I wanted to believe her, but the gnawing emptiness inside me wouldn’t let me. “What about Regan?” I asked hesitantly, the words slipping out before I could stop myself. Sheila’s expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. For a moment, she didn’t speak, and I felt the silence stretch out uncomfortably between us. “He came once,” she said finally, her voice clipped. “But I didn’t let him see you. I’m sorry, Ana, but I just… I couldn’t. Not after everything he’s put you through. It’s always him, isn’t it?” Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I couldn’t argue with her. Regan was always at the center of my chaos, the storm I couldn’t seem to escape. “It’s fine, Sheila,” I murmured, though the ache in my chest said otherwise. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s true that he was always my chaos”Sheila’s hand covered mine again, her grip firm but comforting. “You don’t have to think about him right now, Ana. Just focus on getting better, okay?” I hesitated, biting
“There’s… something else,” she murmured, squeezing my hand just a little tighter.I frowned, my heart skipping a beat. “What?” The wariness in my voice was undeniable. A hundred possibilities ran through my mind, twisting my stomach into knots.Sheila hesitated as if weighing whether she should say it now or not. Then, with a playful smirk, she shook her head. “Not yet”I narrowed my eyes. “Sheila.”She laughed softly, leaning back in her chair. “Nope. Not telling you yet. I want to do this properly. You deserve a little excitement after all the crap you’ve been through.” “I don’t think I can handle any more bad news”“I know,” she said, grinning. “But trust me, it’ll be worth it. Just wait until this afternoon.”Suspense curled inside me. Sheila wasn’t one to hold back important information, so for her to tease me like this meant whatever it was… it had to be big. I was about to demand more when the door suddenly opened, and a familiar voice rang out.“Anastasia…”I turned toward th
The afternoon sun cast a golden hue across my room, spilling through the windows. The silence had stretched for too long, my mind wandering between exhaustion and the weight of everything that had happened. But when the door suddenly burst open, I blinked in surprise.Sheila stood there, dressed in casual clothes. A loose, comfortable sweater draped over her frame, paired with simple jeans and sneakers. But what caught my attention wasn’t just her sudden change of attire—it was what she carried.In one arm, she balanced a beautifully wrapped box, the soft pastel ribbons tied into an elegant bow. On the other hand, she held a small camera, her fingers gripping it like she had been waiting for this moment all day. And then there was the cake—a decadent-looking one, rich and layered, placed carefully on a tray.“What—” I started, eyeing the assortment of items she carried, but she cut me off with an excited grin.“I could not wait to tell you the surprise I mentioned earlier!” she practi
The world around me seemed to slow down. My hands clenched around the ultrasound, my gaze glued to it, as if afraid that looking away would make it disappear. I opened my mouth, but no words came out—just a sharp intake of breath, my throat tightening with emotion.“I—” My voice cracked.Sheila plopped down onto the chair beside me, an uncharacteristically wide grin on her face. “Surprise!”A strangled laugh escaped me, half-disbelieving, half-overwhelmed. “I-is this real?” I whispered.“As real as it gets.” She nudged me gently. “I found out after your accident. But with everything that happened, I wanted to tell you when you were strong enough.”I placed a hand over my stomach, my mind racing.A baby. My baby.The thought sent another wave of emotions crashing over me—fear, happiness, uncertainty. But above all… love. A deep, unfamiliar kind of love.Sheila let out a playful groan, reaching over to swipe at my tears with her sleeve, shaking her head dramatically. “Oh, come on, don’t
I sighed softly, a faint smile tugging at my lips as I looked at Sheila. “You know, for the first time in a while, I feel… happy,” I said, my voice quiet but warm. “Despite everything, I feel like I have something to look forward to.”Sheila’s face lit up with a gentle smile, her usual no-nonsense demeanor softening. “That’s a good sign, Ana. You deserve to feel happy—really happy. And you know I’ll always be here to support you, no matter what.”Her words filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in ages. “Thank you, Sheila. I don’t think I’d have made it through any of this without you.”She brushed off my gratitude with a small wave of her hand. “Oh, stop it. You’ve got enough on your plate without giving me credit. You’re stronger than you think, Ana. You always have been.”I hesitated, my mind shifting to the practicalities of my situation. “Do you think I’m okay to leave? I mean, I feel fine enough to go home.”Sheila gave me a look that was somewhere between affectionate and exaspe
The morning sun painted the hospital room in soft golden hues, casting long shadows against the sterile white walls. I sat on the bed, absentmindedly tracing patterns on the blanket with my fingers, waiting—waiting for something I wasn’t even sure would come. Then, a knock came. Soft yet firm. I straightened. “Come in.” The door creaked open, and there he was. My grandfather. The man who had always been the pillar of our family, the unshakable force that held everything together. But today, he looked… tired. The sharpness in his gaze, the one that had always been filled with quiet authority, was dimmed by something deeper. His movements were slower. For the first time in years, I saw guilt in his eyes. He stepped inside, closing the door with deliberate care. He didn’t speak at first, only observing me as if taking in the damage that had been done. Then, without hesitation, he sat beside me and reached for my hand. His fingers, once strong and commanding, now trembled slightly
Then, he sighed heavily, rubbing his temple. “I should have stopped it,” he murmured. “From the very beginning. I should have—” “Don’t,” I whispered, cutting him off. “Don’t say that.” He couldn’t say that. Because if he did, it meant everything I had sacrificed, everything I had endured, had been for nothing. I forced another smile, my hands gripping the blanket tighter. “I made my choices.” His expression softened, “You shouldn’t have had to.” Another silence settled between us. This time, I was the one to break it. “Regan hasn’t visited,” I said, my voice quiet but firm. He stiffened slightly but didn’t look surprised. “I figured.” “I thought… I thought maybe he would.” He exhaled, shaking his head. “He’s a fool.” “I know.” Another pause. Then, my grandfather studied me closely. Too closely. "Do you still love him?" he asked. The question caught me off guard. Love? Did I still love Regan? The man who had chosen Zarina over me. The man who had begged me for a divorce.
A week had passed since the accident. Since everything had fallen apart.Physically, I was fine—fully recovered, as my doctors had confirmed. But my family still insisted I stay in the hospital a little longer. They hovered, worried and protective as if I was made of glass. A part of me understood. They had lost me once before, and maybe now, they were terrified it would happen again.But no one knew the real reason I was taking extra care of myself. No one except Sheila and my OB-GYN.My pregnancy remained a secret.Since the moment I found out, I had done everything to follow the list of guidelines Sheila and my doctor had given me. I ate healthy, rested properly, and stayed away from stress as much as I could. My brothers and grandfather visited me daily, showering me with attention and concern. It felt strange—having them here, showing they cared—after years of distance. And my father? He never came.I had also noticed something else. At times, when I was half asleep, a faint but
The large garden loomed ahead, its vibrant flowers and sprawling yard basking under the afternoon sun—so bright, so full of life. The contrast made my emptiness feel all the more suffocating.Then, suddenly—SLAP!The force of it sent me crashing to the ground. A sharp sting spread across my cheek, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth where my teeth cut into my lip. I gasped, my mind spinning, the world tilting as I stared at the dirt beneath me, too stunned to move.“Marianne, what the hell?!” Sheila shrieked.And then, in the chaos of it all, her voice sliced through the air like a blade."She’s pregnant!" Sheila’s voice cracked as if the weight of it had finally been too much to bear.The world went still. The air shifted, suffocating and thick with an emotion too heavy to name. Marianne stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat. Her anger twisted into something else—shock, disbelief, devastation. Her lips parted, but no words came out.I could barely move. My body was
Sheila froze. I finally looked at her, and there was nothing in my gaze. No fight. No anger. No will left to argue. Just sheer, crushing exhaustion.“I’m tired,” I murmured. “I feel sick. I don’t want to do this right now.”Sheila opened her mouth to protest, but then she really looked at me. I knew what she saw. I was pale. My lips were dry, almost cracked. The dark circles beneath my eyes were so deep they looked bruised. My hands, resting limply on my lap, trembled slightly.I wasn’t just exhausted.I was broken.Sheila swallowed hard, her frustration shifting into something else—something much more painful.For the first time, she didn’t argue. I just turned my head, looking back out at the horizon, my eyes unfocused, lost in the vast emptiness stretching before me.Sheila was quiet for a moment. I thought she had given up, that she would just walk away like everyone else eventually did.But then, suddenly, she broke.A soft sob escaped her lips, barely audible at first, before it
A Week LaterThe house was quiet. Too quiet.I sat motionless on the balcony of my bedroom, staring out at the vast expanse of green surrounding the mansion. It was a beautiful home—secluded, peaceful, far from the suffocating noise of the city. The kind of place people would call an escape. But for me, it was just another prison.Beside me, the plate of untouched food sat, the scent alone making my stomach twist. Nausea curled in my throat, threatening to rise. It had been this way for days. Every time I tried to eat, I ended up hunched over a toilet, dry heaving until there was nothing left. The exhaustion had settled deep into my bones, dragging me down, and making my body feel unbearably heavy.Susan and the other maids were here. I hadn’t asked them to resign; after Susan had called to tell me they resigned, I told them to stay. I didn’t know why. Maybe I didn’t want to be alone. Maybe I just didn’t care.They moved around the house, doing what they could, but none of it reached
My head shook automatically, small, frantic motions, my chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven breaths. "I—I don’t—what are you—?"Caroline pressed forward, her voice calm but firm. "Regan and Zarina—this is what’s best, Anastasia. You need to understand. The child, their child, deserves—"The words sliced through me like a jagged blade, making me flinch as if she had physically struck me. My ears started ringing, drowning out whatever else she was saying.Zarina’s child.Regan’s child.The bile rose so fast in my throat that I thought I would throw up again. My vision blurred, my hands shaking uncontrollably as I forced myself to focus on Caroline’s face. She was still talking—explaining, justifying, yapping—but the words jumbled together into meaningless noise. I barely recognized my own voice when I finally spoke. It was hoarse, breathless."Is this…" I swallowed hard, forcing the words out, "…because Zarina is pregnant?"Caroline visibly tensed. For the first time, she falter
After Sheila left, silence flooded back into the room, heavy and oppressive. I stared blankly at the untouched tray of food she had left behind. Forcing myself, I took a small spoonful, but the moment it touched my tongue, nausea surged violently. My stomach twisted painfully, and I barely made it to the small bathroom before I doubled over the sink, retching.Tears pricked at my eyes as I wiped my mouth with shaking hands. My body felt drained like all the energy had been sucked out of me. I pressed my forehead against the cool surface of the mirror, staring at the hollow-eyed reflection that stared back at me. The weight of everything—the betrayal, the heartbreak, the loneliness—wrapped around me like an unshakable fog.I forced myself back to bed, curling into myself, arms wrapped protectively over my belly. I wouldn’t cry. Not again. I was too exhausted to cry.Just as exhaustion began pulling me under, the door burst open again, revealing my mother-in-law, and startling me awake.
When I opened my eyes, the room was bathed in pale, cold sunlight filtering through the half-closed blinds. Everything felt disorienting, surreal, and heavy—as if the very air around me pressed down on my chest. For a few seconds, I stared blankly at the white ceiling, the only sound the steady beeping of machines at my side.And then it hit me—the baby.Panic surged through me like wildfire. My hands flew to my stomach, pressing desperately against the blanket. Fear rose so fast it choked me, and I gasped, tears instantly blurring my vision.“No… please, no,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “My baby…”I glanced around frantically, my heart racing. The room was empty. Sheila wasn’t here. No nurse. No doctor. No one to tell me anything. The silence suddenly felt deafening. I couldn't wait another second. I had to know.I pushed myself up, ignoring the sharp ache that jolted through my body. Every movement felt like agony, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was my child. I swung
Susan and the maids rushed toward me as I descended the stairs, their worried faces blurring as my vision swam. My legs felt like they weren’t my own, each step unsteady. The world tilted, and for a terrifying second, I thought I would collapse right there on the marble steps.“Miss Anastasia!” Susan gasped, reaching out just in time to steady me. The other maids circled around, their hands hovering anxiously, unsure if they should hold me up or let me go.I swallowed thickly, blinking rapidly to chase away the dizziness. My chest was tight, each breath a struggle against the sobs clawing their way up.“I’m fine,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, but my body betrayed me as I wobbled again.Susan’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re not fine, Miss. Please, let’s get you some water, sit down for a moment—”But I shook my head, my heart hammering in my chest. No. I needed to leave. I needed to get away from this place, from him. The moment I stepped outside, the cool air hit my
I felt sick. I felt so utterly sick."What if I was pregnant too?" the words came out my mouth before I realized it, my voice so soft I almost couldn’t hear myself.Regan’s head snapped toward me. And for the first time, he hesitated. For a single, gut-wrenching moment, something flickered across his face—something almost human—but it was gone as fast as it came.Then, with the same cold finality, the same knife to my throat, he answered:"Then I would ask you to get rid of it."Silence.I stopped existing. I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry. I just stopped.The world tilted. My body felt weightless, my ears ringing so loudly I couldn’t even hear my own breathing. I stared at him—at the man I had loved more than anything—standing there, looking at me as if I were nothing.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. I wanted to hate him. I wanted to rip him apart, to throw something, to scream why why why until my throat bled. But I couldn’t do any of it. Because what was the point? He had already ma
The words escaped me in gasps, strangled and desperate. I needed him to stop hurting me. To stop choosing her. To stop breaking me every time he looked at me like I didn’t matter.I gripped him harder, my fingers trembling against his chest. “Why, Regan?” I choked out, “Why did you let it get this far? Why didn’t you—” I couldn’t finish. I couldn’t get the words out. The truth was suffocating me.I lifted my head, looking up at him through the tears streaming down my face. My heart was pounding in my chest, so loud I thought it would burst. My hands shook as I cupped his face, but he didn’t meet my gaze. His eyes were focused somewhere past me, distant. Empty. I didn’t know this man anymore. I didn’t know the man I had loved, the man I had trusted with everything.“I don’t want to hurt anymore, Regan. Please… just make it stop. Please.” My breath hitched, and I clutched him tighter, pressing my forehead against his chest, wishing that I could somehow make it all go away. “I loved you.