Chapter 2

Lisa Knox

I had been searching for him, hoping to find him before my father found out I was pregnant. I tried to terminate the pregnancy but the doctor had said it would affect my chances of conceiving ever again if I went with it. And I always had dreams of becoming a mother. I couldn't lose that dream just because of a mistake of one night. 

So I decided to keep it. I had told Rina all that happened and thankfully, she said she still had contacts with the other guy, whom she had slept with that same night. They were friends. 

Before I went back to my dormitory, I got a text from Rina. It was a link to the stranger's page. Andrew Mccarthy was the username. 

As I scrolled through his page, it was hard not to peek at his pictures. I spent hours, staring at every image as if I needed to memorise every contour of his face. He was perfect in every way. 

Sandy blonde hair, light blue eyes, chiseled nose and jaw, perfect height and a physique to die for. I had fucked him once and I still couldn't get that night out of my head. 

I had summoned enough courage to enter his inbox when something caught my eyes. It was a shared post on his page. 

"Andrew Mccarthy to Wed Tara Sven." And it was the day after I had sex with him. 

What? I straightened on my bed, reality dawning on me. 

I had slept with a married man who would definitely not accept this child. I couldn't be the reason why their marriage would not go on. The smile on the bride's face made it impossible for me to go on to his inbox. 

I was terrified, upset, angry, sad and anxious about what this would bring. I was going to raise a child. Alone!

"Such a disgrace!" My father had spat while I sat in his office, sobbing heavily. 

I hated seeing my father in this state. I hated that look of disappointment on his face. That crumpled face that looked like they had just met with the end of the world. 

"Why didn't you tell me earlier on? Why did you wait till now!?" He paced the office. "Now, everyone would know that my heir is pregnant outside marriage, for a stranger who has a family! Plus she has to drop out because the baby has developed." 

He slammed the table and his face squeezed as he groaned in pain. "I...this is..."

I rose and rushed over to him. "Are you okay, father?"

He swatted my hands off his arm as he slumped on his chair. "Get...my chest. Get the phone. Call the d...doctor."

My hands were shaky but I quickly did as told. However, it was too late by the time my father would be rushed to the hospital. He was pronounced dead.

I and my sister wailed and mourned his death for days. Neither of us blamed each other for his death. Angelina especially stood by me, ensuring I was doing okay. She drove me to the clinic whenever I wanted and bought me the necessary medications. 

She was my shield and my rock. 

And now, as she drove me to the hospital to care for me while I had my fifth miscarriage, I couldn't be more guilty. She spent her whole life ensuring I was in good hands. 

That was why five years ago, she had introduced me to Sean Keller, saying he was her friend's older brother. 

My baby was about two months and a half along. Sean was a charming young man, quick to crack jokes and knowing when to do things. He did the basic gentleman acts like opening the door for me, taking me out on dates, rubbing my foot and singing to my belly. He had promised me heaven on earth. 

He wanted to take care of my baby like it was his and I believed him. I fell in love so hard I found it impossible to stand back up. 

We had our wedding in no time. Angelina made sure of it. 

"Don't lose this perfect man," she sang continously. 

Oh, what a big mistake! I trusted him so much that I switched the name on all the inheritance my father left me to his. Sean Keller on it all. It belonged to him as much as it belonged to me. Until a month after our wedding. 

He had come home drunk and reeking of another woman's scent. When I asked him about it, he hit me on the face and beat me until I lost my baby. 

Tears rolled down my eyes as I remembered the horror I felt seeing blood stain my dress and the whole floor. Yet, I stayed. I had thought Sean was the only man who could ever love me. But after that one miscarriage, many others followed until I had this one who stayed.

Unfortunately, he was born with a disability. Yet, he stayed for four years. He became my whole life then. My light in the tunnel. Harry lit up my world whenever Sean darkened it. He hated Harry with passion and never hesitated to show it. But I hoped and I prayed that one day, he would learn to accept that Harry is his child and he deserves to be loved.

After I was administered, I asked Angelina to go home and tell Sean to take care of Harry.

"You know how he gets when he's unsupervised. I can't leave here now, so please." 

Angelina kissed my forehead as she flashed me a smile. "Don't you worry, dear sister."

She squeezed my hand and left. I began to contemplate my life and how amidst all of this, Sean decided that he was going to file for a divorce. He's been asking for it for a while but I refused to sign it, because I know what I'd lose. 

The inheritance, my freedom and so much more. 

The treatment took the whole day and by the next day, I was perfectly fine. I took the medications and called my sister so she could come pick me up. She wasn't picking. 

I decided to hail a taxi then. 

When I got home, I couldn't wait to yank off my dress and have a cold bath. Or maybe swim in the pool to calm my head. I went to the changing room, noting how the house was quiet.

Perhaps, Sean had taken Harry out for ice cream or to the movies. Maybe they were getting along already. 

I changed into my one piece swimsuit and moved to the pool. Only then did I notice something afloat. Was that a floater? I stepped into the water, noticing the figure get clearer but refusing to accept my fear. 

But when I touched the figure and turned it upwards, I let out a blood curdling scream.