Chapter 4

*JANELLE* “Return everything that belongs to your mom?”Gary scoffed.”Nothing belongs to your mom now. If you think it’s still about the company, that company has been running at a loss for years and I’ve been trying to revive it.” “I don’t care.”I snapped. “Fine, I’ll let you return to Chicago.” “What about my mom’s inheritance?” He eyed me. And then I realized something. Why would my dad travel all the way here to make me marry a billionaire? Marrying a billionaire would be beneficial to him, right? So why not make his step daughter who had become so precious to him marry that man? Instead, he came all the way here. He could have easily amended or manipulated that contract to make his dear step daughter marry that man. But he didn’t. Did he seriously think I’d buy the bullshit that he wants me to have a good life? There is a reason why his step daughter, Kara can’t marry that man. I then taunted him. “Your dear step daughter, Kara is of age, right? She can fill in for me and marry that man but then, you came all the way here to make me marry him. So there must be something wrong with him. If you can’t afford my conditions, then go face the O’Connells.” Gary glared at me.”How did your mother even raise you?! You have no manners!” I wanted to berate him as well and ask him if his own mother raised him to abandon his biological family! But I didn’t want to push him too much. I wanted to return to Chicago with my mother, I wanted to get a good life for the both of us. We had gone through so much. “Fine! Pack your bags. We leave tomorrow!” My dad announced and stormed out of the house. My mother hurried up to me. “Elle, marriage is a big deal! You can’t marry someone you’ve never met. I won’t let you.” “He’s not a complete stranger. His Grandfather was best friends with your father.” I tried to placate her. She shook her head.”Still, you don’t know him. And I want you to marry someone you know and love. Someone that loves you back. No! I can’t give you to a man that Gary couldn’t give his stepdaughter to. I already know that the man might be evil. I’d rather stay here and live in poverty than let you marry someone we know nothing about.” I sighed. Marry someone I know and love? Someone who would love me back? That night flashed through my head and I felt pained. Ever since I sold myself, it was as if the hopeless romantic in me died. “Mom, at this point, I don’t care who I marry. I just want us to never have to suffer again!” My mom tried very hard to change my mind but my mind was made up. The next day, we returned to Chicago. Gary hated us to the point that he didn’t let us go to his Villa. Instead, he rented an apartment for us. I didn’t want to go back either. If we went back, my mom would have to face the mistress. My mom was still getting to terms with losing Danica, I didn’t want anyone to make her lose her mind as well. As we settled into the new apartment, my mom pressed. “This isn’t right, Elle. I don’t think that man will be good to you. What if he hurts you? We’ve already been through so much.” I set up the table and replied.”Let’s eat, mom.” My mom sighed and I watched her force herself to eat. We had been forcing ourselves to eat and stay alive since Danica passed. But tonight, I couldn’t force myself. No matter how hard I tried. This was one of my favorite food but it tasted like sawdust in my mouth. I dropped the spoon, defeatedly. My mom stared up at me, questioningly. “I need to use the restroom.”I announced and hurried up to my new room. As I got in, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it. There was still another thing I had been ignoring. I had missed my period for the past two months. I might’ve not gotten pregnant before but I had read about pregnancy symptoms from books, watched it in movies, heard about it from people. The late periods, the nausea, the lost of appetite. At first I wanted to believe that I had missed my period because of stress, I had really been stressed before and after Danica’s death. I also thought the loss of appetite and nausea was because of the grief I was going through. I didn’t want to believe that something had actually come out of that night. How can I get pregnant from a night of prostituting myself which had ended up in vain? I trembled. But I knew I had to go find out what was going on with my body. ************** “You’re eight weeks pregnant.” This words ran through my head as I left the hospital. I was finding it hard to process what I had just been told. I didn’t tell my mom that I was going to the hospital. She still doesn’t know about that night and I could only hope she doesn’t notice my symptoms. How do I begin to tell her about this? I felt too ashamed. What do I even do with this baby?! I was going to get married soon. I can’t have another man’s child, especially not in such a way it was conceived. Should I abort it? I placed my hand on my belly and suddenly tears filled my eyes. I thought of Danica. I do not know why I was thinking about Danica right now. Danica’s death was in no way to be compared to this. Danica was a teenager. But the baby in my belly wasn’t a living person yet. Why was I reluctant to abort it though? I was at a loss as to what to do. When I got home, I found Gary there. My anger and hate towards him tripled. If he hadn’t kicked us out, if he had been a good and responsible human being and father, we wouldn’t have to suffer that much. Danica would still be alive. And I wouldn’t be carrying the product of a one-time prostitution! “What do you want?”I coldly asked him. He also looked displeased, it seemed he had been waiting for a while for me to get home. “Go change!” “Why?” “Today, you’ll meet with the eldest son of the O’Connells family.” He then stared at me from head to toe. “You can’t meet him dressed like this. I can’t let you embarrass my family name.” “Embarrass your family name? Do you even have a family name?”I snapped. Gary looked as if he was about to explode but since he obviously needed me, he suppressed his anger. “Let’s just go! The O’Connells will arrive at the house anytime soon. We can’t keep them waiting.” My mom walked up to me.”Elle, you don’t have to do this. We just lost Danica. I can’t lose you too. I don’t care about money right now. I just need you.” “Mom, you won’t lose me.”I assured her. “Hurry up!”Gary urged, impatiently. “In fact, I don’t think you have any good clothes. Just come with me.”He grabbed my arm, dragging me away as if scared that my mom would change my mind. I tugged my arm off his, assured my mom once again that I’ll be fine and then I left with Gary. Gary took me to a high-end women’s boutique. As soon as we entered the store, an attendant came over to us. Gary pushed me forward. “Give her something nice to wear.”