Chapter 3: Shocking Revelation

Mandy’s POV

“What?” I asked in shock.

“You’re pregnant, Mrs. Vanderbilt,” the doctor repeated.

Panic set in as the doctor’s word sunk in.

My heart was racing and my palms were sweating.

I couldn’t believe I was pregnant.

My thoughts got tangled in a mix of emotions.

The divorce, Lucas’s disdain and now, a baby.

How am I going to cope? I thought anxiously.

I was only 18 years old and last week I was struggling about college admissions; I’m practically a child myself.

The weight of responsibility almost crushed me.

How will I pull through all of these?

“Mrs. Vanderbilt, are you okay?”

The doctor asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Yea…yeah, I am,” I stammered.

There was a brief moment of silence before I spoke again.

“Please can I ask a question, doc?” I said.

“Of course Mrs Vanderbilt. Go ahead,” the doctor said.

“Is the diagnosis correct?

“Are there chances that I could have been misdiagnosed?”

“Well, misdiagnosis occurs most of the time in this line of work,” the doctor answered.

This made me feel a little relieved. Perhaps I've been misdiagnosed.

The doctor recommended that I get my test result so I can confirm my pregnancy status.

What he did was only a preliminary check.

After my blood was drawn, I waited nervously for the result.

While I waited, the hospital's antiseptic scent filled my nostrils.

Hospitals weren't really my thing. In fact, I hated visiting the hospital.

My grandma Amanda died in the hospital after her accident.

I was told my parents also died in the hospital.

This made me resent going to the hospital.

Whenever I was sick, I would have Grandma bring the doctor to the house instead.

Yet here I was, in a hospital, with no other option.

Finally the nurse who had drawn some of my blood earlier, returned with an envelope.

“The result for your test is out,” she said to me, handing me the envelope.

I took a deep breath and proceeded to open the envelope with shaky hands.

Positive.

I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

Thinking about an abortion wasn't an option.

Lucas may hate me but he's also this child's parent so I had to let him know about it.

Fortunately , I was in the same hospital where Mary was admitted.

I headed to her room after confirming her room number from the hospital receptionist.

Lucas’s bodyguards were at the door and they acknowledged me on seeing me.

“Is Lucas in there?”

“Yes ma’am”, one of them replied.

“Please, I have to see him. It’s really urgent,” I said but they refused.

“I’m sorry ma’am but Mr. Vanderbilt had ordered that there should be no disturbance,” one of the bodyguards said.

“I promise I won’t disturb,” I said but still was refused entry.

After much pleading, one of the bodyguards went in to notify Lucas about my presence.

He returned a few minutes later with a message,

“I’m sorry ma’am but Mr. Vanderbilt wants you to leave.Miss Mary is not comfortable with your presence.”

The guards word cut deep.

I would have called to give him the news but he’s been ignoring my call since Mary’s accident.

Also, he hadn’t been to the house since his conversation with Grandma Claire about the divorce.

I decided to wait for him in the lobby.

Soon, it started to rain and the cold wind made me shiver each time the door was opened.

Yet, I remained resolute.

After a 3- hour wait, Lucas finally came out of Mary’s room accompanied by his bodyguards.

“Lucas!” I ran towards him.

“Keep her away from me.”

Just as he had instructed, his guards held me back, while he made his way out of the hospital.

“Let’s go”, he instructed his driver,hastening to depart.

“Lucas, wait!” I ran outside but Lucas' car drove away in front of me.

“ I have something to tell you! Lucas!”

Running after his car, I slipped and fell.

I saw mud splattering everywhere,staining my clothes.

I couldn’t tell if it was my tears or rain drops that flowed down my cheeks.

After all these years of knowing each other, Lucas still treated me like a stranger.

Covered in mud, I managed to stand up, and walked home, alone.

The moment I got home, I jumped into the shower and thoroughly scrubbed the mud off my body.

Now cleaned up, I started packing for my trip.

Putting my passport in the suitcase, I couldn’t help but think about how I was going to cope with raising a child all by myself in a far away land.

I wondered where I was going to get money to take care of myself and my unborn child.

Picking up my phone, I scrolled through my contacts and social Media account to see if I would find anyone willing to help but sadly there was no one.

After what happened the other day with Grandma, she didn’t seem like the best choice now.

“I can do this on my own. I don’t need anybody’s help,” I said to myself.

I wasn’t going to stoop so low to beg for help from anybody, especially not the celebrities who knew me as Lucas’s wife, I thought.

“I can do this.” I said again to my smiling parents’ photo on my dresser.

Then I smiled at them, putting the photo in my suitcase along with the frame.

Halfway into packing, I became really exhausted and began to feel dizzy.

Maybe a quick nap will do, I thought.

I set my alarm so I could wake up later to continue packing,

I fell into bed surrendering to sleep until a loud bang on my door woke me from my nap.

Half awake, I dragged my feet to the door and to open it.

Lucas stood outside, his eyes blazing with anger.

My eyes widened, taking in my surroundings.

Everywhere was bright indicating it was morning.

How could I have slept through my alarm? I wondered.

Looking back at Lucas, I met his fiery glare.