"We should talk somewhere private," Pedro said. "Let's go to that cafe down the street. I'll buy you a coffee."Carmela was hesitant, but she couldn't deny her curiosity. "Okay," she said. "Lead the way."They walked side by side, not saying a word. The cafe was bustling, but they managed to find a quiet table in the corner. Pedro ordered them each a coffee, then sat back in his seat."Alright, tell me everything," Carmela said.As they approached the cafe, they saw that it was completely packed, with a line of people snaking out the door."This place is a madhouse," Pedro said. "Why don't we just go for a walk instead?"Carmela nodded. "Sure, let's go," she said.They left the cafe and wandered through the streets of the city, chatting idly. The sun was setting, and the air was cool and crisp. They strolled past shops and restaurants, and eventually came to a large fountain in the center of a square."We can sit by the fountain," Pedro said, and Carmela nodded, following him to a be
As the clock ticked toward 6pm, Carmela heard the front door open, followed by the sound of little feet running down the hall. She went to greet the kids, but when she reached out to help Noah with his backpack, he shook his head. "I can do it myself!" he said proudly. Carmela's heart sank a little, but she nodded, trying to smile. Just then, Sarah emerged from her room, a sleepy smile on her face.Sarah looked at Carmela and said, "Hey, Carm, the little guy is growing up. He's getting so independent! But I know it's tough when they start to push you away. I'm here if you want to talk." Carmela's heart sank even further, and a lump rose in her throat. "It's not just that," she said. "I'm worried about something else." Sarah looked at her, concern evident on her face. "Tell me," she said."I think Noah is acting this way because he's upset that I won't let him see his father," Carmela said. "Max wants to see him, but I just don't trust him. He's not the man I thought he was." Sar
Carmela waved a dismissive hand. "Well, that's wonderful," she said, her voice flat and uninterested. "I'm sure it'll be a beautiful baby. But I must say, I don't see what this has to do with me."Carmela turned back to a mirror, fussing with her hair. "You know, if you're planning on keeping it, you'll need to make some major changes in your life," she said, her tone dismissive. "No more late nights out, or partying.Nichole sat down on the edge of the hospital reception chair, facing Carmela. "Carmela, now that your here, enough about me. You came all this way, all the way to the hospital. What's going on? Are you... are you okay?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.Carmela hesitated for a moment, her face unreadable. "I'm fine," she said, her voice clipped. "I'm here because I wanted to see how I was doing. But now I think it's time for me to go." She stood up, grabbing her purse and starting for the door.Just as Carmela was about to leave the reception area, a nurse
As Carmela slowly drifted back to consciousness, she became aware of the beeping of a heart monitor, the antiseptic smell of the hospital room, and the feel of the stiff, white sheets underneath her. Her head ached, and her body felt heavy and sore. But she was alive. She had survived the crash, somehow.She opened her eyes, and saw the sterile white walls of the hospital room, the machines monitoring her vitals, and the IV in her arm. She tried to sit up, but pain shot through her body. A groan escaped her lips.As Carmela looked around the room, she recognized several faces. There was Pedro, her former boss, who looked concerned and worried. There was Max, her ex-husband, his face full of sadness and regret. And there was Sarah, her best friend, her face full of sympathy and compassion. Finally, there were her twin children, standing at the foot of the bed, looking scared and confused.Carmela's head was spinning. She didn't know what to say, or how to explain what had happened.
Hearing about Carmela’s condition, Nichole's face crumpled in concern, and she reached out to grab Max's hand. But just as she did, she let out a gasp of pain, clutching her stomach.Pedro rushed to Nichole's side, helping her stand up straight. "Nichole, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. "You look like you're in pain."Max's eyes narrowed even further, his gaze shifting from Nichole to Pedro and back again. "Do you know each other?" he asked, his voice accusatory.Nichole nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes, we've done some business together," she said, keeping her voice steady. "There's nothing to worry about. Pedro is a friend."“Pedro, meet Max, My Husband.” Nichole smiled,“I guess I haven’t properly introduced myself well.” Pedro stretched his hands forward, however Max refused to accept it.“Stop the pretense. It’s obvious we’ve met before.” Max scoffed, his expression still filled with suspicion. "And I have no idea what you're talking about, Nichole, wh
"Stop!" Nichole yelled, but neither man seemed to hear her. "Please!" she cried, trying to make herself heard over the sounds of the fight. "Please, stop this!"But Max and Pedro didn't seem to hear her. Max was yelling at Pedro, demanding to know why he was with his wife. Pedro kept trying to explain that nothing was going on, but Max wouldn't listen.Suddenly, security guards rushed into the room, pulling Max and Pedro apart. They struggled against the guards, but eventually they were separated, both of them panting and out of breath. As they stood there, trying to catch their breath, Nichole came forward and pressed a cool cloth to Max's face, trying to soothe the swelling around his eye.Max's eyes met Nichole's, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to speak. But he just sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.In the doctor's office, Max and Nichole sat in silence, waiting for the doctor to arrive. Finally, the doctor entered the room, looking at the two of them with a
“In a day or two, you’ll be able to take her.”As the doctor dismissed him, Max could barely contain his joy. He knew that the child was his, and he couldn't wait to take Carmela home and start their life together as a family. As he walked out of the office, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. He knew that everything was about to change, and he couldn't wait to see what the future held.DAY 2Max awoke to the sound of his alarm, the cheerful tune jarring him from his slumber. He rolled over and turned it off, his eyes still heavy with sleep. He slipped out of bed and made his way to the kitchen, humming a happy tune as he started breakfast. Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Nichole grumbled as she rolled over and shut off the alarm. She was not a morning person.Nichole stumbled into the bathroom, grumbling under her breath as she reached for the toothbrush. The sound of Max's humming drifted through the door, grating on her nerves. She couldn't believe that she was going to have to
Sarah's eyes widened, and she took a step back, her hands flying to her mouth. "Wh-what?" she stammered, her voice coming out as a whisper. But Carmela put a finger to her lips, motioning for her to be quiet."Shh," Carmela said, her eyes wide. "Please, don't scream. I just need your help."Sarah was trembling, her mind racing. She was torn between wanting to scream and wanting to help her friend. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice a mere whisper."It was Nichole," Carmela said, her voice breaking. "She pushed me in front of the car. But we can't tell the police. They won't believe us. And... and I don't want to hurt her."Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "You can't keep doing this," she said, her voice shaking. "We have to tell the police. We have to stop her before she hurts someone else.""I can't do that," Carmela said, her voice desperate."I'm sorry," Carmela said, her voice thick with emotion. "I just couldn't keep lying to you. You're my friend, and I didn't want to keep