Chapter One - Runaway

Letisha Hearst - Carter

“Are you going somewhere far away, miss?” The driver asked after he dropped me off at the airport.

Both of us peered at my pieces of luggage plus I am carrying this backpack behind my back as if I truly ran away from home.

The thing is, I am really going somewhere far. I am running away from my married life, most especially my husband whom I loved dearly.

I called a cab a while ago after packing my things in a flash. That is one of my greatest talents that only a few people know.

“I am, thank you for the ride, keep the tip,” I muttered cautiously while fixing the shawl above my head. He nodded before accepting the payment and went along his way.

Before I moved and carried my luggage, I breathed in before taking one last look from Manila City.

I have been living here for almost 22 years and leaving it abruptly like this makes me feel uneasy, but it will be for my sake.

People won’t recognize me either because of my disguise. I have to conceal myself because my husband is that popular.

He is known across this city which forced me to buy illegal fake documents that will surely pass the airport offering them also with a huge amount of money.

Where did I get the money? I stole it from him. People would probably be judging me by now if they heard my statement inside my mind, but I bet if they knew what I knew about him, they’d do the same.

After waiting for my departure, I could feel my whole body starting to shake. I am deeply nervous.

Tears stung my eyes. I have to be strong, my fear overpowered the love I had for him. I can’t just forget what I saw that specific night.

My hands cupped my whole face as sweat started forming on my forehead. I feel like I’m getting sick. Something is rising in the pit of my stomach that I can't control myself.

I decided to ignore what I was feeling until I was sitting on the plane, this would take me to a province I didn’t mention to him before.

Palawan. A province that is full of breathtaking sea, sceneries, caves, and many more tourist attractions.

The plane ride took me more than an hour. I arrived in the province safely and commuted toward the house I bought.

I know that he is rich enough to find me easily, but living here will buy me more time to hide. There is no technology around here, just farms, seas, lakes, mountains, and mostly about nature. 

You have to get to know people in this village there before you can find someone, “Hello, you are Zoey Williams, right? I’m here to accompany you to your new home,”

I peered to the side and saw a woman smiling at me genuinely. I just got out of the cab and I didn’t know she was waiting there.

She must be Jade, the one I am speaking with on the phone these past few days, “Have you been waiting here for that long, Jade?” 

Jade shook her head politely, “Not much, but it’s alright, I don’t want to miss you or let you wait here,” 

“Come, follow me to your new home,” She beamed, making me smile even though I am feeling a little bit over the moon.

Both of us didn’t walk that long until we arrived at this villa that contains numerous houses but is surrounded by a farm outside.

“So just as you requested, you wanted this two-story house, in the middle of these houses, don’t worry, you will gain neighbors soon,” Jade reassured me.

“I don’t mind not having neighbors, I’d be more at ease with me alone,” I sincerely told her, making her tilt her head.

“Did something happen to you during your life in the city?” She worriedly asked, making me flinch before sighing deeply.

“Something like that, I have to get away from...everything,” I told her. Somehow, her presence does not make me worry.

I feel like I could trust her with anything I needed to do. Jade nodded, “It must be harsh for you that you decided to come here, but not to worry, this place will give you the serenity you are looking for,” 

“I hope so too,” I smiled as she helped me settle inside my house and was pleased with where I am going to stay from now on.

I was starting to unpack my bags when I suddenly felt really dizzy and looked for the nearest bathroom to throw up.

Luckily, there was a sink nearby. After I closed my eyes and washed my face with water, I noticed that she was watching me from the door.

“Are you…pregnant?” Jade asked, which made me stop before thinking about the possibility. I haven't had courses this month and it is almost the end.

“I-I don’t know,” I bit my lower lip and became terrified. Jade immediately approached me before caressing my back.

“Do you want to check?” She invited me. I reluctantly nodded as she took me to her home and gave me one pregnancy test.

“My husband and I have been trying for years, which is why I have lots of that,” She gave me a warm smile, “Go on, I’ll wait for you,”

I nodded before deciding to lock myself inside the bathroom to pee on that test. I have lots of things in mind, but all I know is that I am nervous right now.

What if I am pregnant? What will happen to me and this child? Will we both be alright without the father?

After waiting for five minutes, I decided to check what the result was and teared up after seeing that it was positive.

I went out of the room and saw Jade waiting there patiently, “Hey, what’s the result?” She curiously asked.

“It was...positive,” I mumbled before letting her see the test, “I-I am going to be a mother,” I hugged myself.

“W-Woah, are you happy that you are pregnant?” Jade asked as if she was surprised seeing me cry in tears of joy.

“I-I do! Which means, I will not be alone anymore…” I mumbled before biting my lower lip, “Though the father…”

I thought about him and the scenes of that terrible night. Those blood, sharp fangs, and his eyes changing colors.

“Did your husband abuse you?” She worriedly asked, which made me stop because I never told her that I had a husband.

I stepped away from her, “H-How did you know that I have a husband?” I worriedly asked. She only looked at me before holding onto my hands.

“Hey, there is nothing to be frightened of, I just guessed,” She gave me a reassuring smile, “So did he hurt you?”

Slowly, I shook my head, “N-No, he isn’t the type to do that, he is a sweet and kind man, and a lot of people likes him,”

“Then why did you leave him now that you have to bring this news to him?” She asked, but I hugged myself.

“N-No, I-I…I don’t want him to know, it’s too personal for me to say why I had to leave him,” I bit my lower lip.

Jade nodded before tapping my back, “I understand, thank you for sharing with me a bit, and sorry for bringing back probably memories you don’t want to remember,”

I shook my head, “It’s alright, for now, I want to unpack and rest for the night,” 

"Alright, I will give you time for that but make sure you really rest after!" Jade beamed before tapping my back. I only smiled because she understands what I want.

“And you have to eat dinner, pregnant woman, and you should start doing some checkups, don’t worry, I will be with you along the way,” Jade reassured me.

I have never felt so happy from those days that have passed, “T-Thank you so much,” I teared up before hugging her.

Things might not go my way for now, but at least there is someone like her by my side to help me cope with this alone.

Three years later.

“Mom! Come here! I found some rocks outside that are shining!” I heard my three-year-old son running in the living room so I approached him.

“Edward Tain Hearst,” I raised my tone, “I told you not to pick up strange stuff outside that could get you some dirt and that would lead to sickness,”

“It’s different this time, I washed it already,” He beamed, forcing me to sigh deeply before approaching him.

He is starting to look just like his father. He got his eyes, but many said he got my nose and lips. To me, he is like a carbon copy of his father.

I almost teared up again before rubbing my eyes. It’s been three years since I left him, and I don’t have any news about him.

For sure he has no news about me as well, he must’ve found a new wife already. That is truly easy for him to do. He is handsome, famous, and kind, he can easily replace someone like me.

My parents are probably so furious about me leaving, but they are all free to think of me whatever they want. I am already a failed daughter in their eyes, no matter what I did, they always see me that way.

At least my son and I are safe here, away from all of the dangers that might happen to us in the city together with his dad.

“Mom, were you that upset that I took these rocks? You are crying,” Edward wiped my tears using his small hands.

My heart felt warm and fluffy on the inside after he did that, “No, sweetheart, Mom is just admiring how handsome you have become,” 

“Really, Mom? A lot of my playmates told me that as well,” He giggled. Edward is the type who wants compliments a lot.

“Well they are not wrong, so it is almost dinner, we will eat first before taking a bath,” I told him, which made him nod.

I raised him brightly, just like his father, he is a fast learner about everything he needs to do that sometimes I teach.

He learned to speak sentences properly at the age of three, “Are there any specific stories you want me to tell later?”

Edward used his small hands to caress his chin, “I want stories about Dad, Mom, can you tell me something about him?”

I bit my lower lip before smiling, “Of course, what do you want to know about him?” I asked him.

Leaving Sebastian was my decision, but I won’t take away the fact that he was a good husband to me, despite the fact that…he is not human at all.

“Anything Mom, anything that will let me learn more about Dad,” Edward smiled at me, so I nodded.

The two of us ate together. It wasn’t long until we rested our backs on the headboard of the bed before I started telling him stories.

“Your dad and I met when I decided to form ties with their business, for some reason, we both felt this strange connection and clicked,” 

“He was a kind man and the sweetest, he never missed sending me flowers every day to tell me how much he loves me,”

“Your dad was the only man who understood me about my struggles with my family,” I bit my lower lip upon remembering such sweet moments.

“He was the only one who stood by my side when they abused and criticized me badly, a man of his words,” All of it is too good to be true.

“I’m upset that he is not going to be with us anymore, he seems to be sweet,” Edward laid his head on my chest.

Tears immediately fell down my cheeks, I feel so bad for keeping this from our son. I don’t want him to see his father in a bad light but I have to leave him.

For both our safety, “Will you love someone again, Mom?” Edward asked, making me wonder for a moment.

He is learning such words at this age huh? “What do you mean about that? And where did you learn such words?”

“Well, our new neighbor, Jeffrey, tells me that he is going to be my father soon, saying he will make you love him,” Edward innocently told me.

I could feel my blood already boiling, “He said that? Just wait sweetheart, I’ll make sure he won’t talk to you that way tomorrow,”

Does that guy not understand the word, no? “So this means you will only love Dad, right Mom?” He asked.

I looked at my son before smiling, “Of course, I do love your father, and will always,” I mumbled before staring at the ring placed on my study table.

“Yay! Dad will always be number one in our hearts!” He beamed before snuggling and instantly fell asleep.

I zoned out for minutes before tucking my son into our bed. Tears were falling from there again before I kissed his cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Tain, Mommy has to keep a lot of things from you, I hope you will forgive me someday,” 

“You dad…h-he…I don’t know what he is…that is why I have to run away from him,” I sniffed before composing myself.

My eyes peered at my phone as I saw it brighten. There was a message from me but I decided to ignore it and joined my son in his slumber.

To be continued…