Chapter 53: The Last Page

Ava sat alone on a park bench, staring blankly at the horizon as the sun began to dip, painting the sky in a fiery array of oranges, reds, and purples. The beauty of it all felt distant to her, like something she was no longer a part of. She rested a hand on her growing belly, feeling the gentle movements of the baby inside her. Every kick was a reminder of how different her life was now, how much everything had changed since she’d left Isaac.

She swallowed hard, trying to push back the wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. It was always like this—whenever she sat alone, her thoughts would drift back to him, and the life they could have had together.

Ava took a deep breath, blinking away the tears that were already welling up in her eyes. She couldn't afford to break down. Not here, not now. She was supposed to be strong. She was doing this for her child. She had convinced herself that leaving was the right choice—Isaac had moved on, after all. He was set to marry someon