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Chapter_12
The news of her pregnancy had sunk deep into Quinn’s mind, entangling her emotions in ways she couldn’t quite untangle. A small part of her had wished this was just a mistake, but the test results made it undeniable. Her heart raced, her head spun, and yet, she couldn’t deny the small, flickering hope that this child—this unexpected life—could somehow offer her the family she had longed for.
Abigail’s words echoed in her mind: “Have the baby. I’ll help you raise it if you want.” The offer brought a rush of warmth and comfort, but it didn’t silence the storm within her. She couldn’t forget Alexander, couldn’t ignore the way his actions—his coldness, his indifference—had cut through her. Yet now, a child, his child, grew inside her, and she couldn’t simply walk away from that.
As Quinn sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts circled back to that night—the night everything had changed. Alexander’s birthday. They had celebrated together, and she had allowed herself to be swept up in the moments of intimacy, in the closeness they shared before the world and their troubles pulled them apart again. In the haze of alcohol and shared memories, she had let her guard down. Now, as she looked at the small life growing inside her, it felt like fate was laughing cruelly at her.
But she couldn’t shake the thought that this was hers—hers and Alexander’s—but mostly hers. It was hers to protect, to love, and maybe, just maybe, it was hers to claim as her own piece of the world.
“Abigail,” Quinn signed slowly, “I won’t force Alexander to be part of this. But I want this baby. I will love it.”
Abigail studied Quinn for a long moment, her gaze softening. She understood. She knew what Quinn longed for, even if it seemed impossible. Quinn had always dreamed of family, and now, despite everything, she would have one. Even if it had to start with just her and the baby.
“I know you want love, Quinn,” Abigail said, her voice low and filled with compassion. “And maybe this baby… maybe it’s your chance to feel that love, even if it doesn’t come in the way you expected. But remember, you’re not alone. I’ll help you. We’ll do this together.”
Quinn’s eyes filled with tears once again, but this time, there was something different. The tears weren’t just born of sorrow—they were also born of a new sense of resolve. She wasn’t alone. Abigail was there. And somehow, she would find the strength to navigate this new chapter of her life, with or without Alexander.
“Thank you,” Quinn signed, her fingers trembling. “I… I’ll figure it out. I will leave him. I can’t keep living like this.”
Abigail nodded. “It’s not about what you keep or let go of, Quinn. It’s about what’s best for you—and for the baby. If leaving him is what you need, then you do it.”
Quinn stood up slowly, her hand resting over her still-flat stomach, as though she was already guarding the precious life growing inside her. There was so much uncertainty ahead, so many challenges to face, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of purpose. A sense of hope. She wasn’t going to let this pregnancy define her pain or hold her back. She was going to let it be her strength.
“I will do this. For the baby,” she signed again, with more certainty.
