Pregnant For My Brother's Best Friend

CRYSTAL.

To everyone else, he was my brother's best friend, the polite one who helped me with homework, who always called me 'kiddo' with that easy smile.

But to me, he was my biggest sin ever.

I should be at home, in my bed, sleeping and getting ready for my big day in school tomorrow. But here I was, standing before my sin with nothing but my nightie while he made me moan his name into his palm clasped around my mouth.

We couldn't even be loud because this was forbidden. Darek would kill us both if he ever found out about our secret affair. My parents would disown me. And his parents? They'd never forgive him. If Jaden's secret ever reached them, he'd lose his chance to take over his father's company when he turned twenty-six, just four months away.

So, this was the secret we guarded with our lives.

It had started years ago, when I was sixteen and foolish enough to crave the forbidden.

I'd always had a big crush on Jaden, even though he was older than me.

I'd watched him from the living room, from the stairs, from the passenger seat when he came over to see my brother. He was older, confident, and breathtakingly handsome... He was the kind of man the world bent toward.

Back then, I was just the girl who blushed when he ruffled her hair.

He never noticed me. He always saw me as a little sister whose homework he always helped out with. But when he finally noticed me a few months ago, on my twentieth birthday party, I didn't hesitate to let him take the one thing I held dear to me. My virginity.

He said he'd loved me since I turned seventeen. And I believed him. I believed every word Jaden ever had to say to me.

Some people might think I was stupid, but I also believed him when he said he'd come back and make our relationship known to both our families so we could finally be together after his three-month business course in the UK.

"Jaden... I wish you didn't have to go. I... I'm scared..." I whispered to him as he snuck me out of his room through his back window.

We stood under the night sky just at the back of our house, holding each other's hands.

There was a look in his eyes that I immediately depicted as sadness.

"No matter what happens, Crystal, you're the one I'll always love. I promise." He said, cupping the side of my face as he caressed gently.

I leaned into his touch, lovingly and naively as always, nodding at every word that came out of his mouth, like a fool in love,

He kissed me so deeply, like one who might never see me again. I could swear that kiss tasted like goodbye. But of course, I didn't expect anything less from a man who was going to be away from his girlfriend for three whole months.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine. "Just promise me that no matter what, no one would ever know about us, okay?" His blue eyes searched mine with creased brows.

"Okay. I swear it. I'll keep your name out of any scandal, Jaden."

He smiled - that soft, devastating smile that had ruined me from the start.

"I love you," he said. "I'll see you when I return." He kissed me again.

The way he said those words hurt. His absence would hurt even more. But I had to look forward to the bright future I'll have with him the moment he returns and takes over his father's company.

I'll finally be free of the Peterson family, where I had never been treated like a daughter to them for once in my life.

***

TWO MONTHS LATER.

"You are no daughter of mine! You're a disgrace to this family!" My father yelled at me, not minding the crowd of students snickering behind us.

Tessa, my parents' favorite daughter, stood beside Dad, smirking with satisfaction.

And now, kneeling in front of the Dean's office after Porsha, the school bully, found the pregnancy test I hurried to the bathroom to take this morning, and exposed it to the whole school, my parents were there to finish the humiliation. The Dean had called them. And they were on the verge of disowning me.

"Let's take this home. We'll get the truth out of her," Mum spat beside Dad.

What truth?

Telling them who was responsible for my pregnancy? That would be over my dead body. There was no way in hell I'd tell them that Jaden was responsible for this. Not when his entire life and inheritance would be on the line because of such a scandal.

The drive home was full of tension. The moment we stepped into the house, all hell let loose again.

One hard slap to my face from my father, and the expulsion letter I was holding slipped from my hand and fluttered across the tiles.

"Do you know what you've done?" my father roared. "Do you know what this scandal has done to our name? Our businesses? We've become the city's laughingstock - all because of you!"

Another sting on my cheek spread through my skull. I fell hard to the floor, tears smearing across my hands.

The pain in his words hit my chest so hard I almost lost my breath.

I'd won competitions. I'd represented my school in interschool, interstate, and even international competitions.

I'd brought my school and my family fame and glory. But this one mistake was one that had struck out everything I had ever worked hard to achieve in my entire teenage and youthful age put together.

"Dad. Mum. Please..." I went on on knees.

"Don't you ever call me 'Dad' again!" he barked. "I am not a father to a loose whore like you!"

Another slap. My vision blurred.

"Who's the father of that bastard you're carrying?"

I bit my tongue so hard I could taste blood.

'Over my dead body,' I thought. 'You'll never know. None of you ever will.'

"Just tell them, Crystal," Derek said quietly, standing beside me. His voice shook with disappointment. "Save yourself more humiliation."

My brother's voice - the one that used to defend me from everyone - now sounded ashamed to even know me.

I looked up at him through tears, shaking my head again and again. I couldn't speak. I wouldn't.

The look of disgust and betrayal from my parents tore me apart.

The atmosphere felt heavy, like even the house couldn't bear to harbor me anymore.

But I could never throw Jaden under the bus.

"From this day on," my father thundered, "you are no longer my daughter!"

He pointed toward the door like I was something filthy he wanted gone. "No more allowances. No more name. You'll stay in the boys' quarters - and you will never set foot in this house again!"

His words didn't just cut. They hollowed me out.

"You, Crystal," he spat, voice shaking with rage, "are no longer a Peterson."

Something inside me cracked. And somewhere in between his words and my sobs, I felt the moment my world stopped belonging to me.

CRYSTAL.

ONE MONTH LATER.

The nights were colder in the servants' quarters.

Maybe it was the wind slipping through the cracked window, or maybe it was just me feeling empty, feverish, and forgotten.

I was shivering so hard my teeth clattered. I'd been sick for almost a week now, and no one cared about me. No one even came to check on me, except Merilyn, one of the maids. Sweet, kind Merilyn - the only person in that entire house who still looked at me like I existed.

She told me she'll try to talk to Tessa about my condition, hoping she'd tell my parents, but I begged her not to. I didn't want their pity. I didn't want their disgust walking back through that door.

I'd called them for days - Dad, Mum, even Derek - no one picked up. It was like I'd died, and the world simply carried on without me.

The last time I glanced at the mirror, I couldn't recognize myself anymore. My eyes were dull, my lips cracked, skin pale and hollow. I'd lost weight, color, even the little bit of pride I used to hold in my spine.

I looked like someone who'd been erased.

But I kept telling myself that it was worth it. I kept checking the calendar every single day, and according to what Jaden told me before he left, he should be back any moment.

I was so certain he'd be happy about having our baby, too.

"Here, Crystal."

Merilyn's whisper dragged me back. She placed a small plate on the floor beside my bed - cold rice, some bread crust, maybe soup scraped from someone else's bowl.

"This is all I could get from the leftovers," she said softly.

I coughed.

Merilyn looked frightened.

"You should see a doctor," she murmured, wringing her hands.

I shook my head. "They won't let me." My fingers drifted to my stomach. "I just need to get better... for him."

I hesitated, then asked, almost afraid of the answer: "Is Derek home?"

If anyone could help me now, it was my brother. Even if he hated me, maybe he'd still care enough to save my child.

"No, dear. He went to see Jaden." Merilyn said, and my breath screeched to a stop.

Everything inside me froze.

For a moment, I thought I hadn't heard right.

My hand went still on my stomach.

"W... what did you say?" I croaked, my voice trembling.

She blinked, confused by my reaction. "He went to see Jaden. He came back about three days ago. Didn't you know?"

The air left my lungs.

Jaden was back?

He'd been back for three whole days.

And he hadn't come to look for me?

My heartbeat crashed against my ribs. The room spun. For a second, I thought I might faint, but instead I stumbled to my feet, clutching the side of the bed.

"Jaden's back..." I whispered.

I swear, I felt the urge to get upset and confront him about not reaching out to me since he returned. But the joy of even knowing he was back surpassed that anger.

Because, for the first time in weeks, I felt my heart beat for something other than pain.

I didn't even feel my feet hit the ground as I bolted out the door.

I could already imagine the moment we'd lock eyes, the shock on his face when he saw what I'd endured, the way his arms would wrap around me again, whispering, "I'm here, Crystal. I'm sorry."

He'd tell me he'd missed me. That everything was going to be fine now.

He'd tell me we'd raise our baby together, just like he promised.

I pressed a trembling hand over my stomach as I ran.

"Hold on, little one," I whispered. "Daddy's back."

When I finally reached the entrance of the Astor estate, my vision swam from exhaustion.

I slowed near the garden fence, catching my breath, and then I saw three people.

Derek.

Jaden.

And a woman I'd never seen before.

She was standing too close to him. Her hair gleamed like something out of a magazine, her dress hugging every perfect curve. She was radiant... She was everything I wasn't anymore.

And then Jaden laughed.

He actually laughed.

His arm slid easily around her waist, pulling her closer.

The woman tilted her face toward him, smiling, and he kissed her cheek.

Right there.

In front of Derek.

In front of God.

In front of nature.

My heart stopped.

The sound of my own pulse roared in my ears. My knees buckled.

I stumbled, gripping the fence so hard the splinters cut into my palms.

It couldn't be real.

No.

This wasn't my Jaden. This wasn't the man who swore he'd love me.

He was supposed to be mine.

He promised.

My vision blurred until the world melted into colors I couldn't name.

I shook my head slowly, as if that would fix what I'd just seen. "No," I whispered. "No, no, no..."

He looked happy. Genuinely happy.

"Hey!?"

I heard someone yell harshly from behind me. I turned sharply with a gasp and came face to face with one of the Astor maids.

She was staring at me like I was something filthy she'd found on her shoes.

She crossed her arms. "What are you doing here? Did anyone invite you?"

I swallowed hard, forcing out words through the lump in my throat. "That woman... who is she?"

The maid smirked, her tone dripping venom. "That's Miss Valerie. Mr. Jaden's fiancée. They're getting married next week. Everyone knows that." She scoffed, "Everyone except outcasts who live in the mountains."

The words sliced clean through me.

Fiancée.

Married.

Next week.

I froze. The ground beneath me tilted.

For a moment, I didn't even realize I was crying - until I tasted salt on my lips.

The maid's voice cut in again, cruel and casual. "You should really leave. You're not wanted here. Outcasts don't belong in this house."

I stared past her - at Jaden, still laughing, still holding her.

My chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

I wanted to scream.

I swear I wanted to rush to him, to slap him, and beg him to tell me it wasn't true.

But my legs wouldn't even move. My heart wouldn't stop breaking long enough to form words.

I shook my head, whispering to no one. "He promised me..."

The maid sighed impatiently. "You should go."

Something inside me cracked.

I turned and ran faster than I thought I could.

By the time I reached the door, I could barely breathe.

It hurt - God, it hurt so much I thought my chest might split open.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to the small life inside me. "I'm so sorry I brought you into this."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and stood, swaying a little as dizziness washed over me. My mind was already made up. There was nothing left for me here - no love, no family, no forgiveness.

I pulled my small bag from under the bed - the same one I'd used when they threw me out of the main house. There wasn't much to pack. A few clothes, a comb, and my toothbrush.

Merilyn had left a wool scarf on the chair one time; I took it, wrapping it tightly around my shoulders.

I crossed the room, glancing back one last time before stepping out into the night.

This had been my prison, my punishment, my grave.

And now, I was leaving it behind.

Love wasn't supposed to destroy you like this.

And if it did, then it wasn't love anymore.

CRYSTAL.

"You must be a fool to think I'll give you another loan when you're still owing the management far more than you can pay in a lifetime!"

Kristy's voice was unapologetically condescending. She snatched the crumpled letter from her desk and threw it at me. The paper hit my cheek before falling to the floor.

I bent quickly to pick it up, with shaking hands.

"Please, ma'am," I whispered, my knees hitting the cold marble floor. "Please. My child... he needs surgery. He's very sick. He's only four, and the doctor said if I don't pay by Friday..."

"Friday?" she interrupted with a mocking laugh. "Then you better start praying for a miracle."

"Please," I begged. My throat was already raw, tears spilling before I could stop them. "You can deduct it from my salary again. I'll work overtime. I'll do anything. Please, just help me this once."

Kristy leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, and smiled, "Look, Crystal," she said, flicking invisible dust off her blazer, "I don't know what you did for the last HR to have loaned you so much, but it ends here. You've been with this hotel for what, three years? And you've done nothing but owe and beg. It's pathetic."

Her words hit me hard.

"I've been trying," I said weakly, wiping my face with trembling hands. "Please, I just need time."

"Time?" she scoffed. "No. You've had enough time. In fact..." she tapped her manicured nails against the desk "...we'll start by taking seventy percent of your salary this month. That should make a dent."

I gasped. "Seventy percent? But ma'am, I... I can't survive on that. My rent, my child's medicine..."

Kristy stood abruptly. "Then figure it out! Maybe stop having children you can't afford to keep alive!"

Kristy tilted her head and sighed dramatically, as if she pitied me. "You're such a mess, Crystal. Look at you. Crying again. Every month, it's the same story - your sick son, your bills, your debt. If you can't handle your life, that's not this establishment's problem."

I stared at the floor, ashamed to even meet her eyes.

"I'm begging you," I whispered again, my voice almost gone. "Kay's all I have. He hasn't even eaten properly in two days."

Kristy rolled her eyes. "Then maybe it's time you faced reality. Go find a charity. Or better yet, give the boy up for adoption. You should've done that from the start."

The room went silent.

Her cruel words kept replaying in my head.

I felt something inside me break all over again.

She didn't know that I had done it before. That I had already given one away at birth.

The midwife had advised me to give up one of my twins. She was like a mother to me. She said a very wealthy woman was willing to pay a lot of money for a child.

I was homeless. I couldn't even afford food for the newborns. I imagined what life would have been like for both of them with a mother who couldn't even get a decent job.

So, I listened to Ms. Nica. I had to save at least one child from starving.

It was so hard seeing him go. But since she said it was a wealthy woman looking to adopt him, I felt it was the right decision and that he would be in great hands.

That decision still haunted me every night.

But I knew that somewhere on the planet, he would be celebrating his birthday in a grand style tomorrow.

As for Kay, I believed that someday, I'll be able to get him the kind of birthday he deserved.

***

JADEN.

"You're so absentminded, honey. Try to be physically available, just for this once," Valerie whispered with a tight smile.

I didn't answer her. I just nodded, my eyes already drifting to the small figure running toward me through the crowd of children.

"Daddy!" Jeremy yelled, beaming like sunlight. I forced a smile like I'd been doing for the past five years, scooping him into my arms, "All my friends are here!" He squealed, wrapping his little arms around my neck.

"Really?" I said, setting him back slightly to meet his eyes. "And I bet you're excited to cut your cake?"

"Yes!" He giggled with bright eyes. "Grandpa and Grandma are also here. Can I get a new toy for a birthday present? I gave all my old ones to the poor children on the street, like Mummy asked me to." He said, and I smiled.

Valerie chuckled beside me, pleased with herself.

I kissed Jeremy's fluffy cheek. "You did? That's a good thing to do, son."

"Then can I get the new race car?" he asked eagerly.

"We'll see," I said, smiling again. But it didn't reach my eyes. It never did anymore.

Valerie was a good woman. She was patient, polite, and composed. She was the kind everyone said I was lucky to have. But not for me. I'd never loved her. I couldn't even.

This was all meant to be a means to an end for me, to make the Astors look perfect.

But I never believed it would end up being such a mess.

I'd combed around the entire state and beyond, looking for the one woman who truly mattered to me, but she'd been nowhere to be found. There was not even a trace. It was like she'd disappeared off the face of the earth.

And I hated her for that.

Why the fuck did she have to leave without a word?

Rumor had it that she slept around and ended up pregnant before she ran away because she couldn't handle the shame. But I was desperate to hear from her. I wanted her to look me in the face and tell me why the hell she couldn't wait for me.

I was only gone for three months, and she couldn't even wait?

Fuck. It hurt.

I was tempted to believe the rumors. Because, after years of searching with nothing to show for it, what was I supposed to think?

She could've reached me. She knew where to find me. But she didn't.

And that burned more than anything else.

"Daddy? You're not saying anything," Jeremy's hand tugged at my sleeve.

I blinked, pulling myself back to the moment. "Yes, honey," I said quietly. "We'll get more toys. Maybe go shopping tomorrow. How about that?"

He grinned. "Really?"

"Really," I said, smiling because that's what fathers do.

Jeremy was a great kid. The star and the center of attraction. Even though I didn't love his mother, I also wanted to he around to welcome him into this world, but Valerie had insisted I shouldn't.

In fact, she had to go to her aunt's place, just to have our baby. I didn't really care, though. If it were a woman I cared about, I wouldn't have taken no for an answer.

Rick, my head of security, was standing near the gate, watching me with that look that said 'we need to talk'. I nodded to Valerie. "Excuse me."

She forced a smile and turned back to the guests. I could already hear her laughing with someone else as I walked away.

"Sir," Rick greeted quietly when I reached him. He sounded tense.

"Tell me you've got something," I said to him when we were finally alone.

Rick hesitated for half a second before handing me a brown envelope. "Yes, sir. We finally found her."

The moment he said those words, I swear to fuck, the earth stopped spinning.

After five years, suddenly, she existed again.