The baby.

FIVE YEARS EARLIER.

Selene's POV.

"Congratulations, you are pregnant!" The nurse grinned, holding up a clipboard. "Your vitals are great, and your baby is healthy."

My heart pounded; for a second, it felt like the world spun around me. I shook my head. "I can't be pregnant; Rowland and I, we have always been careful."

Her smile faltered. "Well, these things do happen. Even when contraceptives are used, dear."

"Are you sure this is correct?" I asked, desperation in my voice.

"These might have been swapped?"

She shook her head. "Your name is boldly over the top; we don't make this kind of mistake, ma'am."

My head spun, for a second the walls closed in on Me.

I glanced at the report one more time. Hoping that when I looked at it again. It might have just been a mistake the first time, but that was it.

"Thank you," I managed to say, smoothing my skirt as I stood to leave.

My legs wobbled as I made my way out.

How was I going to tell my overly disciplined father that his eighteen-year-old daughter was pregnant by a boy she wasn't married to?

He would disown me and kick me out of the house.

He would never allow such a stain on his name. The most successful man on the block with a wayward child. That's what people would say.

"Take me to Rowlands," I said to Martini. Immediately I shut the door of the SUV, trying to steady my trembling fingers.

Martini was my personal driver. My father had hired him to keep tabs on me, so he made sure I went from school back home. But my little trips after school to Rowland's House were a secret between the both of us.

I leaned my head against the window; my mind spiralled.

"Is everything alright, ma'am?" Martini asked.

"I am fine," I replied, not looking up.

The car pulled up in front of the small building Rowland shared with his family.

"Wait for me; I won't be long," I said before spinning on my heels along the narrow road that led to the gate.

I stopped at the gate, poking my head through its railings because when I tried to shove it open, it was locked.

I spotted Rowland's brother Mark bent over with a spanner in his hand. He was twirling some loose bolts on his bike.

"Mark!" I yelled.

"Rowlands not here," he called out.

"Where is he then? I have called him several times, but he isn't answering."

He dropped the spanner and walked towards me.

"He's gone off to Mexico."

My chest tightened "Mexico!"

"What do you mean, Mexico!"

He flapped a towel over his shoulder. "He left Selene, and I don't think he's coming back."

A knot formed in my throat. Suddenly, the railings felt hot against my fingers. My hands flew to my tummy where life stirred.

I gasped for air, my heart shattering into tiny pieces.

Rowland and I had planned to elope together. My parents never approved of our relationship. They said Rowland was a poor church rat but I loved him either way.

We were curled up together in his bed when he brought up the idea.

"Selene," he ran his fingers through my hair, gazing into my eyes. "I can never imagine a life without you. I think we should run away together"

My heart skipped a beat.

"I mean, if you don't want to, it's fine." He added.

For a second the thought of being away from my family sent shivers down my spine, but as long as I was going to spend the rest of my life with him, I didn't mind.

A smile played across my lips "that's the craziest thing you have ever said to me Rowland, and I love it"

He grinned widely "That's my girl"

We were going to leave the next month.

Did he leave without me?

"When is he coming back Mark?" My voice shook.

"Look, Selene, he is never coming back" Mark said, "you have to take things easy, and really, I would advise you to move on with your life. It all just kind of happened. Take care Selene"

He turned and walked away. I stood frozen to the floor. My heart pounded against my ribs, the pasta I had eaten earlier threatening to spill.

What was going to happen to me? To my baby? How was I going to handle this. How would my parents take this?

I didn't go home; I went back to school. I needed to get myself together. I was Determined to keep the news to myself till I was ready or till I couldn't hide my protruding belly any longer.

But two days later, my father had called for me, furious and angrier than I had ever seen him in my entire life. He wiggled the test results above my head, with my mother sobbing behind him, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief while he spoke.

"What is the meaning of this, Selene?" His voice came out in thunders. I cowered in fear.

"I was going to tell you, I promise." Tears streamed down my cheeks as I struggled to find the right words that wouldn't provoke him further.

"You are not bringing shame to this family, Selene," he said through gritted teeth.

"Dad, please, I am sorry." I clutched his feet. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"We should have kicked that boy out the moment he stepped his dirty feet into this house." He frowned, pacing back and forth.

Mother wouldn't dare speak, not when he was in such a mood.

He glared at me with bloodshot eyes. His fingers curled tightly to his side trying to hold himself back.

"You are going to terminate that pregnancy. Right now!"

He held my wrist and dragged me up, pulling me with him as he walked towards the door.

"Careful Richard, she's still my child!" mum cried as she walked swiftly behind.

I turned and twisted but Father was stronger.

The ride to the hospital was quiet, I sat at the back as dad drove and mum sat beside him.

Mum glanced at father to make her final attempt at a plea "Richard could..."

His right had flew up "I don't want to here it Marie.."

I didn't dare make a sound. No one could ever calm him down when he was angry. Not even her.

I stared the message I had just typed, the cursor blinked beside it.

Rage surged through me, the unanswered messages I had sent to Rowland everyday in desperation stared back at me.

I hit the space bar till the message disappeared.

He was the reason I was here. The boy who promised me forever disappeared without a word, and suddenly I was the one left to bear the consequences.

Blocked.

At the hospital, mother did all the talking.

Dad only sat back arms crossed like he didn't want to be associated with me.

My chest felt heavy.

Seconds later the doctor delivered the news that changed my life forever.

"Aborting the baby would be very harmful, she might bleed out. Both mother and child could be gone" The doctor said.

Something broke within me. My only hope at freedom, gone.

Mothers voice shook. "We can't do it Richard. I will not risk my daughter's life for your selfish desires"

I couldn't meet fathers eyes.

He stood quietly and shook the doctor.

"Thank you very much sir" He finally said, and walked out.

My body trembled. I didn't know what awaited me.

Immediately we stepped into the house father turned to me.

"You are going to marry Mr Harold's son"

"No!" I yelled; my voice came out weaker than I intended.

"Yes, Selene, we won't have a daughter who has a child but no husband. A child born out of wedlock. Never!"

"Dad, please. I can't marry him. I don't love him," I begged.

"You should have thought of that before..." He raised his hand above me.

I flinched.

"Richard, no, please," Mother cried. She ran to him with quickened steps, clutching his hands in hers.

I looked up at him. I wasn't a daughter in that moment, just a problem he needed to erase.

"I have made my decision. We meet his family tomorrow.

With that, he stomped out of the room.

Tears trailed down my cheeks, I hugged my knees to my chest, tilting back and forth.

How could I get married to a stranger, carrying a child he didn't ask for-how could I survive this?"

"Mother, please, I am sorry."

Mother crouched beside me. The liquid from her eyes dripped into my sleeve.

"Oh Selene, what have you done?" she cried.

"Mum, please do something. I can't marry his arrogant son. What would become of me?"

"I won't allow him to throw you away, Selene." She wiped at my eyes. "No matter what, you are still our daughter. I will talk to him."

I nodded, but I knew, because once Father had made his decision, there was absolutely no going back.

One thing was certain, I would protect this child no matter what, even if it meant defying the world.