Elaine ran.
Her breath ca in ragged gasps, her legs trembling beneath her, but she didn't stop. She didn't know where she was going—all she knew was that she had to get away.
The cold night air hit her like a slap as she burst out of the hotel doors. The city lights blurred before her eyes, her vision clouded by terror and disgust.
She flagged down the first cab she saw, barely able to force out the words.
"Drive. Just—just go!"
The driver hesitated at her disheveled state but pulled into the road. Elaine curled into herself in the backseat, her arms wrapped tightly around her shaking body.
Her skin crawled. She felt dirty. Used, even though nothing had happened.
But it could have.
A shudder wracked her body, bile rising in her throat as her father's betrayal crashed over her in waves.
How could he?
She had always known he was cold, selfish. But this? This was a low blow, even for him.
Her fingers dug into her arms, trying to hold herself together.
She blinked away tears as the cab pulled up to the villa. Throwing a few bills at the driver, she stumbled out and ran inside.
Once in her room, she slamd the door shut and locked it.
Her knees buckled.
A broken sob tore from her throat as she sank to the floor, curling in on herself. The walls of her room felt like they were closing in, suffocating her in her pain.
Her father had sold her.
Like she was nothing.
Tears stread down her face as she hugged herself tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She didn't know how long she sat there, drowning in her agony, until a sudden roar shattered the silence.
"ELAINE!"
Her heart stopped.
Her father.
His furious voice thundered through the house, sending a spike of fear through her chest.
"GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!"
She squeezed her eyes shut, praying that if she stayed quiet, he would go away.
But then—
BANG!
A loud crash against her door.
She jolted, her breath hitching in terror.
The maids.
She could hear them struggling against the door, their grunts filling the air as they pushed with all their might.
Another crash.
And then—
The door burst open.
Elaine barely had ti to react before two maids stord in, followed by a guard.
"No—NO! Let go!" she scread, thrashing against them as they grabbed her.
But they were stronger.
The guard yanked her forward, dragging her down the grand staircase despite her desperate struggle.
Tears blurred her vision as she was forced into the living room, where her father stood, rage burning in his eyes.
Before she could say a word—
SMACK!
The force of his slap sent her stumbling.
A sharp sting burned across her cheek, and she tasted blood on her lips.
Her father stood over her, seething.
"You ungrateful little brat," he spat. "Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Elaine lifted her head, pain and fury flashing in her tear-streaked eyes.
"You tried to sell ," she choked out. "Like I was nothing!"
Her father scoffed, shaking his head in disgust.
"You think you're so special? You think you can defy ?" He leaned down, gripping her chin harshly. "You owe , Elaine. Everything you have—everything you are—is because of ."
Elaine's body trembled, but she refused to look away.
She had never felt so much hate in her life.
Her father wasn't just a monster.
He was the devil himself.
Elaine's cheek burned from the slap, but she refused to cower.
Her father's grip tightened on her chin, his expression filled with cold fury.
"You will go to him and apologize," he ordered, his voice dangerously low.
Elaine's hands curled into fists. Every part of her seethed with rage.
"I will do no such thing," she spat. "I will never—"
SMACK!
Another slap. Harder this ti.
Her head snapped to the side, the tallic taste of blood filling her mouth.
"I order you to go!" her father thundered. "Or I will throw you out of this house. Forget you were ever my daughter. Olivia is the only child I have left."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips, raw and broken.
"You think I want to be your daughter?" she scoffed, her voice thick with emotion. "I wish I never was."
Her father's nostrils flared, but she wasn't done.
"Living under the sa roof as a monster like you?" she scoffed. "I'd rather sleep on the streets."
Her father's face twisted in rage.
"Then go," he snarled. "Leave now. Take nothing. And never co back. You are nothing to anyway."
The words hit harder than his slap.
Elaine stood frozen for a mont, staring at the man who had given her life—only to try and sell it away.
Slowly, she lifted her chin.
"Fine," she whispered.
She turned on her heel, ignoring the pain in her body, the humiliation, the betrayal.
And she walked away.
____
Elaine stood outside Mary's gate, shivering in the cold night air. She had nowhere else to go. The weight of the evening—her father's betrayal, the fear clawing at her chest—left her exhausted, but she forced herself to press the doorbell.
The gate buzzed, and after a mont, the guards opened it. "Miss Elaine?" one of them asked cautiously.
"Mary... she's expecting ," Elaine lied, her voice barely above a whisper.
The guards nodded, allowing her inside. Her legs felt weak as she followed them up the path. And knocked the mont the front door opened, Mary rushed out, her expression turning to horror when she saw Elaine's swollen cheek and tear-streaked face.
"Oh, dear God—what happened to you?" Mary gasped, pulling Elaine into a tight hug.
Elaine tried to hold it in, but as soon as she felt the warmth of her friend's embrace, her eyes burned, and her throat tightened with emotion.
Mary didn't wait for an answer. She pulled Elaine inside, shutting the door firmly behind them. The house was quiet—her parents were away on vacation, leaving Mary alone for now.
"Sit down," Mary urged, guiding Elaine to the couch. "Tell everything."
With a deep breath, Elaine told her everything—her father's betrayal, the disgusting deal he tried to make, how she barely escaped. As she spoke, Mary's expression darkened with fury.
"That bastard!" Mary shot up from her seat, pacing. "I swear, I'll go to that damn villa and beat so sense into him—"
Elaine reached out, grabbing Mary's wrist. "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "Don't go. It's over."
Mary clenched her fists, but she sat back down, breathing heavily. "So what now? Where will you go?"
Elaine forced a weak smile. "I'll figure sothing out. I can find a job at a café, save up, and get my own place."
Mary scoffed. "No, you're staying here. Don't argue with ."
Elaine opened her mouth to protest, but she was too drained, too emotionally wrecked to fight. She simply nodded, her body sinking deeper into the couch.
For the first ti that night, she felt a little safer.
____
The morning sunlight stread through the windows as Elaine sat at the dining table, staring blankly at the plate in front of her. Mary had made her an olet, but as soon as she lifted the fork to her mouth, a strong, unpleasant sll hit her.
Her stomach churned. Before she could process what was happening, she bolted from her seat and rushed to the bathroom. She barely made it before she started vomiting.
Mary followed, knocking on the door with concern. "Elaine? Are you okay?"
Elaine wiped her mouth, taking a deep breath. "Yeah... I think it's just stress."
Mary frowned but nodded. "Makes sense. You've been through a lot."
Elaine agreed, pushing the thought aside. But later that evening, as they sat down for dinner, the sa wave of nausea hit her. The rich aroma of food that usually made her feel at ho now sent her stomach turning. She ran off again, retching violently.
Mary's eyes narrowed in suspicion. This wasn't normal.
The next morning, Mary walked into Elaine's room, holding a small pharmacy bag in her hand. She placed it on the bedside table and crossed her arms.
"Take the test," she said firmly.
Elaine's eyes widened as she looked at the pregnancy test inside the bag. "Mary..." she whispered, shaking her head. "That's not possible."
Mary arched a brow. "Are you sure?"
Elaine opened her mouth to argue, but no words ca out. Her mind raced. She had been so overwheld by everything—her father's betrayal, escaping that nightmare, trying to find a way forward—that she never even considered the possibility.
Her hands trembled as she reached for the test. "I... I don't know."
Mary softened, placing a reassuring hand on Elaine's. "Then let's find out."
____
Mary paced outside the bathroom, her arms crossed tightly as she anxiously waited. She tapped her foot against the floor, chewing on her lip. Elaine had been inside for too long.
When the door finally clicked open, Mary stopped in her tracks. Elaine stepped out, her face pale, her hands shaking as she held out the pregnancy test.
Mary grabbed it, her eyes widening at the two clear pink lines. A smile ford on her lips, and without thinking, she pulled Elaine into a tight hug.
"Oh my God, Elaine... You're having a baby!" she whispered in disbelief, still trying to process the news. But then curiosity took over, and she pulled back, looking into Elaine's tear-filled eyes. "Wait... How did this happen?"
Elaine lowered her gaze, feeling a lump form in her throat.
Mary continued, her voice more hesitant. "I an, I never thought you might have been so love to take your relationship next level, so... It's his, right?"
Elaine swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes... It's Adrian's child."
Mary's excitent faded, replaced by sadness. Her heart ached for Elaine. "Oh, Elaine... I'm so sorry."
Elaine felt fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. She couldn't hold it in anymore. Without a word, she collapsed into Mary's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I feel so guilty..." Elaine choked out between sobs.
Mary frowned, confused. "Guilty? Why would you feel guilty? You and Adrian loved each other, right?"
Elaine hesitated, her whole body trembling. She clenched her fists, trying to find the words. "Because... I used him," she whispered.
Mary pulled away, looking at her in shock. "What do you an?"
Tears stread down Elaine's face as she finally confessed everything—the truth about dating Alex, how she was supposed to marry him, how things had spiraled out of control, and how she had turned to Adrian in her darkest mont.
Mary's expression hardened, her voice rising. "Elaine! How could you keep sothing like this from ?"
"I was embarrassed!" Elaine cried, wiping her face. "I didn't know how to tell you! I hated myself for it!"
Mary inhaled sharply, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Seeing Elaine like this—so broken, so vulnerable—she softened her anger.
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Okay... Okay, listen. You're having a baby now. That's what matters. You can't keep working like this. I need to call Ryan—he'll know what to do."
Elaine blinked. "Ryan?"
Mary nodded firmly. "Yes. You need help, Elaine. You're not alone in this."
Elaine bit her lip, feeling overwheld. For the first ti since that fateful night, she felt like maybe—just maybe—she wouldn't have to face this alone.
Ryan arrived at Mary's house faster than he ever thought possible. The mont he stepped inside, he could feel the weight of sothing heavy in the air. Elaine sat quietly on the couch, staring at her hands as if they held all the answers she was searching for. Mary, on the other hand, was pacing back and forth, her frustration visible in the way she clenched her fists.
Ryan's eyes narrowed. "Alright, soone better start explaining."
Elaine hesitated, but Mary didn't waste a second. "Elaine is pregnant," she blurted out, her voice trembling with emotions.
Ryan froze. His mind went blank for a second before his eyes darted toward Elaine, who was still looking down, unable to et his gaze.
"Pregnant?" he repeated, as if the word itself was foreign to him.
Elaine swallowed hard before nodding. "It's Adrian's," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
He got idea it must be Adrian as they dated but before he could say anything
Elaine hesitantly said "And I dated Alex too "
Ryan look at her with what the hell face he needed explanation "what do you an you dated Alex, you are going behind Adrian back "
She looked at him and sighed, narrated everything what was happen at that ti .
Ryan face turned into anger he felt his blood will boil with truth how can that Alex do that with her he comnted. "That bastard how can he do with you".
He swallowed his anger little bit and turned towards Elaine " And you why you didn't not tell anything are we not your friends"
Elaine gulped her eyes turned mist " I felt ashad what you both will think of "
Ryan and mary both looked at her in sad eyes ryan said " we will never judge you."
Mary agreed with him," we might help you with it Elaine even we have to kill Alex, we would help you hide his body".
Elaine laughed little at her words.
"She'll stay with you for now," he said quietly. "But tomorrow, we figure out sothing more permanent."
Elaine felt a rush of relief, though she knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. She had hurt Ryan, and there was no quick way to fix that.
But at least... she wasn't alone.
-----
At night Elaine and mary having their dinner the phone ring it's her dad mary excuse herself and received her phone " hello dad "
Her dad without beating around the bush Asked her " i heard Elaine living with you so what her plan "
Mary hesitate at first she thought to tell him the truth he might understand." Dad Elaine is pregnant i thought if she live with us until the baby—"
Her father cut off." Mary are you mad no way she will live with us what people will say "
She argued "but dad—"
"No I won't listen any excuse, she must leave when we back i don't want her in my house".he cut the call.
Mary eyes welled up with tears she about to turn around and saw, Elaine was standing her eyes saddened she must heard everything.
Elaine forced a small smile." It's alright I can't keep causing problems for you".
The night passed in a silence Mary called Ryan they both kept trying to find solutions, Elaine knew the truth–she had nowhere left to go.
Then ,out of nowhere, Ryan spoke.
"Marry ".
Elaine's head snapped up. "What?"
Ryan was looking at her with an expression so serious it sent shivers down her spine. "Marry ," he repeated.
Mary gasped. "Ryan, are you crazy?"
Elaine stared at him, her mind racing. "Ryan... this isn't sothing you can just offer."
Ryan let out a small, bitter laugh. "Why not? You need stability. Your child needs a na. And I..." He exhaled. "I owe you. I can't let your child suffer."
Elaine shook her head. "Ryan, marriage isn't a joke. You deserve to marry soone you love, soone who—"
Ryan cut her off, his voice calm but firm. "Elaine, if the person you love isn't ant to be in your fate, you move forward." His gaze softened. "We always said we'd build sothing together. A future, a company. This is just another way of keeping that promise."
Elaine sat in silence, her hands resting over her stomach as she let Ryan's words sink in. Marrying him. It wasn't love that brought them to this decision—it was survival. It was the only way she could protect her child, the only way Ryan could ensure she wouldn't be left to fend for herself.
Ryan leaned back, exhaling. "I don't have a family, Elaine. My parents left enough to get by, but my so-called relatives? They did everything they could to steal it from . I cut them off. I don't have anyone... except you and Mary."
Elaine looked at him, feeling a strange sense of solidarity. They were both alone in different ways, both carrying burdens that had shaped them.
"If we do this," she said carefully, "it won't be easy."
Ryan gave her a small, sad smile. "Since when has life been easy for either of us?"
Mary sat across from them, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. She had been the bridge between them, the one who had brought them together when everything seed impossible. But now, watching them make this decision, she felt the weight of the mont.
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