Chapter 7

"You're five weeks pregnant, but you don't know about it? What a careless parent you are. Get some rest, then get yourself checked into the hospital. It would be best if you can contact your family to come keep you company."

The doctor shook her head and left.

Pregnant? Five weeks?

Calla only began to grasp what was happening to her after a few minutes. She felt an urge to cry as she looked at the report in her hands.

That handsome gigolo brought so much bad luck. He caused her to lose 650 dollars a while back, and the examinations she just did cost over 1000 dollars.

That wasn't even the worst part. He even left a little gigolo baby in her. She was about to become a gigolo baby's mother!

She was extremely unwilling to accept the fact, but after pondering over it for several hours, she decided to give birth to the baby. She didn't have the heart to end the baby's life.

She steeled herself and decided to stay at the hospital to keep the baby safe. Luckily, it was Saturday. She would probably only need to take a few more days off next week.

Calla had no choice but to give Alicia a call. She asked her to go to her house and get her some clothes and daily necessities. Then, she told Carol that she was on a business trip to hide the fact that she was in the hospital.

After she was done with all of that, she was able to receive the treatment for the baby without any worries.

…

Alicia went to visit Calla at the hospital during the lunch break on Monday.

"Did the Iron Lady approve my leave?" Calla asked anxiously the moment she saw Alicia.

Edith was an utterly heartless woman. Her motto was, "If you're not attending your parents' funeral or getting a divorce, you're not getting time off."

Alicia took out a leave application form and said surprisedly, "I was thinking of a reason for you, but as soon as I took the form out, she approved a week of leave for you. She even said to tell her if you need more time off."

Calla frowned. "Oh, no. That means I'm probably going to get laid off."

"Don't be so pessimistic."

"Oh well, there's nothing I can do even if that's the case. I can only accept whatever comes to be."

Calla's voice was calm, but she was actually very stressed. Her entire family's survival would become a problem if she got laid off.

"Also, whose… baby is this?" Alicia asked as she pointed at Calla's belly.

Calla and Alicia were very close. They tell each other almost everything. So, Calla didn't keep the truth from her.

"A month ago, I went out to get drunk. I got with a gigolo and got knocked up accidentally."

"What? You don't even know who the father is?" Alicia's jaw dropped, and her eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"It's better if I don't know. The baby wouldn't have to bear the burden," Calla said matter-of-factly.

"Are you planning to have the baby out of wedlock?"

"I want to give birth to the baby," Calla said as she stroked her belly.

After a moment of pause, Alicia said worriedly, "Dude, the company is laying off people soon. Isn't it too rash to choose to give birth to a baby, out of wedlock no less?"

"Well, I'm just gonna take one step at a time. My mom managed to raise me and my sister despite facing the same difficulties."

Alicia shook her head. She didn't really get Calla's decision.

…

Meanwhile, Simon was giving Mercer a report on the information he gathered. Mercer was dumbfounded and at a loss for what to do.

He was dazed for a few seconds. Then, he turned around, picked up a cigarette from the box on his desk, and tried to light it up.

He was probably panicking a little because he failed to ignite the lighter after multiple attempts.

Simon saw that and quickly proceeded to take the lighter from him and ignited it. Then, he helped Mercer light up the cigarette he was holding in his mouth.

Mercer took a few puffs. Then, he walked to the window and looked at the view outside.