Chapter 1 — Six Weeks of Love

1My name is To Mac Han, 27 years old, marketing manager of a pharmaceutical company. Three months ago, I broke up with my boyfriend Luc Canh Trinh, thinking I would never see him again in this lifetime. Unexpectedly, today I went for a prenatal check-up at the obstetrics department. As soon as I pushed open the door to the clinic, I almost fainted on the spot. Sitting behind the desk, is the man who once made me hate him to the point of gnashing my teeth - my ex-boyfriend! What's even more ironic is that in my hand I still held the test paper with a positive result. Luc Canh Trinh raised his head, those peach blossom eyes that I once loved so deeply, were now locked tightly on me, eyes full of surprise and complexity. Then he said something that made me completely dumbfounded: "To Mac Han, you really have more and more future."... "Next patient, To Mac Han." Hearing the nurse call my name, I took a deep breath and tightened the paper in my hand. It's been three months. Three months since breaking up with Luc Canh Trinh, I thought I had completely forgotten him. Until last week, when I discovered my period was late, I bought a test strip and two red lines clearly appeared. I almost fainted. After breaking up and then finding out that I was pregnant, this "dog blood" episode fell right on me. The moment I opened the clinic door, my mind went blank. Luc Canh Trinh. He wore a white blouse, sat behind the desk, bowed his head and looked at the medical records. Hearing the door open, he looked up. The moment he saw me, his face immediately froze. The atmosphere seemed to stop for a few seconds. "To Mac Han, you really have more and more potential." He opened his mouth slowly, his tone carrying a familiar sarcasm. I tried to stay calm and walked in, closing the door. “Doctor Luc, please maintain a professional attitude.” “Sit down.” He pointed to the chair opposite and bent down again to the medical record. “What symptoms?” “I… I might be pregnant.” His hand clearly stopped, but quickly returned to normal. “How long is your period late?” “Six weeks.” “Is there any nausea or vomiting?” “A little.” He started entering data on the computer, the sound of the keyboard echoing clearly in the quiet room. “Where is the baby's father?” He suddenly asked, "Leave me alone to go to the prenatal checkup?" I didn't answer. What should I say? Tell me that is your child? Say that after breaking up I found out I was pregnant? “Miss To?” He raised his head, his eyes containing emotions I couldn't understand. "This is my personal matter." My voice was cold. He looked at me for a few seconds, then stood up. “Let's get an ultrasound to confirm first.” In the ultrasound room, the cold probe glided over my belly. A small dot appeared on the screen. “Six weeks pregnant, the fetal heart and embryo are both normal.” The ultrasound doctor said. I stared at that small dot, with complex and indescribable emotions rising in my heart. It is a life. A child with the blood of me and Luc Canh Trinh. Returning to the clinic, Luc Canh Trinh looked at the ultrasound results. "Congratulations, it's confirmed you're pregnant." His voice was very calm, “I will prescribe folic acid and vitamins.” “Thank you.” I received the prescription and prepared to leave. "To Mac Han." He suddenly called me back. I turned my head to look at him. "If the baby's father is not responsible," he paused for a moment, "I can recommend some private clinics, where it is safer." I was stunned, then realized he was referring to abortion. "No need." I coldly replied, "I made my own arrangements." "Are you really planning to raise the child alone?" He frowned, "Do you know how hard it is to be a single mother?" "That has nothing to do with me."