Consequences
982 Words
Chapter Three
Consequences
Alex
Her words felt like a punch to the gut.
“I’m pregnant. And it’s yours.”
I froze, my breath caught in my chest. Pregnant? Mine? The words didn’t make sense at first. My head spun, trying to process what she’d just said. Shantex stood there, calm and steady, watching me like she was waiting for the shock to settle in. She wasn’t crying or begging. She wasn’t here for pity. No, she looked like someone with a mission.
“This… this can’t be real,” I stammered, struggling to find the right words.
Her eyebrows rose slightly, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Do I look like I’m joking, Alex?”
I raked a hand through my hair, pacing a few steps before turning back to her. That night had been a blur—a haze of alcohol, tension, and a need to escape everything that was suffocating me. Now she was standing in front of me, saying she was carrying my child.
“You’re sure?” I asked, my voice sharper than I meant. “I mean, how can you know it’s mine?”
Her expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. “Because I haven’t been with anyone else. It’s yours. I don’t need a DNA test to prove it.”
The room felt like it was closing in on me. My father’s voice echoed in the back of my mind—his lectures about responsibility, about doing whatever it took to maintain control. But this? This wasn’t part of the plan.
“What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice quieter now.
She let out a short, humorless laugh. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not here looking for love, Alex. I don’t expect you to care about me or suddenly become a family man. What I need is security—for me and for this baby.”
“Security?” I repeated, the word tasting foreign in my mouth.
“Yes,” she said firmly. “I need you to acknowledge this child, to make sure we have what we need to survive. I’m not asking for much, just stability. That’s more than I’ve ever had, and I won’t let my child grow up the same way I did.”
I stopped pacing and looked at her. She wasn’t backing down. This wasn’t some emotional plea for attention—this was business.
“And if I say no?” I asked, testing her resolve.
Her jaw tightened, and she stepped closer. “Then I’ll handle it myself. But don’t think for a second I’ll stay quiet. Everyone will know who the father is. And I’m guessing you don’t want your perfect little life falling apart because of me.”
I stared at her, my mind racing. She had me cornered, and we both knew it.
Shantex
I watched him carefully, waiting for his response. Alex Lucas wasn’t the first man to try to wriggle his way out of responsibility, but I wasn’t about to let him off the hook.
He looked at me like I’d just turned his world upside down. Good.
“I didn’t ask for this either,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “But it’s happening. Whether you like it or not, I’m pregnant, and this is your baby. I’m not here to beg or cry. I’m here because I need your help. This child deserves more than I can give on my own.”
Alex let out a sharp breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t understand,” he muttered. “My life... it’s not built for this. I’m not built for this.”
I scoffed. “Oh, I understand perfectly. You’re the heir to some big crime empire, right? Poor little rich boy doesn’t want a child messing up his plans.”
His head snapped up, his jaw tightening. For a moment, I thought he might lash out. But instead, he sighed and looked away.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said quietly.
“Don’t I?” I shot back. “You think I haven’t dealt with men like you before? I know exactly how this works. You don’t have to like me, Alex, but you will take responsibility for your actions. Not for me—for this baby.”
He didn’t respond right away, but I could see the conflict in his eyes. He was thinking, trying to find a way out, but there wasn’t one.
“What do you want?” he finally asked, his voice softer now.
“I already told you,” I said. “Security. Stability. Make sure your child has a better life than I did. That’s all I’m asking for.”
He sighed, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. “And if I agree... what happens then?”
“We figure it out,” I said simply. “Together. We don’t have to like each other, but we have to do what’s right for this baby. Can you handle that?”
He didn’t answer right away, but the tension in his posture eased just slightly. Finally, he nodded, though he still looked like a man carrying the weight of the world.
“Fine,” he said quietly. “I’ll... I’ll take care of it.”
Relief washed over me, but I didn’t let it show. There was still a long road ahead, but for now, I had what I came for.
“Good,” I said. “Because this is happening, Alex. Whether you’re ready or not.”
He nodded again, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes—acceptance, maybe. Or just exhaustion. Either way, it didn’t matter.
This was the first step, and I wasn’t going to let him back out now. For the baby’s sake, I couldn’t.
- Writer
