Evelyn's POVThe hospital environment was sickening. The hospital's familiar smells of antiseptic disinfectant which I'm gradually getting acquainted with, now nauseated me. It made me feel sickly and reminded me of my predicament. Liam hadn't visited since he found out about my pregnancy. I haven't had any proper food since then. The hospital food was just good enough for convalescents, but it wasn't for me. It tasted bland to my tongue and makes me throw up occasionally. I craved for a better and perhaps spicier meal well prepared by either Liam or I.Although I'm pregnant with a child, I felt feathery. I've lost some weight just these few days I had spent in this godforsaken hospital. I wished I would be discharged as soon as possible. I can't wait to leave this boring ward with a whitish environment that I despised.My phone buzzed from the top of the bedside cupboard next to the bed. I got up wearily and stretched my right hand to get it. I flickered my eyelids as I gazed at it,
Lisa's POVMy head felt heavy, heavier than usual as I got up from bed. I rubbed my fingers on my slightly protruding tummy to ease the pain I felt from it. It churned severely like a grinding stone and didn't stop, despite how soothing I ran my fingers on it. I felt a little nauseated. As I stood up from bed and scurried into the bathroom, my legs felt heavy just as my head did. It wasn't normal, I knew it. Something was definitely wrong with me. I've never felt this terrible all my life.As soon as I got into the bathroom, I balanced my arms on both sides tightly, while I lowered my head, letting my vomit pour into the sink. I felt an intensifying splitting headache with every wave of forceful vomit I let out.Mum pushed the door open and rushed in to my rescue. She dashed into the bathroom, trembling frantically in panic.“Are you okay? What's wrong with you, my child?” She quivered, stomping her feet wildly on the tiled bathroom floor.I didn't say anything, even after I noticed
My mind trailed back to the events of that day he had thrown me out of his home. I recalled that I had spent the previous night away from my matrimonial home with a hot stranger. My heart skipped a beat. What if the stranger was responsible for the child I'm growing in me? It was just a random one night stand and he had left me before dawn. There was no trace of him in the room when I got up in the morning. I didn't bother. I thought I won't get pregnant for just a one night stand, but I was mistaken. Now, I'm completely doomed.“We’d have to leave now. I have some important meeting to catch up with,” mum informed me, jolting me out of my reverie.“Okay mum,” I concurred and got to my feet, thoughts of the paternity of my child kept haunting me. We got into our car and drove back home the same way we came, except that mum didn't say anything all through the ride. Mum dropped me off and turned back to catch up with her important meeting without saying a word. As I got in, I realized
“Take me out of here, please!” Dad finally mumbled, writhing in pain.The stoic-faced man kicking at him gritted his teeth as he shut me a deadly glare. I froze at the spot.“He's your dad, huh?” He grunted, his gaze narrowed at me.“Y…Yes sir. Please have mercy,” I quivered. “What did he do to you please?”“Lisa, let's get out of this place at once!” Dad's voice interrupted unexpectedly.“Shut up!” The well-built man thundered, posing his clenched fist at Dad's face. My heart flew away, wishing dad we'll survive that hard hit, but luckily the man didn't go further with it. Dad's face bore more than enough bruises already.“How dare you talk while I'm talking? Are you out of your senses? You want me to waste you?” His hoarse voice caused Dad to tramble.“S…Sorry sir. I won't do that again. I promise,” Dad fumbled pathetically, shuddering like a rain drenched chick.“Please spare him. Please have mercy, sir,” I pleaded on his behalf, dropping down to my wobbly knees.The tough man gr
“Wake up! Sleepy head!” Mum bellowed and tapped at my hand softly, jolting me out of my not-so-peaceful sleep.“Ooohhh!” I winced while stretching my body lazily, wishing she didn't interrupt my sleep, although it was enjoyable.“It's morning already. We need to go take Dad to the hospital. His injuries are getting worse despite the mild treatment I administered to him last night.” She stated in a voice laced with worry.I rubbed my eyes slowly and flickered them open. Mum stood still and watched me saunter into the bathroom. “Get ready quickly! I'd be waiting for you downstairs!” She said, and took her leave.As I lowered myself into the bathtub, memories of last night flooded through my mind. I recalled how bruised all over dad was, how heavy ladden his voice sounded when he spoke, how the muscular built man beat him up mercilessly, and finally how he gave dad just three days to pay off his debt. That last shook me harshly to my feet. How do we come up with such an amount of money
“Get the door open quickly!” The man's hoarse voice was accompanied by a harder slam on the door, sending chills down my spines.I cast Mum one last glance, before I clutched at the doorknob. Weariness and anxiety loomed over Mum's face. She seemingly didn't want me to go ahead with it, so I paused suddenly and turned back to her.“Don't open the door yet,” she whispered. “Let's call the police first!”I scurried back to sit on the sofa, tiptoeing to avoid making much noise.Meanwhile, the hard hits on the metal door increased in intensity. The door shakes vigorously with every hit, making it look wooly like it would fall off any moment soon. We were running out of time. My heart pounded hard in my chest.Mum grabbed the telephone caller, dialed the cops and rushed into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her carefully. She spoke in hushed voices and came out later, with a satisfied look on her face. She then placed the telephone set back to its place and sat back on the sofa n“Ge
“How’s she now?” I asked one of the nurses that just walked out of the ward where Mum was admitted, curiosity taking the better part of me.My heart raced with thoughts as I peered into her face searchingly. She bore a smug look on her face and said nothing, I was afraid something bad must have happened to mum.“She'd be fine, ma'am. You don't have to worry yourself, okay?” She said, reassuringly and left.I was already worried. Even her choice of words worried me the most. ‘She'd be fine,’ which meant she wasn't fine yet. My stomach tightening into a knot, as I paced to and fro the hallway of mum's ward.I took a deep breath and convinced myself that Mum would be fine. It's been hours of their battling to save mum's life and now, just as I took the battle over and won, the nurse is here to tell me that she'd be fine. That was never what I wanted to hear at the moment.Sighing for the umpteenth time, I watched as the nurse walked back in, this time carrying a tray of pills, which I pe
After the questioning was over, I was allowed to leave, while a quite familiar man seated on the bench with me was whisked into a cell. Although I felt happy at his retribution, I couldn't help but wonder if he was really the man I had spent that splendid night with, after Lucas cheated on me. Maybe he was the one responsible for my pregnancy. Just maybe….Evening was setting in already. I boarded a taxi and got back to the hospital. Surprisingly, mum sat in the seat I was sitting in before I left the hospital. She's been discharged already. My face beamed with happiness.“Mum!” I half yelled and walked excitedly to where mum was seated.“Mum? What do you mean? Where did you go?” She snuggled me in a little and then let me sit beside her.“I'm sorry I left for the police station. I received an urgent call from them.” I said, unsure whether to go into details. “How do you feel now, Mum?” “Police station? Why the hell did you go there? Did you commit a crime?” She was left undone.“C'm
I could hardly wait for my antenatal care session to be done with. I've had just enough of everything. I should have just ended it all long ago, that way I wouldn't be involved in this mess. Just when I lost hope, Frank waltzed back into my life and instilled a fresh hope and now he's leaning me shattered and heartbroken.“Miss Lisa, come forward, please,” the doctor motioned to me, indicating that it was my turn to be attended to.“Okay, doctor!” I said and moved to the chair opposite him.He outlined the necessary medication and suitable meals, rich in various nutrients that should be taken by me. I thanked him and left afterwards, after giving Evelyn one last scrutinizing gaze.Frank was supposed to drive me back home. He had said he'd report at the hospital in thirty minutes' time, but unlike him, he didn't show up even after more than an hour's time. I wasn't so bothered about that anyway. He was the cause of the heaviness I felt in my heart and I wouldn't want to have anything
“It's another day to go see the doctor!” Frank reminded me, with a kiss on my forehead.Getting out of bed, I stretched groggily and slipped into my flip flops and took to the bathroom to get ready for the day's antenatal session. I carried out all my daily routine and in about an hour, Frank dropped me off at the hospital and left afterwards.I strode heavily into the doctor's office for some medical check-up before I proceeded to thehospital's gynecology section, where the antenatal care was being provided. “Good morning, doctor!” I greeted with a faint smile, as soon as I got into his office.“Morning, ma'am. Welcome to my office,” The doctor replied curtly, raising his gaze to meet me, his eyes particularly on my protruded belly.“Your pregnancy is advancing smoothly,” he observed, although I felt might have meant the opposite- The pregnancy had brought me so much pain and mental stress.“How about your husband? He didn't come in here with you?”“My husband?” I blinked with skept
The doctor handed the test results to Frank, his face lit with a smile. I already knew my fate and so I didn't need to wait for the doctor to announce the outcome of the DNA test. I was more bothered about dad's stern punishment, about how mum would feel if I eventually get cut off from their lives.“The test results confirm that you're the rightful father of the child!” The doctor finally said those words I never wanted to hear, although I already knew they were true.“Thank you so much doctor,” Frank muttered, exchanging handshakes with the doctor.“You're welcome,” the doctor said and left us to ourselves“You see it, I told you I was the child's father and you denied it. Now you see, I'm right. It's been confirmed,” Frank ranted boastfully.I rolled my eyeballs in disdain and glanced at him, wondering why he was all cheerful, despite knowing the fire consequences that awaited me as a result.“Frank, it seems you don't really understand what's going on with my family right now. Did
I heard the sound of a familiar car drive into the compound and blare its horn loudly as it parked. Peeking through the curtained window in my room upstairs, my eyes met a familiar sight. Frank's Lamborghini was parked out there. He alighted and stood by it. My heart thumped as caught a glimpse of him. He was absolutely breathtaking! He was dressed smartly in casual good-looking clothes and wore dark shades that did well to shield a good proportion of his tough face. I've never seen him look so good before. It looked like he dressed specifically to impress me. He was here to pick me up and I was all set, waiting for his arrival since early morning. Frank stomped his feet impatiently as he stood by his car and pulled out his phone, probably to give me a call. I smiled and reached for my phone quickly even before it rang. “Hello baby!” He greeted me. “Hi! I'm coming to meet you downstairs. Just a moment,” I said, with a smile “Alright, I'd be waiting!” He replied and hung
Frank took a few steps closer to me, placing his hand back on my shoulder. I decided to stay put this time. He gently tugged some strands of hair behind my ear and turned to look directly into my eyes.“Look baby, I know the circumstances that brought us together are quite questionable, I just want you to know that I genuinely care about you and our baby. I won't do anything to hurt you anymore. I promise, believe me,” he pleaded, his eyes graced with genuine sincerity.I felt dreamy as I stared on, my eyes well with tears. I've never felt so in love before. He's a monster, yet I won't deny that I'm falling for him already. He might not be the perfect human, but he's perfect for me.“I miss my parents so much. I'm sure they'll be expecting me back soon. I haven't even sorted out the hospital bills,” I whimpered.A teardrop rolled down one eye and then another in the second eye. He wiped them off caringly and wrapped me in his comforting arms.“Don't cry please! I'd pay the bills.” He
“Wake up, baby!” A masculine voice jolted me out of my peaceful sleep.I flickered my eyes for a moment and shut them back, to think properly. Who is he and how did I get here?“Dad?” I stared at him searchingly, my eyebrows contorted.He giggled at me, like I was making some joke. “Don't tell me you've forgotten your Daddy so soon! Your baby's daddy as well,” he teased and chuckled with a mirthless laughter. “Oh!” The events of last night began replaying in my mind.“I didn't die? Why did I follow him? Did he sleep with me?” I muttered to myself.“You'd have preferred to die than follow me last night, you mean? Don't you care about my baby?” He interrupted my thoughts. “Well, we spent the night together, if you must know. But don't be afraid I didn't touch you.”I blinked in disgust. His presence disgusted me, as much as his words did.“It's my baby not yours, please. Get that stuck into your brains!" I clarified.“Don't worry, we'd get to find out who the rightful father is soon e
“What exactly is wrong with you? Why would you think of killing yourself?” he frowned disheartenedly. I bowed my head in regret. His piercing gaze shot at me and I couldn't withstand it any more.“I… I'm sorry. I won't try it again.” I faltered, wondering why I felt indebted to the man who caused me so much pain.“Get her into the car!” He said, gesturing to the other man.“I won't!” I backed off, unwilling to go with them.“Let's go, please. I have a surprise for you!” He said excitedly.“A surprise for me? What surprise?“Yes, you'll find out about it later. Let's go first!”Hesitantly, I strode to the car where my tormentor stood and got in. My mind was too busy to think of anything else to do. He joined in the car, sitting next to me, while the other man drove.“You think you could run away from me, huh?” He asked, his husky voice reminding me of that night.“Look, I don't know where you're taking me to, but that doesn't give you the right to question me unnecessarily.” I blurred
I stare blankly into the empty space, the nothingness shook within me, an unpleasant feeling of self-pity, when I remember my predicament; how my life had turned upside down all of a sudden, how life had dealt treacherously with me. I wished my world could be different. Different from the nagging voices in my head that reminded me daily of my struggle, pain and lingering sorrow, and of the imperfections that embraced my world.Mum and Dad are still in the hospital, not because they're still ailing, but because I can't afford to foot the both bills and now I haven't been able to attend the antenatal sessions the doctor recommended for me, just because I can't pay off my pending debts. What a shame!I had no other person to run to. The few relatives I know, I don't relate well with them, especially after Evelyn was sent out of this house and automatically out of our lives. Evelyn could have been of help to save my face from the embarrassment, but right now, we're not in talking terms. T
After the questioning was over, I was allowed to leave, while a quite familiar man seated on the bench with me was whisked into a cell. Although I felt happy at his retribution, I couldn't help but wonder if he was really the man I had spent that splendid night with, after Lucas cheated on me. Maybe he was the one responsible for my pregnancy. Just maybe….Evening was setting in already. I boarded a taxi and got back to the hospital. Surprisingly, mum sat in the seat I was sitting in before I left the hospital. She's been discharged already. My face beamed with happiness.“Mum!” I half yelled and walked excitedly to where mum was seated.“Mum? What do you mean? Where did you go?” She snuggled me in a little and then let me sit beside her.“I'm sorry I left for the police station. I received an urgent call from them.” I said, unsure whether to go into details. “How do you feel now, Mum?” “Police station? Why the hell did you go there? Did you commit a crime?” She was left undone.“C'm