The Ex-Effect

My period was two months late, so I called my ex-boyfriend. I think I might be pregnant.

He sneered. Is this a flex?

I said weakly, No, it's yours.

He warned me coldly, Don't think just because you're pregnant I'll get back together with you.

I have a girlfriend, and she would mind.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, I smacked my forehead.

"Sorry, my bad. I just remembered I got my period the day we broke up."

Chapter 1

Work had been insane lately, and I just forgot.

Ethan went silent on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.

Then he scoffed. "Boring."

He hung up impatiently.

So he already had a new girlfriend.

I couldn't help but unblock him to check his social media.

I wanted to see this new girl.

In the photos, the usually serious Ethan was actually making funny faces with her.

The girl had a sweet smile and dimples.

She looked like the kind of girl who grew up surrounded by love.

Since he had someone new, I shouldn't keep his contact info.

Just as I was about to delete him, a notification popped up.

Ethan: [Transfer: 0-00,000.00]

Me: [?]

I was typing to ask why he sent money when he called.

"Sarah, go to the hospital and get checked properly to see if you're pregnant."

He spoke in the tone he used with subordinates:

"If you are, take this money and get an abortion."

My heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm not pregnant."

I regretted calling him earlier.

"Besides, I got my period the day we broke up. Even if I was pregnant, you don't have to worry about me pinning it on you."

Ethan's voice rose, and I could feel his anger through the phone.

"True. Even if it's not mine, it could be someone else's."

"Is that the kind of person I am to you?"

Pregnant with someone else's child two months after breaking up?

And asking my ex to take responsibility?

"You have a history, after all."

Ethan's tone was contemptuous. "It's normal to get lonely."

"Anyway, I've given what I should. Don't come looking for me again."

He hung up violently.

A new girlfriend just two months after breaking up.

Who was the one who couldn't handle being lonely?

I tried to transfer the money back.

Red exclamation mark. He blocked me on Venmo.

I tried bank transfer.

Limit exceeded.

Luckily, Zelle worked.

I found his account.

The profile picture was unfamiliar.

It was a cartoon character he used to despise.

I double-checked it several times.

He must have really found a girl he liked more.

To do things he once disdained, like matching profile pictures.

I transferred all the money back.

Then blocked him everywhere.

After doing all this, I felt drained.

He broke up with me and found a sunny girl.

Wasn't this what I always hoped for?

I should be happy.

But why did everything feel so flavorless?

Chapter 2

The next morning, I went downstairs to go to work.

Ethan was standing in front of his car waiting for me.

He walked straight toward me.

"Get in."

"What are you doing here? I have to go to work"

Ethan frowned, his tone still cold.

"Take leave." He glanced at my abdomen. "I'm taking you to the hospital to check if you're pregnant."

Because of my childhood trauma, I've always resisted hospitals.

"Didn't I tell you? I'm not pregnant."

His eyes were still suspicious.

"The last time we were together, the condom broke..."

I couldn't help but retort, "Aren't you a little too confident in yourself?"

"I'm worried that if there really is a baby, I'll be kept in the dark."

Men always think they possess superpowers in this department.

"I said I'm not pregnant! Even if I was, it has nothing to do with you!"

Being delayed for work made me irritable, and my voice rose unconsciously.

Neighbors passing by glanced at us.

My face heated up instantly.

Ethan's face darkened.

"Get in. I'm taking you to the hospital. I already made an appointment."

"I can go myself." I refused further contact.

"I need to see the checkup with my own eyes to be at ease."

Ethan lowered his voice, speaking in a tone asking for a punch:

"If you don't come with me, I'll keep blocking you here. It won't take a day for you to become famous in this neighborhood."

I gritted my teeth and got in the car.

As the car started, I thought for a moment.

Picked up my phone to ask for leave.

[Mr. Davis, I need to take the morning off to go to the hospital.]

He replied instantly.

Liam Davis: [Are you okay? Where do you feel uncomfortable? Is half a day enough?]

I didn't expect my boss, Liam, to be so caring.

Three questions in a row.

Quite different from his usual taciturn self.

I typed tremblingly: [I'm fine, just a stomach ache. The morning is enough.]

Liam Davis: [Approved. If you still feel unwell, take more days off.]

Me: [Okay, thank you Mr. Davis.]

Ethan, driving beside me, asked coldly:

"Who are you texting so intently?"

"Got a situation?"

Seeing I didn't answer, he continued:

"No wonder you were so eager to cut ties with me! So you've already found your next target."

Ethan's words carried a subtle malice.

Making me uncomfortable.

"I'm asking my boss for leave."

"Oh." He glanced at my phone casually.

"Never seen a boss care so much about a subordinate asking for leave."

He held the steering wheel, speaking in a knowing tone:

"We're both men. I can tell he has other intentions for you."

Although Ethan didn't continue.

I knew him too well. His micro-expressions, his tone.

I could accurately interpret his implication.

He wanted to tell me that my boss just wanted to play around with me, don't be fooled.

"Is that so? Then I'll pay more attention to his behavior in the future."

"You!" He scoffed. "You're amazing!"

Ethan gripped the steering wheel tighter, veins popping.

I didn't know where his inexplicable jealousy came from.

After all, when we broke up, he roared at me: "Sarah, if I break up with you, I'll never care about you again."

Although he said that.

Mutual friends told me he was still asking about me.

Asking if I was doing well.

Calling him last night was actually a gamble.

Ethan might ignore me, but he wouldn't ignore a "child," right?

But I was too anxious and forgot that possibility didn't exist at all.

Ethan slammed on the brakes.

Inertia almost threw me into the windshield.

Luckily the seatbelt held me.

Only then did I notice the toy steering wheel attached to the passenger side dashboard.

He even prepared toys for a child?

That's way too early.

"Don't overthink it." Ethan said lightly.

"That toy has nothing to do with you."

Chapter 3

His eyes softened for a moment.

"It's for my girlfriend."

Ethan smiled warmly. "She gets bored in the car, so I let her play with the steering wheel."

"Isn't it romantic?" He asked me proudly.

"Forget it, why am I talking about this with someone unromantic like you."

I hesitated, but decided to speak.

"Um..."

Ethan looked over smugly.

"I wanted to remind you, if there's an accident, the airbag might not deploy."

"Can you discuss with your girlfriend about changing to something else..."

His smile vanished, voice squeezed from his throat:

"Sarah, you really are allergic to romance."

Seeing his frown, I chose to shut up.

Ethan continued driving, neither of us speaking another word.

The silence was terrifying.

Then Ethan's phone rang.

His face softened as he cleared his throat:

"Hey, babe, what's wrong?"

I don't know what the person on the other end said.

Ethan spoke nervously: "Okay, okay, I'm coming right now."

After hanging up, Ethan turned to me:

"Get out."

I looked at the road outside, incredulous:

"Here?"

"Yes."

He unbuckled my seatbelt without explanation and reached to open the door.

I pressed his hand down, confirming:

"There isn't even a bus stop here. You're making me get out here?"

Ethan nodded indifferently. "My girlfriend has an emergency, I have to go to her. Go to the hospital yourself."

"Although it's hard to get a cab here, the hospital is only two miles away. Treat it as exercise."

He pulled me out of the car.

Before driving off, he rolled down the window and instructed: "Remember to tell me the results. It's better for both of us."

Then left me with a cloud of exhaust.

I laughed in anger.

Called me out early in the morning, made me take leave.

Then dumped me on the road and ran.

Just as I was about to call a cab.

My lower abdomen hurt suddenly.

Luckily there was a public restroom nearby.

Sure enough, my period came.

So I didn't go to the hospital.

Instead, I went back to work.

On the way, I texted Ethan.

Told him I wasn't pregnant.

Then blocked and deleted him again.

This time, it was really goodbye.

Chapter 4

Maybe because it had been too long since my last period.

This time it was exceptionally painful.

Finally, after Liam signed all the documents.

I prepared to leave his office, when my legs gave out.

I fell forward.

Just as I thought I was about to hit the floor.

Pain didn't come as expected.

Liam held my waist and pulled me back.

"Thank you, Mr. Davis."

He scrutinized my face.

"Not feeling well? Did the hospital results come out?"

"I'm fine, just my period." I answered truthfully.

The company allowed half a day of menstrual leave, but I had already taken the morning off and didn't want work to pile up.

Liam averted his eyes slightly, ears turning red.

"You should take leave and go home to rest. I'll arrange the work."

I remembered the shareholder meeting in the afternoon.

If I quit now, the efforts of the past few weeks would be wasted.

"No need, Mr. Davis. I can handle it."

I returned to my desk to prepare materials.

But the pain got worse. I worried about fainting during the meeting.

"Here."

I saw a box of Ibuprofen and two heating pads on my desk.

Liam looked around unnaturally. Colleagues weren't there.

"I searched online. They said these help women in pain."

"Thank you, Mr. Davis! I really needed this!"

Liam nodded. "Good."

His ears turned pink again.

I suddenly remembered Ethan's words.

Does Liam really have ideas about me?

But I dismissed it quickly.

Liam was just a considerate boss.

And he saw my hard work.

Yes, that's it.

Finally off work, I couldn't wait to go home and rest.

Didn't expect to see Ethan walking towards me downstairs.

"Sarah, why didn't you go to the hospital?"

"Didn't I tell you I wasn't pregnant?"

He seemed not to understand, pulling out a pregnancy test from somewhere, grabbing my hand:

"Your word doesn't count. Come with me."

"Since you won't go to the hospital, test it in front of me."

It was rush hour, colleagues stopped to watch.

I was annoyed by his unreasonable demand.

Embarrassing me at my apartment wasn't enough.

Now at my workplace too?

"I said no means no! I'm on my period, how can I be pregnant?"

Ethan froze.

"You're lying. Your cycle starts on the 25th, not the 8th."

I felt powerless.

"What, do you want me to take off my skirt for you to check?"

"Can I?" Ethan asked seriously.