Chapter 2 - A New Start

Isabel couldn't believe what had happened to her. Everything was spinning around her. It was a few days after the incident and she couldn't report the incident to the police since she never knew that man's name. Her parents didn't show any ounce of sympathy, but blamed their daughter for being too careless with herself. 

Since her parents were rich, they forced Isabel to stop with her acting career. That career was a danger to their daughter. Who knew what else could have happened? Isabel looked outside her window as she was being locked in as a punishment. She scrolled down her phone and there were many messages for her. Some people asked if she was alright while some assumed that she was gone from showbiz for good. 

But Isabel wasn't able to reply to any of them. She dropped onto her bed and sobbed. It was too much for her. She wasn't a virgin anymore. Who else would want her? She thought about the worst-case scenario, being pregnant with an unknown man. Isabel knew this could happen to her, so she asked a maid whether she could go out and get some medication. She knew this was a bad idea, but she couldn't tell anyone. 

An hour later, the maid came back with a few pain medication and sleeping pill. Isabel locked herself inside and open the pill bottle. She poured several pills into her palm and closed her eyes. Then something hit her on the inside. What was she thinking? It hasn't even been a month yet. She checked her phone calender and prayed that she will not become pregnant. She ended up putting the pills back into the bottle. She didn't want to cause too much trouble for the maid if something happened to her. 

A month had passed, they sent Isabel abroad to Prague, which is the capital city of Czech Republic. She stayed with her uncle and aunt since they were teaching at a university. Isabel's parents wanted their daughter to study at the best business school and that one day, she could take over their family's business. 

Isabel settled down in her uncle and aunt's house, which was very close to her business school. It was a new start for her. Ever since disappearing from showbiz, almost everyone forgot about her. They took her pictures and posters down from public places and shops. Her news suddenly stopped showing online and just like that, she was out of showbiz. Over time, people forgot about her. They stopped showing her dramas and shows on TV or in movie theatre. Because of her parent's influence in the entertainment industry., they had a lot of power. 

In Prague, summer was the most beautiful season. But for Isabel, it felt like torture. She couldn't forget what had happened a month ago. That memory of her of being touched by an unknown man still made her shiver. She still couldn't believe they had done it. She couldn't bring herself to take those medications. She will not only ruin her life but also her parent's reputation. She had to be obedient to them and study well. She was not an actress anymore, but a student all over again. 

It was near the end of summer vacation. Isabel and her aunt went shopping at one of the biggest mall in Prague. Her aunt's name was Lisa, and she was a very soft-spoken lady. Lisa knew something was wrong with Isabel, but she waited until Isabel was ready to talk to her. She saw Isabel struggling for the past few days and she brought her to a special restaurant. No one ever rejected good food. 

Isabel smiled as if she's reassuring Lisa that everything was fine. Suddenly, Isabel had nausea, and she immediately went to the bathroom. She felt awful and couldn't get up without feeling nauseous. Lisa went to the bathroom and knocked on the door. 

"Isabel, are you alright? Do you need my help?" 

Isabel unlocked the door and Lisa saw Isabel on the floor sobbing. She couldn't say a word. Her eyes were red and swollen. Lisa bend down and comforted her. 

"A-Aunt, I-I think I'm pregnant." Isabel sobbed even harder since this was her first time sharing her feeling with someone she trusted. Lisa sighed and asked, "Isabel, can you stand up? Let's go to the hospital and get you checked. Don't worry about it. Whenever you're ready to tell me, I'm all ears." 

As they got off the taxi, Lisa and Isabel went to the counter and the nurse brought them to the doctor's office. They headed towards the gynecology aisle and one nurse from the doctor's room and asked Isabel to do a quick urine test. Lisa reassured Isabel that everything will be fine. If Isabel was pregnant, they will take care of her and her unborn child. 

After an hour later, the doctor told them to go into the room. Isabel sat on one chair while Lisa sat in the other. The doctor looked at the test result and informed Isabel that she was two months pregnant. 

"T-Two months pregnant?" Isabel told herself that this was one of the worst-case scenario and it actually happened. They did not prepare her to be a single mother of a child. At a young age of 22, people her age focused on career development rather than family. But for her, even though she had a successful career earlier in the years, she was only gaining experience in the entertainment industry. But right now, she was suddenly a mother of an unborn child. A child who will be fatherless in the future. She was afraid of the future. She is afraid of public opinion. She was afraid of her parents. 

Lisa held onto Isabel's hand as the doctor asked her to come and check in every week. The doctor made some suggestions and suggested to her some other alternatives if she decides not to have a baby. Isabel still had time to think about it. But inside of her, she knew that if she gets rid of the baby, she will regret it forever. This is her child. One day, she will go back and track down the unknown man who made her life this way. It will be a long journey. She had to prepare herself. She had to become stronger for her child, no matter what the future holds.