Chapter 9
595words
After a moment's hesitation, I opened the door. "Alex, what's wrong?"
His gaze dropped immediately to my abdomen, where my pregnancy was clearly visible beneath my thin loungewear.
I hadn't bothered to hide it—I wasn't expecting visitors, especially not him.
"You're pregnant." Not a question or expression of surprise—a statement of fact.
I stood frozen, speechless. The moment of revelation had finally arrived, and strangely, I felt relieved.
"How long?" he asked directly.
"Five months," I answered, no longer hiding.
He calculated quickly. "Before we separated."
I nodded silently.
"Why didn't you tell me?" His voice mixed confusion with hurt.
"At first, I wasn't sure you'd believe it was yours. Later, after deciding on divorce, I felt this child was my responsibility—one I could handle alone."
"You thought I'd question paternity?" He looked wounded.
"Alex, you didn't even believe I was kidnapped," I reminded him calmly.
His expression crumpled. "You're right. I betrayed your trust. But Emma, this is our child. I had a right to know."
"Yes, you did have that right," I admitted. "I just... didn't know how to tell you."
Alex walked to the sofa and sank down, burying his face in his hands with a deep sigh. When he looked up, the anger in his eyes had transformed into something more complex.
"Emma," he looked up with pleading eyes, "please let me be part of our child's life. I want to be a real father."
"I never planned to keep you from the child, Alex," I replied. "Whatever happened between us, this is your child too."
The next day, Alex arrived with baby supplies and offered to help prepare the nursery. In the days that followed, he came almost daily—painting walls, assembling furniture, hanging curtains. We chose colors, patterns, and decorations together, like any expectant couple.
Except we weren't a couple anymore.
Saturday, we visited a baby store for final essentials. There, we met another expectant couple.
"First-time parents?" the woman asked warmly.
"Yes," Alex answered, beaming with pride.
"Congratulations!" she smiled. "You two will make wonderful parents."
We didn't correct her assumption, just thanked her politely.
After shopping, we stopped at a nearby restaurant for lunch. While waiting for our food, I caught the scent of smoke.
"Do you smell that?" I asked Alex.
He frowned. "Smoke."
Just then, the fire alarm blared. A server announced that everyone needed to evacuate immediately.
"Kitchen fire—please remain calm and follow evacuation procedures."
We moved toward the exit with the crowd when a violent coughing fit struck me. The smoke was thickening, making breathing difficult.
Just as we neared the exit, a loud bang echoed, followed by a wave of heat. The fire intensified suddenly, and ceiling sections began collapsing.
"Emma, watch out!" Alex shouted, shoving me forcefully toward the exit.
I stumbled forward, turning back to see Alex's escape route blocked by fallen debris.
"Alex!" I screamed, trying to go back, but the fleeing crowd pushed me outside.
"Let me in! He's still inside!" I fought against the firefighter restraining me.
"Too dangerous, ma'am! Our team will get him!"
I watched helplessly as flames devoured the restaurant, my heart in my throat. Firefighters rushed in, but minutes passed with no sign of them.
Amid screams and sirens, all I could see was Alex's final act—pushing me to safety.
I stood numb outside the mall, my legs barely supporting me.
Only when the wind blew did I realize my face was streaked with tears.
