Chapter 001

Chapter 001

Alice

"Daddy, please beg Mummy for me. I promise it wasn't intentional. I don't even know him. Granny, please. I'll do anything but plead with Mum, please."

I begged, tears streaming down my face, my nose watery, as I clutched Granny's dress and Dad's at the same time, my eyes fixed on Mum, who sat elegantly at the head table.

In my family, the relationships were different from other households. Unlike others, my mom was the ruler and the most cruel mother you'd ever see while my father and granny were the loving and kind ones.

"Janice, please, you should reconsider; she's–" my dad began, but Mom cut him off rudely.

"Oh, please, Jason. She's useless and a mistake, just like you. If she weren't useless, how would a twenty-year-old college fresher open her legs for a stranger to fuck her and then get pregnant?" Mom sneered, applying her makeup. "You even knew about it!"

"Janice st–"

She cut dad off.

"No! Let me talk! She's brought stains on my name and honor. I mean, what kind of eyes would my wealthy friends look at me with now? She've soiled t so bad! She lamented, glaring dagger at me. I knew if looks could kill, I would've been long buried.

All she said was right. Three months ago, my best friend Alicia invited me to a nightclub for her birthday. As an introvert, I usually avoided such scenes, but Alicia forced me to come. I finally agreed, and we went.

That night, I had too much to drink and ended up in a one-night stand with a mysterious man in a mask and suit. I knew nothing about him, not even his name.

All I could remember the next morning was waking up in a presidential hotel, disoriented. My virginity which I'd always reserved for Jake, my boyfriend, was gone. And now, pregnancy.

"She should stay here, and I'll take care of her until she gives birth. I'll find a way to raise the child," my granny said.

"Never!" my stepfather, Alec, countered. "Let her learn a lesson. Then, I'll consider allowing her back."

My mom chimed in. "Right, honey." She agreed while adjusting her extravagant dress. Her focus, as always, was on fashion and socializing with wealthy friends.

I couldn't understand why my dad tolerated her behavior. He wasn't even divorced from her, yet she lived with Alec. My dad split wood for a living and spent two to three months at a time away, but granny remained here.

The relationship between my parents puzzled me. Whenever dad objected to mom's actions, she'd say, "Don't forget our oath," and he'd fall silent, even granny.

"Alice, I think you can hear that," he said, smirking at me.

I glared at him with hate. He had been making unwanted advances, even attempting to rape me, but I always managed to escape. Now, he was involved in this mess.

He and Mom had been the people that pressured me into attending Alicia's birthday party three months ago.

That day, Mom's wrath had left me reeling. She'd beaten me over a minor mistake and stormed out.

To find some peace, I'd turned to Alicia's party because Granny and Dad were also away then, and I hoped the party would provide a temporary escape from the emotional pain and also to avoid stories that touch the heart as Alec was the only one at home that day.

But, unknown to me, that night would lead to more complications.

Two days ago, I returned to the bar too, to find some information about the mysterious man. No one knew him. Even Alicia, who'd encouraged me to approach him and also offer him a drink as a dare, claimed she didn't know him.

She was even the one who escorted me to a restroom in the bar after having a drink and that was all I remembered.

"If you say one more word about my daughter, Alec, you'll have to answer to me," my dad growled, rising from his seat, but Granny restrained him.

I was surprised by my father's sudden change of heart, but I was grateful to have him on my side. Just four days ago, he and Granny had questioned me, their anger and disappointment palpable.

Dad had even taken me to the hospital, urging me to consider an abortion. "You're too young my baby, a college freshman," he'd said. "I don't want your bright future cut short." Granny had vehemently opposed the idea, but Dad had persisted.

However, at the hospital, the doctor revealed a shocking truth. He said that my body was uniquely challenging to get pregnant, and if I miscarried, I might never conceive again. After a torturous mental struggle, I decided to keep the child.

Dad had no choice but to accept my decision, though his anger still remained. But now, he stood firmly by me.

Today, Mom's fury had been released when she discovered my condition moments ago when I kept on vomiting consistently. She'd forced me to the hospital, demanding the doctor terminate the pregnancy immediately, despite learning about the potential complications.

Her beating right at the doctor's room there had left me battered, but all I’d done was shield my belly, protecting my unborn child while she delivered the blows.

It was the doctor, Dad, and Granny that’d intervened, saving me from her wrath. All she’d kept on chanting as she beat me was "Goodness! My soiled reputation! You mistake of a child"

The doctor had also supported my decision, and I was resolute that I'd keep my baby, no matter what. At twenty, I knew the challenges ahead, but I was willing to face them.

"I'll care for my child." I'd said.

"You meant your slut of a daughter, Jason?" Alec sneered breaking me out of my thoughts, and I clenched my fists with another tempest of tears running down my cheek.

"If you touch him, Jason, then our oath–" Mom warned, her voice cold and calculated.

Dad froze, his fists clenched, ready to pounce on Alec. I watched as the tension in his body dissipated and then replaced by resignation. I knew then that this was a lost cause because I would be thrown out.

It was no secret that Dad and Alec had once been best friends, but something had driven them apart. Alec's relationship with Mom, perhaps? The relationship between them were complicated like I've mentioned.

My mom was the wealthy and influential one in my household and dad, despite wanting independence, was trapped. It was clear Mom's threats had kept him bound, along with Granny, under her and Alec's control.

"Dad, it's fine," I said, dragging my still aching body up with a wince to gather my scattered clothes and small bag, discarded near the entrance. "I'll find somewhere to go. I'll stay with Alicia for a while, then find a job and get back on my feet."

As I spoke, my hand instinctively went to my slightly bulging belly. Despite the unknown father, I'd grown attached to my little bundle of joy.

"I won't abort this baby," I whispered to myself. "I'll do all it takes to survive for you, baby."

"But, Janice, it's raining heavily outside," Granny pleaded, almost kneeling down, but I stopped her.

"Remember, karma, this is your only daughter you're throwing out," she added, her voice trembling.

Mom's response was callous. "When she finds her baby's daddy, I'll accept her back, but only if he's rich and influential."

Dad's anger boiled over. "You're a bad mother. I regret the day I met you and everything that led me to you. May you rot in the deepest pit of hell."

He stood up, his eyes blazing, and walked me to the door. I knew his hands were tied in this situation because of the mysterious oath that seemed to be controlling him.

"Be careful, daughter," Dad said, his voice cracking. "It's night, and it's raining heavily. I'll come see you tomorrow after pleading with your mom again. I'll call Jake to help safeguard you, but I trust no one to leave you in this condition."

"Jason! Jason! Get the hell over here and make we some hot coffee!” Mother yelled. I saw my dad's jaw gritted. This wasn't the first time it would happen. Despite having multiple maids at her disposal she still took dad as her maid.

I looked up at my dad and for the first time, I saw tears streaming down my ever strong father's face. Granny's eyes were also brimming with tears too. My heart broke.

"Don't worry, Dad, I'll be fine," I reassured with a bleary vision, hugging him and Granny tightly. "Alicia's house is just a stone's throw from here. I'll call you tomorrow morning."

"Alright, my baby. Take care, okay?" Granny whispered with a trembling voice.

I nodded, hugging them again before stepping into the cold rain, ready to start a new life.

Alicia, my childhood best friend, would help me because she's partly responsible for my situation. But, what if she doesn't accept me? My chest tightens at the thought. I had no where else to go. Where would I even start from? I had no other friends.

I knew Jake's house was a no go area for now and I've got to be hiding before I would be able to save enough money to leave this country to avoid criticism from my classmates.

Me, a twenty year old girl now an expecting mother. I don't have even a single clue about motherhood. If only my mother had been the nurturing presence I needed, teaching me life's essentials as I grew.

If only she'd guided me with love and kindness, sharing wisdom on relationships like mother to daughter always does. Maybe, just maybe this wouldn't have happened.

But despite her absence in my life, I vowed to cherish this unexpected journey of motherhood. I'll embrace every challenge, every joy, and every lesson. My child will know love, care, and understanding with everything I was denied.

I'll prove to myself and my mother that I'm not a mistake or useless, but a strong, capable woman. Come rain or shine, I'll stand by my decision that my baby's life is precious, and I'll nurture it with all my heart with granny and father by my side, I'll do this!

And as I walked away in the heavy rain, I couldn't help wondering if that wicked woman was truly my mother.