Chapter 0243

ANASTASIA

I stared at the doctor in shock, my mind spinning as his words echoed in my ears. Pregnant? How could I possibly be pregnant?

Flashes of memories with Aiden bombarded me; from our first date, the night he proposed, making love and whispering dreams of our future family. But those dreams had been shattered when I caught him cheating. The betrayal cut so deeply, I didn't know if I could ever forgive him.

And now, an innocent child was caught in the crossfire, bundles of cells dividing rapidly to become a new life...Aiden's child...our child. Despite my anger, some small part of me still loved him fiercely. Could I go through with this pregnancy after what he'd done?

The doctor seemed to sense my inner turmoil.

“Miss? You don't seem happy about the news…”

I shook my head slowly.

“I...I just found out my boyfriend cheated on me.” My voice trembled.

The doctor's expression softened with sympathy. “I understand this is a difficult situation. Why don't I give you some privacy to process everything?”

With a gentle nod, he excused himself, closing the door softly behind him. I curled in on myself, cradling my still-flat stomach where life was blossoming within me. How could I have missed the signs? So much upheaval had happened in a crushing span of days;my relationship unraveling, confronting Aiden, moving in with Clara.

A baby seemed unfathomable.

But now, it was undeniably real. Could I go through with it after Aiden's betrayal? The thought of terminating pained me deeply, and yet I couldn't fathom being forever tied to a man who had crushed my heart into pieces. How could I love a child whose father had hurt me?

The door burst open and Clara rushed in, frantic lines of worry on her face.

“Oh my god, Ana! You're awake! I was so scared when you collapsed!”

She flung herself on the bed and hugged me fiercely. When she pulled back, I could no longer hold back my anguish.

“Clara...the doctor said I'm pregnant. I’m carrying Aiden's baby,” I whispered brokenly.

Her eyes widened in shock before her expression morphed into one of gentle compassion.

“Oh my god are you serious?” When I nodded slowly, her expression softened even further.

“What are you going to do? Are you going to tell Aiden?”

I shook my head quickly. I couldn't bear to face him again, not after he had shattered my heart into pieces. Just the thought of co-parenting with Aiden made my chest constrict painfully.

“Oh Ana, what then are you going to do, sweetie?”

I shook my head helplessly again, letting new tears fall down my face.

“I don't know. I just don't know if I can go through with it…” Touching my flat stomach, I whispered, “I don't think I want to keep it.”

“You want to get an abortion?” she asked in surprise.

I nodded as a lump formed in my throat.

Clara sighed heavily.

“I get why you would consider that, but abortion, even this early, isn't something to take lightly. It can be really dangerous, Ana.”

“I know,” I whispered shakily. “But it's still in the first trimester. Shouldn't it be….easier this early?”

Clara hesitated, then nodded slowly. “From what I know, yeah, it's safer and less complicated earlier on. But it still carries major risks at any stage.”

She squeezed my hand supportively. “I just want you to be certain this is really what you want. Because either way, I'm here for you every step of the way.”

I said no more at the point and just focused on trying to burst into loud wails. She pulled me into a hug and let me cry into her shoulder when I finally gave in to the tears again. She stroked my hair soothingly.

When I finally pulled back, wiping my eyes, a new thought surfaced.

“Hey, do you know who carried me out after I collapsed at the club?”

“Oh, about that. It was that Dennis guy you were talking to at the bar.”

“Oh….” I trailed off.

“I saw him hanging around earlier too. I'll let him know you're okay so he can be on his way.”

I nodded slowly.

A few hours later, I was discharged from the hospital. As I walked down the hallway towards the exit, something small rushed past my legs. I caught herself just in time from falling, grabbing onto what turned out to be a giggling toddler.

“Oh my goodness.” I couldn't help but smile at the cherubic little face grinning up at me.

“Well aren't you just the cutest little pumpkin?”

I scooped the tiny girl up. The toddler beamed and tangled her little hands in my hair.

“Now where did mommy or daddy run off to, hmm?” I cooed as I scanned the hallway. I bounced the giggly girl gently as she walked.

“Ivy! There you are!” A flustered woman rushed over, looking immensely relieved.

“Oh thank goodness, I didn't realize when she slipped away from me. Thank you so much for catching her.”

The woman reached for her daughter, but the little girl clung tightly to my shirt, whimpering in protest.

I chuckled and carefully pried her tiny fists loose.

“Come on now, go to your mommy.” I handed Ivy over.

“Thank you again, I'm so grateful.”

The mom smiled gratefully before hurrying off with her squirming daughter.

I watched them go, and somehow, my hand drifted unconsciously to rest on my stomach.

It was then I knew that I could never do it.

I couldn't go through with terminating this pregnancy.