Chapter 45 Keep the Child
Vivian was smiling happily. She moved to look for the remote and turn the TV on, but there was a trace of embarrassment on her face. "Shawn, would you be okay with me watching soap operas? I am at the
age already."
"It doesn't matter. Watch whatever you want."
Shawn's thin lips twitched, but there was no emotion in his eyes. In fact, he didn't want to watch TV at all. All he wanted was to make up for the hardship that she had faced for raising their child alone in the past few years.
"Okay."
Vivian saw these emotions on his face, but she did not show what she thought. Seeing that there were no good shows, she said, "I guess we can only make do with this one."
Shawn responded and looked at the TV, but his mind was on other things.
In the show, two women were arguing on the stairs. It was apparent that the weak-looking leading actress was no match for the aggressive supporting actress.
"Do you think you can stay in this house just because you have Richie's child? Don't be so naive."
The supporting actress laughed and grabbed the female lead's arm, pushing her down the stairs.
"How cruel. It would be a pity if she lost the baby in her belly."
Vivian's distressed eyes were fixed on the female lead on the screen. Sure enough, the leading woman cried, "Help me! My stomach hurts a lot! My child!"
Shawn was pulled back to reality by this cry. He glanced at the female lead and said, "She's too weak if she can't even protect her child."
What was there to sympathize with this kind of woman?
"Perhaps, or maybe she didn't want the child in the first place. TV shows can be so f*cked up sometimes."
Vivian shook her head, smiled, and continued watching TV. Shawn frowned and focused on the show too.
After leaving the hospital, Joye went straight back to the apartment and lay on her bed in a daze. "You can get rid of it while it's still early."
"Joye, get rid of this child!"
The doctor's and Janina's words rang in her ears as Joye bit her lip and touched her belly.
"Should I get rid of you? If you come into this world, I can't give you a happy family. Will you blame me for giving birth to you?"
Tears rolled down the corners of her eyes as she turned to unlock her phone with trembling fingers.
"Hello, I want to ask about an abortion."
"How long have you been pregnant?"
Hearing the gentle voice of a woman, Joye tightened the grip on her phone. "Just a month."
"Oh, that's easy. You can opt for a medical abortion or a manual abortion. Both are painless. If you're worried about funds, you can go for a medical abortion. The process will last about fifteen to thirty minutes.' The voice on the phone was so relaxed, but Joye was so uneasy that she couldn't breathe. "Is it going to be so simple?"
15 to 30 minutes to end a life?
"Of course, it will hurt, but the intensity differs from person to person. Just treat it as a one-time painful period. You'll get through it before you know it. You'll feel something small coming out from you, and that would be the fetus. Then, all you have to do is get a B-scan at the hospital after the bleeding to confirm the completion of the process."
A one-time painful period?
Hearing this, Joye wanted to laugh. Her hands fell by her side as even more tears streamed down her face.
She would be taking one's life, so how could the receptionist describe it as just a painful period? She couldn't imagine seeing the fetus and knowing that it was her child.
"Miss, are you still there? Do you want to make an appointment? We can give you a discount."
The receptionist's singsong voice sounded once again. Joye said, "I don't want an abortion," and hung up her phone.
Since her baby was already formed, she would be a murderer if she aborted it.
After making up her mind, she got up from the bed, put on her coat, and went downstairs.
"Miss, is there anything I can help you with?"
Seeing her coming in, a young woman at the pharmacy greeted her with a smile. Joye looked around and asked, "Is there folic acid for pregnant women?" "Yes, we have those here."
The young woman introduced two brands of folic acid to her. Joye chose the more expensive one. Since she would keep the child, she wanted the best for it as it would not have a father. When Janina came back from the company and saw the folic acid, she understood Joye's decision.
"Have you decided to keep the baby?"
"Yes." Joye nodded.
She wanted this child.
"Have you thought about what will happen if Shawn finds out that you're pregnant?"
What if he wanted custody of the child?
"I will not let him know. I will go to the Richard family to sign the divorce agreement in three days and ask Linda to arrange for me to work in the United States."
She would give birth to the child and never let him know about it. He could live happily with Vivian and his son.
"Then what about your future? What are your plans now that you will have a child?"
Janina had to ask this. It would be difficult for a woman with a child to start a new life.
"I'll be satisfied with my child and you."
Joye looked at Janina with a determined look in her eyes. She couldn't let the child in her belly become a bloody mass in the toilet that would be flushed into the sewer.
"It seems that I can't persuade you. Since you have made up your mind, I will support you. Your child will be my godchild, and we will raise the child together. I wouldn't have to worry about not having anyone to care for me when I am old too."
Janina had a relieved smile on her face. Some things might sound complicated, but there was nothing to be afraid of once one made up one's mind.
Shawn contributed nothing but his seed. She could raise her child just fine without him.
"Janina, thank you."
Joye smiled, looking better now. Even if the future was uncertain, she had her child and Janina, so everything would be alright.
"Why thank me? I am still upset that I have to be raising Shawn's child. Remember to fight for more alimony for the child, okay?"
Joye didn't refute, but she had already decided that she would only want the Leonard Group and nothing else.
She could raise her own child. She didn't want to have anything to do with Shawn.