Chapter 1 You're One Month Pregnant

"Congratulations! You're one month pregnant and everything looks normal," the doctor announced.

Hearing this, Lena Yates was in disbelief. She snatched the pregnancy test report and feverishly scanned through to the last page.

Shock rooted her to the spot for nearly two full minutes from what she saw. Regaining her composure, she flung the papers away as if they burned her hands and blurted out, "You must have made a mistake. I've been on birth control. How can I possibly be pregnant?"

The revelation struck her harder than any dire diagnosis could have. How could she be one month pregnant?

Lena's face was drained of color as panic surged through her veins. She sputtered, trying to finish her thought while her eyes searched the doctor's face for any sign of jest.

"Ms. Yates, birth control pills aren't 100% effective," the doctor explained gently.

Lena didn't process the words that followed. Her reality had just shifted-unmarried, pregnant, and the father was her ex-boyfriend's uncle! Her nails pressed into her palms, her hands slick with sweat as her mind raced through a blur of memories-a messy room, a large bed, bodies intertwined.

That night was chaos incarnate. After being dumped by Roderick Barton, she had lost herself in alcohol for the first time in her twenty-three years, which led to an unthinkable mistake with his uncle.

Now, as images of that stern, impressive face flashed back her mind, Lena dreaded the consequences if he discovered her pregnancy.

She shuddered involuntarily. She touched her belly, her eyes drifting towards the entrance of the gynecology department. The thought of an abortion crossed her mind. Yet, the life inside her stirred a wave of hesitation across her features.

As she wavered, her phone erupted with a sudden ring.

"You need to come back immediately," the voice demanded sharply. "Lena, if I don't see you within an hour, forget about any help for your grandmother's illness."

The call was cut off abruptly after just seven seconds, leaving no room for Lena to object.

The caller was her father, Zander Yates.

Following her parents' divorce, the court had placed Lena in Zander's care. Zander, a man of striking appearance, had once married into the wealthy Anderson family after divorce. Thus, Lena had grown up in the opulent surroundings of the Anderson family's residence.

Now, her grandmother's health was failing, a situation that demanded more money than Lena could muster.

It seemed the dilemma of her pregnancy would have to wait.

With a heavy sigh, she exited the hospital and headed towards Serenity Villas.

She entered the home smoothly and was immediately escorted by a servant to Zander's study.

"What do you want?" Lena asked bluntly once the servant had departed. She watched the middle-aged man as he practiced his calligraphy.

Zander's strokes carried a certain majesty, making him appear every inch the master of the art. However, Lena secretly considered his script so unpleasing to the eye that she felt it merited a formal complaint for the sheer waste of paper and ink.

Three tense minutes ticked by before he finally ceased his writing and signed his name to the paper, looking quite pleased with himself.

As Lena observed, Zander retrieved a thick manila envelope from his drawer with a flourish.

"Take this money," he declared, sliding the envelope across the desk toward her.

By its bulk, it seemed to contain merely fifty thousand-a pittance compared to her grandmother's daily medical expenses of over ten thousand, not to mention the looming, exorbitant surgery fees.

Lena didn't reach for the envelope. "What do you mean by this?" she queried.

"Nothing special," Zander replied, his attention drifting back to the fresh ink on his calligraphy, a hint of pride in his eyes. "I heard you were out drinking with some investors last night? While I appreciate your dedication to your grandmother, I must step in if you're compromising yourself for her medical bills. The Anderson family has supported you for years. You shouldn't be ungrateful. It's time you put an end to this. The money here should suffice for a respectable funeral."

Stunned, Lena fixed her gaze on Zander. He was actually suggesting they stop her grandmother's treatment!