Her Darkest Times

In less than two months, her life was changing. Her boyfriend was cheating with her best friend, her father passed away, and now she was pregnant. Grace was looking at her phone for hours. She was reluctant to call Agnes. Agnes was the only way she had to reach Gabriel. But she couldn't bring herself to do it.

In a few days, she had a meeting with the doctor. To test her conditions. If they knew that she was pregnant. Big chance that her relatives would push her to sign a guardianship. She must hid this baby.

A long sigh escaped from her tiny lips. There were so many things to do. How could she be so reckless? She got her sexual education. But she forgot about them. TWice! She spent a night with Gabriel twice! And both, they forgot about the protection.

Nah, she shouldn't just stay silent. She needed to move faster. She grabbed her jacket again. She wanted to meet Clark in his office. Told him everything and about her pregnancy. Maybe Clark would help her to hide this until Grace could talk with Gabriel.

She didn't know whether she wanted Gabriel to take responsibility or not. This baby may be an unwanted baby. But she was already part of her. She appeared when her beloved person, her father, google. Maybe this was her answer to all her prayers. God blessed her with someone to fill her void that her father left.

Maybe… just maybe…

Grace looked at the mirror. At her flat still tummy. Or maybe it was her way to repent her sins? What sins? She didn't know. All her mind was too twisted. She needed Clark's help as soon as possible.

After a meeting with Clark, they both agreed to keep this pregnancy a secret until Grace met her baby's father again. By that Clark would inform the appointed doctor about her pregnancy to exclude her pregnancy from Grace' health report.

"Grace, please… Now you have something you should protect. Keep living a healthy life. If there is a single sign that you are unhealthy, your uncle and aunty will do anything to keep you in their guardianship. You understand?"

"Yes, mister Clark."

"And about your baby… don't you want to tell me who the father is? Was it Fillo?"

Grace shook her head. "No. Fillo and I already broke our engagement long enough. And now he is already part of the Abrose family. For the baby father… I will meet him to talk about it."

"Speaking of the probability, Grace. What if he said he didn't want it?"

Grace touched Mister Clark's hand. "Mister Clark. I won't do anything reckless again. I already lost my father. This baby… they will be my new friend for life. I will cherish them. Don't want to be lonely again."

"I'm sorry, Grace. I wish I could do something more useful."

"Hey, you already helped me so much."

"But Arthur helped me more than this. I owe him a lifetime debt."

Grace smiled. "As long as, You can make our deal happen, you will be free of your debt, Mister Clark."

The man nodded and smiled. "Thank you for giving your trust in me. IF you need anything, please don't hesitate and call me."

"I will, sir. I will."

***

Grace was on the walk to go back to her house. On the way home, she decided to rest for a while in the city park. She met some people who were jogging or just walked their dogs. Some youngsters rode a bike or plopped themselves on the fresh grass with some book in their hands. They enjoy their time so much.

Grace took a deep breath to calm herself. She walked past a man who read a newspaper. On the first page. The whole page. There was a picture of a man and a woman. Hand-in-hand. The highlight said, "The Ambrose Family announced their happy news. Their successor, the young tycoon Gabriel Lucius Ambrose, will be engaged to Penelope Gong, The daughter of the Gong Family and a successful model."

Grace stood like a frozen statue. She clasped her mouth because there was an urge to puke. Quickly she walked faster and found a wooden bench. She sat there with the old lady next to her.

Grace tried to calm herself. She exhaled deeply and inhaled it slowly. All her body was trembling. 

She didn;t know what to expect. But Gabriel getting engaged was something she never expected. Now her last hope was shattered too. She indeed would be alone with her own baby. Gabriel… he was an Ambrose after all. How could a mere girl like her ask him for responsibility? He would ask her to abort their baby…

Grace rubbed her flat abdomen for a while. Scared of the real world she existed. Their baby… no, it was hers. Her baby alone. 

"A stressful day, young lady?" the old lady asked.

Grace tilted her head and nodded. "Yeah, kind of."

"A break up?"

Yes… but no. Seeing Gabriel get engaged with another woman had the same impact like she was being thrown off but since at the beginning, they never had a relationship. She and Gabriel only spent the night for sex. Nothing more. A reckless sex without protection. And now Grace got the consequences. Alone.

"Hm… no, my father just died two weeks ago," she answered with another excuse. 

The old lady quickly folded her newspaper and put it down.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I don't mean to be rude."

"It's okay, ma'am."

"Are you really okay, my dear? You look so pale."

Grace bit her lips. There was something strange building up inside her body. An emotion she tried to surpass this day. Since her father passed away, there was not a single person asking about her day. Yes… Clark was there… but she couldn't feel her heart being touched by his condolences.

And now… a total stranger. A person she never met. A human being she didn't know her name asking her about her day made her cry.

The old lady hugged Grace and patted her head several times.

"I know it's hard… I've been there before, sweetheart. You will be stronger after this. Just let it go. If you can let it go, you will be a better person after this. A wiser one. It's okay to cry. Do it until your heart feels lighter."

Her sobs were getting louder. She held her stomach with all her might. Yes. That old lady was true. Shen would be stronger after this. A lot stronger.

She and her baby would face the world together. Her father did it before. Loving her since she was a baby alone without a partner. And she was her father's daughter. She must have the same strength and dedication like her father. She will love her baby alone without a partner.

***