Chapter 16: Pregnant

Chapter 16: Pregnant The car ride home from the airport was tense, thick with silence except for Genevieve's occasional angry huff and the impatient tap of her long, sharp nails on her phone's screen. Abigail sat still, her hands folded in her lap, but she could feel Genevieve's anger crackling in the air beside her like a storm waiting to break. "Unbelievable," Genevieve muttered under her breath for the one-thousandth time since the doctor told them Abigail was pregnant earlier that day. She turned to glare at Abigail, her eyes filled with fury. "Because of your stupidity, my plans are ruined. Do you even understand what you've done?" Abigail didn't answer. Genevieve's anger didn't affect her in the slightest way. It was rich of Genevieve to call her stupid for being pregnant when she was the one whose leaked sex tapes had been all over the internet a while ago. Abigail just stared out of the window, watching the trees blur past. She knew her heart should have been pounding, her stomach twisting with fear, but it wasn't. She wasn't scared. She was... surprised. She was more surprised by the fact that she was pregnant than by the thought of facing their father. She didn't even care if he was disappointed in her since she had outgrown the phase when she needed his validation and approval. Slowly, she placed a hand on her stomach. There was nothing to feel yet, nothing different on the outside, but inside her, something was growing. Someone. A tiny life that belonged to her. One that she loved already because it had been created from what was the best night of her life. She didn't know what the future would look like, but she knew one thing— she wanted this baby. Maybe it was foolish. Maybe it would make everything more complicated for her than it already was. But she wanted to keep it. Then, at least, she wouldn't be so alone anymore. Her fingers brushed against her belly, and she let her thoughts drift. If their father disapproved or tried to make her get rid of it, she could run away— disappear before he had the chance. Yes. She could leave. She had secretly saved some money over the years and had even saved some in cryptocurrency without their knowledge. She could find a small place to live and raise her baby herself. What could be harder than living with Genevieve? Her chest rose and fell in a deep sigh as she thought of it all. Jamal. His name slipped into her mind, uninvited. What would he think if he found out their one night together had led to a pregnancy? Would he care? It had been a one-time thing, and she knew that. A single night that was never supposed to mean anything. And yet, here she was, carrying the proof that it had happened. Would the baby be a boy or a girl? Would it look like Jamal? Would it have Jamal's eyes or her soft curls? She hoped it looked like Jamal so that she could always remember the special man who had made her feel so loved and cherished for once in her life. The thought of it filled her with hope and joy, and a small smile tugged at her lips before she could stop it. Genevieve snapped her head toward her. "For someone whose life is a mess, you have a lot of nerve smiling." Abigail sighed and turned away. She hoped, more than anything, that their father would disown her. At least then, she would finally be free. Free from Genevieve. Free from the bondage that was their family. The car slowed as they pulled up in front of the house. The grand estate stood tall and cold, just as it always had. The butler opened the front door for them, bowing slightly. "Your father is expecting you in the study," he said. Abigail took a deep breath as she stepped inside behind Genevieve, who walked ahead of her to the study. Inside the study, their father sat behind his massive desk, his hands folded in front of him. He didn't look at Genevieve as they walked in. His sharp eyes were fixed on Abigail. Genevieve crossed her arms. "I have no idea why I had to come all the way here when I didn't do anything. I do something, you blame me. Abigail does something wrong; you find a way to blame me for it, too." Ryan ignored Genevieve. His gaze didn't waver. "When did this happen?" he asked, his voice calm but firm. "And who is responsible?" Abigail shook her head, choosing not to answer the question. The last thing she wanted them to know was that she had lied about staying home that night and had gone clubbing. "Cut the act," Genevieve snapped. "Just tell us who the father is. Or are you enjoying this little innocent routine? You always pretend to be the good one, but look at you. You're the one who got pregnant. I just want to know which fool thought it was a good idea to have unprotected sex with a mute like you." "Enough." Ryan's voice was sharp. "If you don't know how to keep quiet, get out." Genevieve huffed but said nothing else. Ryan turned back to Abigail. His face was unreadable, his tone even. "You will get rid of it." Abigail's breath caught. Before she even realized what she was doing, she dropped to her knees, shaking her head over and over. Her hands moved quickly as she signed, her fingers desperate to make him understand. [I don't want to. Even if you throw me out, I don't care. I want to keep my baby.] Unlike Genevieve, Ryan had taken his time to learn and understand sign language over the years so that their communication wouldn't be limited. Ryan was silent for a while as he watched Abigail, who remained on the floor. "Who is responsible for it?" Ryan asked again. Abigail shook her head as she signed. [I'm sorry. I can't tell you about it.] "I take it he's not aware, and you don't plan to tell him?" Ryan asked, and Abigail nodded. "Oh, for God's sake, Dad, why are you asking her all these unnecessary questions? Don't tell me you're considering this nonsense. There is absolutely no way she's keeping it," Genevieve said since she could guess from Abigail's posture and expression that she wanted to keep the baby. To both their shock, Ryan leaned back in his chair and said, "If she wants to keep it, she can."