"There was a mix up. The intern who was assigned to prepare the Depo shot made a mistake. I'm so sorry."
Time didn't slow. It didn't stop. It slammed into me all at once.
Pregnant. Me?
I stared at her like she'd spoken in a different language. "No. No. That can't be… I—No."
"I'm so, so sorry for the mistake. We take full responsibility. There will be disciplinary measures. But right now, what matters most is how you want to proceed."
My heart pounded.
The words barely registered.
Pregnant.
It rang in my ears like a scream.
Pauline kept talking, apologizing, offering resources. But I was somewhere else.
Somewhere cold and quiet.
Christian.
He'd never wanted children. Not once had he said it. Not even hinted at it.
And even if he did… what were we? A contract. A ticking clock with only four months left on it.
We weren't a family.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
***
