Chapter 3 Pregnant

BAILEY

“I’m fine. Please, just... leave me alone,” I mutter, taking a step back.

Jace appears confused. “What?”

I avert my gaze. I don’t have the guts to meet his eyes, but I ask him regardless, “Didn’t you get my note?”

“I did.” He laughs uneasily and nervously. “It’s a prank, isn’t it? Well, you got me. I nearly went insane when I couldn’t reach you. At some point, I started considering whether it was real, but I know you, baby. I know you. You wouldn’t do that to me. You wouldn’t do that to us.” He says it more like he’s trying to convince himself than me.

I pause, swallowing a hard lump before I stare up at him.

Gosh, my heart nearly crumbles in my chest. The expression on his face is killing me.

Jace isn’t normally a man who shows or talks about his emotions. He was very closed-off when we started dating, but he eventually lowered his guard around me.

Right now, I can see the heartbreak, fear, and panic in his eyes.

He’s scared.

For once, someone is actually scared of losing me.

The rain trickles down Jace’s face, only making him look even more pitiful.

It’s killing me to look him in the eyes and break his heart. But there is really no other way.

“It’s not a prank, Jace. I’m serious about ending our relationship. Please understand and accept my decision. Let’s not make this any harder for either of us.”

“What? No.” He shakes his head defiantly. “No, that’s not your call to make. You can’t force me to accept this. No, I won’t. Tell me what’s wrong. How are you suddenly breaking up with me out of the blue? We literally spent last night together before you disappeared. I can’t fathom any of this. Tell me, baby. Come on. Talk to me. What’s wrong...”

I snap impatiently, “I just don’t want to be with you anymore, Jace! Please. Just leave me alone... I owe you no explanation for my life choices. I said I don’t want to be with you anymore,” I repeat resolutely.

He’s not backing down. “Bailey, baby, come on. I must have done something wrong to deserve this, but I can’t recall what I did. Please tell me, so I can make up for it.”

“Don’t touch me.” I reprimand him when he tries to grasp my hand. I withdraw from him sharply like he’s the plague.

Dejection etches across his face, his gaze wavering. “Baby?” he calls with a broken voice, like he doesn't recognize the woman standing in front of him.

I’m on the verge of tears, but I refrain from breaking down.

“I love you, Bailey. A lot. I’m in love with you. And right now, you’re killing me with this. Please, stop. Please.” He sounds so vulnerable that a pang of guilt constricts my chest painfully.

For a second, I consider calling this whole thing off, but I wish that were my call to make.

I’ve already accepted the truth: Jace and I can never be together. He’s way out of my league, and his family doesn’t approve of us. There was no point in trying to salvage this.

“Please, talk to me. I’m begging you. If I did anything wrong, I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry,” he pleads desperately, but I disregard him, not caring about his emotional state.

This is also excruciating for me.

It was never my intention to look him in the eyes and stomp on his heart. I genuinely wish I could’ve avoided this.

“Bailey? Baby?” He tries to touch me again, but I pull back.

“You’re harassing me, Jace...” I blurt, needing something to stop him from begging me.

“W-what?” He mutters, shocked and heartbroken.

Despite the raindrops, I spot the tears filling his eyes.

Oh, fuck.

My heart squeezes in a ruthless fist, guilt and remorse coursing through me. But I don’t apologize for what I said.

Luckily, my friend Lucas intervenes. I’ve almost forgotten he’s been watching the entire scene from behind me.

“Hey, she said she doesn’t want to be with you anymore, man. Let her go.”

Jace shoots a death glare at Lucas. But Lucas grabs my wrist, seemingly to provoke him further.

Jace and Lucas never got along. My boyfriend—now ex-boyfriend—told me the reason he didn’t like Lucas was because he believed Lucas was secretly in love with me.

I had laughed over it because I just couldn’t see it. Lucas and I have been friends for years, but he’s never told me once that he liked me that way.

I thought Jace was being paranoid, but now I think I might see it.

The subtle, victorious look on Lucas’s face as he holds my hand possessively and maintains fierce eye contact with Jace slightly confirms what Jace once told me.

But I ignore all of it.

I lick my lips, shattering the silence that has descended upon us. “I want to go home.”

“Sure, Bails. I’ll take you,” Lucas offers without breaking eye contact.

“Seriously?” Jace looks at me. “You’re going home with him?”

I answer brutally in a calm voice, “He’s my best friend, and you’re nothing to me, Jace. So yes, I’m going home with him.”

Jace takes a step back, shock and defeat bracing him.

Lucas only adds salt to the wound. “You heard that right? Now back the fuck off, dude,” he sneers, grabbing my hand and helping me into the passenger seat of his car.

“Bails, baby,” Jace calls after me. “Please don’t do this. Please, don't leave me. I need you. You know I need you.”

“Bails?!” he shouts, terrified. “Baby, please.”

I don’t answer as I settle into the passenger seat before Lucas jogs around to get behind the wheel.

He starts the ignition, the engine drowning out Jace’s voice as he calls me frantically.

But Lucas doesn’t even give him a chance. He swerves the car forward with enough speed to send dirty rainwater splashing over Jace’s designer clothes.

My heart aches as I peek at him through the rearview mirror.

He’s standing there all alone, soaked in the rain, staring at Lucas's vehicle as it speeds down the street.

When we're out of sight, I finally let out the tears I’ve been holding back. I break into sobs, covering my face as I bawl my eyes out again.

“I’m sorry, Bails. You’ll get over him eventually,” Lucas offers gently as he drives us to his place.

It’s not that easy, as he makes it sound. I can never get over Jace. At least not anytime soon.

A whirlwind of emotions rips me apart from the inside out. My heart bleeds profusely as I ponder my cruel actions.

I had left him in the rain.

He begged me, and I rejected him.

I made my choice and forced him to accept it, whether he liked it or not.

I can only hope he forgives me. I pray he doesn’t resent me.

I still love him very much. I think I always will.

“My son is currently spiraling. That's good. That tells me you did what I asked, and I’m here to give you the monetary reward,” Alice says, grinning from ear to ear.

It’s been two days since I physically broke up with Jace. I’ve been home sick, running a fever I’ve been ignoring.

Alice’s unexpected visit is only adding to my discomfort and frustration.

Let’s not forget the anger.

“I didn’t do it for you,” I retort with a glare.

She chuckles lightly. “Oh, come on, Bailey. Whether you did it for me or not, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you ended the relationship like I advised. Now my son can focus solely on his hockey career and reach the top. Since I appreciate what you did, I’d like to help you out in return. Tell me what you want. Anything.”

“The only thing I want is for you to get out of my house, Alice.”

She ignores my curt demand.

Her response is calm. “Listen, as much as I don’t like you, I still feel the need to pay you back for what you did because I hate being indebted to anyone.”

She pauses, eyeing me.

“I know your father’s condition in the hospital is critical. He needs an urgent kidney transplant, and my guess is you haven’t found the money yet. How about I take care of that for you? In addition, I’d give you some money to start a new life elsewhere. One where you don’t have to work two jobs just to pay your bills.”

I don’t say anything as I stare at her.

She notices my reluctance and continues, “What do you say, Bailey? I know you don’t want my help, but think about your father. Does he really deserve to die because you resent me for forcing you to break up with my son?” She smirks.

Her words crush my composure, leaving me at a loss for words.

“Think about it. And call me when you’ve made a decision. I’m here to help. Don’t just let that poor man die because of your stupid pride. Poor people aren’t supposed to be this prideful.”

“Get out of my house, Alice. Now.” I snap. “Get out!”

She rolls her eyes. “Okay, whatever. You know how to reach me,” she says before heading for the door, her expensive heels clacking against the poorly tiled floor.

Tears run down my cheeks after she leaves.

God, I hate this life.

I’m wiping my tears away when a fresh wave of nausea hits me hard, forcing me to rush down to the bathroom.

I throw up in the sink again for the third time this morning.

When I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognize myself.

My face looks so pale, drained, and sickly.

I’m starting to think it’s time I head to the hospital to find out what’s really wrong with me.

This can’t be an ordinary fever.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Miss Bailey, we’re still waiting on the funds for the surgery. You haven’t gotten back to me since the last time we spoke,” Dr. Morgan says to me after calling me into his office.

I adjust uneasily in my chair. “I—I, um...” I clear my throat. “I’m still trying to round up the money.”

The truth is, I don’t even have a quarter of the sum needed for the procedure. I’ve already spent the rest of my savings on Dad’s dialysis treatments over the past few days.

I don’t have any money left.

“How quickly can you get it? His condition is deteriorating critically. If nothing is done soon, we’re going to lose him,” he tells me honestly.

My pulse hammers in my chest, trepidation setting in.

The thought of losing my dad sets my heart aflame. Sweat breaks out across my skin.

“Um...” I stammer, my brain reeling for a faster solution.

Alice comes to mind, and this time, I don’t even hesitate to text her.

She was right when she said I can’t afford to be proud in my current situation. That will do no good.

I have to accept her help because I don’t want to lose my father.

Quickly texting Alice at the number she gave me earlier, I tell her I’m ready to let her help—but only with my father’s medical expenses. I vow to pay her back every penny in the future.

Her response is immediate.

She agrees.

A wave of relief washes over me, and I exhale as I put away my phone.

A bittersweet feeling swirls in my chest.

I don’t like that I had to give in to her bribes, but on the brighter side, my dad is going to be okay.

“You’ll receive the money soon, Dr. Morgan. Today, to be precise.”

“Alright,” Doctor Morgan nods as he fishes a fresh document from his desk. “We’ll start preparing for the transplant once the transfer has been made.”

I force a smile. “Sure.”

I’d almost forgotten about the test until Doctor Morgan called my attention to it.

“And, Miss Bailey, this is the result of the test we took on you this morning.” He extends the document toward me, and I casually take it.

However, nothing prepares me for the news he breaks to me alongside it.

“Congratulations. Based on the test results, you’re approximately six weeks pregnant.”

My spine stiffens.

“What?” I exclaim, my heart thumping with disbelief.

My fingers tremble around the paperwork as I stare down at it, a cold chill traveling through me when I confirm it’s really my test result.

Dr. Morgan continues casually, oblivious to the turmoil swelling inside me. “I’ll prescribe something to help with the nausea and other symptoms. Again, congratulations.”

My head goes completely blank for a minute as I try to digest this revelation.

I can’t believe it.

I'm... pregnant.

I’m carrying Jace’s baby?

Oh my God.

Tears trickle down my cheeks, my face contorting bitterly. I don’t even know how to feel.

My hand travels to my stomach, and I cradle my belly warmly. The thought that a little life is growing there not only fascinates me, it scares the hell out of me.

What am I supposed to do?

I can’t tell Jace about this.

It would only ruin everything.

Alice would undoubtedly put a hit on me.

I’d be dead before I even started showing.

I can’t have this baby.

Not with everything going on in my life right now.

I just can’t—