Chapter 30%
When spring arrived, I had just finished my prenatal check–up. The doctor smiled at me, his voice soothing as he said, “The baby is developing perfectly. You have nothing to worry about.”
I sat by the window, the sunlight warm on my slightly rounded belly, a quiet peace and happiness enveloping me.
Hayden leaned against me, his hand gently resting on my stomach, his gaze tender enough to melt anything: “It’s a girl.”
I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. “How do you know?“%
“I dreamed of her,” he whispered. “She looks like you, your eyes, your stubborn temper. When she cries, and I can’t calm her, you’ll scold mez
I smiled, my eyes crinkling with joy, and reached out to pull him closer. “Then you’d better learn how to comfort her. Otherwise, she won’t be close to you.”
Hayden embraced me, his chin resting against my shoulder, his voice soft and earnest: “As long as she’s yours, I’ll love her for a lifetime.” My heart swelled, and my eyes stung with unshed tears.
I had once questioned love and even rejected the idea of a future. But now, in this moment, I knew I had finally found what I had been searching for true happiness.
Hayden bought me an entire seaside villa, its garden overflowing with my favorite bluebells and hydrangeas.}
Every evening, he’d return early from work, a bag of fruit and yogurt in hand, and when he entered the house, he’d pull me into his arms and ask, “Did she give you any trouble today?“%
I would shake my head. “She was very well–behaved.“2
He’d kiss my forehead, his palm resting softly on my belly as he whispered her name.}
I named her “Almira”
Al, as in alluring; Mira, as in miracle.
I prayed her life would always be as fragrant and safe as the name I’d chosen.
As for Brynn, ever since that day when Sylvie and Solomon pinned him to the floor, he lost all sense of spirit.”
Now half–paralyzed, he couldn’t even stand. His fortune had crumbled, his power dissolved, and even his parents had distanced themselves. He became a name that was never spoken at home.
Day after day, he sat in his wheelchair, staring at the TV or out the window, lost in his own emptiness.”
Sylvie, once tender and caring, had changed. Her patience had worn thin, and soon, her coldness turned to indifference, her emotional unraveling complete.
She left early each morning and returned late, taking a job as a sales assistant in a mall, occasionally picking up private gigs or live–streaming to sell goods.
She was worse off than she had been as a mistress.&
But she never left him.
“You’re Solomon’s father. We’re a family,” she would always say.
Brynn never responded.
He lived each day like an empty shell, going through the motions.
But there was one thing he did, day after day.
In the comer of his room, he kept a small account open on a social media platform
He followed Hayden. And he followed me.”
He didn’t dare to like or comment; he only watched, lurking like a ghost in the shadows.
He saw me post photos of the desserts I made in the kitchen, watched as I captured the beauty of blooming hydrangeas in the yard, and even saw Hayden kiss my belly, his words written beneath. [Thank you for coming into our lives, baby Almira.]
He zoomed in on that photo again and again, staring at my smiling face until the pixels blurred beyond recognition.
He pressed his forehead against the screen, tears spilling down his cheeks like a child abandoned by the world.
But no one heard her.
No one cared
He tried to reach out to me once Z
A private message appeared (I dreamed we went back to the way things used to be.J
But i didn’t respond.
Solomon came home, his backpack slung over his shoulder. When he saw his father, once again staring blankly at the ceiling, he frowned in concern E
“When will you be able to stand again? Our school has a parent child sports day next month.“%
Bryn’s lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but all that escaped was a quiet sigh: “Til try “%
Solomon wasn’t bothered Dropping his backpack, he headed for the bathroom to wash his hands.
“Whatever Mom said it’s fine if you can’t stand She’ll run for you“:
Ron’s has her han body plays in lant ftration
10.59 AM
But I didn’t respond.
appetite. way we well back to the way umys used to we.ja
Solomon came home, his backpack slung over his shoulder. When he saw his father, once again staring blankly at the ceiling, he frowned in concern.
“When will you be able to stand again? Our school has a parent–child sports day next month.”
Brynn’s lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but all that escaped was a quiet sigh. “I’ll try.”
Solomon wasn’t bothered. Dropping his backpack, he headed for the bathroom to wash his hands.
“Whatever. Mom said it’s fine if you can’t stand. She’ll run for you.“}
Brynn’s head lowered, his hands slowly clenching in silent frustration.”
Meanwhile, I stood on the balcony of my new home, the sea breeze gently swaying the branches of the flowers. I touched the warmth of the life growing inside me, a soft smile spreading across my face.
Finally, I had shaken off that misguided love and stepped into the light of true happiness.
I had the best future ahead of me, and I would never look back.”
