The Child I Carry Is Not Your Heir Chapter 03

The Child I Carry Is Not Your Heir Chapter 03

Jay pressed hard on the gas, speeding down the road so fast harsh wind whipped against my cheeks like sharp blades.

He pulled out a cigarette at a red light, then glanced down at my flat stomach and stubbed it out unlit.

“You need to terminate this pregnancy. I can financially compensate you for that night, but I won’t take lifelong responsibility for a child.”

I rested a protective hand over my belly, my chest tightening painfully.

“I’ve told you repeatedly, I don’t need your support, and this baby isn’t yours.”

“Nothing ever happened between us.”

Jay cursed under his breath and slammed his palm onto the car horn.

“You’re still putting on this false front after everything? I seriously doubt any other man would ever fall for you.”

He watched me through the rearview mirror, every ounce of his gaze dripping with mocking disdain.

My tired, sallow face reflected back at me from the tinted window, and I said nothing to counter his insult.

Jay had been the textbook perfect golden boy our entire childhood—tall, handsome, top of his class, a star athlete on every school team.

Lines of smitten girls wrapped all the way from our driveway to the school gates chasing after him. His admirers even regularly covered the cost of my daily breakfast.

I’d been plain-looking through puberty, so none of them viewed me as romantic competition.

Back then, I’d pass their love letters, wrapped gifts, and date invitations along to him without a second thought. Jay looked utterly confused the first time I did it.

“Hey, cut that out. I don’t like you, so stop pulling stunts like this.”

I’d worn thick bulky glasses back then and answered truthfully.

“These aren’t from me; other girls asked me to hand them over.”

He released a relieved sigh. “Good. Let’s get one thing straight—don’t catch feelings for me. You’re basically just one of the guys as far as I’m concerned.”

Bitterness weighed heavy in my heart, yet I stuck faithfully by his side for three full years regardless.

We landed in the same high school class later on.

After finishing basketball practice, he’d trek all the way across campus just to borrow my water bottle.

“Let me take a sip, I’m dying of thirst.”

Golden sunset light spilled over his sweat-glistened face, glowing brighter than anything I’d ever seen.

It marked the very first time my ears flushed pink, and I turned down his request.

“C’mon, why’re you being stingy with a buddy?”

He snatched the bottle away and chugged down water greedily before handing it back.

Hidden where no one could spot me, I stole a small sip from the leftover water like a lovesick fool.

That was the exact moment I realized I’d fallen head over heels for him.

Unfortunately, my love was entirely one-sided.

I started experimenting with makeup and swapped out my thick-rimmed glasses in an effort to improve my looks.

He scoffed ruthlessly at my attempts. “You look ridiculous.”

I intentionally tanked over fifty points on my SAT exams to ensure we’d end up living in the same city after graduation.

I’d confessed during truth-or-dare nights, slurred my affections drunk at parties, and tried endless subtle hints to lay my heart bare.

All I earned in return was his unmasked contempt and cruel teasing from our shared friend group.

I’d loved him with every piece of my being.

Our final messy encounter traced back to his birthday party three months prior.

I’d headed back toward the private suite with cold medicine for him, pausing outside the door when I overheard his friends placing bets around Jay.

They snickered while bringing up my name.

“Jay, do you think Grace’s gonna drop another clumsy hint tonight? She’s done it nearly ten thousand times already.”

A smug smirk tugged Jay’s mouth.

“I’ll just play dumb no matter what she says. She’s useful for everything except being my girlfriend.”

My hand froze mid-knock, all courage vanishing to step inside.

I didn’t make a single awkward confession that night for once.

When the party wrapped up, he tugged me aside awkwardly and pressed if I had anything I wanted to say.

I shook my head, and he dragged me to a hotel room, determined to hash everything out in anger.

Everything that followed led to him pulling on his clothes with undisguised disgust the next morning, then cutting all contact completely.