Burning Ice

May's POV "Congrats, madam. You're pregnant!" the doctor announced. My mouth fell open in shock. Pregnant? There was no need to ask who the father was. Edward. I haven't slept with anybody else since he dumped me. A wide range of tangled emotions erupted in me, and tears actually came to my eyes. Tears or joy? Sorrow? I wasn't sure. But the doctor looked positively bewildered. "Are you not happy, madam? You're going to a mother!" he said. To bastard children. Of course, I didn't say those out loud, just in my thoughts. I couldn't be blamed for thinking such, after all, Edward had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me. He couldn't have made it more clear than when he left me on the floor yesterday after I had fainted, calling his assistant to come take me to the hospital while he himself walked into his office. No matter how much I tried to deny it to myself, that act of indifference hurt like mad. What would it have taken him to just drive me to the hospital? If not for anything, then for old times sake. Did he have to make his point so cruelly, so blatantly? Forcing a smile, I collected the test results from the doctor and left the hospital. A million thoughts ran through my head as I drove home. But one kept repeating itself. Should I tell him? I couldn't stop the little ray of hope that fought against the darkness in my heart. Perhaps, this will be enough to make him change his mind. Perhaps, just perhaps, the iciness in his eyes would disappear if he knew I carried his child. However, when I went to work the next day, just the look he gave me as he walked past me into his office sapped all the courage I had managed to build up. I couldn't bring myself to tell him when he couldn't even bear to see me. But what was my crime? I did nothing wrong for goodness sake! I wasn't the one that had asked to be his girlfriend, was I? Why then was he acting as though I was a leech? However, I have had enough of it. During lunch break, I marched down to the assistant manager's office. I couldn't bear to have Edward look at me with disdain every day I came to work. I thought it would be hard to convince the man to transfer me to another office, but he obliged easily. It seemed like he had also received instructions from Edward. The thought made me a little depressed. But at the same time, it made me a little hopeful. He obviously wanted me out of his office, but he hadn't expressly ordered it. Instead, he had waited for me to make the decision myself. Was he afraid of hurting me? Should I tell him about the pregnancy? It took me a week, but I finally raked up the guts to go tell him. As I waited in his office, I couldn't stop my heart from hammering in my chest. This was it. Either he accepts responsibility, or he doesn't. Few minutes later, Edward walked into the office. He looked more surprised than annoyed to see me. "You're very tenacious," he said, looking straight at me. "One would think three months would be enough for any flames of love to die out." I smiled, but went straight to the point. "I am pregnant." I told him bluntly. Edward went absolutely still. "What?" he asked. I repeated myself. "Pregnant?" Edward echoed, the disbelief in his voice a stark contrast to his usual composure. He raked a hand through his hair, his gaze flickering around the room before landing back on me. "That's impossible." "It isn't," I countered, my voice surprisingly steady. "The doctor confirmed it. I haven't been with anyone else, Edward." He stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. A flicker of something – maybe fear, maybe anger – crossed his features before being schooled back into his usual mask of indifference. "This changes nothing, May," he said finally, his voice cold. "You made your choices. I made mine." My heart sank. The sliver of hope I'd clung to vanished, replaced by a cold dread. "But… the baby," I stammered. "It's yours." "There's no proof of that. And I highly doubt you're pregnant, talk more of being pregnant with my child." he cut me off sharply. His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in their depths. "In fact, to protect myself from future accusations, I'd prefer we never speak of this conversation again." He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a document. It was a legal agreement, the kind with fancy lettering and embossed seals that screamed "expensive lawyer." "Sign this," he ordered, pushing it across the desk towards me. "I had my lawyer prepare it when you faked fainting on your first day. I knew this would come." "What's this?" I asked. "It states that we've never had any contact, and any experiences you claim to have had with me are purely your imagination." he replied curtly. My hands trembled as I picked up the document. My mind reeled, the words blurring before my eyes. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't be this cruel. "This is blackmail!" I choked out, tears stinging my eyes. "Call it what you will," he said with a shrug. "But if you don't sign, consider this a hostile work environment complaint waiting to happen. And you wouldn't want to lose your job, would you, especially in your… condition?" The veiled threat hung heavy in the air. My breath hitched. Tears streamed down my face now, hot and angry. But what choice did I have? Raising a child alone would be hard enough, let alone without a job or any financial support from the father. With a shaking hand, I signed the document. Edward snatched it back, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk. He tossed a fat envelope at me. "Consider it severance pay," he said dismissively. "And a reminder to stay far away from me and my life. Now, get out." I scrambled to my feet, clutching the envelope. There was a bitter taste at the back of my throat. The betrayal hurt. Without a backward glance, I fled his office. His words echoed in my head as I sprinted down the stairs. That night, I sat alone in my apartment, the envelope unopened beside me. The world felt bleak, the future uncertain. But amidst the despair, a flicker of defiance sparked to life. Edward may have taken everything from me, but he wouldn't take my spirit. I would raise this child, my child, on my own terms. It would be a tough journey, but I wouldn't let his cruelty define me. With a newfound determination, I wiped away my tears and stared out the window at the city lights. This was a new beginning, a chance to build a life for myself and my baby. The road ahead might be difficult, but I wouldn't walk it alone. I had myself, and that was all I needed.