Unexpected Pregnancy

01 Blind Date

Lila's POV

"She is not my daughter."

"I have no such daughter."

"From today on, anyone can take care of her, but I've had enough."

It's a summer evening, and the air is thick with tension. I curl up in the corner of my bed, listening to my mother's furious voice drifting up from downstairs, mixed with the sound of dishes shattering.

The person she's yelling at is me, and the origin of this situation can be traced back to a month ago.

My mom, unhappy with my single status, arranged a blind date for me after much investigation and selection. She picked out a "good man"—someone from a wealthy family, reliable, though slightly older at 35. But mom said, "You're already 26, and you've been divorced once. This match is just right for you."

Having gone through one marriage, I didn't have high expectations for another. So, I went through the motions—dining with the man a few times, and then we prepared to get a marriage license.

This morning, he took me for a premarital health checkup. It was supposed to be just a routine check to ensure we were both healthy and ready for the future. I went through the process mechanically, feeling nothing out of the ordinary.

But when the results came out, everything changed drastically.

I'm pregnant, two months along.

The result hit everyone like a bolt of lightning, shattering the situation in an instant. The man's face darkened as he stared at the report. Without saying a word, he turned and left the hospital. I stood there, clutching the cold piece of paper, my mind in a complete daze.

After he left, I returned home alone.

But the storm at home was far worse.

The matchmaker barged into our house, unleashing a torrent of curses at my mother, accusing her of hiding the truth and demanding to know why she had tried to match her up with a "pregnant woman."

"You said your daughter was divorced but of good character. What kind of 'good character' would get pregnant before marriage and expect another man to raise her child?" The matchmaker's words were like knives, stabbing deep into my mother's heart.

"My reputation is ruined because of your family! Don't ever come to me again—what bad luck!"

Mom, normally a strong-willed and fiery woman, was rendered speechless before the matchmaker's fury. Her face turned pale, her lips trembling as if she wanted to argue but couldn't find the words.

After the matchmaker stormed out, the house fell into a brief, uneasy silence. But it only lasted for a few seconds before my mother's rage erupted like a dam breaking, flooding the entire house.

"Lila Hawthorne!" She stood before me, her face twisted with anger, her eyes burning with fury. "Who's the father of the baby?"

I kept my head down, refusing to speak.

"Are you mute?!" Her voice was tinged with desperation. "You're 26, not 6! I really want to crack open your head to see what's inside!"

Her voice grew sharper, her emotions more intense, "Are you trying to drive me to the grave?"

The truth was, I had only learned about the pregnancy when the test results came out.

But such an explanation seemed utterly inadequate in the face of her wrath. So, I turned away and retreated to my room, locking myself inside.

I stayed there from noon until evening, not eating a single thing.

When dad came home from work, mom found a new outlet for her frustration. In between scolding me, she directed some of her anger at him, saying things like, "It's all your fault she turned out this way. The Hawthorne family genes are just bad!"—the kind of thing a typical, frustrated married woman might say.

At one point, dad came upstairs to ask if I wanted dinner.

I refused.

Outside, the sky is turning purple.

I lie in bed, realizing that night is falling and that I can't keep avoiding reality. Finally, I sit up, slip on my shoes, and go downstairs.

"Dad, Mom, we need to talk." I push aside the kitchen curtain.

I know they are furious and disappointed, but the situation has already unfolded. The real question now is what to do about the baby.

The three of us sit on the living room couch.

Mom crosses her arms, her gaze fixed somewhere distant. "So, what are you going to do? Have the abortion?"

My father sits silently, watching me.

"I want to keep the baby." I muster up the courage to say.

Momr's face instantly changes. She leans forward, then jumps to her feet. "Are you out of your mind?"

She then turns to my father, pushing at his shoulder, "Did you hear her? Your daughter wants to keep the baby!"

Dad takes her hand, guiding her to sit back down, patting her arm in an attempt to calm her, then looks at me.

"Lila, have you really thought this through?"

I nod. "I work at a medical equipment company. My salary is enough for me and the baby—"

"Enough for what?" Mom suddenly interrupts. "How can an unwed mother with a child possibly have a good life? And what about you getting married in the future? How do you expect our family to face anyone?"

"Mom, a woman doesn't have to get married." I try to remain calm. "The baby is already inside me; it's innocent. The two of us can live well together—"

Before I can finish, my mom stands up abruptly and points to the door, "Get out."

"What?" I don't understand.

"Don't let me see you in this house again until you've gotten rid of that baby."

————

Hey everyone,

Thank you so much for reading.

If you enjoy the story, please don't hesitate to vote and comment.

Much love <3

Erica