Chapter 3

Although Brandon had hinted at getting a room before, I'd firmly rejected him, and he hadn't brought it up again.

My hand instinctively went to my lower abdomen.

This child couldn't have appeared out of thin air. Could it really be, as the doctor said, that the man who assaulted me had a very small anatomy?

After much thought, I decided to go back to the swimming pool.

I slipped some cash to the security guard for the surveillance footage from a month ago. There were no cameras in the changing rooms, so I could only see people entering and exiting.

But no matter how many times I watched, I couldn't find anyone suspicious.

I felt deflated. Was I wrong? Was it not what happened that day?

Alex bought me a coffee and excitedly asked, "Sarah, I sent Brandon away. Now you can tell me, whose baby is it?"

I bit my lip and shook my head. "I wish I knew. I only remember that day we went to the pool, and then I mysteriously got pregnant."

Alex froze for a moment, then, with a snap of her fingers, "Oh! Could someone have... done something in the pool?"

"I saw a news report once about a guy who intentionally ejaculated in the pool, and then a lot of girls got pregnant!"

I almost laughed at her. How was that possible? Sperm survival time is very short, and they lose activity quickly in chlorinated pool water.

But her suggestion reminded me of the man who harassed me that day. I pulled up the surveillance footage for the pool area again.

This time, I saw an unexpected person.

How could it be Brandon?!

He wore a face mask, lurking furtively at the entrance to the pool. Soon, he walked out of the camera's view, disappearing into the restroom.

I clenched my fists. He was definitely not as simple as he seemed!

Before I could confront him, there was a violent banging on the door.

Alex went to open it, but she was shoved aside.

It was my dad who barged in, with my mom trailing behind him. The moment I stood up, he slapped me hard across the face.

I instinctively covered my cheek, hearing my dad roar, "Sarah Harrison! How could I have raised such a reckless, shameless girl? Getting pregnant before marriage, what an embarrassment!"

I looked over his shoulder and saw Brandon behind him, a smug expression on his face.

He feigned a sigh, saying pitifully, "Sarah, I didn't want to do this, but I'm truly afraid you'll abort the baby."

"I asked the doctor, and she said your uterine lining is very thin. If you abort this time, it'll be hard to get pregnant again."

He used the same excuse in my last life. To make me have the baby, he even rushed into a shotgun marriage with me.

In my last life, I felt indebted to him, working hard even in my late pregnancy to compensate him.

Now, thinking back, I was such a fool.

What the hell did I do wrong? I don't even know how I got pregnant.

My dad gritted his teeth, his face beet red. "I'm telling you, go drop out of school and get married immediately! What will people say when your belly gets big?!"

Brandon tried to mediate, "Mr. Harrison, please don't rush. Sarah can take a leave of absence and marry me first. My mother can take care of the baby later, so she won't be too tired."

Alex handed me an ice pack for my face. I sat down deliberately, my voice icy. "Who said I'm getting married? I'm not."

My dad's eyes widened, his finger trembling as he pointed at me. "What else do you want to do? Do you still want an abortion?!"

My mom cried beside him, "What sin have we committed in this family? How could you get pregnant before marriage? Who else will marry you now if not him?"

I was seething, but couldn't help a sarcastic laugh. "I'll marry the baby's father, of course! Who told you I'm carrying Brandon's baby?"

My mom stopped crying, and my dad stopped fuming.

I continued, "Brandon is impotent. He can't possibly get me pregnant."

Brandon's face turned foul, and he glared at me. "Are you crazy? You haven't even seen it, how can you say I'm impotent?"

My mom couldn't help but ask, "So the baby really isn't yours?"

Brandon's mouth opened, realizing I had outmaneuvered him.

He quickly said, "Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, even if the baby isn't mine, I'm willing to marry Sarah. I won't look down on her or the child."

I rolled my eyes. "I broke up with you ages ago, don't you get it? If I marry anyone, it'll be the baby's biological father!"

Brandon gritted his teeth, furious. "Then go on, tell us whose baby you're carrying?! Do you dare?!"

I faltered for a moment. Alex quickly stepped in to smooth things over. She patted my shoulder, comforting me, "Everyone, calm down. Let's talk this out."

My gaze rested on her hand, and I froze.

Then, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew whose baby I was carrying.