Chapter 6 Cheap Dad
After sending the text, Yvette clutched her phone tightly, her eyes glued to the screen, willing it to make him respond immediately.
Two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes, an hour passed, and the screen remained silent. No reply from Albert.
Yvette sighed, her heart heavy with bitterness.
'The internet is right: a man who loves you would be overjoyed and call you right away upon hearing such news. A man who doesn't care would be indifferent, maybe even want to run away.'
Without realizing it, Yvette had walked from her home to the airline's base.
Albert was the youngest captain of the airline and was well-known for his skills. He was an excellent pilot and was responsible for training new pilots at the airline's training base.
Standing at the classroom door, Yvette saw Albert's phone lying face down on the podium. A ripple of hope stirred in her heart. Maybe he was really busy and hadn't seen her message.
After a fierce internal struggle, Yvette decided to tell him in person. In her heart, this child was innocent, and she was determined to keep it, regardless of Albert's reaction.
Albert finished his class and was about to leave when he noticed Yvette standing at the door. He paused, then nodded slightly.
Yvette followed him into the office, the atmosphere tense. Albert walked to the water cooler, poured himself a cup, took a sip, and then sat down, looking at Yvette. "What's up?"
It was the first time Yvette had come to him on her own, and he couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"Albert, I... I'm pregnant."
Yvette's voice was barely a whisper, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her shirt.
Albert glanced at his phone and saw the message Yvette had sent earlier. Now, she was standing right in front of him.
He turned off the screen, looked up at her, and said, "I know."
Yvette's heart sank at his calm reaction. She clutched her bag strap, her fingers turning white from the pressure. "It's... it's yours. I haven't been with anyone else."
Albert's eyes slowly scanned her belly before he replied, "I never doubted it was mine."
Yvette felt a slight relief but was quickly overwhelmed by confusion. Was she really trying to use this child to secure a better life?
She knew Albert came from a wealthy family, while her own was fraught with problems and chaos. Would he think she was trying to trap him with the baby?
Biting her lip, Yvette stared at the edge of the desk, hoping Albert would say something more. But as the seconds ticked by, he remained silent.
Albert finally looked up and said, "I understand. Give me a few days to think about it."
Before Yvette could ask what he needed to consider, she fled the office like a frightened deer.
Three or four days passed, and Yvette heard nothing from Albert. She touched her slightly rounded belly, making a significant decision.
She picked up the phone, her fingers trembling, and made several calls.
Afterward, she rested her head on her folded arms on the table, her eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness.
Albert, after completing several urgent flight missions, finally had some time off.
That night, the moonlight bathed the airline base in a silvery glow.
As Albert walked briskly, he saw Yvette, holding some books, chatting and laughing with a man as they left the base hospital.
As they passed each other, Yvette didn't even glance at him. Albert's brow furrowed, a wave of inexplicable irritation washing over him.
"Are you sure to marry me?" the man beside Yvette asked. He looked a bit bald and didn't seem like a base employee.
Yvette tucked her hair behind her ear, a shy smile on her face. "But I have a condition."
The man's eyes lit up at the prospect of a free bride, like a hungry wolf spotting prey.
He stopped, looking Yvette up and down. She was beautiful and graceful, an unexpected boon.
Rubbing his hands together, he eagerly asked, "What are your terms, Dr. Orlando?"
Yvette glanced around, seeing few people out at night. She gathered her courage. "I'm pregnant, but I don't want to terminate the pregnancy. I want to keep the baby. If you're willing to be the father, I won't ask for any money. I can even buy a house for us. If that's not enough, I can also buy a car."
Yvette watched the man nervously, her eyes full of hope and anxiety.
The man's expression froze, then twisted in disbelief. He stared at her belly, pointing and shouting, "What? You want me to be the father of someone else's child before we're even married?"
"You expect me to raise another man's kid? Do you think I'm stupid? Houses and cars can be bought with money, but being a cheap dad? No way. Find someone else. I'm not going to be your kid's father! Unbelievable, you airline people sure know how to play. Pregnant and looking for a cheap dad, really..."
He stormed off, muttering insults, leaving Yvette standing alone.
Watching the man walk away, Yvette felt a wave of sadness. Even a bald man rejected her. How could she find someone willing to accept her and the baby?
Albert, who had overheard the conversation from the shadows, stepped into the light, his face dark with anger.
He strode over, his tall frame blocking the light in front of Yvette. "Are you that desperate to find a cheap dad for my child?" he asked coldly.
