HER SILENCE, HIS REGRET

Pregnancy

Elena sat on the cold tile floor of her bathroom, the pregnancy test clutched in her shaking hands, The box lay crumpled beside her, instructions unread because she already knew what to do. Pee on the stick. Wait three minutes. Pray for one line.

Her breasts ached, and waves of nausea hit her at odd times. She hadn't taken the morning-after pill; by the time she'd gotten home that night, pharmacies were closed, and the next day... well, denial had kept her from acting. Now, here she was, alone in her dim apartment, the rain still pattering against the window like mocking applause.

She did the test, set it on the sink, v,,Her mind raced. How could this happen? One night, one horrible night with a man she didn't know, a man who hadn't listened to her pleas. She touched her stomach, flat but traitorous. A baby. A life growing inside her from something so wrong.

The timer on her phone beeped. She grabbed the stick, heart in her throat. Two lines. Positive.

"No," she whispered, sinking to the floor. "No, no, no."

Tears came fast, hot and furious. She regretted everything,the job at the hotel, helping that stranger, not fighting harder. But mostly, she regretted breaking her promise to her mom. "I swore, Mom. I swore I'd wait, that I'd do it right." Her voice echoed off the walls, small and broken.

She curled up, hugging her knees. What now? She was barely surviving with college and work. A baby meant doctor's visits, diapers, no sleep. And the father... Alexander Voss. The name burned in her mind. He'd said he'd take responsibility, but that was in the haze of whatever drug had turned him into a monster. Would he even remember? Did she want him to?

Regret twisted like a knife. She imagined her mom's disappointed eyes, the way she'd fought as a single parent after Elena's dad left. "Don't repeat my mistakes,elena." But here she was, pregnant out of wedlock, from a night she'd give anything to erase. Shame flooded her,shame for her body, for the life inside it, for the choices that led here.

She wiped her eyes and stood, splashing water on her face. She had to think. Options swirled: abortion? Adoption? Keeping it? Each felt impossible. For now, she shoved the test into the trash, buried under tissues. She couldn't deal with it today. Classes waited, work loomed. Life didn't stop for regrets.

Across town, in the gleaming tower of Voss Enterprises, Alex strode into his corner office like a storm cloud. The 50th floor overlooked the city, a kingdom of glass and steel he'd built from nothing. His assistant, Maria, a sharp woman in her forties, followed with a tablet. "Morning, sir. Board meeting at ten, merger update at noon, and the PI called update on that personal matter."

Alexander froze at his desk, a massive slab of polished oak cluttered with screens and reports. "Send it through."

He sank into his leather chair, rubbing his temples. The shower hadn't washed away the guilt; it clung like oil. He opened the email: Elena Reyes, 22, business student at City University, no criminal record, lives alone since her mom died three years ago. Works nights at the Grand Eclipse. No social media footprint. Clean. Innocent.

Virgin, his mind supplied unhelpfully. He slammed the laptop shut.

The door buzzed. His VP of mergers, Derek Hale, burst in,he was on his thirties, slick hair, always too eager. "Boss, the Apex deal they're balking on the valuation. We need to push harder."

Alexander leaned back.

Derek grinned. "On it. Also, Sophia called again. Wants lunch."

Alexander's ex. Glamorous, demanding, the kind of woman who fit his world on paper but bored him in reality. "Tell her I'm busy."

As Derek left, Alexander stared out the window. The office hummed around him, phones ringing, keyboards clacking, deals being made that could topple empires. He'd built this from a startup in his garage, turning grief over his parents' death into ruthless ambition. No distractions. No weaknesses.

But Elena was a weakness now. He pictured her face from the blurry security photo attached to the email.wide eyes, full lips, curves that haunted his fragmented memories. He hadn't meant to hurt her. The drug... but excuses didn't matter. He had to find her, apologize, offer help. Money, maybe. Anything to ease the knot in his chest.

The board meeting dragged. Charts flashed on screens,profits up 15%, market share dominating. Alexander barked orders, his mind elsewhere. "Focus on Asia expansion. No excuses." Heads nodded. He was the king here, untouchable.

Lunch came and a salad delivered to his desk. He ate mechanically, scrolling news on his rival, Victor Kane, the bastard who'd likely drugged him at that hotel bar. Revenge simmered. He'd ruin Kane, but first, Elena.

By afternoon, the merger update: "We've got them cornered, sir. Sign here." Alexander scrawled his name, sealing another victory. But it felt hollow. As the sun dipped, he called his PI. "I need her schedule. Tonight."

The man hesitated. "She's off shift. Home, probably."

Alexander ended the call. He'd go to her apartment. Face her. Take responsibility, like he'd promised in that drugged stupor.

Night fell early in the winter chill. Elena's apartment felt like a cage. She hadn't gone to class,nausea hit her like a truck after the test. She lay on her bed, wrapped in a worn blanket, stomach churning. Morning sickness already? Or just stress? She couldn't eat, couldn't move. The room spun if she stood too fast.

She tried reading her textbook,Business Ethics, ironic but the words blurred. Her mind kept replaying that night.his hands, her begs, the promises he muttered. And now, a baby. She placed a hand on her belly, whispering, "I'm sorry, little one. I don't know what to do."

Her phone rang, shrill in the quiet. She glanced "Stepmom",After her mom died, her dad remarried quick, to Carla, a woman more interested in appearances than family. Elena answered, voice weak. "Hello?"

"Elena! Where have you been? I've called three times!" Carla's voice was sharp, accented with that fake concern.

"Sorry, I've been... sick."

"Sick? Well, get better fast. You need to come home this weekend. I've set up a blind date for you,a nice boy, from Chris family. His family's loaded. You need to get married soon, girl. You're twenty-two, living alone like some wild thing. What will people say? You'll bring shame on us all if you keep this up,running around, no husband, no kids the right way."

Elena winced, the words hitting like slaps. "I don't want a blind date, Carla. I'm focusing on school."

"School? Bah! Men don't wait forever. Your father agrees you need settling down before you do something stupid. Like get pregnant out of wedlock or something. God forbid. That would kill him."

The irony burned. Elena's hand tightened on her stomach. Carla had no idea,how could she? But the shame Carla feared was already here, growing inside her. "I can't come. I'm really not feeling well."

"Don't make excuses! Be here Saturday, or I'll drag you myself. Think of the family name!"

The call ended abruptly. Elena dropped the phone, tears fresh. Shame. That's what Carla saw in her,potential embarrassment. Not a daughter, not even a stepdaughter. Just a problem to marry off.

She curled tighter, nausea rising. The room felt smaller, the weight of secrets crushing, Pregnant,Alone and Regretting every choice. What would happen if anyone found out? If he found out?

Outside, unknown to her, a black car pulled up to the building. Alexander stepped out, coat collar up against the wind. He stared at the rundown door, steeling himself. Time to face the consequences.