriend. He was an abuser and a manipulator. I didn't deserve a man as wicked as him. Even though he claimed to love me very dearly, I felt nothing for him. And the worst part, my parents knew he hit me but refused to say anything under the circumstances that his father was a big investor of theirs.

My purse felt like a weight in my ears, a reminder of the news I carried and the agony that will befall me.

I trudged forward, my feet heavy with dread, but my parents didn't even notice. They were too busy smiling and admiring the gifts Jared had bought for them.

My parents, especially my mother Beatrice, are always neglectful, never prioritizing my happiness. They believed their decisions for me were always the right one, and I'd paid the price for that.

Ever since I rebelled against them and dropped out of college, they'd been furious with every move I made. And now, I was about to drop a bombshell - announcing my pregnancy. But I had no choice. It was now or never.

"Ciara, come here," my mom said, trying to draw me in, but I evaded her grasp.

"Ma, Pa," I whispered, my voice trembling, my body shaking.

"I have something important to tell you."

They finally stopped what they were doing, looking at me with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

"What's wrong, Ciara? Can't it wait?" my mom asked, gesturing to the wrapped gifts. "Jared is back, and the least you can do is say hello. Look, hon, he got us all this."

She thought she'd eased me, but I couldn't hold back any longer.

"No, it can't wait," I blurted out, challenging her, my voice cracking. "I'm sixteen weeks pregnant."

The colorful mug my mom was holding slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor, stark to the silence that followed.

Her hands remained frozen in mid-air, her expression a mask of shock and disbelief. I couldn't bear to look at anyone else, my eyes fixed on my mom, the only one whose reaction truly mattered.

"By who?" Jared stood and asked, his voice icy cold, his gaze piercing through me like a dagger.

"I don't know," I stammered, tears welling up in my eyesight.

"Are you stupid? What do you mean you don't know?" My mom erupted, her anger and venom spewing forth like a volcano.

Jared took a step closer, his eyes blazing with fury, and I retreated, my heart racing.

I was doomed. Jared had tried manipulating me so many times to sleep with him but I refused, and now I was pregnant for another man—a stranger.

The floor beneath me seemed to melt away, and I was sinking, sinking, sinking… and sinking.

"What do you mean you don't know?" He gritted, his voice like a knife twisting in my heart. "I travel for a month and you now sleep around?" He smacked a heavy slap to my cheek and I held the spot in tears.

"Answer me!" he gripped my chin, his fingers like a vice, grazing my chin and he spat in my face,

My mom, the one who wore the pants in this marriage, was ruthless and unforgiving. Her decision was the only one that mattered, and I knew I was doomed.

"I want you to retrace how you came in here with that bastard child of yours and never set foot into my house again!" My mom declared that decision I feared most.

Jared flung me away like a rag doll, and I trembled, begging, "I'm sorry, ma... I'm sorry, Pa... Jared?" I called out, desperate for someone, anyone, to intervene. But no one came to my rescue.

I managed to run to my mom and gripped the hem of her dress. But she pried my hands off her leg coldly and stormed away and up the stairs, leaving me shattered and alone.

"I don't ever want to see your face in this house again," she declared, her words a death sentence, a permanent exile from the only home I had ever known.

"And never step your foot into my life again." Jared blurted.

I sat helplessly on the ground, crying and my dad, the only hope I had left, dug his hands into his pocket, abandon the gifts and without a word to me, descended the stairs.