Chapter 3: Pregnant

The words escaped my lips weakly, "Am I pregnant?"

My heart shattered, and it felt as if my entire world had crumbled around me. I had been a loyal wife to Franco, enduring the mistreatment from his family, only to be discarded like a worthless object. And now, here I was, alone in a hotel room, feeling ill and possibly carrying his child. It was all too overwhelming to bear. But amidst the chaos, I knew I had to confirm it.

The following morning, I scheduled an appointment with a doctor to undergo a pregnancy test.

My mind was a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't help but reflect on how my life had reached this point.

Here I was, sitting alone in a doctor's office, possibly pregnant with a man who had used me for his own selfish desires.

As I anxiously awaited the results, my heart raced in my chest. I couldn't even bring myself to look at the test once it was done. I simply handed it over to the doctor and waited for her to deliver the news. And when those two words escaped her lips, "You're pregnant," it felt as if time stood still.

I couldn't believe it. I was going to become a mother. But at the same time, I couldn't help but despise the fact that Franco had abandoned not only me but also our unborn child.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing, and I noticed an unfamiliar number on the screen. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to answer it, but something inside me urged me to pick up. 

"Hello?" I greeted.

"Hey, Celine. I heard about what happened between you and Franco. Are you doing alright?" she asked.

To my surprise, it was Irene, my closest friend. It had been weeks since we last spoke, so I was relieved to hear her voice.

"Irene? I'm so glad you called. I actually lost your number," I confessed.

"I heard about what happened between you and Franco. Are you okay?" she repeated.

"To be honest, I'm not," I admitted.

"Where are you right now? Can we meet up?" I asked, feeling the weight of my emotions.

I needed someone to lean on, someone to comfort me.

"Of course, let's meet at Morato restaurant," she suggested.

"Okay, see you there!" I replied.

After ending the call, I quickly left the hospital and headed towards our meeting spot. A few moments later, I arrived at the restaurant and entered through the front door. From a distance, I spotted Irene sitting at a table on the right side.

"Celine!" she exclaimed, smiling as she approached and kissed my cheeks.

"I've missed you," she added.

"I've missed you too," I replied.

The waiter came to our table, so we placed our order. While we waited, Irene glanced at me and started talking.

"So, how have you been? Are you okay? Where are you staying now?" she asked, filled with concern.

"I'm staying at a hotel. Thankfully, I have some savings, so finding a place to stay hasn't been too difficult," I explained.

"That's good. But I can tell something is bothering you" she observed.

"What happened, celine?"she asked me, curiously.

Taking a deep breath, I responded, "I don't want to talk about it. But now I just found out that I'm pregnant."

There was a moment of silence before Irene spoke again. "Oh my god, does Franco know about it?"

"No, and he shouldn't know," I said firmly.

"Celine, he should know because he's the father of your child. Maybe he'll change his mind and you two will fix it," Irene suggested.

"He decided to marry someone else, which is why he left me. And now you expect me to tell him that I'm pregnant? What's the point? To make him stay?" I questioned.

"I’m sorry, I had no idea he was going to marry someone else. That's really messed up!" she exclaimed.

"Now you know and the most painful part is that he never truly loved me, Irene. He only married me for his inheritance. Our marriage is built on a lie," I expressed.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I thought you were happily married to him," Irene sympathized.

I let out a bitter laugh “Happily married? That’s the biggest joke of all. I endured mistreatment from his family just to be with him. I will never forgive him, and I don't want him to be the father of my child," I stated, filled with anger and resentment.

Irene embraced me tightly, attempting to provide some solace.

"Thank you for being here, Irene," I managed to say, my voice trembling.

Irene smiled at me, her eyes filled with empathy. “That's what true friends are for, Celine. 

I nodded, grateful for her support. I had been so overwhelmed by my emotions that I hadn't considered what I would do next. I realized I couldn't afford to rent a hotel room for an extended period, especially now that I was pregnant.

"Anyway, I have a friend who has an unused apartment. I can inquire if you can stay there temporarily. It may not be luxurious, but at least it will provide you with a roof over your head. You can't stay in a hotel for a long time"

A wave of relief washed over me.

"Thank you so much, Irene" I expressed, feeling immense gratitude for her generosity.

The upcoming weeks were challenging. I relocated to Irene's friend's apartment and took up a job at a local café to save money. I was determined to be independent.

"Don't worry, baby. I'll do whatever it takes to provide you with a better life," I reassured myself while gently caressing my stomach.

However, fate seemed to make things difficult for me as my salary was insufficient to cover all my expenses.

As my due date approached, I couldn't help but feel a sense of fear and uncertainty. How would I be able to raise a child on my own?

Would I be able to provide for him?

All of a sudden, a sharp stomach ache hit me, causing me to quickly take a seat in the chair. My eyes widened in shock as I noticed the blood on my legs.

“Someone, please help!” I cried out, my vision suddenly becoming blurry.