Chapter 2

Raina

My eyes widened when I read the results of the doctor's examination. No! It can't be. Yes, I don't regret giving my virginity to that man a month ago, but I didn't expect that one night of being wild with him was enough for me to...

"Congratulations, because you're three weeks pregnant, Raina," the doctor greeted me with a smile. He was happy for me, but she didn't know that I worry now because of what I discovered.

"Are you sure you didn't make a mistake in diagnosing me, Doc?" Even though it was unlikely because the truth was right in front of my face, I still asked the doctor.

"Yes, I am very sure that you are pregnant. You are not sick, but you are pregnant," the doctor said with a smile. It seemed she didn't notice the worry on my face and just focused on the good news.

I visited the hospital and had a check-up because lately, I've been feeling a lot of unusual things in my body. I was craving milk ice cream from the dirty ice cream vendor who always bypassed us in front of our house. I also noticed that I've been getting dizzy more often. My stomach also feels acidic, and I frequently vomit, especially in the mornings. I often feel too lazy to get up and just want to sleep. This has started to affect my work as an interior designer at an architecture firm, the Apex Architectural Studio. When I wake up feeling unwell, I don't go to the office anymore because I might suddenly faint while working.

When I could no longer bear what was happening to me, I decided to get a check-up with the doctor because I might be sick. This has only happened to me lately. But I did not expect that instead of the doctor telling me that I have an illness, I would find out that I am actually pregnant. It just occurred to me now that I haven't had my monthly period for this month.

My knees weakened as I sat on the empty chair outside the office of the doctor who examined me. I didn't realize that I had already left her office after she gave me a prescription for my pregnancy.

I am very worried about my situation. If my father finds out that I am pregnant and there is no father that I could bring and introduce to him, he will surely disown me or force me to abort the child in my womb. Even though I don't want to have a child at this time, I can't bear to abort the life that is beating inside my stomach.

My father has high expectations of me, not just him but almost our entire clan. Even though we don't come from a wealthy and well-known family, I come from a large clan.

My father is the head of our clan. He is proud of me to the whole clan because I was always on the honor list when I was studying. I graduated summa cum laude from a private university where I took up a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. My father became even prouder of me when after graduation, I landed a job in a large architectural firm.

Not only is my father proud of me, but also of our relatives. Some of my cousins married and had children early, some are lazy, and others have jobs but not like mine with a high salary and working for a big company.

I went home sluggishly after coming from the hospital. I was surprised to see everyone busy arranging the entire living room as if there was going to be an event.

"What's happening? And why is everyone busy?" I asked Adela, our helper who is almost my age but looks older than me due to stress from her husband and children.

"Did you forget that tonight is Rina's engagement party with her fiancé, Congressman Evo Mondragon?" she reminded me.

I slightly slapped my forehead. She was right. I did forget about that. How could I forget my half-sister's engagement when she boasts about her handsome and wealthy fiancé to me almost every day?

Rina is my only half-sister. My mother died after I was born, and three years later, my father remarried. That was Rina's mother, Minerva, whom I considered my own mother even though she didn't treat me well.

Minerva was jealous because she said our father treated Raina and me differently. She said I was my father's favorite, even though I couldn't feel it. My father was strict with me, unlike Rina, who got whatever she wanted right away. Meanwhile, when I asked my father for something, I had to prepare a very convincing explanation just to get what I wanted. So I don't understand where the jealousy of my stepmother and half-sister comes from when my father doted on her more than me.

"I'm just going to rest in the room. If they look for me, tell them I'm not feeling well," I instructed Adela before I went upstairs to my room.

When I entered my room, I immediately lay down on my bed without changing clothes. Sleepiness attacked me again, so I quickly fell asleep and didn't notice the passing of time. I only woke up because of the loud closing of the door to my room. When I opened my eyes, Rina was at the foot of my bed, glaring at me.

"Why aren't you dressed properly yet, Raina? You know it's my engagement party tonight. I should be the center of attention because this is my night, but you ruined it as always. We've been waiting for you to come out of your room. I can't announce to the guests about my upcoming wedding to Evo because Daddy wants you present when I make the announcement as if you're the one getting married and not me," my half-sister's long rant went on.

That's when I noticed she was already wearing an evening gown and looked very beautiful.

"I'm sorry. I got tired so I slept for a long time," I apologized to her. "I'll just change my clothes into a dress and come down right away."

I got out of bed and approached the wardrobe to get clothes suitable for the occasion.

"What were you so busy with that you left the house instead of helping to tidy up the living room?" Rina asked. When I turned to her, my eyes widened when I saw she was holding the envelope containing my pregnancy results. I quickly ran towards her to grab the envelope but she swiftly avoided me.

"Don't meddle with that," I shouted at her in panic. My reaction made Rina even more determined to see what was inside the envelope until she succeeded in reading my pregnancy results.

"Y-You're pregnant, Raina?" Rina exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Please, don't tell Daddy what you've discovered, Rina," I pleaded with her. I'm not afraid of being disowned by Daddy; what I'm more afraid of is what he might do to the baby in my womb.

"Who is the father of your child? Where is the father of that child?" Rina asked after recovering from the shock. When I didn't answer, she suddenly laughed. "The child in your womb has no father? You're really great, Raina. Daddy needs to know this."

"What does Rina mean that you're pregnant and have no father, Raina?"

Rina and I both looked towards the door when we heard the loud and angry voice of my father standing at the open door. His face showed intense anger and surprise.

Because Rina took a long time inside a room, maybe she went upstairs to call us and happened to hear what Rina said to me.

"Dad! Evo!" Rina approached our dad and the man with him who was apparently standing by the door.

I felt like I had been struck by lightning when I recognized the face of Rina's fiancé. Fate must be playing tricks on me because the man I had a one-night stand with, the father of the child in my womb, and the fiancé of my half-sister is the same!