4. Regret

During her three-day stay at Katie's parents' house, Amelie had no problems whatsoever. She felt comfortable in the house. Matilda and Harry always told her to behave like she was at home.

"Eat well, Amelie; your baby needs nourishment too," Matilda said after seeing Amelie take only one slice of bread and put it on her plate.

"This is enough, Auntie," Amelie replied with a smile.

"Hem," Matilda said, shaking her head as she placed one slice of toast and a few slices of banana on Amelie's plate.

"We're sorry about what happened to you, Amelie," Harry said after taking a sip of his milk. The bearded man looked at Amelie with a compassionate gaze.

"Thanks, Uncle," the girl replied with a faint smile, adding some manuka honey to her meal. Amelie had a sweet tooth.

"I believe you are a strong girl, Amelie. Forget the bitterness and start turning over a new leaf. There is always new hope every time the day changes." Harry said encouragingly to Amelie.

Matilda nodded quickly after hearing her husband's words, with her mouth still chewing.

Amelie smiled back.

Amelie knew that in the future, the life she lived would not always be smooth. There will be small pebbles or storms that come her way. But Amelie was sure that, with the baby inside her, she would be more mature and resilient in navigating a life full of question marks.

***

In the early afternoon, Katie was looking after the roses that were supposed to be Amelie's responsibility. Before leaving, the girl had told Katie to take over her duties to care for the roses she loved so much.

"I'm willing to do this because you're my best friend." Katie murmured as Amelie's face flashed through her mind.

A man walked over, taking Katie by surprise, as she hadn't realized how long he had been standing next to her.

Since the three days of Amelie's disappearance, Jonathan has always stolen the opportunity to visit the places where he and Amelie usually met. The garden, the warehouse, or the room where she used to rest. But all he found was emptiness.

"You really don't know where Amelie is?" Jonathan asked later.

Jonathan knew that the friendship between Katie and her lover was very good. If Amelie left without leaving a message for him, at least Amelie must have left a message for Katie.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't know, sir," replied Katie while stifling an annoyed snort.

'If only you hadn't done that to Amelie, Jonathan, she would still be here today!' Katie cursed to herself.

The ringing of a cell phone came between them. It was the right time for Katie to get away from the man, whom she considered a disaster for Amelie.

"Excuse me, sir, I need to pick up the phone."

Jonathan held Katie back by grabbing one of her hands.

"Who's calling?" asked Jonathan with his eyebrows knitted together. It was suspicious if Katie was actually hiding something.

Katie snorted softly so that the man behind her wouldn't notice her annoyance. The girl turned around and showed Jonathan the screen of the flat object in her hand.

"A call from my boyfriend, sir," she said with a bland smile. What a pain in the ass this guy was.

"Call from an unknown number. How could you not give a contact name if it was your boyfriend?"

"Right now, I'm angry with him. It's my habit if my boyfriend and I are fighting. Please excuse me." Katie let go of Jonathan's hand and walked towards her room.

Jonathan still stood rooted to the spot. Watching Katie's back as she disappeared behind the door of the maid's room.

Theresia, who had seen Jonathan and Katie talking from the window on the second floor, smiled slyly. The woman seemed to understand what the two people were talking about. Who else, if not Amelie? The maid girl, whom she thought had seduced Jonathan.

The look of sadness on Jonathan's face after Katie left further strengthened Theresia's opinion.

"Good. I'm sure that pesky girl won't dare set foot in this house again," she muttered as she sipped the cup of coffee that was cooling down in her hand.

***

Katie's forehead furrowed. Who was calling her with an unknown number. For a long time, the girl walked back and forth while continuing to guess who the person on the other line was, finally she ventured to press the green button.

"Hello?" She asked from the other end.

Instantly, both ends of Katie's lips tugged. She knew who the feminine voice on the other side was.

"Amelie?!" screamed Katie, who immediately cupped her hands to cover her mouth. "Are you okay in there?"

"Yes, Katie. I'm fine here. Your parents are very nice. I feel very comfortable in this place. How are my mom and dad?" asked Amelie, who was sitting on the bed in her room and stroking the picture of her with her parents.

It had only been three days since she had seen Robert and Irene, but it felt like a month since they had seen each other. Amelie missed Robert and Irene terribly.

"Uncle and Auntie are fine here."

"Please make sure they eat properly, Katie. Did anything big happen after I left the house?" Amelie asked a question that she already knew the answer to.

"That's right. Something big happened after you left, Amelie. That terrible possibility... really happened." Katie bit her lower lip. She couldn't imagine how broken Amelie's heart would be if she knew Theresia had wanted her to terminate the pregnancy and had spoken harshly to Robert.

"Thank you for your advice, Katie. You saved me from Theresia's wrath. I owe you a favor."

Katie walked quickly to Robert and Irene's room. When she saw Robert about to step out of the doorway, she quickly motioned him back into the room.

"This is Amelie," Katie whispered, pointing to her cell phone.

With sparkling eyes, Robert and Irene turned to Katie.

Katie, who realized the door to the room was open, immediately closed it. Don't let anyone suspect them.

"Hello, darling, I've missed you so much, Amelie," Irene said in a quiet voice.

"Give it to me," Robert said, snatched the cell phone from his wife's hand. Making Irene throw a glare at Robert.

"Are you okay there, darling?" Robert asked enthusiastically.

"I'm fine, Dad. Katie's parents are very good to me." Amelie shook her head. How many times had she heard the same question? Oh, Amelie was leaving the people who loved her the most.

"Amelie, listen to me. You should go to Waikato, where your grandma and grandpa live. I'm afraid Theresia will find you if you're still in Auckland." Robert said it with one hand on his forehead.

It was a tough decision for Robert to be away from Amelie. But it was all for the good of Amelie and the child in her womb.

"Okay, Dad. I'll leave here soon." Amelie looked around the room with sadness.

Not long ago, she had met Harry and Matilda, who were so kind to her. The most sincere human beings she had met after Katie and her parents. But the situation she was in required the girl to go away from them. Poor Amelie.

***

Jonathan ruffled his hair in frustration while one hand held the steering wheel. He searched every street in Auckland City, but could not detect Amelie's whereabouts.

"Where are you, Amelie?" Jonathan whimpered with tightness in his chest. Tears escaped his eagle eyes.

If he had known it was going to be like this, Jonathan would have chosen to maintain a friendship with the girl and keep his feelings of love to himself. However, Jonathan was so afraid that another man would come along first and make the girl his lover. Because it was impossible for a man not to fall in love at first sight once he saw Amelie.

This catastrophe happened because he confessed his feelings for Amelie.

***

"Where have you been, Jonathan? I heard you didn't show up for the regular meeting today. Did something happen?" asked Edmund when Jonathan arrived home.

Jonathan reluctantly made his way up the steps.

"Sorry, Father. My mind has been very muddled lately."

Jonathan stared in surprise. Why didn't Theresia react at all?

"Can you tell me what you're going through?" Edmund led Jonathan to sit with him.

Unlike Theresia. Edmund was a warm and unpretentious father. It was only natural that Jonathan was closer to his father than Theresia.

"Your son has impregnated the maid in this house." Theresia said this with her eyes still glued to the magazine she was holding.

Edmund stared in disbelief at his son. From childhood, even into adulthood, Jonathan had never told him about girls. Of course, he was shocked to hear that his son had impregnated the maid in his house.

"Is what your mother just said true?" Edmund knitted his eyebrows together.

"It is, Father. And now, that girl is gone somewhere."

"It's good that she's self-aware. Maybe she left because she felt she didn't belong in the midst of our family." Theresia threw the magazine she was holding onto the unoccupied sofa and folded both hands in front of her chest afterwards.

"Watch your language, Theresia! I've never forbidden my son from having a relationship with anyone."

"But not me! I'll be so embarrassed if my friends find out about this."

Each of them argued for their own opinion. Jonathan, who couldn't stand the argument, finally walked away. He chose Amelie's room to rest tonight.

The room was empty. Only emptiness filled the room. Many sweet memories lingered in this room. The room Jonathan always went to after making sure his parents were asleep. The room where he and Amelie made love. And the room where Jonathan planted the seed in her womb.

***