Chapter 7
Reyna Cruz:
“Hey, fuck off!” a man hollered at me while he carelessly dumped more trash on the path I was sweeping. It had been a whole month since I took up this job, and to be honest, it felt like an awful lot of work, especially for a pregnant lady. Dealing with these unruly folks was a real struggle. Some guys would just loiter around to gawk at me while I toiled away. Others thought it was amusing to pelt me with more litter. A few even had the audacity to proposition me for extra services in exchange for cash. I had never felt so violated until one elderly man reached under my skirt. Luckily, the librarian would step out and scold them, but it didn’t deter them for long. They’d be
back in no time.
“Reyna! Can I have a chat with you?” the librarian asked, standing in the doorway,
– “Of course,” I set down the bucket and made my way over, noting the disapproving expression on his face.
“I don’t think it’s a wise idea for you to continue working here,” he said with a downcast gaze, delivering the
unfortunate news.
“No, it’s okay. These people don’t really bother me,” I forced an uneasy laugh, attempting to conceal my tears when all I really wanted was to sit down and cry.
“It’s not just about you. Many patrons have complained that they can’t use the library with those unruly men, loitering outside,” he explained, making it clear that it was not just about my comfort, but about the library’s patrons as well. I didn’t blame him. After all, he didn’t know me. Those who did know me didn’t seem to care, so why should he?
“Oh, what am I going to do?” I muttered to myself, gazing around with tears welling up in my eyes, longing to escape this situation.
“I can only keep you in my prayers. You’re welcome to continue using the library and the computers, but you can’t work here,” he sighed as he handed me this month’s pay and departed.
I remained rooted to my spot, clutching the money in my hand. I hadn’t managed to save much as the pay wasn’t all that great. Still, I had enough to afford a meal for three days. I owned just one dress, which I’d wash and wear repeatedly. Waiting for it to dry on cold days was quite a challenge. Thankfully, the folks from the apartment complex where I lived generously gave me their worn–out items, for which I was immensely grateful.
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“Ugh!” I groaned wearily as I trudged my way back home. I’d been filling out job applications everywhere, but why would they hire me without any experience or documents?
Yet, there was one course that had captured my attention. “The copywriter,” I muttered, perched on my bed with a notepad and pen in hand. It appeared to be the only job I might excel at. I recalled all the fun copywriting tasks I used to do for Hunter, and how much he admired my creativity.
“Not him,” I scolded myself for even allowing his name to cross my mind. My hatred for him had grown so intense that I couldn’t bear to recollect my time living with him.
Every day, when I encountered a challenge, my loathing for him deepened. That was the plan, then. I would use my savings to enroll in an online certificate program for copywriting.
“Ah!” I winced and clutched my stomach as a sharp pain made me squirm. It had become exceedingly difficult to get out of bed each morning and carry out even routine tasks. I was incredibly weak and hadn’t seen a doctor in weeks.
There was a clinic in the rough neighborhood, and the doctor there was the most ill–mannered person I’d ever encountered. She was incredibly brash and seemed to treat me like I was beneath her. Consequently, I decided to stop going.
Over the next few weeks, I dedicated myself to obtaining the certificate and working diligently. However, a significant part of my plans had to be put on hold when one night I started experiencing excruciating pain in my back.
“FUCK!” I screamed, gripping onto the bedsheet and sniffling.
“АннннHHHHH!” I wailed in my pillow.
“Hunter!” I screamed once more, this time muffling my voice by burying my face in the pillow.
I couldn’t even recall when his name had slipped from my l*ps, but in that moment, clutching the pillow felt like. holding his hand. “The pain is unbearable,” I sobbed, writhing on the bed.
I’d been enduring this agony for hours, and it suddenly became excruciating. A knock on the door signaled that I might have awakened someone. Summoning all my courage and strength, I forced myself out of bed, tears. streaming down my face as I made my way to the door.
“What the…,” Polline began to yell, but before she could finish, she locked eyes with me and then her gaze
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Chapter 7
traveled down to my legs.
“I’m so sorry, I’ll keep it down,” I stammered, struggling to form a coherent sentence as she rushed into the
room.
“You’re having a baby,” her eyes widened as she pointed at the water between my legs.
“No, I’m not due until next week,” I managed a weak smile, my legs giving way, so she helped me sit down.
“Oh dear! The baby is on the way,” she declared, delivering the news that sent shivers down my spine.
“Oh no! What should I do now?” I started to cry, lifting my head and gazing at her, blinking away the tears rapidly.
“You couldn’t have kept the baby inside forever. And as for what to do, well, you’ll need to spread your legs,” she placed a sheet on the bed and then hurried to the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.
She helped me lie down on the bed, and as I lay there, I heard her summon someone. I had no idea there was a
doctor living nearby until she brought a well–dressed woman into the room.
“This is Nurse Sally; you might not know her,” Polline introduced Sally, guiding her to the bedside before sitting
beside my head.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine,” Sally reassured me in her gentle tone. I was bewildered by the sudden appearance of these kind strangers.
“Push!” all I could hear was their urgent instructions and their care for me..
“Ah! Hunter! Don’t leave me,” the pain overwhelmed me, and I clung tightly to Polline’s hand, finding some
comfort in her presence.
The next two hours were a whirlwind. In fact, I passed out after giving birth, and I knew it wasn’t safe to be unconscious like that, fearing Hunter might show up and try to take the baby for Tara.
I began to regain consciousness to the sound of a crying baby and the sensation of someone gently stroking my hair. “Wake up, the baby needs to be fed,” it was Sally, offering me a weak smile as she helped me sit up. I noticed that the bed had been tidied, and I was now dressed in a beautiful blue gown. My hair was neatly arranged, and there she was, holding my baby.
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“Oh!” I couldn’t believe I had given birth. These kind–hearted people who had come to my aid would forever be
etched in my memory.
“It’s a baby boy,” she said, passing him to me. I cradled him with immense love and a beaming smile.
“You haven’t been taking care of yourself? For a young mother, you were far too weak,” Sally shook her head in
amazement.
“I brought you some food,” Polline entered the room excitedly and stole a quick glance at my son. “He’s so
beautiful.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. My baby boy was the most beautiful little thing I’d ever seen. I couldn’t stop smiling as I held him close to my chest.
“Thank you, everyone. I thought I was all alone,” I said through tears, sniffling but forcing a smile.
“I picked these up,” a man entered the room with a broad smile, holding a basket filled with diapers and baby clothes. “Our little boy has already outgrown his clothes,” he added as he showed me the contents of the basket.
The man’s smile faded when he took a closer look at my face. I couldn’t understand what had caused the sudd shift, so I glanced down to ensure I was sitting properly, not inadvertently exposing anything.
“Isn’t she Alpha King Hunter’s mate? I mean, the mate who cheated on him and got kicked out?” he scowled with anger, suddenly glaring at me. His attitude and demeanor changed rapidly towards me.
Sally and Polline stared at my face, and then it struck Polline. “She was calling for Hunter!” she shook her head in
disbelief.
“How do you know about this?” Sally inquired of her husband, who didn’t appear too pleased to be in the same.
room as me.
“I met someone who got expelled after attending her trial. She requested a few months to prove her case with DNA, I suppose, but it didn’t work out for her,” he sneered. “Let’s go. I don’t want you associating with someone so repulsive.”
He seized Sally’s hand and left the room. They did leave the supplies behind, but I was too disheartened to express any more gratitude..
Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched their expressions.
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“Ah, we often cast away our own happiness,” Polline mused, calmly leaving the room and closing the door behind her. It was as if the Moon Goddess had instilled sympathy in them, at least until my baby was born. I was grateful for that, for I couldn’t fathom how I’d have managed without them.
“So, here we are, alone again,” I whispered, tears flowing as I hugged my baby.
“My precious child, I name you Turner,” I kissed his cheek, and once more, it was just me and my son against the world.
SEND GIFT
