Chapter 3

MAY

As if to mock me, the heavens decided to open its stupid maw and pour rain on this same day. The wind was howling and I could barely hold myself up right as I trudged through the rain.

What did I do to deserve this?

I had tried going home.

But, I was turned away at the gate.

They won't even let me see my father.

What on earth happened to me?

I still held the pregnancy test results even though it was nothing but soggy paper in my hand now.

All it took was this cursed piece of paper and I had lost everything in my life. It didn't even take an hour and May Greenfield is now a homeless, penniless existence.

I walked for longer than I had ever walked my whole life.

I was cold. My bones rattled from the immense cold. My legs ached so much that they had gone numb.

I walked until the rain stopped and eventually found myself in the only place I could feel my father's warmth.

And the place that doomed me.

Greenfield Hospital.

The doors slid open once I approached them and I dragged my feet into the pristine white lobby. My eyes were unfocused and my breath came in ragged huffs. My heartbeat was erratic and I was growing colder by the second.

I recognised the receptionist though.

"Hello, Celine," I said to the horrified receptionist before my body hit the floor with a thud and my world went dark.

****

I woke up to a pristinely white room.

It took a few seconds to reorient myself but once I did, tears flowed out of my eyes in a steady stream.

"You almost died yesterday, May," a familiar voice said and I turned my head to see one of my father's friend and fellow doctor as she sat at the edge of my bed, reading through a report. "Why did you walk under the rain? You suffered from hypothermia."

"Am I pregnant, Susan?" I asked calmly. "I've never had sex before. How is it possible that I am pregnant?"

"I don't know," Susan sighed as she adjusted her glasses. "I was watching the event on the TV from here and I was surprised when I heard all of it too."

"But, the results came from here," I sobbed. "Greenfield doomed me."

"Don't say that," she sighed. "Greenfield never has and never will do you any harm."

"Can I talk to my father?" I asked. "Can you help me get to him?"

Susan shook her head regretfully.

"Unfortunately, I can't. I tried calling him when I watched the things Susan and Emma did to you. They seemed to have anticipated that because his phone has been off since then. I have not been able to reach him."

"They cut me off of everything, Susan," I sobbed. "I have nothing to my name."

"We can work through this," Susan said soothingly. "We can get to the bottom of this."

"Am I pregnant?" I asked again. "I've never had sex and I know I have never been sexually assaulted either. How on earth am I pregnant?"

Susan took a few seconds to reply as she mulled it over.

"You are pregnant," she eventually said. "I did a bit of digging and I'm sorry, but I ran the tests without your permission so that I am sure of it. You are indeed pregnant, May."

"What?" I asked dejectedly. "Why? How? What happened to me?"

"Unfortunately, I think someone took advantage of a terrible situation," she sighed. "I am more than disgusted myself."

I could hear the anger in her voice and that made me eager to know.

"What happened, Susan?"

"The documents said that you agreed to an artificial insemination a month ago," she said as she calmed down.

"What?" I frowned, wiping the tears from my eyes. "I never did anything like that."

"I know you didn't," Susan sighed. "At least not intentionally."

"I don't drink," I said. "There's no way I would have agreed without knowing."

"Do you remember what happened to you a month ago?" Susan asked. "Think carefully."

It took a few seconds to sort through my memories but my eyes widened as I remembered.

"I was in an accident," I said. "I was rushed here for the operation and that's all I remember.

"Apparently, you also signed a few documents," she sighed.

"I did nothing like that," I hissed. "I didn't sign anything."

"Not with your signature," she said slowly, almost like she was trying to control her emotions. "You signed using a thumbprint."

"What?!" I yelled as I tried sitting up but felt too dizzy so I laid back down. "Anyone could have used my hand to do that. Since when does this hospital allow thumb print signatures?!"

"We allow it," she sighed. "It is usually closely supervised but for people who probably don't have the strength to move but enough presence of mind, your father would help them sign with their thumbprints if their families are not present. It has helped save lives."

"And it has ruined mine," I sobbed.

"You underwent a two part surgery," she continued slowly. "One to save your live, and the other to impregnate you by artificial insemination. That's how you got pregnant."

"Which doctor was in charge of this?" I asked. "I want to see them."

"The bastard resigned not long after your surgery," she said. "I believe he must have been paid off."

"So, Sherlyn and Emma did have a hand in this?" I asked.

"I believe so," she replied. "Considering how convenient all of this is, it wouldn't be farfetched to say that they might have had a hand in your accident as well."

I was silent for a long moment after that.

It hurt to imagine that the people my dad thought would make my life better were so intent on ruining me.

Finally, I spoke.

"So, do you have any idea who the father of this child is?"

Susan took a few seconds to answer.

"That's the problem, May."

She hesitated before she continued.

"Your pregnancy seems to carry the DNA of these people. It's a medical miracle."