LOCKED

PREGNANT

The curtains covered the window but a ray of sunlight snuck inside hitting Seraphina's eyes, she groaned waking up.

"Good mo..." She sighed as she did not see or hear her father's voice.

'What is so good about today?' She thought with a hiss. Staring at her own reflection, she cried.

"Dad is gone for real. He would have been my morning alarm as usual but I took him away. I'm so cruel. Day one without daddy." She muttered. Wiping her eyes, she decided to clean up and wait for her guests.

"Good morning mom." She greeted immediately she sighted her cooking in the kitchen but Janet ignored her greeting like it never came

'The friends I had have left me. I wish I had listened to dad and stayed away from them. I refused to see the truth.' She thought with a sad sigh. Janet set the table for breakfast, Seraphina went into the kitchen to help but when she perceived the food, she ran to the bathroom to puke. After she was done, she turned to see the glaring eyes of her mother.

'I hope it's not what I think it is.' She thought.

"Follow me." They went to her room.

"Here. Use this test tube...use my bathroom." Janet said as Seraphina took it from her going to the bathroom, her mother sat on the bed watching the bathroom door like a mother hen. Seraphina screamed making Janet dash to the bathroom, taking the test tube from her, she gasped.

"You're pregnant?" She whispered.

"Pregnant?" Shocked and scared Seraphina gulped, her gaze met that of Janet which reflected anger. If only looks can kill.

"Mother, I can..."

"Explain? Go ahead. At seventeen? You're pregnant? Where is your dignity? Oh! Hail Mary!" Janet mocked but she was hurt, pained and disappointed.

'I can't say Richard because she won't believe me neither can I say it's James, it'll only make things worse.' Seraphina thought confused.

"Answer my question!" Janet yelled snapping her back to face her mom.

"Who's the father of that thing you're carrying? Who's the bastard?!" Janet asked hitting her face, as her daughter whimpered in pains.

"I don't know. It just happened." Seraphina replied in whispers.

"You don't know? It just happened? I'm very disappointed... I..." She stopped talking when her phone rang showing Micheal William, taking the call, she left.

"What if...what have I done to myself? I don't even know if it's Richard's or Jame's." Seraphina muttered.

"Go and wash up. Richard and his father are in their way." Janet said with disdain.

* * * * * * *

"Dad, do you think this is even necessary?" Richard asked his father.

"It's just for two years then we all get what we want. Besides you're going to be 21 in four weeks." Michael replied.

"That's my point. Seraphina is one spoilt brat, naive and annoying. Funny enough, she's just seventeen. She'll be eighteen in six weeks. Four years gap... can't you see?" He snapped.

"The younger, the sweeter. You see, your mom was eighteen and I was 23 years old when we got married." Michael grinned from ear to ear.

"Are you even listening? Wait...what?! You're six years older than mom? f**k! You want me to do the same? Oh come on, we're in the 21st century. That's literally child abuse, she's not even eighteen." Richard argued.

"It wasn't child abuse when you were French kissing her and being all touchy. I know you two were in a steamy relationship before you went for that vacation which made you disrespectful." Micheal exposed as Richard opened his mouth to talk but no words were formed because he knew his dad was right.

"I did..."

"Did not touch her? I know my son. Who knows I might be a grandfather before you guys get married. I saw the make outs though it wasn't intentional. Always do your thing in your room." He winked while Richard blushed in embarrassment.

"That's my life, old man."

"Your mother thinks I'm younger." Micheal defended. No one said a word to each other till they got to their destination. They got out, the butler took them in. Janet came out elegantly with a smile.

"Oh my goodness! Richard! I'm so happy to see you. How's your wife doing?" She asked.

"You know Martha and her travels. She's in China for sightseeing but she'll be back for the wedding, I promise you. She sends her greetings." Micheal said with a laugh, Richard rolled his eyes looking at the portrait that hung on the wall then his eyes settled on one

"Cute." He muttered. Janet called a maid to get Seraphina.

"Good day Sir." They heard her voice. She wasn't the sophisticated kind of girl. Her simply dress and natural beauty made Janet smile, reminding her of when she met David, she teared up. Richard hissed.

'He had fallen out of love.' He told himself as he looked shortly at her then walked away, she swallowed, she went to hug Micheal who patted her warmly. Then she excused herself.

"Richard why don't you take a tour around the house. Get to know her more." Seraphina sighed from where she sat on one of the chairs in the dining room. She showed him the galley, music room, her ball room where she learns ballet. She then took him to the garden.

"My father and I planted most of the flowers here so we could escape Mom's anger sometimes." She said with a short laugh.

"You know we could actually end this. I don't want you and I can't even see myself being with you." He said harshly.

"why? We used to be good " She asked.

"Used to. That is past tense. You're a minor, Sera. I don't want you having stupid ideas in your head." He said.

"Minor? I wasn't a minor when you wooed me! I wasn't a minor when you kissed me over and over or when you slept with me. I am now a minor? Wow... Richie, I actually thought you were different and for the fact I waited...."

"You? Waited for me? C'mon Sera, you dated James after I left." He said as she looked at him.

"Speechless? Surprised? Don't play dumb with me, Sera." He said.

"I never dated James, he was the one who spread the rumors. You have to believe me." Seraphina cried.

"Believe you? Of course darling, I am. Got anymore lies to feed me with?" He asked pissed.

"I'm pregnant, Richie. I'm carrying your child." She said earning a dark chuckle from him.

"Here's the thing, you'll take your child to its father, James or better still abort it. I'm not in for this shit." Richard said expressionless.

"We could run a DNA test." She suggested.

"Fine by me. It seems you badly want to become my wife, dear fiancèe. Welcome to my world, Sera." He walked out on her, she gasped.

"The wedding..." Richard started as everyone stared at him.

"The wedding will happen." He said as Janet smiled while his father nodded. He turned to stared at Seraphina with a smirk playing on his lips.

"I'm done for." Seraphina muttered.