IT WAS JUST ONCE

JADE

Max's father stared at me in surprise at first and then chuckled, "My son impregnated you?"

I nodded, "Yes, sir. I am pregnant for Max Anderson."

He shook his head, "Max has really outdone himself this time. Couldn't he have found someone better?"

Hearing his words made me feel ashamed because I knew I looked horrible in my state.

The man stared at me a little more and pointed his finger at me, saying, "Listen, the fact that we're wealthy doesn't mean anyone can take advantage of us. If you insist that Max is responsible for your pregnancy, I will get a test done after speaking to him.

However, if it turns out that you're lying to me, I will deal with you severely, regardless of your condition."

"No, sir. I would never dare to lie about my child." I assured him.

"In that case, come inside and wait for him." He instructed the men at the gate to let me in and they immediately did.

He drove into the compound and asked me to wait on the patio for Max to arrive while he went into the house.

Hunger gnawed at me while I waited as I hadn't eaten anything all day. I also wished I could take my bath and change my clothes but I knew no one would help me until they were convinced I was speaking the truth.

I recalled that night with Max Anderson. Even though he was a manwhore, he had seemed like a kind person, considering how he gave me an additional fifty thousand dollars.

I hoped he wouldn't deny knowing me.

About twenty minutes later, a car drove into the compound and a tall and handsome young man came out. He hurriedly went into the house without noticing me.

I knew he was Max Anderson. How could I not? He came out a few minutes later with his father and they walked toward me.

When he got closer, Max stared at me as though he was trying to remember if he had ever met me. His eyes suddenly widened and he took a step back.

"From the look on your face, I can tell that this girl is not a stranger to you," his father said to him.

"I don't know her," he replied firmly. "I mean, I must have seen her because I've been to so many places, but I don't know her."

His father stared at him for a while and said to me, "Young lady, my son just said that he doesn't know you."

My heart raced as fear engulfed me. How would I survive with my child if they turned me away?

"I assure you, sir, that Max is the father of my baby. Yes, he doesn't know me but he did have sex with me." I stated confidently.

"Is that so, Max?" The man asked him.

Max seemed irritated and kept silent.

"I am asking you a question," his father snapped at him.

"It was just once!" He blurted out and I heaved a sigh of relief. "It was a mistake because of some stupid bet."

His father scoffed, "I don't believe this. Max, you're twenty-two years old for crying out loud. To get a girl pregnant, you do not necessarily need to have sex with her more than once. Shouldn't you know this?"

"Come on, Dad, she's just an opportunist," Max replied. "I'm sure someone else got her pregnant and she's here to..."

"Shut up!" His father yelled. "I warned you about your immoral lifestyle but you didn't listen. Congratulations on finally getting results."

Max shook his head, "Please do not say that, Dad. You know I've changed. I turned a new leaf when Stacy came into my life.

You know that I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. What will she say if she finds out about this?

Send this opportunist away. Let her get rid of this pregnancy because I am not taking responsibility for it."

I gasped in surprise as Max's father raised his hand and slapped him, "How dare you say such nonsense? No child of mine will be aborted."

Max held his cheek in surprise, "Dad you don't even know whose pregnancy it is and you're already calling it your child."

"That is what a simple DNA test can prove. What's the essence of talking so much? You should come with us to the hospital to confirm if she's really pregnant for you."

Max heaved in anger as he stared at me condescendingly making me feel even more embarrassed.

As I stared at Max, I once again recalled that night my life had spiraled out of control. I so badly wished I could turn back the hands of time.

Then, I would have let that bastard, Henry, die. I was grateful that Max's father wanted us to go to the hospital. At the very least, once they confirmed that the child was theirs, I could get a roof over my head or enough money to stand on my feet.

"Ready the car," Max's father said to his driver, and then told Max, "Go get ready; we are going to the hospital."

"I don't want to," Max replied.

"What are you afraid of?" his father asked. "Weren't you so sure just now that the child isn't yours? Let's go to the hospital; our doctors will look into it."

"Even if the child is mine, I don't want it," Max replied.