Chapter 198 Get Rid of the Child!
Max fiddled with the LEGO blocks in his hands and said flatly, "Hope he's not having an affair."
Liam blinked in confusion. "What's an affair?"
Max replied, "You're too young to understand."
Liam looked at Grace in confusion.
If anyone else had said this, it would have been fine—but the problem was that this boy was his own age!
Grace suppressed her laughter and said, "Liam, just ignore him."
Max often said things far beyond his years. What ordinary kid would even know what an affair was?
...
Alexander parked his car beneath an apartment building—Newtown Apartments.
After returning to the country, Emily had rented a unit here.
The apartment complex looked a bit dated, built around ten years ago. There was no underground parking, no clear separation between pedestrian and vehicle areas, and the surface-level parking spaces were arranged haphazardly.
The location was mediocre. Aside from being near a subway line, its only advantage was cheap rent.
Despite being considered cheap, rent still started at $8,000 a month.
Alexander parked his car downstairs, drawing occasional glances from passersby.
"Wow, a Bentley Continental GT..."
"Only the rich could afford a car like that!"
Alexander entered the elevator lobby. As the elevator descended, he looked at the small advertisements stuck on the walls. What had once been white walls were now streaked with dirty shoe prints and grime, looking filthy and neglected. Dust motes drifted in the air under the flickering lights.
His germaphobia flared. He shoved his hands into his pockets, lowered his head, and tried not to breathe too deeply.
Once inside the elevator, he pressed the button for the 20th floor.
Once he reached the floor, Alexander found the apartment number and pressed the doorbell—but there was no sound.
The doorbell was broken.
Alexander knocked lightly, and soon heard Emily’s voice through the door.
"Who is it?"
Alexander's Adam's apple bobbed nervously. "It's me," he said.
"Alexander...?"
After a long pause, Emily finally opened the door, her expression slightly startled.
Alexander stepped inside, feeling momentarily dazed.
It had been several months since he last saw her, and Emily's appearance had changed slightly. Her hair was shorter, casually tied back, and she wore a loose-fitting shirt.
Emily looked surprised. "How did you get here?"
Alexander asked, "May I come in?"
His gaze drifted to her abdomen. Emily's belly protruded slightly, clearly indicating pregnancy.
He narrowed his eyes but didn’t comment on it immediately.
Emily seemed slightly embarrassed, clearly unprepared for his visit.
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Is this inconvenient for you?"
Was someone else in the apartment?
Emily quickly said, "No, I live alone. I just wasn't expecting you. Please, come in."
She opened the door wider and stepped aside.
Alexander stepped across the threshold.
"I haven't mopped the floor today, so just come in," Emily added.
"Okay."
Alexander walked inside.
The apartment wasn't large, two bedrooms, two bathroomsbut it was neatly organized. Though the furniture was a bit old, everything was clean.
Alexander sank into the sofa.
Emily walked to the tea cabinet and asked, "Coffee or tea?"
"Either is fine," Alexander replied.
"Tea, then," Emily said. "The leaves are better quality—fresh tea."
As she prepared the tea, Alexander watched her quietly. After a long moment, he finally asked, "Why did you suddenly come back to the country?"
Emily said, "I wasn't used to living abroad, so I came back."
Alexander asked, "Don't you have a house? Why are you living here?"
Emily replied, "I sold my previous place and bought one in a school district, but it hasn’t been renovated yet."
She carried the freshly brewed tea over to him.
But Alexander wasn't in the mood for tea. His gaze remained fixed on her protruding belly.
Noticing his gaze, Emily felt uneasy. "What's wrong?"
Alexander said, "Are you pregnant?"
Emily nodded slightly and sat down on the sofa. "A little over two months—almost three. I’ll be starting prenatal care soon."
Alexander looked confused. "Whose is it?"
She had gotten pregnant so suddenly—and as an unmarried woman, he had to ask.
Emily smiled faintly. "Who the baby's father is doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm the mother."
Alexander’s tone hardened. "How does it not matter? It's very important. How did you suddenly get pregnant?"
Emily asked tentatively, "Are you concerned about me?"
Alexander fell silent for a moment.
He held his teacup, took a small sip, and after a long pause, said, "Your brother entrusted you to my care before he died. I promised him I would take good care of you. So what's going on now? Unmarried and pregnant, suddenly with a visible baby bump—who's the father? Can't you tell me?"
Emily asked back, "Does it matter who the father is? No matter who he is, I'm going to have this child."
Alexander's expression turned cold, disappointment flickering in his eyes. "So you don't want to be honest with me?"
Emily lowered her head, refusing to respond.
Alexander said, "Was it an accidental pregnancy, or..."
He suddenly felt the question was unnecessary.
Did this question even need consideration?
Aside from an accidental pregnancy, there seemed to be no other possibility.
Emily said, "Alexander, don't worry. No one forced me—I chose to have this baby. As for who the father is, I'll tell you after the baby is born."
Alexander said coldly, "Get an abortion."
Emily's face tightened in panic. "Why?"
He actually wanted her to abort the baby outright!
Alexander said, "You're not married, and you can't even explain who the father is. What's the point of having this child?"
Emily's face turned pale. "I said it doesn't matter who the father is. What matters is that this is my baby, and I could never abort him!"
With that, she turned away, clearly resisting Alexander's words.
Alexander said, "Haven't you thought about the future? What if you have this child and that man refuses to acknowledge it? What will you do then?"
He regarded Emily as a sister, so her stubborn insistence only made him think she was being irrational.
Emily said firmly, "Then I'll raise the child on my own. These days, there are plenty of single mothers. Even if no father acknowledges him, it's enough that I do."
Naturally, she couldn't be honest with Alexander about the child’s father.
Otherwise, he would definitely force her to abort it.
She had gone to great lengths to become pregnant, so she was determined to keep the child.
Alexander said impatiently, "Listen to me. You're only a little over two months along. If you terminate the pregnancy now, it will cause less harm to your body."