Chapter 02

Chapter 02

I couldn’t stay there and watch as everything slipped through my fingers. I stood up and gathered all my belongings, placing them into a box I kept in my cabinet. I cleared my desk and packed away the papers.

Sidney and Richard’s conversation seemed endless. Almost an hour had passed, and they still hadn’t come out. I picked up the box, walked briskly to the elevator, and pressed the button. Thankfully, the elevator arrived quickly, and I managed to leave straight to the parking garage before anyone came out.

I loaded my things into my car and sat down, starting the engine in a rush. I didn’t allow myself to think too much as I dialed my best friend’s number.

“Sugarplum,” he answered, his voice warm with a smile.

“Eloy,” I whispered, feeling my walls crumble. “I need help.”

A moment of silence. “Where are you?”

-

After explaining everything to Eloy, he bought me a plane ticket so I could leave the country. I didn’t think twice before accepting it. Grateful for my European citizenship, I went home to pack all my belongings.

Trying to avoid Richard, I ignored his messages and calls. I asked for some time, claiming I needed to process everything. I didn’t want to see him because I knew his presence could change everything — the course of my life, my decisions.

I couldn’t settle for being the mistress of a wealthy man. I deserved much more than that. More than a shallow love.

Once I’d packed everything I deemed important, I pulled my suitcase out and left the apartment. I handed my key to the doorman, promising someone would come for it later, then left, hailing a cab.

I didn’t care about leaving everything behind. I didn’t care about anything. Not when no one had cared about me.

-

Long hours passed before I arrived at my new home. Exhausted from the journey and drained from crying for hours, I silently thanked Eloy for booking me a first-class ticket. At least I didn’t have to endure pitying looks from strangers.

I felt tired and broken. A part of me was missing, but I still had my baby. My child. My last connection to Richard and the love I once felt for him. Even though he had deceived me, he had also given me another reason to keep living.

“Mel!” Eloy called, and I turned my head, beaming at the man standing in front of me.

I ran to him and hugged him tightly, laughing. “I can’t believe you came to pick me up in person.”

“I couldn’t let the two most important people in my life take an Uber,” Eloy said, running his fingers through my hair. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel like I’ve lost something, but I’ve gained something even greater.”

“Let’s go home,” he said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder and kissing my cheek before grabbing my suitcase.

It was just me and him. Together. It had always been that way, and there was no reason for it to change now. We had drifted apart in the past, but it was never because of fights. Eloy had always been the one I could rely on, just as he could always count on me.

During the entire trip, we talked and tried to catch up on everything we had missed. I realized that some things never change — he’s still the best friend anyone could ever have. The best person I could hope for. Eloy, my best friend. My partner.

Once we were home, I changed into some comfortable pajamas and sat with a bowl of ramen in my hands. Eloy is an amazing cook and the owner of his own restaurant. He was lucky enough to have been adopted by a wealthy family — though, sadly, they passed away two years ago, leaving him alone in the world.

Despite the loss, Eloy had a happy childhood, and he had taken care of me as much as he could, even from a distance. Thanks to him and his family, I was able to graduate high school. When I thought I could never repay my debts, I started working for Richard to cover my student loans. It worked, at least for a while — until now, when I had left everything behind.

That was what I was discussing with Eloy.

“We’re family, sweetheart,” he said with a smile. “I’m paying for your college, whether you like it or not.”

“You’re already doing so much by letting me stay here.”

“And what else am I here for if not to help you when you need it the most?” he replied, grinning.

“But —”

“No buts. You’ve got a little one growing inside you now, and you need to study to give them the best life possible.” His fingers ran through my hair. “We need to give my nephew or niece a good life, and I’m not taking no for an answer, young lady.” He tapped my nose playfully. “Besides, we need to show that idiot you’re a thousand times better than that bleached blonde he chose as his fiancée.”

I laughed softly, setting my bowl aside and jumping into his arms. Eloy truly was the best friend in the world — the best brother I could ever wish for — and I couldn’t be more grateful to the universe for him.

That night, after dinner, I stared at the ceiling for a long time, letting my thoughts wander aimlessly. They drifted far, far away, until they settled on memories I desperately wished I could forget.

I remembered his touches, his smiles, the whispered "I love you"s said between breaths, the stolen moments and shared kisses in his office and in the elevator. I remembered everything, and somehow, it felt like I was dying.

Each memory hurt, each one broke me into pieces. Tears began streaming down my face without my permission, and before I knew it, I was shattering into a million fragments again. I cried for so many hours that by the time I looked outside, the first light of dawn was breaking.

Curling into myself, I placed my hands on my still-flat stomach and whispered, “I’ll do whatever it takes for you, my love.”

Closing my eyes, I finally surrendered to the darkness.