4 3. Perfect Daughter

I could hardly bring myself to go to the office the next day because of the heaviness I felt in my body. I haven't been able to have myself checked to confirm if I am indeed pregnant because I'm still scared. I don't even know what to do next.

Dad must not find out about this. He'll kill me. I've heard more than enough from him when he found out about Mr. Lim rejected the company's proposal. I wonder if he has more hurtful words in store.

In the end, I arrived at the office feeling like a lifeless vegetable and immediately started my work. I didn't have a choice. I just hope I won't encounter Isabella today because I don't have the strength to engage in a heated exchange with her, knowing there is hidden anger within me.

"Pau, can you make me a cup of coffee, please?" I requested my secretary as she placed the files I assigned to her on my desk.

"Sure, Ma'am Celeste. Are you alright? You look pale," she remarked with concern.

I shook my head and ignored what she said. "Just tired and exhausted. Coffee will fix this."

She gave me one more worried look before finally leaving my office. I noticed the screen of my phone lighting up on the desk, diverting my attention. I furrowed my brow as I saw that the text came from an unregistered number.

Unregistered Number:

Hey.

"Who could this be? The text doesn't provide any context. Just a simple 'hey'. How should I even reply?" I whispered to myself, deciding to ignore it.

I spent half of the day at the office since I didn't have any scheduled meetings today. Afterward, I had a late lunch outside with Kim. Luckily, she hadn't eaten yet.

"I heard you're pregnant. Damn it! Has that guy scored three points already? Impressive!" She blurted out as we sat down at the table for two.

I groaned and found myself worrying again. "It's not confirmed yet."

"Really, huh? Well, that's acceptable. You're still in denial. Do you want us to accompany you to the OB?" She asked.

We finished ordering our food before I responded. "I'll manage on my own. I can handle it."

"Are you sure? You might end up going all over the place again," she warned.

Instead of responding, my attention was once again drawn to my phone as it lit up. There was another text from the unregistered number.

Unregistered Number:

You're just having lunch now? It's already too late, miss ma'am. You should eat healthier food.

My jaw dropped as I read the message. I quickly glanced around, looking for anyone who might be watching us, but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. The restaurant was sparsely populated, so I would have noticed if there was someone suspicious.

"Shit!" I hissed, realizing that it might be him sending me these texts.

"What's wrong? You look like you're about to poop," Kim interrupted.

I quickly showed her the text. "Oh, my God. Does he know your number? Are you text buddies? Or maybe sex buddies?"

"Fuck you! No! I didn't give him my number," I replied, annoyed.

"Well, how did he get your number then? Maybe someone gave it to him," she stated.

I couldn't bother to think about that. I quickly typed a response.

To Unregistered Number:

Who's this? How did you get my number? This is my personal number. No one else should know it.

Unregistered Number:

I have my ways.

Unregistered Number:

Now, answer me. Are you free later tonight? Let's talk.

To Unregistered Number:

I don't know you. Leave me alone.

Unregistered Number:

Then come out of my restaurant if you want to know me.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I read that message. I quickly released my grip on the phone and looked at Kim, who was getting irritated from waiting for our food.

"Kim," I called out to her.

"Damn it! I'm hungry! It's taking forever to serve here!" she complained.

I bit my lower lip. "Let's move to another place. I'll treat you."

"What? Why? We've already ordered."

"I'll explain later. Let's go. The food hasn't arrived yet. We can still leave," I hurriedly said to her, grabbing my bag and phone, then pulling her out.

"This is so annoying! Good thing I'm broke right now. Fine, you're treating me at Ocean Blues," she said and grinned as we got into my car.

I frowned. This girl is so cunning. The food at Ocean Blues is so expensive!

"Fine. You should be grateful I love you." I quickly started the engine and left the place in a hurry.

That was his restaurant? How come? Fuck!

"Why did we leave anyway?" she asked, giving me a suspicious look. "What did he say?"

"That's his restaurant. He wants to talk." I confessed.

I heard her gasp and she even slapped my arm. "Celeste! Maybe he wants to see you again. Why don't you want to?"

"I don't think we have anything more to discuss. I told you, he knows Isabella. It seems like Isabella likes him. I don't want any trouble. You know how she thinks. I'll be the one to avoid him while it's still early," I explained to her.

I could feel my heart growing heavy for no apparent reason. It felt like there was no favorable situation for me. I always ended up losing. No matter how hard I fought, I haven't won against her.

"So? Does that mean you're not going to tell him about your pregnancy?" She asked, surprised. Her expression turned serious.

I didn't answer. That was my original plan. If I am indeed pregnant, he doesn't need to know. What we had was just a one-time experience. No feelings were involved.

"You're so stupid, Celeste. I don't know what's wrong with you anymore," she said, giving me a disgusted look.

A bitter smile crept onto my face. I wish I could stand up for myself, just for once.

I was so tired when I got home. I didn't really want to go back to the mansion, but Dad called me because he wanted to talk. I thought it was about our argument from the other day. I thought he was going to apologize.

But I was wrong. Well, when did he ever apologize to me?

Isabella greeted me as if she had been waiting for me. There was a strange smirk on her lips. It felt like she was judging me by the way she looked at me.

"So, you came," she smirked and looked at me from head to toe. "Such a cunning whore."

Before I could even react to what she said, Dad suddenly appeared behind her, accompanied by Mama Victoria.

I immediately noticed the sharp gaze from Dad, as if he could harm me at any moment, while Mama Victoria just looked at me coldly. It was her usual expression toward me.

"Dad—"

I couldn't continue what I was about to say as Dad threw something at me. It hit my eye and fell to the floor.

"How long do you plan to hide that shame from us, Celeste Koa?!" His voice thundered, full of threats and anger.

Still recovering from whatever hit my eye, which, if it was a sharp object, surely left me blinded, he threw something else at my words.

"What—"

"You're pregnant?! How, when you haven't introduced any boyfriend to us yet? What is this? Did you just get pregnant? Who's the father? Do you even know the father of that… of that child?!" He yelled in such a disgusted tone.

I was taken aback. My whole body went cold. As my gaze landed on that thing on the floor, I felt myself weaken completely. It was my pregnancy test. How did they get it? It was in my condo!

I quickly composed myself, picked up the object, and faced Dad. "Dad, please, let me explain first."

"What else do you have to explain to us, huh? How you got pregnant by some guy? When did you start defying me, Celeste?! When did you start tarnishing the name of this family?" He yelled at me. He was furious, and I could see his lips trembling with anger.

I felt a knot in my stomach. I couldn't find the right words in my mind. All I knew was that I needed to explain what happened. But how?

"D-dad, it's not like that. It was an accident—"

"What? You accidentally got pregnant by someone?! Aren't you disgusted by what you're saying? Aren't you ashamed?! What will people say when they find out about this? How will you explain everything?!" He continued to shoot those words at me.

I bit my lower lip. God, help me.

"I'm sure he's from the bar. She's been going out with her friends after work quite often lately," Isabella commented as if she knew what was going on.

Anger surged in my heart, along with disappointment and pain toward Dad.

"What? You go to bars, Celeste? Your Dad clearly told you not to go to those places because someone from the media might see you. Did you not listen?" Mama Victoria immediately retorted, causing me to sink further.

"I-I only went there once…" I almost whispered.

"But you still went. I was right, wasn't I? That's where you met the guy who got you pregnant. What a shame," Isabella said, looking at me with disgust.

And to my surprise, when I looked at Dad, he had the same look in his eyes. My lips parted, trembling with frustration and pain.

"D-dad, please let me explain first, please. I didn't mean for this to happen. I will tell you everything. I just needed to find the right time."

But the expected moment of him listening to me was abruptly cut short by a powerful slap he delivered to me.

My head almost flew from the impact. My whole body went numb, especially the cheek he struck. I couldn't hear anything for a few minutes.

"You really have no shame, not even for yourself! You're such a coquette!" He roared.

My entire body trembled. My heart sank completely. Tears started streaming down uncontrollably. I didn't want to hear this. Please. I wished my hearing remained blocked due to the slap.

"I can't believe I'm harboring such a shameless and disrespectful woman in my own house! I thought you were decent, Celeste! You promised me you wouldn't disappoint me, but what is this?! You keep burdening me with problems, you ungrateful brat!"

Before I could recover, here it goes again.

I felt myself slowly sinking, unable to resurface. I couldn't even stay afloat. As I looked at him, I realized even more that I would never gain his sympathy. That this was how he always saw me.

"Isabella is far better than you! You can't even fulfill the basic duty of being a good daughter! Get rid of that child!"

I was stunned as if I jolted awake. "W-what? Dad, no…"

"And what do you want? To keep it? I will never accept that child in my house! That child will never carry the Yuchengco name!"

It felt like a cold bucket of water was poured over me. My shoulders kept rising and falling as I tried to hold back tears, so I could convey what I wanted to say to them, to him, properly.

And eventually, I stopped crying. All I could hear were heavy sighs. It felt like I was drowning. Like I was so weak. Why is he doing this to me?

"B-but, Dad, this is your grandchild…"

"I have no grandchild born out of shame, Celeste! The father of that child isn't even your boyfriend! A bastard!"

"But Dad, this is my child! How could you... How could you... Oh, God…" My heart completely surrendered as I saw the firm expression on his face.

"Armando, if she doesn't want to abort the baby, it's better to just kick Celeste out." Mama Victoria suggested.

My eyes widened at that. I immediately looked at Dad who continued to stare at me. No. No. He can't do this to me. I'm his daughter!

"She's carrying the Yuchengco name. What will our patrons say when they find out she got pregnant by just anyone? My god!" She added, looking at me sharply.

"You are such a disgrace!"

"D-Dad, you can't do this to me... Please…" I pleaded with him.

But he remained firm as if it was already on his mind. As if he had made his decision before I could even explain to him.

During our intense stare, Dad's gaze suddenly turned cold toward me. All I could see was the hatred as if he didn't see me as his own child.

"Leave my house now, Celeste." He declared coldly.

I was completely defeated. I felt like a cigarette butt being stepped on repeatedly until completely extinguished. No. He can't do this to me.

"From now on, never set foot in this house or the YCC again. You are no longer my daughter. You will never taste the privilege of being a Yuchengco. Leave and never come back here." He ordered me sternly and turned away.

I even reached out my hand to try to reach him, but Isabella tapped it away and gave me a disdainful look before they followed Dad. I overheard him instructing the maids to gather all my belongings and give them to me, which only made me lose all hope.

Oh, what a perfect daughter you are, Celeste Koa.