Lucy's Perspective

Pregnant... I'm pregnant... It could only be from that night with Kane—


I opened my mouth to tell him the truth, then stopped myself.

Just then, my phone shattered the silence. Emily's name flashed on the screen.

I answered mechanically, my mind still reeling.


"Lucy! Where are you? Something crazy happened! Oh my god! Last night at the boys' dorm—"

My eyes darted to Kane, who suddenly found the window extremely interesting.


"Kane Lyons went absolutely ballistic on Jeffrey—you know, your poetry club guy! If campus security hadn't pulled him off, Kane might have killed him! They say Jeffrey's nose is broken in three places! Aren't you going to check if he's okay—"

I ended the call mid-sentence.

Kane's jaw clenched as he stared at the floor. "That bastard Jeffrey is responsible for this."

"You—" I couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears. "You—why—why do you always have to interfere—who asked you to get involved—it's none of your business—"

Kane looked stunned. His expression shifted from anger to confusion as I sobbed. "How is it not my business? I'm telling you, I'll take care of this."

After a moment, he added firmly, "I'll make Jeffrey take responsibility."

His words only made me cry harder, my whole body shaking with sobs.

Take responsibility—I didn't want Jeffrey to take responsibility—Kane Lyons!

But how could I tell you that? That night wasn't real for you, you don't even remember it. Now you have Selena too. How could I burden you with this?

I cried until I had nothing left, my fingers and toes tingling from hyperventilation.

Kane stood there awkwardly, clearly wanting to comfort me but not knowing how.

What was I hoping for? Lucy Leahy, all these years, what had you been waiting for?

I didn't know how long I cried before exhaustion finally took over.

I wiped my face and said flatly: "This matter doesn't concern you. Get out."

"Doesn't concern me? You think you can handle this by yourself?"

"I said NO!" I screamed, my voice raw with emotion.

Kane flinched as if I'd slapped him.

The room fell into heavy silence.

After what felt like forever, Kane turned and walked out, the door closing with a decisive click behind him.

In the end, I couldn't bring myself to tell Kane the truth.

When I finally returned to the dorm, Emily took one look at me and gasped. "Lucy, what happened to you?"

I fell into her arms, fresh tears spilling over.

"What's wrong, Lucy? Please talk to me. You're scaring me."

No matter how Emily pleaded, I couldn't form the words. Eventually, she stopped asking and just held me while I cried.

I skipped classes for several days. Just as I was starting to function again, news of my pregnancy somehow spread across campus.

Now the campus gossip mill was in overdrive with stories about me carrying Jeffrey's baby.

I felt like I was drowning, my life crumbling around me.

Jeffrey bombarded me with calls and vicious texts: "Lucy Leahy? I never slept with your frigid ass! How dare you claim I got you pregnant? Whose bastard are you trying to pin on me, you lying bitch?!"

I blocked his number without responding.

Walking to class became torture. I could feel eyes following me everywhere—judging, mocking, pitying... The whispers followed me like a cloud of poisonous smoke.

"That's her? She looks like a child herself. Who knew she was such a slut..."

"I heard Jeffrey swears he never touched her. Says she's trying to trap him for his family's money..."

"Pathetic. Using a pregnancy to try to lock down a guy way out of her league."

"That weird redhead from the poetry club? No wonder Jeffrey dropped out—he must have been trying to escape her obsession."

Every glance, every whispered comment cut like a knife. I pulled my hoodie tighter around my face, desperate to become invisible.

I finally made it back to my room and fell onto my bed, emotionally and physically exhausted.

Emily sat beside me, taking my cold hand in hers. "Lucy... the baby isn't Jeffrey's, is it? It's Kane's, right?"

I froze, staring at her with wide eyes.

Emily's eyes filled with tears. "I asked around about who was in that room after I... after the drink. People saw you and Kane going in within minutes of each other... Oh God, Lucy, this is all my fault..."

Emily jumped to her feet. "I'm going to find Kane right now and make him own up to this!"

I clutched her wrist desperately. "No! He doesn't even remember what happened. And he's with Selena now."

Emily sank back down, her face pale. "Then... what are you going to do?"

I just shook my head, having no answer.

Emily squeezed my hand, not pushing for more.

Lucy Leahy, you've really screwed up this time.