My Genius Woman

Chapter: 3

I was back at the condo with Andrea, just returning from the hospital. Even now, I couldn’t fully grasp how a one-night stand with a stranger had led to this. A baby.

"Baby, I’m so sorry that I can’t give you a complete family. I’m sorry I don’t know who your father is. But I promise you, I’ll give you everything you’ll ever need. I’ll do my best to raise you."

I placed my hands over my stomach and whispered, "You’re all I have left. Your grandmother is gone, and now, it’s just the two of us. Please hold on tight, my little one. Please be strong. Don’t leave me."

I repeated those words to myself as I gently caressed my belly, tears streaming down my cheeks. My father was still alive, but the way he treated me had always made me feel like I didn’t belong to him.

"Girl, are you okay?" Andrea’s soft voice broke my train of thought. I looked up at her and nodded weakly. Andrea had been my rock during this difficult time, and I felt so grateful to have her as my friend.

"I think I’ll go home, Andrea," I told her. "I’ll stay at my dad’s house for a while. I’ve already caused you too much trouble."

"Faye, don’t say that. You’re never a burden to me. What are friends for, if not to help each other in times like these?" she said with a reassuring smile.

"I know, Andrea. But I can’t keep relying on you. I need to stand on my own two feet now. I’m about to become a mother, and I have to start taking responsibility," I replied.

"What time are you leaving?" Andrea asked, concern etched on her face.

"I think I’ll leave now. It’s still early, and I’ll have time to rest once I get home," I said.

"Let me drive you there, so it’s not too hard on you," Andrea offered kindly.

"No, thank you, Andrea. I can manage. You’ve done enough for me already," I said. I didn’t want to trouble her any further.

Andrea looked at me with a mix of disappointment and understanding. "Alright, Faye. If that’s what you want. But promise me you’ll call if you need anything, okay? I’ll always be here for you."

"I promise," I said with a faint smile.

As I stepped out of the condo, I couldn’t shake the guilt of leaving Andrea behind. She had done so much for me, but I knew I couldn’t stay. I needed to find my own way, for my child’s sake.

---

When I arrived home, I saw my father sitting on the couch, his face hard and unwelcoming. As soon as he noticed me, his expression darkened further, and his voice boomed across the room.

"Faye Gray! What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his anger palpable.

"Dad, I can explain—"

"Explain what? That you let some man ruin you? That you got yourself pregnant?" he shouted, his face turning red with fury.

"Dad, please, just listen—"

"Enough! Get out of this house right now! And take these with you!" He threw a stack of papers at me. "Sign these, and don’t expect to get a single penny from my company. You’re not my daughter anymore!"

I stared at him, my heart shattering into pieces. I had no choice but to comply. With trembling hands, I signed the papers and handed them back to him.

"Now leave! I don’t want to see your face ever again. Forget that you ever had a father, because I’ll forget I ever had a daughter," he said coldly.

Tears streamed down my face as I turned to go upstairs and pack my things. But before I could reach my room, I was stopped by Stella, my stepsister. She stood there with her arms crossed, a cruel smirk on her face.

"Leaving so soon, Faye? Don’t let the door hit you on the way out," she sneered. "There’s no place in this house for you or your illegitimate baby."

I clenched my fists, anger boiling inside me.

"What’s the matter? Do you want to hit me?" Stella taunted, leaning closer. "Go ahead, if you dare!"

Without thinking, I slapped her hard across the face.

"Ah!" Stella screamed, holding her cheek. "Mom! Dad! Faye hit me!" she wailed, running downstairs.

Sofia, my stepmother, rushed to Stella’s side, wrapping her arms around her. "How dare you lay a hand on my daughter? What kind of monster are you?" she shouted.

Mr. Gray glanced at Stella’s face and saw the red mark from my slap. His fury intensified.

"You shameless woman! How could you hit your sister?" he bellowed.

"She asked for it," I said coldly. "She’s not as innocent as she pretends to be, Dad. But of course, you wouldn’t know that. You’ve always taken her side without even bothering to hear the truth."

"Enough of your lies! Get out of this house right now!"

"Oh, I will," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "But let me tell you something, Dad. The reason I’m pregnant? It’s because of her. Stella set me up. She’s the one who pushed me into that man’s arms. But you don’t care about that, do you? As long as she’s happy, nothing else matters."

"Get out!" my father roared.

I didn’t argue anymore. I went to my room, packed my things, and left the house for good. As I dragged my suitcase out the front door, I promised myself that I would never look back.

Inside, Stella watched me leave with a smug smile.

"Finally," she said to herself. "That worthless eyesore is gone."

---

Three Years Later

"Mommy, wake up. The plane is landing," a sweet voice said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I opened my eyes to see the faces of my three beautiful children. My daughter and two sons were my whole world now.

"Mommy, are we back in the States to look for Daddy this time?" my daughter asked, her big, curious eyes looking at me.

I smiled faintly and shook my head. "You and your brothers don’t have a father," I said gently.

"Mom, we’re not babies anymore," my eldest son said. "We know we didn’t just magically appear out of nowhere. Why won’t you tell us who he is?"

I didn’t know how to answer their questions. Instead, I focused on adjusting my seatbelt and preparing for the landing.

As the plane touched down, I took a deep breath and looked out the window. This was a new beginning for us. A chance to start fresh and leave the past behind.

---

In the years since I left my father’s house, I had built a new life for myself and my children. It wasn’t easy, but I had managed to find work and provide for my family. My children were my strength, my reason to keep going.

But deep down, I knew that one day, I would have to face my past. I would have to confront the people who had hurt me and take back what was rightfully mine.

For now, though, I was focused on the future. My children deserved the best, and I would do whatever it took to give them a better life.

As we stepped off the plane, I held my children close and whispered, "This is our new beginning. Let’s make the most of it."