“You are eating a lot these days, Ana. Ever since you quit your job, you tend to eat a lot, forgetting that you don’t do any jobs all day long.” Mrs. McCurry grumbled.

Ana sighed and looked down, cutting the piece of bread slowly; as much as she felt bad about her mother’s words, she knew her mom was right. She was eating a lot these days and growing fat as well. It has been a month since she quit her job and all she did all day was eat and sleep. Now she was growing so lazy that she could barely get up in the morning without persuasion.

“Mom, I am going to find a job, you don’t have to remind me of that all the time,” she replied softly.

“How do you expect me not to complain when you left the job that you had for no valid reason, you asked me to trust you but it has been a month already and all you do is eat and sleep while your father is toiling out there. You know you are over twenty years old, you shouldn’t even be in my husband’s house at this time. You should either be in your house or your husband’s house but since you do not want to find a good man but rather stick with that lowlife kid who can hardly take care of himself, this is what you will get from me all day, nagging!!” she said.

Anastasia sighed and decided to ignore her, she took a spoon and tried to scoop the hot soup but the moment the scent hit her nose, she felt sick in the stomach and put it down, and then she felt nauseous and ran off to the bathroom.

“Ana, are you okay?” her mother asked as she was running off but she ignored the lady completely and ran into the bathroom.

Ana got into the bathroom just in time to throw up, she was vomiting yellow liquid and felt pain in her abdomen. This was the second time today, and fifth time this week. What could be wrong with her? Was she sick or something? Maybe it is because she wasn’t used to staying at home.

After spending minutes in the bathroom, Anastasia opened the door to meet her mother standing outside with a long face. “What is wrong with you, Ana?” she asked softly with a very suspicious look on her face.

Ana sighed and shook her head. “It is nothing mom, I am fine.” She replied.

“What do you mean you are fine? I saw you throwing up in the backyard last night, and now again today. What is wrong with you? Are you sick?” Mrs. McCurry queried.

Ana wiped the saliva off her lips and took a deep breath in for relaxation of her body, and then she looked up to her mom. “I don’t know, Ma. I have been feeling a bit feverish, very weak and nauseous these past days.” She announced.

“Days? And you never mentioned it to me? What other symptoms have you noticed, let's see if I can go get you some drugs at the nearby pharmacy.” She asked.

Ana once again sighed, “Um… I think fatigue and increased urination. Also, hot food seems to make me throw up, just like right now.” She answered innocently.

Her mother’s face dropped and a look of worry was etched on it, she carefully examined Ana from head to toe and back up to her chest. “Did you say hot food makes you throw up?” she asked, like she hadn’t heard it the first time.

Ana was hesitant at first, trying to understand the look on her mother’s face, she knew it wasn’t a good one, something had gone wrong. “Um… Yeah… yes mom, I think so.” She replied.

“Oh no, Anastasia has killed me,” she muttered and took a few steps backwards.

“What are you talking about, mom?” Ana asked and took a step forward.

Mrs. McCurry touched her breasts and gently squeezed it, Ana groaned softly in pleasurable pain. Once again, the middle aged woman shook her head and stepped back. “Did you see your menstrual cycle last month?” she asked softly.

“Um…No, but it is just four days late, there is nothing to be worried about.” Ana uttered immediately as she realized where her mother’s thoughts were going. She didn’t think it was the case; No! How can she be pregnant? It was just one time and she doubted he poured his seed in her. Also, this was not her first time of experiencing delayed period flow.

“Dress up, we are going to the hospital for a lab test immediately.” Her mother instructed.

“What? No mom, I will just get some drugs in the pharmacy and I will be fine,” Ana replied immediately as fear gripped her, she didn’t even want to think of the possibility that she was pregnant, it can’t be possible.

“I am not asking, Anastasia… I said "get dressed and follow me to the hospital right now, that is an instruction.” Mrs. McCurry half-yelled with a terrorizing look on her face.

Ana doubted she had ever seen her mother that scared before, but she understood why she was reacting that way. Mrs. McCurry had given up on her job in order to be a full housewife and focus on child raising. She wanted her daughter to make the family proud and be the breadwinner someday since she didn’t have a male son.

All she wanted was for Ana to attend all levels of education, get a good job and find a rich lovely husband. When Ana began to date Jake a few months back, she didn’t approve of it but Ana convinced her that she would do nothing to ruin the family name or bring disgrace to them. Mrs. McCurry trusted her upbringing, so she let her hang with him.

If it turns out that Ana was really pregnant, then it meant that all of her sacrifices had been in vain, not only had her daughter’s dignity been lost but her future too might be on its way down the drain. Everything the poor woman had worked hard to fight against; this wasn’t the life she wanted for her child.

Anastasia nodded and headed to her room to get dressed, her heart was beating vehemently in fear of the unknown. She hoped the lab test casts away her fear, because if it proved her mom right, then her life was ruined.

The silence in the McCurry house was haunting, Anastasia and her mom sat distances away but she could still feel the heat of the moment, the tension. As much as she was scared of her mom’s screams back at the hospital after the discovery, she was more scared of her mother’s silence.

Mrs. McCurry had been staring silently at her for the past thirty minutes and Anastasia suddenly wished that her mother was rather screaming, she knew what that silence meant; her mother was pissed beyond measure, she was disappointed and heartbroken, but did Anastasia feel any better?

She had just discovered or rather confirmed from the lab test that she was a month pregnant, and she knew it could only mean one thing; she was carrying the Billionaire CEO’s baby. Her baby’s daddy was Mr. CEO, the so-called most eligible bachelor of the city. How would she explain it to anyone? What would she tell her curious mother?

Anastasia could stop the tears from rolling down her eyes, she might have found a way to stay silent but there was no stopping the tears; her life had just taken a turn for the worse. After everything that happened to her last month, she thought she had seen the worst that could possibly happen to her, but little did she know that it was just the beginning of her misfortune.

Now she had not only lost her job, she had not only lost her dignity as a woman, her pride and honor, but she was carrying a baby for a man whose full name she didn’t even know, a man she had only seen once in daylight. A man she had no feelings for, nor did she know anything about him.

How would she explain to the world that she didn’t ask for any of this? How would she make them believe that she is not the disappointment her mother thinks her to be, and what about her father who is doing two shifts to put food on the table for an adult like herself and her mother. How would he have to deal with the arrival of another human into the family, the shame of having a pregnant unmarried daughter and the burden of it all?

The more she thought about these things, the more the tears flowed down her eyes. After what seemed like ages, her mother stood up from the cushion and walked up to her.

“Who is responsible for that thing you are carrying?” she asked in a solemn voice, one that terrified Ana regardless. Her mother was calm, and that wasn’t a good thing.

Ana swallowed hard and opened her mouth to speak but no words came out, she couldn’t find the courage to say it, and even if she did, would her mother believe her?

“It is that jobless kid, isn’t it? What is his name, Jake?” Mrs. McCurry queried.

Ana waved her head sideways immediately to signify a negative response to the question. “No Ma,” she replied with her head bowed, unable to look her mother in the eyes.

“What do you mean No? If it wasn’t Jake that got you pregnant, then perhaps I do not know you at all. When did my beautiful daughter become a whore? Why would you open your legs for any man? I know it is that useless kid, why are you trying to protect him at the cost of your own dignity. If you must have sex with him, why didn’t you do it with protection? Was he also too poor to buy a pack of condoms? Couldn’t he keep his stupid penis away till he was ready to marry you?” she fired.

“Mother!” Ana half yelled and then found the courage to look up. “I told you it wasn’t Jake, he isn’t the father of the baby,” she announced.

“What? If Jake isn’t, then who is?” she queried. “Tell me Ann, I really want to know what my daughter has been up to.” Mrs. McCurry insisted and folded her arms with curiosity etched on her face.

“It is complicated, mother.” Ana replied and wiped the tears off her face.

“Then you better simplify it and start talking right away.” She ordered.

Ana sniffed in and looked down to the floor once again, she was quiet while trying to summon the courage to break the news to her mother.

“It… it’s…. His name is…”

“Tell me the Bastard’s name already Ann, if it wasn’t Jake, who would you sell your dignity to?” Mrs. McCurry asked with a look of disgust on her face.

Ana burst into tears, she had never seen her mother talk to her that way before, she had really broken the woman’s heart and pushed her to the walls. From the tone of voice, she could tell her mother was pained by her actions, and who wouldn’t be? Only if they knew the true story.

“It is Stephen Gray, he is the father of my baby.” She finally summoned the courage to announce.

“Who is the bloody Stephen Gray and how did you meet him? Why did you allow him to use you? Why could you not close your legs to him? Did I raise you in this manner? I know you are an adult but you don’t get to do whatever you want while you live under my roof, so why have you done this to me, Ann?” she finally broke down in tears.

“I am sorry, mom… it wasn’t intentional,” Ana pleaded as she fell to her knees and crawled closer to her mom’s legs.

“I said tell me who this Stephen Gray is? Answer my questions, Ann.” The middle aged woman ordered.

“He… he is… He is…” Ana stuttered endlessly.

Mrs. McCurry sighed and shook her head. “I am disappointed in you, Anna. I regret every decision I have taken that displeased me in order to give you a better life. I will leave you to your father, you better be ready to talk when he returns.” She spat and walked away from the sitting room.

Ana lay on the floor and cried. She didn’t know how to tell her mother that she was sexually assaulted by one of the most successful young men in the country. It would cause a lot of drama if she said the truth. How would her mother react to knowing that she was raped and she kept it all to herself? How would her mother react to the fact that she quit her job for this reason and was silent about it the whole time? This would not sit well with her family, and they might choose to start a case against the Gray family which will only cost them more.

Ana has watched too many movies to know that a lawsuit against Stephen Gray would not favor her. These people owned the court and the police department, they had all the power and influence they needed to turn the story around.

Before she realizes it, the headline might read. “Lowlife miscreant tries to force pregnancy on billionaire CEO” she knew for a fact that what is left of her family image would be tarnished and they would suffer a huge blow financially. The law only works for the rich and so it was useless trying to start a fire that would burn them all.

There was a knock on the door and Anastasia quickly rushed to check it. Her mother had not come out ever after abandoning her in the living room and Ana valued the peace of the moment. If she didn’t go to check the door right away, it might attract her mom’s attention and once again she will be forced to endure the torturing look from the woman who had borne her.

Ana opened the door and froze immediately. As much as she was in a hurry to open the door, this was the last person she wanted to see right now. It was Jake; her boyfriend who had been with her for months now. How would she explain to this guy that she was pregnant after she had told him she wasn’t ready for sex.

She had refused to let him touch her because she wasn’t ready and yet he stayed, something very few men can do, and now things cannot look any uglier.

From the look on his face, Anna guessed that he might have found out, or maybe it was something else bothering him and her guilty conscience was judging her, but regardless of why he had that gloomy face, she knew she would still have to tell him.

“Is it true?” Jake asked coldly.

Ana’s heart sunk into her stomach and goose bumps were all over her body, she was terrified with his tone and she could see the anger boiling within him from his eyes. She knew it was useless trying to explain, his mind was made up with whatever version of the information he had received.

“What are you talking about?” she asked softly, holding on to the little piece of hope left in her. Hope, that he was talking of something else, hope, that she was not about to lose the love of her life, hope that all her big dreams were not about to be shattered by the acts of one crazy night.

“Don’t you dare play mind games with me Ann, is it true?” he asked once again. “Are you pregnant?” he finally made it clear.

Ana sighed and looked down, she closed her eyes and fought back the tears that were finding their way back to her eye socket just thirty minutes after the last round.

“How did you know?” she asked softly, even though she knew the answer to that question. Her mother must have called to query him, probably because she doesn’t believe Ana was seeing someone else while dating Jake.

“So it is true?” Jake asked, Anna could feel the anger rising in his voice, he was about to lose it.

“Ye… Yes, but…”

“Enough!” he yelled and raised his hand to signal her to keep quiet. A look of disbelief and contempt on his face, he was disappointed and boiling with anger, and it was all written on his red face.

Anna understood his pain, he had sacrificed his sexual cravings for her only to hear that she was carrying someone else’s baby. Who knows what he thought of her? He probably thinks she was a liar and was never a virgin like she claimed.

Ana knew Jake probably felt used at this moment, he had done so much for her without asking anything in return, and now this was happening. He probably felt betrayed by her actions, but only if he would let her explain.

“I can't believe you would do something like this,” he muttered coldly and took a step backwards. The pain in his voice was very audible, his eyes and face were literally red, he was trying to hold the anger in, the rage!!

“Jake, please hear me out, it is not what you think,” Anna pleaded with an apologetic face and took a step closer to him, but once again he shunned her with his hands, warning her not to get any closer.

“There is nothing you can tell me, Anna. I was a fool, this is the reason why it seems like all guys are bad, because we get used whenever we choose to be nice. I loved you with all my heart, Ann… I did my best to make you happy, I have sacrificed my happiness for you several times, I abstained from sex for the past six to eight months and what do I get in return? Betrayal!! You have betrayed me, Anna. I thought you were different, but you are just like every other whore out there.”

“Jake!!” Anna yelled with a look of disbelief in her eyes, she couldn’t believe he just called her that. How could he say such a thing about her? She had been nothing but loyal to him, she never even gave another boy her number, let alone a listening ear.

“Do not call my name!! Am I lying? Huh? Tell me Ann, aren’t you a disgusting cheating whore? How else do you have that thing in your stomach?” he yelled.

“That is enough!! Get out, right now!! Leave my house and don’t come back!!” Anna screamed at him with a broken heart. She had the urge to slap him really hard across the face right now, but feeling his pain, she chose to hold back.

“Oh, of course I was leaving. The sight of you disgusts me, I regret the past year with you, I regret meeting you. Anna, you are nothing but a shame to womanhood, a slut… you have betrayed me, Anna…. You won't ever be happy, and I hope you suffer for all the pain I have had to go through for you.” he cursed vehemently before wandering off furiously.

Anna turned around and ran into the house in tears immediately; she ran into her room and folded herself by cuddling her knees and crying her eyes out on the bed. All this was happening to her because of Stephen, that so-called Most-eligible bachelor had ruined her life. She had lost everything, her dignity and respect, her job and relationships… would she ever recover from this? Or is this how her life takes a turn for the worse and leads her to being a failed adult? She was still at the early stage of her life and everything was going south already.