Chapter 3
666 Words
The Flower Shop
Miguel Navariz
The second hearing was supposed to be crucial.
But when I arrived at the courtroom, only Attorney Sebastian Cruz, Loraine's lawyer, was present.
"Miss Mortis couldn't come today, Your Honor," Attorney Cruz explained. "She's not feeling well."
The hearing was postponed.
As we stepped outside, Attorney Reyes placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Miguel, relax. One postponement won't decide the case."
I forced a smile.
"How can I relax? My future is hanging by a thread."
Attorney Reyes glanced at Attorney Cruz, and the two exchanged knowing looks. They had been friends since law school.
"I'll talk to Sebastian," he said.
Minutes later, Attorney Reyes returned with a troubled expression.
"What happened?" I asked.
He hesitated.
"Miguel… I don't know if I should tell you."
"Just say it."
He sighed.
"Loraine is pregnant."
For a moment, my world stopped.
"What?"
"Her lawyer mentioned it in confidence. She's still undergoing examinations."
I froze.
Pregnant?
My mind immediately went back to that night.
The hotel room.
The fragmented memories.
Her tears.
Her kisses.
Then waking up beside her.
Could she really be carrying my child?
And if she was…
Everything would become even more complicated.
Attorney Reyes sat beside me.
"Listen carefully, Miguel. Pregnancy itself doesn't determine what happened that night. The court will still examine all the evidence. But if there's a child involved, the emotional and legal stakes become much heavier."
I buried my face in my hands.
"I don't even know what's true anymore."
"Then find the truth."
I looked up.
"How?"
"Talk to her."
"But she won't even see me."
Attorney Reyes smiled faintly.
"Fortunately, Attorney Cruz and I are old friends."
An hour later, he handed me a small piece of paper.
"Her address?"
He nodded.
"Not her house. Her business."
I looked at the paper.
Mortis Flower Haven.
---
I expected a small flower shop.
Instead, I found a place bustling with customers.
People entered and left carrying bouquets and arrangements.
Employees hurried around, taking orders and answering calls.
I stood frozen.
"Loraine owns all of this?"
One of the workers approached me.
"Sir, are you ordering flowers?"
I shook my head.
"I'm looking for Miss Loraine Mortis."
"Ma'am Loraine?" she smiled proudly. "She's our boss."
I glanced around again.
The shop was beautiful.
Fresh flowers decorated every corner.
A framed magazine cover hung on the wall.
"Loraine Mortis: The Flower Queen of the City."
Below it was another article.
Four branches. Hundreds of clients. Self-made entrepreneur.
No wonder she could afford a good lawyer.
She wasn't struggling.
She had built a successful life for herself.
And somehow…
I felt proud.
Seven years ago, she was just a cheerful intern who loved daisies and always smiled while arranging flowers.
Now she had become someone extraordinary.
"Sir?"
I turned around.
An elderly woman smiled at me.
"You're Miguel, right?"
I blinked.
"How do you know my name?"
"I'm Aling Rosa. I manage this branch whenever Ma'am Loraine is busy."
Her eyes widened as she stared at me.
"My goodness… after all these years, you finally came back."
I frowned.
"You know me?"
"Of course I do."
She laughed softly.
"Back then, whenever Loraine talked about her dreams, she always mentioned one person."
My heartbeat quickened.
"Who?"
She smiled warmly.
"You."
I stood speechless.
"Impossible."
"You used to bring her coffee during her internship. You accompanied her whenever she worked overtime."
She shook her head.
"That girl liked you very much."
"But she doesn't remember me."
Aling Rosa's smile slowly disappeared.
"That's because…"
She stopped herself.
Her eyes filled with worry.
"Never mind."
"No," I said quickly. "Please tell me."
Before she could answer, the shop door opened.
And there she was.
Loraine.
She looked pale, and her hand instinctively rested on her stomach.
The moment she saw me, her expression darkened.
"What are you doing here?"
Then Aling Rosa whispered in fear.
"Ma'am…"
"Your medicine—"
Loraine's eyes widened.
And before anyone could react…
She suddenly collapsed.
- Writer
