Chapter 0002

CAMILLA

My mind was in chaos as I stared blankly at the sun settling down the horizon. People pass by as if they don't have any problems in their lives, laughing, giggling, and having fun like they usually do in their everyday routine.

My eyes welled up as my fingers tightened at the backpack, lying on my lap.

I am outside the hospital, alone on the bench, waiting for nobody. It feels surreal for me to believe what the doctor had said earlier.

I'm pregnant.

It's been a month since the birthday party on the yacht happened. I've never thought the outcome of that one-night stand is a baby. It never crossed my mind that I might fall pregnant, however, when I started feeling strange, fear suddenly crossed my mind.

Glancing at my stomach, I caressed my belly softly with a trembling hand. The fact that I'm just 18, seems not the right age to become a mother.

Tears fell thoroughly on my face. I can't help it. I can't control the pain in my chest, the fear that my parents might kill me, and the thoughts of becoming a mother this early.

I just started college two weeks ago, taking up the Business degree chosen by my parents at Harvard Business School.

My chest instantly began to pound violently.

One word can resolve everything.

Abortion.

However, the doctor said it's dangerous. I'm young and my body might not take the after-effects and my future will be at huge risk.

I know the father of the baby.

Should I tell him? But he was not a reliable man. He is known for playing with women in his hands. I can't be one of those women.

I knew that he wouldn't take the responsibility of becoming a father to our child.

I harshly grasp my hair through my hands.

"What the hell should I do?"

It's now or never!

Finally, after six hours, I'm in front of the building, owned by the most powerful family in the business world.

I should at least let him know about the baby. If he won't accept it, curse him!

However, did he even remember me that night? Only his eyes, I can clearly see via the moonlight in the rather dark room.

But before I could move my feet to the entrance of the building, the man I had been waiting to see emerged from the building with a woman clinging to his arms.

Shit! Is she his girlfriend or just another woman he's playing with?

It's Alyssa Hayes.

She's the only spoiled daughter of Hayes, known for being a bully in our senior high. A nemesis of Aubrey.

If Alyssa finds out that I had sex with him, I'll be dead.

Am I cursed?

With a tight grip on my clothes, I turned around, not wanting to see their faces.

My face is covered in tears when I get into the cab. The driver frequently looks at me and inquires about my well-being. I simply nod at him in the hopes that he will stop bothering me because I don't feel well at all.

Things will never be better if I let him know. There's no way that he will take the responsibility and accept the fact that he owned the child. And I sincerely hope that we won't cross paths again since I'm determined to keep our child's existence a secret from him.

Where should I go now?

Home?

My parents would probably kill me!

Being a mom at this age is not on my bucket list.

As I came into our house, my sister, Ciara, was surprised by my unexpected entrance. She descended the stairs and was ready to greet me. However, before she could even say a word, my father’s voice resonated inside the mansion causing both of us to flinch in terror.

What makes him this mad?

"CAMILLA!" Dad screamed at the top of his lungs, furious is evident through his tone. My mouth sprang open at his abrupt shout before my father's firm hand landed on my face. “Doctor Benitez called me! Was it true?!”

Doctor Benitez?

My heart started to hammer in my chest as tears welled up in my eyes. “D-Dad, I’m sorry…” My hands were starting to shake up and my legs were about to give in as I tried to avoid his raging eyes.

“What's going on?” Ciara confusedly asked.

Mom appeared from father's behind with a disappointed gaze flitted into mine. “Your sister is pregnant.”

Ciara's widened eyes locked on mine. I know she was surprised at the news, me too. But this has already happened.

They highly expected something from me, especially, Dad. I graduated in senior high with the highest honor and he was anticipating for me to be as good as my sister in managing our business.

But I disappointed them all.

“Let's go to the hospital. Abort that child in an instant!!” Dad suddenly grabbed my arms harshly but I stood still.

“No.” not wanting to take another step which made him even more furious.

His brows furrowed and I can see his veins starting to pop out from his neck. “What do you mean No?”

"I-I can't abort the child, Dad. It's dangerous and I can't withstand the after-effects of the abortion and the possibility of not being able to bear a child anymore in the future."

Another slap landed on my cheek, and this time, I fell to the floor. I sob at the pain in my face and them being harsh on me.

"Do you think there is a wealthy family that will accept you as a daughter-in-law now that you have a child?!" He chastised me as he tightened his fingers on my sobbing cheeks. "Who is this bastard you slept with?!!"

If I told him, he would be delighted and accept the baby but the fact that my father is greedy in power and ranking in the business industry, he will make me marry that ruthless and womanizer billionaire.

"I-I..." I hesitated, contemplating whether to tell them the truth or not.

If I'm being completely honest... He'll force me to live in hell. I knew my father from the bottom of my heart, he would use the child to be more powerful just as powerful as my baby's father. He never cared about anything else, only his reputation and being on top is what it means to him. Not even his own blood-related.

"ANSWER ME?!"

"I HAVE NO IDEA!"

He struck me once more, which made me stop trying to defend myself. It's painful... It's painful to see him like this.

I'm his daughter but he never treated me like a treasure in his life.

My sobbing grew louder as I was frightened to tell the truth. I won't disclose the name of the person who impregnated me. My life is at risk here. I'm not sure if that bastard will accept the baby, or if he is worse than my Dad and forced me for an abortion.

I won't kill a baby. It's a life inside of me.

I kneeled in front of him while not looking into his furious gaze, apologizing in a trembling voice to my father, "Dad, I'm sorry I let you down." I begged, "Please... Please forgive me! I'm sorry!"

He remained silent as his breath became rough and heavy. I just don't want my future with the guy who will not accept us wholeheartedly.

“Abort that child or leave this house.”

W-What? Can he really abandon his own daughter?

"No one will accept you, Camilla, if you keep the child. What about your future? I only need our family to be the most powerful in the business world. You will marry a man from a wealthy family and all of our problems will resolve--"

"No."

As usual, they only care about their business, being known, being more powerful, and using me and Ciara to reach their dreams.

Only their dreams.

How can they be so cruel and selfish? How can Mom and Dad be this cruel to their own child?

I didn't know that my life would reach this point.

“Just agree with your father, Camilla.” Mom looked so frustrated at me.

They don't understand.

The horrendous act their daughter committed is a shameful thing that happened in their life. But I firmly stand by my words.

I clenched my fist and shut my eyes tightly. “I will keep the baby.”

“Jesus!” She let out in frustration.

“Stop being stubborn.” I took a glance at Ciara. She's the only one who is not mad at me. Her eyes were rather saying to agree with the abortion for my own sake.

“Then leave.” Dad pointed to the door.

Ciara runs to my position. "Father, don't be too harsh on her!" She tried to defend me which made me feel enlightened. At least there is one person who cares about me.

"She made a decision and this is her choice! She has abandoned the name of our family for the bastard's child! She is nothing but a worthless and disgraceful stain now!" He yelled in an ear-piercing shout.

He’s determined to throw me out. Was his reputation more important than his own daughter? I've done everything that he wished me to do. I focus on studying and getting good grades. I took business instead of fashion design, even though I didn't have the talent to manage our business. I obeyed politely on what he wanted for my life as if I were a puppet in his hands.

I've had enough of being a puppet.

I ran to my room and threw my clothes inside the suitcase. He wants me to leave, then I will disappear from their lives. They won't accept my child, I better leave than use the child in his covetousness.

Ciara tried to stop me but Mom and Dad are determined to erase me in their lives. They won't worry because they have a good girl Ciara who hasn't made any mistakes in her entire life.

To be honest, I don't know what to do.

I don't know how to live alone.

I don't know how to raise the baby on my own.

But I can't abort the baby. My heart clenched in pain as I only had a thought of abortion.

Striding out of my family's premises with a suitcase in my hand, I buried in my mind the promise that I would live and love my child in a way that I had never experienced from my own parents.

With a pain in my heart, I then departed from my hometown without looking back.