New Boss Is My One-Night Stand's Baby Daddy novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – The Doctor’s Bombshell and a Family’s Embrace

Hazel’s POV

“I can’t believe you kept this,” I said, taking the bottle of expensive perfume from Chloe’s hands. It was the same scent I’d worn to the masquerade ball two weeks ago.

“Of course I kept it. You smelled amazing that night.” Chloe plopped down on my bed. “And apparently, Mr. Mystery Man thought so too.”

I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. “Stop bringing him up.”

“Why? He gave you the best sex of your life!” Chloe nudged me playfully.

“And possibly an STD,” I muttered, sitting up. “My doctor’s appointment is in an hour.”

Chloe’s teasing smile faded. “Hey, don’t catastrophize. You’re probably fine.”

“Probably isn’t definitely,” I countered. “What kind of responsible person has unprotected sex with a stranger? I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“The kind who needed to break free after being cheated on by her boyfriend of three years with her own cousin,” Chloe replied firmly. “Besides, I’m going with you to the appointment.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Shut up. I’m going.” She squeezed my hand. “That’s what best friends are for.”

Three weeks after my doctor’s visit, I sat in the same sterile room with Chloe beside me, waiting for my test results. My leg bounced nervously as I checked my watch for the fifth time in two minutes.

“Relax,” Chloe whispered. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.”

Before I could respond, Dr. Evans walked in with a folder in hand and a neutral expression that revealed nothing.

“Hazel,” she greeted me warmly, taking a seat across from us. “How are you feeling today?”

“Anxious,” I admitted. “Just tell me straight – do I have something?”

Dr. Evans smiled reassuringly. “Your STD panel came back completely negative. You’re perfectly healthy.”

Relief flooded through me. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been until that moment. “Thank God.”

“However,” she continued, her tone shifting slightly, “we did find something else in your bloodwork.”

My stomach dropped. “What is it?”

“Congratulations, Hazel. You’re pregnant.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. The room seemed to tilt sideways as blood rushed from my face.

“That’s impossible,” I whispered, though I knew it wasn’t. “We only… it was just one time.”

“That’s all it takes,” Dr. Evans said gently. “Based on your hormone levels, I’d estimate you’re about five weeks along.”

Chloe grabbed my hand, squeezing it so hard it hurt. “Are you sure?” she asked the doctor.

Dr. Evans nodded. “The blood test is quite accurate. We can do an ultrasound today if you’d like confirmation.”

My mind raced wildly. Pregnant. With a stranger’s baby. A man whose name I didn’t know. A man with striking violet-blue eyes who had disappeared into the night.

“My parents are going to kill me,” I choked out, tears welling up. “I’m only twenty-three. I’m still in college.”

“Breathe, Hazel,” Dr. Evans instructed calmly. “You have options, and you have time to consider them all.”

“I can’t have a baby,” I whispered, panic rising in my chest. “I don’t even know who the father is. How am I supposed to tell my parents that?”

Chloe wrapped an arm around me. “One step at a time, Hazel.”

Dr. Evans spent the next thirty minutes walking me through my options. Termination. Adoption. Keeping the baby. Each possibility made my head spin more than the last.

“Whatever you decide, don’t do it alone,” Dr. Evans advised as our appointment wrapped up. “Talk to your parents, your friends. Get support.”

I nodded numbly, still in shock as Chloe guided me out of the office.

“Eat something,” Chloe urged, pushing a plate of fries toward me in the diner where we’d met Noah after my appointment. “For the baby.”

“The baby,” I repeated, the words still foreign on my tongue. “I’m having a baby.”

Noah reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “We’re here for you, Hazel. Whatever you need.”

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