"Goddammit, Bang Chan!" Jinyoung angrily slammed his hand on the table, "You have absolutely no control over your hormones, do you?!" 

Chan stood before him, head hung low, silently listening to the CEO berating him. And it was rightly understandable. 

"We recently announced your so-called relationship with that whore, and now, you're telling me to announce her pregnancy to the world? Do you have any sense?" 

"I'm sorry..." Chan muttered, gravely starting at the sparkling marble flooring, and the tiny wheels of the movable chair before him. He had not sat on that chair, but listening to Jinyoung scold him, he really needed a seat. And a break from this ongoing nuisance. 

"What am I going to do with your 'sorry', Chan?" Jinyoung stood up, massaging his temples, "Tell that woman to abort it as soon as possible." 

"That's the issue, sir," the leader meekly responded, "She wants to keep the baby. I tried convincing her but-" 

"You tried?" the CEO chuckled in a mocking manner, "Is she overpowering you, leader? Are you that less of a man to be manipulated but a prostitute?" 

Chan looked up at him; how misogynistic was Jinyoung to utter such condescending words for a woman? To say such disrespectful remarks about a person; to degrade someone to the level of treating them so lowly? And to reprimand their existence as a woman equal to a man? He was disgusted by Jinyoung's viewpoint. 

However, he stood silent. 

"What? Say something!" Jinyoung yelled, and Chan inhaled, "Sir, I respect her." 

The older man halted, "What?" 

Chan did not need to repeat himself when the CEO spoke, "She has you trapped in her spell, Bang Chan. You need to know that she's not worth the effort you're putting into this!" 

You're not worth it -- his own words rang in his ears, and guilt lit a wildfire in his heart and burned it agonizingly slowly. 

"I need to, sir. It's my baby," Chan spoke carefully, afraid and anxious about the outcome of his words. 

Jinyoung slammed a random file onto his desk in rage, "Chan, you built Stray Kids yourself. You grew each and every member of your team, and you made it. You earned a name and respect and love... and you'll singlehandedly destroy each and every bit of it for this baby." 

"What do you mean?" Chan raised an eyebrow, perplexed. 

"Have you seen what happens with the idols who get married and have children in their prime? They fade away. Do you want everything and everyone in Stray Kids to fade away with you?" 

Chan froze; Jinyoung had a point this time. He had seen the amount of hate that the idols who got married or had children in their fresh years got, and the sole thought of his boys getting hated sent chills down his spine. No, he could not do that to them. He could not risk their reputation and progress, their careers and potential. 

But on the other hand was his mistake of a child, its life on the line, and Soojin's final attempt at sanity. He believed that even though that child might be born out of hate, maybe -- just maybe -- it could give Soojin a reason to survive? He had seen her completely destroyed -- like the ancient ruins of Ozymandias; just the base surviving along with pieces of her mind scattered around her. She was falling apart, and it was crystal clear to him. 

Even though he was not fond of her, he still respected her choices and decisions. And, after all, that child inside her was his, too. 

"Can we..." he spoke up with a hoarse voice, "Keep the pregnancy a secret?" 

"Are you serious now, Bang Chan!" Jinyoung pinched the bridge of his nose, "You're willing to risk everything for the child of a prostitute?" 

"It's my child, too, sir," the leader boldly spoke, even though he felt no attachment to the fetus, "And I ought to take care of it... and its mother." 

Jinyoung sighed, "Alright, then. But remember that I won't come to save you this time, Chan. Am I clear?" 

"Yes, sir." 

(a/n: okay, some progress ig 

i saw someone's comment that they do not want this book to be baby-centric now, and don't worry! it won't be baby-centric. this book is mostly about toxic relationships and mental trauma (if you hadn't figured it out by now). there will be more such moments, so you can expect a roller coaster of emotions from here onwards!! :D 

did chan do the right thing, according to you? 

AND THANK YOY FOR 30K+ READS!!! <3 

thanks for reading! i love you!)