The Royal Contract

Haley could not even call it a surprise since she was unsure if he would like it. A surprise was something that you planned meticulously to give to another, but this was unexpected.

“What?” She could hear the shock in his voice. And she believed that it took a lot to make him feel that way.

Gerald was a man who seemed to be always in control of his situation. Nothing seemed to easily faze him, not even a few death threats he received, which was part of his job as a high-profile litigator.

One time, she found an envelope addressed to him at his table. It was partially open, so she took a peek. She had to drop the letter, suddenly afraid of its content.

Then, she confronted him about it, and he assured her that those were idle threats to make him surrender to their demands. It was nothing that she should take seriously, and she believed him. It was part of his life as a good lawyer, defending the innocent.

“I am pregnant. I am going to have your child.” She repeated, using a gentler voice, hoping her situation would finally sink into his mind.

.....

She would not say she did not want to get pregnant. Of course, she wanted to have a baby, especially from a man she loved. But they were not yet at that point in their relationship where they were ready to build a family.

She had yet to say that she loved him and for him to say it back. At this point, they were just in a comfortable relationship where they were at ease with each other’s presence. But things could suddenly change direction, and they could end up separating ways.

“Oh!” It was not the ecstatic and overwhelming response she wanted to hear. But she understood his point of view. She was not, over the moon, thrilled, just like him, when she did the test and found it positive.

But after a while, she realized she wanted this baby, even if it was completely unexpected. Eventually, she sensed what every mother should feel about the growing life inside of her. She had to protect her child.

He could be a part of their child’s life or not. But no matter what happened, she was keeping their baby. She would raise her and fill her with love.

“I am not forcing you to marry me or to take responsibility for this child.” She quickly uttered what she had been rehearsing since she discovered her condition. “But I intend to keep her or him.” She told him before she forgot them.

She believed it was not easy to tell someone about something he never wanted in the first place. She always knew that he might be very attracted to her, but it did not mean he loved her.

And it did not equate that he would want to marry her and start a family. She was also not in a hurry since they were only beginning to fall into this stable relationship. Now, she was rocking it with this explosive news.

“How can you be sure that you are pregnant?” Gerald suddenly asked as he sat down opposite her. The food seemed temporarily forgotten. “I mean to say, have you seen a doctor?”

She could see his eyes were in a great deal of turmoil. What did she expect when she dropped a bomb like that in front of him? She was still waiting for it to explode. Then, what would be his reaction then?

“I only did the test kit, but a woman knows if something is wrong with their body.” She explained to him. She was conclusive about her pregnancy, even without confirmation by a doctor.

“And I also don’t know how I become pregnant.” Answering what she believed, he could not ask directly but what he wanted to know.

She was not expecting that she would conceive with his child. After all, they had been careful. She was on the pill, and he usually used protection, except for a few occasions. It was a very slim chance, almost negligible.

But things happened without a clear explanation as to why. And this was one of those moments. All they could do was face it and the consequences.

She hoped that was how he would see it because the last thing she wanted was for him to feel obligated to take action due to this child. As she had stated to her father, she would not force him to marry her. But she would accept whatever he decided with no hard feelings.

“Does anybody know about your condition?” He suddenly asked, looking a bit concerned.

“I have not told anyone. I wanted you to be the first one to learn about it.” She wondered what was going through his mind at that very minute.

Would he find her news good or bad? Would he want any part in his child’s life? Many questions lingered in her mind as he continued to look more bothered than excited. But she did not want to jump to any conclusions.

“Good.” He seemed relieved. Then he focused his eyes on her, which looked calmer compared to a few seconds ago. “Have you decided what you wish to do with the baby?” He asked. Then, “... our child?” He abruptly corrected himself.

It seemed that he was giving her the option. Was he asking her if she wanted to terminate her pregnancy or something else? Of course, there was only one thing she wanted.

“I will raise our child.” She finally answered him, slightly offended by his question. Or was she overreacting to it? “Let me make myself clear. I am keeping this baby, but you are not under any obligation to marry me.”

“But you can be a part of our child’s life if that is what you wish.” She added for clarification.

She loved him, but it did not mean she would want to trap him in a marriage just because they were expecting a child. As they said, if she loved somebody, set him free. If he stayed, then they were meant to be.