ritance and cut ties with my family, al
l him I was pregnant with our
sweetheart, Everleigh. She'd been in a hit-and
baby, his face went cold. He told me t
e said. "Finding out you're pregna
me to the clinic alone. There, the nurse told me the
nd he stil
lit up my phone. It was a glowing article announcing that Ignatz and Everleigh were expecti
ay a tear, I found the number
y voice breaking. "I'
pte
d you ju
inimalist apartment, the one I had de
, didn't even look up from his phone. He
a hit-and-run, Gen. A minor one, nobody was seriously
face I had loved for so long. N
riving her car? That I hit
tional. "You're a private person, an architect. You don't have a public
ile? Ignatz, she broke the law.
dismissive hand. "Our lawyers will handle it. A f
you're asking? I left my family for you. I gave up my name, my inheritance, everyt
g. He stood up and came toward me, trying to take my hands. "That's wh
ent filling my senses. It used to
said, my voice trembling as
of annoyance crossin
pregn
st found out this morning. I had been plannin
n vanished, replaced by a look I had
" he
test. I'm six
styled hair, pacing the room. "This
dn't know were there started streaming down m
ss of the accident, her anxiety... finding out you're pregnant with my child
e words were squeezed out from between my teeth
eyes now holding a chilling sort of pi
like it was dropping out from
a low, persuasive tone. "It's for the best. For everyone. Once this al
about our child like it was an incon
z," I whispered, my voi
is composure finally cracking. "She's sensitive!
ll of pain. After a long, silent moment,
said. "Oka
ace. He didn't see the e
pop song I recognized as one of Everle
rong? Don't cry, I'm on my
ving caress. A voice he ha
keys, not even glancing at
e appointment for you," he said ove
d shut, leaving me in a silence t
septic and quiet despair. The nurse who took my informatio
already there at the bottom: Ignatz Turner. He had signed it this
that due to a minor complication, this procedure carries a high risk of fu
rom my numb fingers and
s assistant would have told him. He knew this could leave me barren, and he s
taste of blood filled my mouth, but I fe
t it over with, to cut out the last piece of
en I f
as too early for a real kick, the doctor had said.
let
oice loud and clea
turned,
aid, pulling my arm awa
r. The afternoon sun was blindingly bright, and for a moment, I f
reen lit up with a breaking news a
and Boyfriend Ignatz Turner Expecting First Child! Sour
a fancy restaurant. Ignatz was holding her, his hand placed protective
, the comments se
o did the hit-and-run in Everleigh's car? Prob
m for years. Good thing he's fi
a star like Everleigh. And now they're
break, the warm trickle of blood down my chin. But I
, and a single tear rolled down
the tiny life inside me. "
hardening. I opened my contac
" I said, my voice steady and cold. "A