The forest felt eerily silent, the only sound was my ragged breathing. I tried to focus, to ground myself in the present, but the past and the present blurred together. It was almost suffocating. The pain, the fear, the helplessness—it was all suffocating until I could hear distant shouts now, voices growing nearer.
Regan's voice cut through the haze, but I couldn't make out the words. I closed my eyes, trying to block out everything, but the images of my mother and Zarina's blood-stained figure were still on my mind.A hazy blur swam into focus as I registered the distant sound of Regan's voice calling Zarina's name. It echoed through the trees, distorted and faint as if I were underwater. My body felt numb, rooted to the spot where I had collapsed. Tears streamed down my face.Through my tear-filled eyes, I saw Regan materialize from the trees. He crouched beside Zarina, his face etched with fear as he cradled her head in his hands, calling her name withThe sobs eventually subsided, leaving behind a hollow ache in my chest and a numbness that spread through my limbs. Pulling away from Paul's embrace, I stood on shaky legs, his hand instinctively reaching out to steady me.My voice hoarse from crying, I managed a choked plea. "I... I need to go to her."Paul's brow furrowed in concern. "No, Anastasia. You can't. It's better for you to stay at the house and wait for Regan."I shook my head. Biting my lip, I wiped away the tears that still clung to my lashes. "Please, Paul. I just want to know if she's okay. And I need to explain myself.""Anastasia—""Please," I cut him off, my gaze meeting his. There was a desperation in my eyes that I couldn't hide.Paul hesitated, his eyes scanning my tear-streaked face. He seemed to be weighing the risks. With a sigh, he nods.......The car screeched to a halt in front of the hospital, pulling me back to the present momen
Time seemed to lose all meaning. But eventually, with a shaky breath, I forced myself to my feet. My face was a tear-streaked mess, my body ached with a dull throb. Taking a deep breath, I wiped away the tears. Straightening my clothes, and brushing away the dust and grime, I walked out of the room.I needed to see Zarina. Needed to know she was okay, if there was even a remote chance of explaining myself. Each step towards the emergency room felt like trudging through mud. As I approached, the murmur of voices grew louder. Regan's family huddled around Zarina; their faces etched with concern. Lost in their worry, they didn't notice me linger at the edge of the group. Taking a bite of my lip, the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. I had to speak up, and explain what truly happened. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, a nurse cut through the tense atmosphere. "Excuse me, Mr. Del Valle," she addressed Regan, "but is there any immediate family member f
The sky had darkened considerably, the last rays of sunlight giving way to the inky blackness of night. A cold wind swept through the deserted road, sending chills down my spine. Despite the situation, an instinct for survival kicked in. I knew I couldn't stay there, exposed and vulnerable. Taking a shaky breath, I pushed myself to my feet and started walking. The road ahead was covered in darkness, but it was the only path I had. As I stumbled along, I raised a hand in a futile attempt to flag down passing cars, each one ignored. Night had completely fallen by the time I finally saw headlights way in the distance, getting bigger and brighter. Hope and fear battled each other in my chest. This had to work. I had to do something. Taking a deep breath, I clenched my fists and stepped right into the middle of the road, squeezing my eyes shut tight. This was it. Whatever happened next, I couldn't take it anymore. With all the strength I had left, I screame
Regan's POV The car ride home was tense and silent. My family and I sat in the dimly lit vehicle, each lost in our thoughts. I couldn't shake the image of Anastasia's eyes, filled with pain and betrayal, from my mind. I hadn’t known she was there. My father had left first, and one of my cousins had stayed behind with Zarina, who thankfully seemed fine now. But the frustration gnawed at me, knowing I had somehow failed Anastasia again. As we drove, I finally broke the silence. "Does anyone know where Anastasia went? It's already 10 in the evening." My mother, sitting beside me, glanced at me with concern. "She might be at the house by now," We pulled into the driveway, and Dad was waiting outside, his face etched with concern. "Is Anastasia with you?" he asked the moment I stepped out of the car. "No," I replied, a knot of dread forming in my stomach. Just the
Anastasia's POVThe towering cityscape of the city finally rose into view bringing a sliver of relief. My eyes felt gritty and raw like sandpaper had been rubbed across them. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest with each movement. Pulling into the familiar driveway of our mansion, I practically tumbled out of the taxi, my legs shaky.Susan practically ran our household, and rushed out the front door, her face etched with a mixture of surprise and concern. "Miss Anastasia? My goodness, what are you doing here? And why are you taking a taxi?"Behind her, the other maids peeked out from the doorway, their faces mirroring Susan's astonishment. I plastered a weak smile on my face, but I could feel the exhaustion radiating off me in waves. "Hey, Susan," I mumbled in a hoarse whisper. "Long story,""But... but where is Sir Regan..." Susan stammered, confusion clouding her features. She clearly expected me to be with Regan and the family at th
When I woke up, Regan was not by my side. He also hadn't slept beside me, but I heard him take clothes from his closet during the night. I sighed, feeling the emptiness of the bed. I came down, feeling lazy and not quite ready to face the day. I sank into the couch in the living room. Susan, one of the maids, brought me a tray of breakfast. I nibbled on the food, my appetite barely there. Sheila's sudden appearance startled me out of my thoughts. Her face, usually alight with a friendly smile, was etched with concern. She hurried over, her movements quick and worried, and sank down onto the couch beside me. "You look dead. Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for answers. I forced a weak smile, the kind that didn't quite reach my eyes. "I'm fine, Sheila," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just tired." Sheila wasn't convinced. She scrutinized me with a knowing look, her brow furrowed in worry. "Don't try to play it off, Anastasia. What happened? Tell me everythi
The next day, Regan was still not coming home, and the day stretched before me. By the time I woke, the day had reached its peak. As the afternoon sun cast its golden rays through the window, a notification buzzed on my phone. Pulling it out of my pocket, I glanced at the screen. It was a text from Gerard. His message was simple – a request to meet.Despite the fatigue that weighed me down, and the nausea churning in my stomach, I knew I couldn't ignore him. With a deep breath, I pushed myself off the couch. Moving on autopilot, I made my way to my room. The reflection in the mirror startled me. My usually bright green eyes were dull and shadowed. Choosing a red maxi dress, I slipped it on. The long sleeves offered a welcome layer of comfort, hiding the fading bruise blooming on my arm. The one I received from where Regan shoved me in a staff room. The red color felt like a shield, a way to mask the vulnerability I still felt.Reachi
The city lights began to twinkle as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Exhausted and emotionally drained, I craved a moment of peace. With a sigh, I decided to visit Le Ciel Bleu."Marlon, can we go to Le Ciel Bleu.""Certainly, Ma'am," he replied. He pulled away from the curb, the familiar route to the restaurant a blur as I leaned my head against the cool glass window.Le Ciel Bleu exuded a certain Parisian charm. A wrought-iron fence adorned with climbing ivy surrounded a small patio.As we arrived, Marlon opened the car door for me with his usual courtesy."You can go home, Marlon," I said, turning to my driver. "I'll call you when I'm ready.""Are you sure, Ma'am?""Yes, thank you," I replied and walked towards the restaurant, taking a seat at a corner table near the large glass wall.I opted for a quiet table in the corner, away from the main crow
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.