claimed by Mr.billionaire

4 ( Unwanted surprise?)

Andre's face hardened in shock, as if words were unable to leave his mouth. 'You're joking, right? This is clearly a lie just to hurt me.'

I smirked, my tone was colder than I expected: 'Why would I joke? I did it, I spent the night with another man." I paused for a moment before adding : "A gorgeous man, actually... Do you want to see his hickeys on my chest?'

I hoped he wouldn't say yes, I was wearing an undershirt beneath my blazer to conceal them. The look on his face was enough... He was distressed, tense. Did he feel pain? Did that mean he loved me, not Ashley?

I shook my head, dismissing the ridiculous thought. It didn't matter now. Today, I would end everything between us.

He was speechless, so I raised my voice slightly 'Now that we've both cheated on each other, we can't go back to what we were. It's best to end everything here.'

Just a week ago, I wouldn't have even dared to think of these words, and then... here I was saying them. I was ending my relationship with the person I loved more than anything, yet I didn't feel the pain I felt when I saw him betray me with Ashley.

We were in the middle of the university campus, students passing around us, their footsteps and laughter making it seem as if we were trapped in our own bubble. No one could hear, no one cared.

Suddenly, he growled with anger, his eyes gleaming with bitterness: 'You're the most narcissistic person I've ever seen in my life! You slept with another guy?! b***h!'

I flinched at his shouting, heat creeping up my neck as a few heads turned our way. But I forced myself to stand tall, refusing to let him see me crumble. 'You cheated first, with my best friend, I just decided to burn you with the fire you set in my heart...'

Then I turned and walked away. Instead of buying some cola as I originally intended, I went to my next class. How did I managed to do it? I had no idea. How could I stand there without bursting into tears? The human heart works unpredictably I guess...But that day I got my dignity back.

I never met or spoke to André or Ashley again after that day. I didn’t see Victor either. I spent my days alone. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but somehow, I survived.

I took Victor’s words seriously from that day in the strip club. He was right after all studying should be my priority. Since then, I hadn’t missed a single class in three weeks. I also learned how to dress properly for college, take care of my skin, hair, and body. I volunteered in several college projects to boost my GPA. And along the way, I met a cute girl named Mia and a nice guy named Gary.

Mia was a brunette with freckles, her glasses highlighting her beautiful brown eyes. I met her in a finance lecture. She was brilliant—thanks to her notes and help, I managed to raise my next pop quiz grade from an F to a B-. Who would have thought I could achieve such a grade? Even the professor was shocked.

Gary, on the other hand, was a red-haired nerd. I met him in the library. Since I was avoiding André and Ashley, I never stepped foot in the cafeteria. Instead, I ate my meals in the library, seeking a quiet escape.

One day, I saw Gary reading a superhero comic. Curious, I walked over and struck up a conversation. I liked superheroes too. His eyes widened in shock—probably surprised that a girl like me was actually interested in comics. But then, a smile crept onto his face. He seemed happy—relieved even—that someone was finally talking to him about something he loved.

Apparently, he was lonely. I offered him some of my food, and we spent time eating and chatting. And just like that, I made my next new friend.

The three of us—Mia, Gary, and I—started spending time together. I wouldn’t say we were best friends; our bond wasn’t that deep. But they were kind to me, and that was enough.

I won’t lie and say I forgot about André and Ashley. I didn’t. Some nights, I found myself clutching my pillow, sobbing softly as memories of our relationship replayed in my mind. Their last words echoed in my ears—cold and cruel. How naive I had been. But those were rare moments of weakness.

On a bright, sunny day—November 12th—I was scrolling through my phone in my dorm when I glanced at the date.

Tomorrow would mark one month since I discovered André and Ashley’s betrayal. A whole month. It felt way more than that though.

I was surprised they hadn’t announced their relationship yet. I thought Ashley wouldn’t miss the opportunity to flaunt it.

A small smirk played on my lips. Tomorrow would also be one month since I first tried alcohol… and since I slept with Victor. I chuckled softly, shaking my head. That was reckless. I’d never do something like that again.

Then, suddenly— 'wait… why haven’t I had my period, yet?'

I panicked, my breath hitching as I rushed to check the calendar. My hands trembled as I counted the days again. No. No, no, no— a whole week late.

My heart pounded violently against my ribs as I paced back and forth across the room. What do I do now? This can’t be happening. I can’t be pregnant. I’m not even twenty-one yet!

Should I go to Victor? Ask him if he used protection that night? Oh, my God. Just the thought made my stomach churn.

And my mom— what would she say? I couldn’t even begin to imagine her reaction.

A wave of nausea hit me, but I wasn’t sure if it was just fear or something worse.

I can’t be a single mother. I don’t even have a job.

My legs felt weak, and I sank onto the edge of my bed, gripping my hair.

This can’t be real.

Immediately, I threw on an oversized hoodie, grabbed my purse, and rushed out of the dorm.

There was no way I could risk anyone from college seeing me buy a pregnancy test. Just the thought of it made my stomach churn. What if someone recognized me? Whispered about me? Spread rumors?

No. I needed to be careful.

I hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the other side of the city. Somewhere far, where no familiar faces would be lurking around.

When I stepped into the pharmacy, luck was on my side—for once.

There was only the male pharmacist behind the counter and a man in a suit who seemed busy waiting for his meds or something. I barely spared him a glance.

I swallowed hard, approaching the counter. My voice came out lower than I intended. "I need a pregnancy test, please. The most accurate one you have. It's… an emergency."

The moment the words left my mouth, the man in the suit turned toward me.

And because I am the most unlucky person on earth…

It was Victor.

My heart dropped. My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to vanish into thin air. Why, of all people would I meet him?!

'Scarlett!' His voice was filled with pure, unfiltered shock.

I know exactly what he’s thinking right now.

'Don’t look at me like that! I don’t even know yet!'I blurted, my nerves spiraling into full-blown panic.

The pharmacist glanced between us, clearly confused, but handed me the test anyway..

I reached into my purse for money, but before I could even pull out a single bill, Victor stepped forward, pulled out his card, and placed it on the counter.

'Give her the best five kinds you have. It’s all on me.'

What.

I stared at him, my pulse roaring in my ears.

This day just kept getting worse.

Once the pharmacist handed me the additional pregnancy tests, Victor took my wrist and led me out of the pharmacy. In his other hand, he held a small bag of pills.

His expression was unreadable. His gaze was on me, intense and unwavering.

I opened my mouth, trying to say something but he cut me off 'We need to talk, my penthouse seems good, right?' his tone was serious.

I nodded, letting him guide me to his car. He opened the passenger door for me before slipping into the driver’s seat. The small bag of pills sat between us as he started the engine, its presence feeling heavier than it should.

on the way, I could feel the weight of his gaze even though he kept his eyes on the road. The pills sat between us like an unspoken truth, heavy and inescapable. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath, but the more I thought about it, the harder it became.

'Are you going to say anything?' I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

'Well, it's on me... That night, I was drunk. I thought I used protection, but I didn’t realize I hadn't until after you left.' His expression was serious 'By the way, it was rude of you to just leave like that.'

'I left a note.' I murmured, my voice barely audible.

'It is still rude' He paused 'Let’s focus on what’s in front of us first.' He paused. 'You didn’t sleep with anyone else, right? Be honest—I won’t judge you'

'I didn't… I was too busy with my studies anyway,' I admitted. His lips quirked up slightly, almost as if he was amused—or maybe relieved.

'Good for you...' He muttered, his tone was tender before returning serious again 'Don't worry, maybe It's not a pregnancy and we went panicked over nothing.' we? I was the one who's panicking, while you were annoyingly calm. I couldn't stop my eyes from drifting towards him while his gaze stayed locked on the road.

I couldn't help but wonder, If I am pregnant, This man would be the father of my child? I used to imagine that I would marry André, give him my first time on our wedding night, carry his baby. And yet, fate had this surprise for me.

A man I barely knew. Sarcastic, insanely gorgeous, divorced… and my one-night stand.

Once we arrived, I headed straight to the bathroom while he waited inside. The sound of my shoes echoed against the grey floor. The walls were covered with luxurious Italian marble in muted tones, with hidden lighting enhancing the elegant atmosphere. The floor was made of heated marble tiles, ensuring warmth beneath my feet.

I took a deep breath. 'Now, the moment of truth.' I muttered to myself, gripping the bag of pregnancy tests. With shaky hands, I pulled down my skirt, then my panties, and picked the first test from the bag. My heart pounded like crazy. I held my breath as I tried it.

The instructions on the cover said to wait two minutes. The longest two minutes of my life.

I sat on the toilet seat, clutching the test with trembling fingers. The air felt too heavy for my lungs. A thin layer of cold sweat formed on my forehead. I prayed with all my heart.

Please be negative. Please be negative. I'm not ready to be a mother. Please..