Keep the Baby …or not?

Chapter 4: Keep the Baby …or not?

As soon as Yan Anna entered the room with the dean, Andrew Luxton immediately stood up. "How did it go?" he asked, his eyes showing a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

The dean, seeing the big boss's eager look, couldn't help but smile. He handed the medical report to Andrew. "I conducted two tests to confirm the pregnancy. It's still early, so we didn't perform an ultrasound. To determine the exact gestational age, Ms. Yan will need to calculate it herself."

Yan Anna, with her head lowered, did a quick mental calculation. The baby must be less than a month old, considering it was about a week after her period that she and "the uncle" had... that encounter.

Andrew studied the report intensely several times. Although he didn't fully understand it, the doctor's note confirmed the pregnancy. He stared at Yan Anna for a long time, his gaze eventually dropping to her stomach. His child was in there? The realization felt so surreal it left him momentarily overwhelmed.

After a while, he seemed to regain his composure and reached out his hand towards Yan Anna.

Yan Anna quickly stepped back, reacting like a startled rabbit instinctively trying to escape.

Andrew Luxton frowned slightly, perplexed by her timidity. "Take my arm, let's go. You don't want to stay here, do you?"

She shook her head vigorously. "I don't dislike the baby, but I don't have the means to raise him."

"Then you think I'm dead?" He blurted out, his voice raised. Seeing her eyes rimmed with red, looking pitiful like a scared rabbit, he quickly softened his tone. "I am the child's father; I will take responsibility."

Yan Anna sniffled. "Uncle, oh, I mean, Mr. Luxton, you... are willing to raise the baby?"

There was a barely perceptible frown at her change of address, but Andrew's expression softened. "This is my child. Of course, I secretly hope he can be born safely. I understand this is a burden for you at your young age. You can tell me about your difficulties, and I will do my best to address them."

Yan Anna looked at him, realizing that Mr. Luxton was indeed a good person. He had saved her that day, and despite the accident that followed, he was now willing to accept the baby. Could she really go through with the pregnancy then?

But what about her parents? Once her pregnancy became visible, they would surely find out, and she couldn't let that happen.

Andrew led Yan Anna into the elevator. As the doors closed, leaving them alone in the confined space, Yan Anna kept her head down, silent.

Andrew, although anxious as if a fire was burning inside him, didn't press her. After all, she was just a nineteen-year-old girl facing a daunting situation, bound to be frightened.

Yan Anna quickly glanced at him, then cautiously moved forward and gently took hold of Andrew's arm. He led her towards the exit, pausing to instruct the dean on their way out, "Keep this matter confidential, including from the Luxton family."

Yan Anna followed closely behind, her heart aching at the thought that her baby might not remain in her womb for much longer. As they approached the elevator, she asked softly, "Aren't we doing the procedure here?"

Andrew stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Yan Anna, his expression suddenly cold. "You want to abort my child?"

Yan Anna could feel the surge of anger from him, causing her to panic slightly and instinctively let go of his hand, putting some distance between them. Then, she looked up at him uncertainly and asked, "What... what did you mean by that?"

Andrew struggled to suppress the rising anger within him, striving to speak in a calm tone. "Don't you want him?"

The corners of Yan Anna's mouth twitched, and her eyes quickly filled with tears.

“Are you willing to have this child?”

The elevator's silence, punctuated only by the sequential lighting of floor numbers, enveloped them. Neither spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. It was only when the display settled on the third floor that Yan Anna raised her head to Andrew, her eyes seeking guidance in a situation that seemed to dwarf her. "So, what should we do?"

Andrew's momentary pause betrayed a flicker of vulnerability, a rarity in a man known for his self-assurance. His family was a bastion of independence and strength, where seeking advice was uncommon. Yet here was this twenty-year-old, looking up at him with eyes so innocent and pure, carrying his child, asking him for direction. At that moment, Andrew couldn't help but see himself as a monster for having taken advantage of such a young person.

His introspection deepened, reflecting on his usual self-control, a trait that had always kept him immune to the seductions he frequently encountered. But that day was different. The way she had clung to him, her breath sweet, her eyes filled with an untainted allure, had ignited a fire within him he hadn't anticipated.

The elevator's arrival on their floor snapped him back to reality. The doors slid open, releasing the sounds of the outside world. With a slight frown, Andrew took Yan Anna's hand and led her out of the hospital, his mind still wrestling with the gravity of their situation. Once settled back in his car, he turned to her, the question hanging in the air between them, a pivotal moment that would define their future.

"I've been really scared since finding out I was pregnant. I can't let my parents find out, so I wanted to have the surgery."

"I'll handle your parents... You..."

Andrew had only gotten this far when Yan Anna vigorously shook her head, her emotions heightened. "No, they can't know. They absolutely can't find out."

Seeing her so frightened, Andrew quickly reassured her. "Okay, they won't find out. Don't worry, I'll figure something out. But in a few months, it will be obvious you're pregnant. You might need to move out. And during pregnancy, you'll need care. Do your parents have time to look after you?"

Yan Anna thought about her parents' attitude; they were already disappointed she hadn't gotten into college. If she didn't work and just stayed at home, her mother might well throw her out.

Noticing Yan Anna's silence, Andrew said, "How about this? You find a way to move out, and I'll take care of you."

"Ah?" Yan Anna was somewhat bewildered. Did Mr. Luxton not have a job? Did he really have the time to take care of her? She felt she didn't need much care; if she were away from her parents, she could take care of herself.

"Let me think about it, can I give you an answer after I've thought it through?"

Andrew was not at ease letting her go without more assurance, but he didn't want to pressure her too much, so he simply nodded in agreement.