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Chapter 6

I walk with my heart hammering in my chest with uncertainty. My eyes are filled with tears, and all I can think about is how stupid I've been and how messed up I am right now.

What was I thinking?

The house remains empty and silent, so I walk as quietly as possible to my room and lock the door behind me. I immediately collapse onto the bed, and as soon as the mattress embraces me, tears start to fall.

What am I supposed to do? Is it worth accepting his proposal? Abortion is not an option, and I don't want my child to grow up without a father. Dad will be angry, he won't accept this, he'll be disappointed, and that's what scares me the most, what hurts the most, even as I'm just considering it.

I can't tell him that I'm pregnant by Smith. I'm ashamed to tell my father, and my family, that I'm pregnant by a man I've only recently met. I can't, I don't want to.

I don't want my child to grow up without a father, just as I don't want to face my father's disappointment every time he looks at me. I don't want that, and that's why I'll accept Smith's proposal. It's not fair for my baby to grow up without a father, and I'd rather be on the other side of the country than stay here and be reminded every day that I've completely shattered the ideals my father has built throughout his life, the pillars of the family.

"I'm going to have a child with a damn stranger," I whisper to myself, angry and disgusted with my being.

I shake my head, wiping my face.

It can't be the end of the world.

Three years ago, my paternal grandparents died in a car accident, and they left their entire fortune to my siblings and me, while my father only inherited control of the businesses.

Everything I have has been bought by my father, which is why I never made use of that money. But apparently, I found the moment to do so.

I sit on the bed, wiping my face again before lying down and grabbing my laptop, placing it on my lap and opening it before typing a real estate agency in Los Angeles in the search bar.

...

I wake up feeling nauseous and rush to the bathroom, vomiting everything I ate the day before. I flush the toilet and go to the sink, brush my teeth, and step into the shower.

When I come out, it's around eight in the morning. Without much enthusiasm, I go to the closet and dress in the first thing I find. I untangle my hair and put on a pair of ballet flats before leaving the room with the greatest sense of desolation I've ever felt.

As I close my door, a few meters ahead, my sister closes hers and focuses on me with a furrowed brow and a small smile of confusion. She stands still, waiting for me to approach her, and as I walk, I smile at her to prevent her from continuing to look at me the way she is.

"Good morning, Laura," she greets me with a smile, and in response, I try to widen my smile, but it turns into a grimace.

"Hi, Liliam," I greet and speak again when she gestures to ask, "Come on, let's go to the dining room before they come for us." She laughs a little and opens her mouth to say something, but in the end, she closes it and says nothing.

Internally, I'm grateful for that fact, and in comfortable silence, we head together to our destination.

In the dining room, everyone is already in their respective places. Liliam and I greet in unison, earning looks and responses from everyone. We move forward and take our seats when Mom asks us to, and as always, I sit next to Liam, and Liliam sits next to her husband.

Jhonny is seated in front of me, so I do my best to avoid raising my face and looking at him.

"Are you feeling okay, Laura?" Alejandro asks, frowning at me.

"Yes, Ale," I smile.

"You look pale, dear," my mother intervenes, observing me intently. Alejandro nods in agreement with our mother.

I tilt my head, trying to act indifferent and divert their attention away from me.

"I don't think so," I smile again. "I'm fine," I add, taking a sip from my glass of water.

"No, Lu, you do look pale," damn it. "Are you okay?" Kate joins my brother and mother. I feel Jhonny's gaze fixed on me, increasing my nerves even more.

"I'm serious, I'm fine," I smile again. "Maybe it's because I didn't sleep well." Mom nods hesitantly, and Alejandro doesn't say anything more.

We all start eating in silence until my father breaks it.

"The contract with Smith will be finalized today. Will you be leaving tonight?" I quickly raise my gaze to my father and then look at him, who also has his eyes on me.

"Yes, Mr. Mason, I'll be leaving tonight," he says casually and turns his attention back to the food.

I try to taste some of the food again, but I can't. Nausea, which then turns into retching, reappears, and I ask for permission to get up and almost run out of the dining room towards the stairs. I quickly climb them until I reach my room and enter the bathroom.

I expel what little I had eaten, wash my teeth and face, and for a few seconds, I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror until loud footsteps in my room make me furrow my brow as I dry my hands with a towel before exiting.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Jhonny, my eyes wide open, alarmed.

"As you already know, I'm leaving tonight. I'll sign the contract in a few hours," he speaks as if he's talking to a little girl. "I don't have much time. I told your family I would go to the bathroom. I need to talk to you before I leave. Meet me at the airport at eight o'clock. Goodbye." He walks out, closing the door behind him.

I stand there, looking at the spot where he disappeared. The truth is, Johnny is a very handsome man. He's about a head taller than me, and his body is well-built. His facial features are completely masculine, but what stands out the most are his deep blue eyes, his full and red lips, and his blond hair... He's... very handsome.

Enough, Laura! What's happening to you? You can't be attracted to him, no, no, and no!

I scold myself mentally, pushing away all those thoughts from my mind, and grab the laptop on my bed to check my email.

The house sellers in Los Angeles have responded, saying that it's still available. I reply to their message, and they send me the information for a bank account to transfer the money.

I make the transfer, and another email arrives.

The house is yours, Miss Mason. When should we expect you to sign the ownership documents and hand over the keys?

"BRTC

Monday afternoon.

"LM.

Perfect, Miss. Have a good weekend.

"BRTC

Thank you very much, likewise.

"LM.

I close the laptop, lie down on the bed, and can't help but smile sadly. I have a house now, and I have to tell my family about my pregnancy. I'll do it after I return from the airport, and on Monday, I'll leave.

My life has taken a 180-degree turn. A month ago, everything was fine, and now... now I'm about to leave the place where I've lived my whole life.

"Everything will be fine, little one," I murmur, caressing my non-existent belly and ignoring the feeling of loneliness and emptiness that has filled my chest.

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