Chapter 3
“What’s happening here?”
My voice broke the quiet, and both their heads snapped toward me. Gabriel stiffened, his arms still loosely around Nadia, while she quickly wiped her eyes like she’d been crying.
“Amanda,” Gabriel said, stepping away from Nadia. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Nadia offered a small, teary smile. “He was just comforting me. I was overwhelmed after everything.”
“Overwhelmed?” I crossed my arms. “What exactly happened, Nadia? Why were you even out with Gabriel that night? Why are you here? You didn’t even tell me!”
Their shared glance was brief but telling. For a moment, neither spoke, perhaps not knowing what lie they would tell me. Then Nadia leaned forward, her voice soft and
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measured. “It was supposed to be a
surprise. For you.
“A surprise,” I echoed, disbelief lacing my words.
“Yes.” Nadia nodded. “Gabriel and I planned something for his birthday. To surprise you. We‘ re best friends and these past years, I became busy so I couldn’t talk to you and I thought you were mad so I decided to surprise you, but then the accident happened before we could tell
you.‘
My laugh was bitter, hollow. “A surprise? That’s what you‘ re going with?” I shook my head, my chest tightening. “Funny, because I was planning a surprise too. Guess we all got what we didn’t expect.”
Gabriel frowned, stepping closer. “What are you talking about?”
“Your apartment,” I said, forcing my tone to remain calm. “I stopped by early that morning to drop something off. Thought
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I’d set everything up before coming back in the evening for your birthday. But then…” I trailed off, gesturing vaguely
toward the hospital around us. “Well, I got your call.”
Gabriel blinked, his confusion evident. “The box? The cake? That was you?”
“Yes, I mean, who else?” I lied.
“Anyway, happy belated birthday, Gabriel. And welcome back, Nadia.” My smile was brittle, and before either could respond, I turned on my heel and walked out of the
room.
The moment I stepped into the empty corridor, I knew I needed to do something. I pressed a hand to my stomach.
The baby.
I hadn’t even told him. Gabriel didn‘ t know, and now I didn’t know if I even should. Could a child fix the mess we d become? Would it make him realize what we had was worth saving?
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I leaned against the wall, tears threatening.
to spill. My chest heaved as I tried to steady my breathing, debating whether I should tell him or keep it to myself.
After what felt like hours, I made my
decision. He needed to know. Whatever
Gabriel’s flaws, maybe the baby would be the push he needed to finally choose me.
I turned back toward the hospital wing, determined to find him. But as I rounded
the corner, the sight stopped me in my
tracks.
Gabriel and Nadia. Again.
They sat together on a couch in the hallway, their heads close as they whispered. Nadia‘ s voice was soft but firm. “Break up with her. She’s just making everything complicated.”
My heart dropped.
Gabriel sighed, running a hand down his face. “You know I can’t. Not yet. You need her blood. The doctors said you might
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need more transfusions in the future because you‘ re sick, Nadia. If she’s around, it’ll be easier. You’ll get unlimited blood whenever you‘ re weak.”
I clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling the gasp that threatened to escape.
“Fine! But promise me you‘ ll dispose of her soon,” Nadia scoffed. “She’s been stealing you from me since college! I won’t let it happen!”
The world blurred around me. I backed away, my legs trembling. I had thought the worst was behind me, but now? Now I knew I was nothing more than a tool. He never loved me.
Wait, the baby. My baby.
I stopped in the middle of the hallway, the realization washing over me like ice water. This child deserved more. I deserved more.
I turned sharply, my footsteps purposeful as I headed for the exit.
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The clinic wasn‘ t far. The receptionist‘ s voice was kind, but I barely heard her as I filled out the paperwork, my hands shaking with each stroke of the pen.
“Are you sure about this?” the nurse asked gently, her gaze searching mine.
My voice was steady, though my heart felt. like it was breaking. “Yes. I want an abortion.”
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