2. Get Rid It

“No, no! Don’t let this happen!” Geneva muttered anxiously.

Four months after she'd been trapped in bed with Archer Hill, she couldn't calm down because her period hadn't arrived. It was foolish of Geneva to take a pregnancy test now. She should have done so after a month or two of missing her period. Even more foolish, she should have anticipated this, as unprotected sex is detrimental to women. 

“What should I do? Oh, God. What should I do?”

Geneva couldn't come to Archer because she had already signed a formal contract with him. The contract stated that no matter what happened, Geneva couldn't come and interfere with Archer's life again. Visiting Archer and telling him about her pregnancy was definitely pointless. Geneva felt she would only embarrass herself further in front of Archer if she did that.

Her mind was so confused right now, she even forgot that she had been using the bathroom for so long that his drunk father, Tobias, had banged on the door without caring about the possibility of breaking it.

“Damned daughter! What were you doing in there for so long?! Do you think this is your mother’s house, who went out with her lover?! Hurry up and come out, you jinxed daughter!”

Geneva hated it when her father cursed so much, but there was nothing Geneva could do but keep quiet and choose to get out immediately before Tobias became even more uncontrollable.

“Geneva!” 

“Fuck you, I heard it!” Geneva shouted as she opened the bathroom door.

“Hey, you dare to curse me?”

Tobias tapped Geneva's forehead repeatedly with his finger. “Who do you think you are? You're just a damn child I happened to take care of when your mother left you for another man! How dare you curse in my face?”

“I'm not a little girl anymore, that you can do whatever you want, Dad. I've taken on a lot of part-time jobs to take care of this house and you, my useless father, while I still have to study hard to maintain my scholarship!”

Geneva didn't know where she mustered the courage to contradict Tobias. Normally, she wouldn't want to talk too much and escalate the argument with her father. But now, her irritation was mixed with the complexities of her pregnancy. Geneva's emotions were a rollercoaster after learning she was pregnant with Archer Hill's child.

Tobias immediately slapped Geneva's cheek. Like someone possessed, Tobias hit Geneva's head and slammed it against the wall. Geneva didn't try to protect her face, instead, instinctively, she hugged her stomach to protect her baby. On one hand, Geneva was trying her best not to hurt the baby in her belly, but on the other hand, she was also questioning herself, why did she want to protect that unwanted baby?

But before Geneva's thoughts could become even more chaotic, she quickly sought a way out of her father's physical abuse. She ran as fast as she could to escape the enraged Tobias. She didn't care about being barefoot or prepared; the most important thing was to get out of Tobias' reach first.

All Geneva could do was walk to her first workplace. Andreas's flower shop. Her Boss immediately looked at the door that jingled when Geneva arrived.

“Eva? What happened to you? Your face… oh my. Come in, follow me inside.”

Andreas looked panicked at Geneva's battered appearance. He immediately brought a first aid kit and carefully cleaned Geneva's face.

“Did your father do this?” Andreas asked.

Geneva didn't say yes, but her silence was enough for Andreas. "I told you, stay here. Don't come back to that house. You can look after my shop and make this place your home."

If Geneva had previously rejected Andreas's kindness, now she was starting to consider the opportunity. Geneva was no longer in a normal state. She was pregnant, and living with her alcoholic, violent father wouldn't be good for the baby.

“What’s wrong? What are you thinking about, Eva?”

Andreas, who was much more mature in age and life experience, could sense something happening within Geneva. They had known each other since Geneva in high school, so it was no surprise that they understood each other like family.

“I… Andreas, I…”

“Yes, what's wrong with you? Tell me what happened to you, Eva?”

Geneva wanted to tell Andreas that she was pregnant and didn't know what would happen to her. However, Geneva was also considering an abortion. Telling Andreas about her pregnancy would only complicate things, wouldn't it?

“Andreas, it looks like I'll have to accept your help again by staying here.”

Andreas sighed. “Is that all you have to say? Oh my gosh, Eva. Of course you can. Just a moment, a customer is coming in. You can take a break. It's not your working hours yet.”

Geneva nodded, staring at Andreas's back. Her thoughts were racing, wondering what decision she should make immediately: keep the baby, or abort it? 

*** 

The customer who came to Andreas' flower shop was a man Andreas had known during college.

“Archer?”

“Oh, hi, Andreas. Didn’t expect to see you here. Is this shop yours?”

Andreas nodded with a friendly smile. “Yes, this shop is mine.”

Archer snorted as he glanced around at all the flowers. “You’re just using this shop as camouflage, Andreas.”

Andreas understood what Archer was trying to say, but he chose to laugh softly and asked what kind of flower arrangement Archer wanted to come there.

“Oh, I want to send a funeral wreath.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss, Archer. If I may ask, who died in your family?”

“No one died, but I wanted to send it to my brother.”

Andreas stared at Archer in confusion. “Your brother? He’s still alive, and you want to send him a funeral wreath?”

Archer laughed at Andreas who was getting more and more confused, but Andreas still prepared the funeral wreath that Archer wanted.

“You surely understand that relationships between siblings aren't always smooth sailing, Andreas. My brother and I are often the ones competing, even though we're siblings by blood.”

Andreas nodded and took a deep breath. “I know what you mean. Isn't either of you willing to give in? Wouldn't life be more peaceful without fighting over the wealth your parents have already divided fairly?”

“That’s just gonna happen in a dream, Andreas.”

Andreas calculates everything to say to Archer, but he ends up not saying anything. He makes the funeral wreath without any conversation with Archer until it's done. 

“This is your order, Archer. Thank you for buying flowers here. I hope you and your brother are going to be better.”

Archer grinning while paying the wreath. “Thank you, Andreas.” 

Archer had turned and was ready to leave and open the door. However, a voice made him pause, and he turned back to Andreas.

“Andreas, can I borrow your shoes? I can’t go home to get them.”

“Oh, you can borrow one of the shoes in the back room, Eva. If they’re too big for you, maybe you can find a way—”

Andreas hadn't finished his sentence because he realized Archer hadn't left yet and was instead staring at Geneva who was now also stunned staring at the man.

“Hey? Do you two know each other?” Andreas asked. 

Geneva couldn't say anything; she was silent. However, Archer stared at Geneva, whose face wasn't as smooth as usual. A sense of anger welled up in Archer, realizing that she wasn't feeling well.

“Is she your woman, Andreas?” Archer said sarcastically.

“What do you mean, Archer? He’s an employee I consider my own little sister.”

“Little sister, huh?”

Andreas gave Geneva and Archer a questioning look. But neither of them asked a question.

“Okay, should we have dinner together? I seem to have missed what happened between you two.”

*** 

“I didn't expect that you would end up getting involved in my life again in this way.”

Geneva couldn't sit still. She didn't like this dinner idea. Andreas shouldn't have come up with an idea like this.

“I have no intention of entering your life. You shouldn't have said anything to Andreas so we wouldn't have to meet and have dinner like this.”

Archer ignored Geneva's response; instead, he immediately changed the subject. “What happened to your face?”

Geneva instinctively touched her face, realizing that her appearance was distorted by the physical abuse she had endured. Remembering this, Geneva realized that the man across from her was the one who should know about her pregnancy.

Geneva didn't have a chance to answer Archer's question because Andreas had already returned from the bathroom. Awkwardly, Andreas eyed them both in turn and asked, "So, who's going to explain how you two know each other?"

Geneva glanced at Archer, but he ignored her gaze. This made Geneva take a deep breath. She hated that Archer was avoiding Andreas' demands.

“We know each other because … I used to like Noel.”

“Noel Hill? How can you like him, Eva?”

“Does there have to be a reason to like someone?” Geneva replied.

“No, really. But Noel…” Andreas looked at Archer.

“Do you still like him?” Archer said.

“Why would I still like your brother? He’s already ruined my life. I’m not stupid enough to keep liking him. Besides, I already told you I wouldn’t interfere with the Hill family. Why do you still question it?”

Andreas waved his hand, motioning for Geneva to stop talking. “Wait! I don’t understand why you’re so angry and saying you won’t bother the Hill brothers? What happened?”

Archer popped a piece of meat into his mouth and chewed leisurely before remarking sarcastically to Andreas, “You're too nosy, Andreas. That's a private matter between me and your employees.”

“That's precisely what I'm considering! Eva is an employee I consider as a sister. Considering her as a sister equates to me being ready to protect her. That includes protecting her from men like you, Archer.”

“Hey, watch your mouth! What kind of man am I? I'm not a troublemaker. Don't compare me to Noel.”

Andreas shook his head. “You and your brother are the same.”

Archer didn't like being compared to his younger brother, but he didn't choose to argue any further.

“Eva, I'm sorry I made you have dinner with Archer. From now on, I'll help you avoid any more contact with Archer and his brother. You made the right choice; never interfere with Archer or his brother's life.”