Chapter 14

Five Months Later

I was now six months along, and my stomach had grown to the size of a watermelon. Every day, my body felt heavier than the last. My appetite had skyrocketed, my feet would swell from time to time, and I couldn't remember the last time I felt comfortable. Yet, despite all the discomfort, the sensation of a baby growing inside me was powerful. It was the one thing that felt right, stronger than anything else.

I had called my mom a few times, and knowing she and my siblings were fine made me happy. It was enough to keep me going.

Kelvin and I hadn’t spoken since he left. I tried calling him a few times, but my calls never went through. I had to stop myself from going to see him, even though I missed him terribly. Time had made it somewhat easier; I didn’t cry every time I thought of him anymore, but the pain of missing him was still there, just more bearable.

As for Leonard, he hadn't visited or called me since that night. Maybe he didn’t care about the baby after all, and that thought irritated me to no end. But who was I to complain? I was just an employee, right? I refused to call or visit him; the last thing I wanted was to be part of his life.

Clara had become my one constant companion. Over the past few months, we grew incredibly close, and she became my best friend. We went everywhere together, shopping malls, restaurants, the cinema, even the beach. She even convinced me to do a maternity photoshoot. At first, I was hesitant, but by the end, I loved every single picture.

Speaking of Clara, she knocked and entered my room, her wide smile instantly brightening my day.

“Morning!” she beamed.

“Morning,” I replied, smiling as I tried to lift my heavy body from the bed.

“I’ve got your schedule for the day,” she said, holding up her notepad.

“Let’s hear it.”

“You’ve got a doctor’s appointment at 9 a.m., then lunch at 12 at your new favorite restaurant downtown. That’s it for today. Short and sweet.” She frowned, clearly disappointed at the lack of activities, which made me chuckle.

“How about we bake a cake after lunch? I think I’m craving something sweet,” I suggested.

“I like the sound of that,” she agreed, jotting it down. “Now, get up! You’ve got one hour to get ready and have breakfast before your appointment.”

“And you’re just telling me now?” I teased. “You know I spend thirty minutes in the bathroom.”

“Make it twenty,” she shot back, grinning.

“Ugh, fine,” I groaned.

“I’ll go make breakfast,” she said before leaving the room. I smiled to myself and finally got up.

After my bath, I put on a long-sleeved brown dress that hugged my body from my chest to my knees, accentuating my round belly. I tied my hair into a ponytail and applied a bit of makeup to counter my slightly swollen face. Slipping on a pair of white sandals, I made my way downstairs, only to be met by Leonard, standing there in a perfectly tailored red suit, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world.

What the hell was he doing here? Clara gave me an apologetic, worried look, clearly not expecting him either.

He looked me up and down, his expression unreadable. I was momentarily speechless.

“Miss Eva,” his voice grated on my nerves instantly. I took a deep breath and walked past him toward the dining table. I was starving, and I wasn’t in the mood for whatever he had to say.

“I’ll be accompanying you to the doctor today,” he announced.

I spun around, disbelief hitting me like a brick. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“No, you won’t,” I said firmly, astonished by his audacity.

“Miss Eva...” he started, but I cut him off.

“You don’t get to disappear for months and then show up acting like a responsible father,” I spat, my anger bubbling to the surface.

“I had things to take care of,” he replied coolly.

“Things?” I echoed, utterly shocked. “Things that are more important than your child?”

He didn’t respond, just stared at me.

“Thanks, but Clara will be coming with me. Like always,” I stressed, hoping he’d get the message.

“You signed a contract, Miss Eva,” he said, his tone calm but commanding.

“Damn your contract!” I snapped, my voice rising. I could feel the tension building in my head, like my skull was about to burst.

“I won’t tolerate you speaking to me like that,” he said, taking a step forward. To anyone else, it might have been intimidating. But to a furious pregnant woman? Not even close.

“And what are you going to do about it?” I said, my voice low but filled with defiance. His eyes widened slightly before he regained his composure, studying me for a moment. His next words completely blindsided me.

“You know I can sue you if you don’t comply with my demands. This is my child, and I have every right.” His tone was as casual as if we were discussing the weather. “I’ll be waiting in the car,” he added before walking out.

I stood there, utterly shocked. He was unbelievable. I wanted to scream, to tear my hair out in frustration.

“Please, just go with him,” Clara urged, stepping in front of me.

“I’m not afraid of him. In fact, I dare him to sue me!” I hissed, still fuming.

“I know, Eva. But please, just go. We can still have lunch afterwards, okay?” She rubbed my shoulder soothingly, and I exhaled deeply, deciding to listen to her.

“Fine,” I muttered, grabbing the red apple she handed me. Clutching my handbag, I stormed out the door, my footsteps heavy with anger. I yanked open the car door, slid inside, and slammed it shut hard enough to rattle the windows.

He said nothing, simply started the car, and drove off. The silence was welcome, I’d rather eat my apple in peace than risk choking on it by talking to him.

Once we arrived at the hospital, I got out as fast as I could and strode inside without waiting for him, though I could hear his heavy footsteps following behind.

The check-up was routine, and afterward, we were directed to an antenatal class filled with pregnant women, some with their partners, others alone. Leonard and I sat next to each other because there was no other option, and I hated it.

As the young woman leading the session began speaking, I tried to focus on her words, but I could feel Leonard’s gaze on me. It made my skin crawl with discomfort. I glanced at the couples around us, one of them holding hands and staring at each other with dreamy eyes. It reminded me of Kelvin, and I quickly looked away, not wanting to get lost in memories of him.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Leonard smirking at me. It unsettled me more than I’d like to admit.

After the class, Leonard drove me home. As I was about to get out, he stopped me.

“Eva,” he said softly, and for a moment, I thought he might finally apologize. But he didn’t.

“I want to tell you things, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Because...” He hesitated, and I closed my eyes, disappointed.

“Because I’m just your worker. I get it,” I finished for him, reaching for the door handle again. But his hand on mine stopped me. I stared at it, shocked, before he quickly withdrew.

“I needed to stay away from you,” he said quietly.

I frowned. What?

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “That’s all I can say. I just needed to stay away.”

I stared at him, trying to make sense of his words, but I was too tired to care. Without another word, I opened the door and walked into my house, leaving him behind.