My Pregnancy Contract With The Billionaire

Chapter 5

Cristine's hands trembled as she fumbled with her keys, trying to unlock the front door to her small apartment. The weight of her father's birthday visit and the exhaustion from working multiple jobs had settled deep into her bones, making even the simplest tasks feel monumental. But as she got closer to the building, a growing sense of unease filled the air. She noticed her neighbors gathered in clusters outside, their faces a mix of curiosity and fear. Children were clinging to their mothers, whispering anxiously. A knot tightened in Cristine’s stomach.

“What’s going on?” she asked one of the women standing near the entrance, her voice barely steady.

Before the woman could respond, Cristine heard a loud crash from inside her apartment. Her blood ran cold as she instinctively broke into a run, pushing past the small crowd that had gathered. She didn’t care what was happening, she only had one thought: her grandma.

As soon as she flung open the door, her heart sank. The living room was a wreck—furniture overturned, cushions slashed, papers and belongings strewn across the floor as if someone had ransacked the place in a frenzy. But worse than the mess were the loud, angry voices coming from the kitchen, followed by the familiar, heart-wrenching sound of her grandmother screaming.

"Grandma!" Cristine's voice cracked as she rushed toward the sound.

In the kitchen, a man—a member of the gang that worked for the loan shark she was indebted to—was towering over her frail grandmother. He had one hand wrapped around her wrist, trying to yank off her watch—the only piece of jewelry she still owned after all these years. The watch had been a gift from her late husband, Cristine’s grandfather, and it was the one possession her grandmother had fiercely protected.

The older woman was sobbing, desperately clutching at the man’s arm, pleading for him to stop. “Please, no, this was from my husband! Please don’t take it! Please…”

“Stop!” Cristine cried out, rushing forward without thinking. She threw herself between the man and her grandmother, her heart hammering in her chest. "Please! Spare the watch, it’s all she has left from him!"

The man scowled, his cold, dark eyes narrowing at her. “You’re late with the p*****t again, Cristine. This is what happens when you can’t pay up.”

“I know, I know,” she said quickly, her voice trembling. “I was going to pay tomorrow. I swear, I was just—"

The man sneered, his grip tightening around her grandmother’s wrist before he shoved the old woman hard. Cristine’s heart seemed to stop as she watched her grandmother fall backward, her fragile body crumpling as she hit the kitchen floor with a sickening thud. Time slowed, and everything felt unreal.

Her breath caught in her throat as she dropped to her knees beside her grandmother. Blood pooled beneath her head, staining the floor, and for a moment, Cristine couldn’t move—paralyzed by the sight of her grandmother’s frail body lying motionless.

"No... Grandma..." Cristine whispered, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch her.

The man didn’t care. With a smirk, he released the watch from her grandmother's wrist, stuffing it into his pocket.

"Wait... take this and spare the watch please." she begged again while handling them a couple of money that was left in her pocket. The man took the money and gave the watch back. before kicking over a chair and storming out of the house with the other men. "Next time, have the money ready," he spat as he left.

Cristine didn’t even register his words. All she could see was the blood, her grandmother’s pale face, and the horrific stillness of her small, frail frame.

I need to get her to the hospital.

Her mind went into overdrive, fighting back the panic. She grabbed her phone with shaking hands and dialed for an ambulance, her voice barely steady enough to explain what had happened. Minutes later, the paramedics arrived, their voices calm but urgent as they moved her grandmother onto a stretcher.

Cristine followed them to the hospital, her heart pounding in her chest the entire way. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and guilt. She had failed. She had tried so hard, worked so many jobs, and yet, it was never enough. Now her grandmother was hurt because of her.

---

The fluorescent lights of the hospital waiting room buzzed overhead as Cristine sat hunched in her chair, her fingers clutching the armrests so tightly her knuckles had turned white. Time felt endless. Every second stretched on, filled with dread.

Finally, after what felt like hours, a doctor came out to speak with her. "She's stable for now," he said, his voice professional and calm. "The head wound wasn't as severe as we initially feared, but she'll need to stay here for a few days so we can monitor her. You’ll need to cover the medical expenses upfront."

Cristine nodded, barely able to take in his words. Relief flooded her system—her grandmother would be okay. But the relief was short-lived as reality came crashing back down on her.

Medical expenses.

Her heart sank again. She already owed so much—more than she could ever hope to pay back. And now, on top of everything else, there were hospital bills. She would never be able to pay this off.

She thanked the doctor numbly and made her way back to her apartment later that night, her legs feeling like lead. The streets were empty now, and the air had grown colder. The moment she reached the building, she saw her landlady waiting by the door.

“I was looking for you,” the woman said, her voice firm.

Cristine paused, her stomach clenching at the tone in her landlady’s voice. She could sense something bad coming. “What is it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I heard what happened today,” the landlady began, crossing her arms over her chest. "The neighbors are concerned about the commotion with those men. They're worried about their safety—and the safety of their children.”

Cristine opened her mouth to defend herself, to explain that it wasn’t her fault, but the landlady held up a hand to stop her.

“I’ve tried to be patient, Cristine,” she continued. “I’ve let you slide on rent a few times, but this…” She shook her head. “This is too much. I can’t have loan sharks coming around here, terrorizing the neighborhood. I’m sorry, but you’ve got a month to find somewhere else to live.”

The words hit Cristine like a physical blow. “Please, no,” she begged, her voice cracking. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. My grandmother needs a safe place. We’ve been here for so long. I promise I’ll figure something out, I’ll pay everything I owe. Just—just don’t make us leave.”

The landlady’s expression softened, but only slightly. “I’m sorry, Cristine. I really am. But my hands are tied. You have a month. That’s the best I can do.”

And with that, the landlady walked away, leaving Cristine standing in front of her apartment, the weight of everything crashing down on her all at once.

She felt like she was suffocating. There was no escape from this nightmare. No matter how hard she worked, no matter how many jobs she took on, it was never enough. Now, not only did she have to pay off the endless debts, but she had hospital bills looming over her, and soon, she wouldn’t even have a roof over her head.

Cristine unlocked the door and stepped into the dark, empty apartment. The mess left by the loan sharks was still there, reminding her of how powerless she was. She collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in her hands as the sobs finally came. She had held it together for so long—too long—and now, with everything crumbling around her, she couldn’t fight it anymore.

How could she keep going? How could she possibly survive this?

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she didn’t check it. She couldn’t deal with anything else right now. All she could do was cry, the weight of her hopelessness and despair pressing down on her chest until it felt like she might break.

In the distance, she heard the soft ticking of the clock on the wall, marking each second that passed. But time no longer mattered. It didn’t feel like anything mattered anymore.

She was trapped. And no matter how hard she tried to claw her way out, the walls kept closing in.