The Other Man's Child

FIVE YEARS EARLIER. 

Selene's POV. 

"Congratulations, you are pregnant!" The nurse grinned, holding up a clipboard. "Your vitals are great, and your baby is healthy."

My heart pounded; for a second, it felt like the world spun around me. I shook my head. "I can't be pregnant; Rowland and I, we have always been careful."

Her smile faltered. "Well, these things do happen. Even when contraceptives are used, dear." 

"Are you sure this is correct?" I asked, desperation in my voice.

"These might have been swapped?"

She shook her head. "Your name is boldly over the top; we don't make this kind of mistake, ma'am."

My head spun, for a second the walls closed in on Me. 

I glanced at the report one more time. Hoping that when I looked at it again. It might have just been a mistake the first time, but that was it.

"Thank you," I managed to say, smoothing my skirt as I stood to leave.

My legs wobbled as I made my way out. 

How was I going to tell my overly disciplined father that his eighteen-year-old daughter was pregnant by a boy she wasn't married to?

He would disown me and kick me out of the house.

He would never allow such a stain on his name. The most successful man on the block with a wayward child. That's what people would say.

"Take me to Rowlands," I said to Martini. Immediately I shut the door of the SUV, trying to steady my trembling fingers. 

Martini was my personal driver. My father had hired him to keep tabs on me, so he made sure I went from school back home. But my little trips after school to Rowland's House were a secret between the both of us.

I leaned my head against the window; my mind spiralled.

"Is everything alright, ma'am?" Martini asked.

"I am fine," I replied, not looking up.

The car pulled up in front of the small building Rowland shared with his family.

"Wait for me; I won't be long," I said before spinning on my heels along the narrow road that led to the gate.

I stopped at the gate, poking my head through its railings because when I tried to shove it open, it was locked.

I spotted Rowland's brother Mark bent over with a spanner in his hand. He was twirling some loose bolts on his bike.

"Mark!" I yelled.

"Rowlands not here," he called out.

"Where is he then? I have called him several times, but he isn't answering."

He dropped the spanner and walked towards me.

"He's gone off to Mexico."

My chest tightened "Mexico!"

"What do you mean, Mexico!" 

He flapped a towel over his shoulder. "He left Selene, and I don't think he's coming back."

A knot formed in my throat. Suddenly, the railings felt hot against my fingers. My hands flew to my tummy where life stirred.

I gasped for air, my heart shattering into tiny pieces.

Rowland and I had planned