Empire of Secrets

Chapter 5—Homecoming

Scene 5: Homecoming

The private jet's engines wound down to a whisper as Johnson Constellar practically bounced out of his seat. Ten months in Palock Land had felt like centuries, especially the last few weeks when Berry had stopped answering his calls as frequently.

"Dr. Constellar?" His pilot looked up from the controls. "Should I arrange for the car."

"No need, Mark . I'm driving myself." Johnson was already grabbing his bags from the overhead compartment, his movements quick with barely contained excitement. "I've got someone very important to surprise."

He'd been awake since 4 AM, too excited to sleep. The jewelry store in Palock's diamond district had opened early just for him, the pendant he'd bought was a custom piece, a tiny silver stethoscope with their babies' expected due date engraved on the back. Berry would love it.

The drive from the private airfield to the family estate took twenty-five minutes, but Johnson made it in eighteen. His Mercedes hummed through the gates, past the manicured gardens his mother obsessed over, past the fountain where he'd proposed to Berry just eight months ago.

God, he'd missed her. Missed the way she laughed at his terrible medical school jokes, trace patterns on his chest while he told her about his classes, the glow in her cheeks that had only gotten more beautiful as her pregnancy progressed.

The front door was unlocked, as always. Johnson burst through it like a crazy fellow.

"Berry!" he called out, taking the marble stairs two at a time. "My Queen, I'm home!"

Mrs. Patterson, the longtime housekeeper, appeared at the bottom of the staircase with a startled expression. "Master Johnson! We weren't expecting you until.."

"Is she in our room?I wanted to surprise her!"

He could hear music coming from their bedroom, some pop song , playing loudly. She was probably getting ready for the day, maybe doing those prenatal yoga stretches she'd been telling him about in their video calls.

Johnson paused outside the door for just a moment, grinning like a fool. In a few hours, he'd be holding his pregnant fiancee again. In weeks, they'll be having their twins

He pressed the electronic lock with their personalized code B&J Forever and the door swung open.

"Surprise! I'm back"

The words died in his throat.

Valarie lay sprawled across their bed, his and Berry's bed. Her blonde hair was spread across Berry's pillow, and she was scrolling through her phone with one hand while the other tapped along to the music.

She looked up as he entered, and her face lit up with what seemed like genuine delight.

"Johnny!" She leaped up from the bed, the robe fluttering around her legs as she threw herself into his arms before he could react. "Oh my God, you're home early!"

Johnson stood frozen as Valarie pressed herself against him, her perfume, expensive and cloying filling his nostrils.

"Valarie, what—" He pushed her back, his eyes scanning the room frantically. "Where's Berry? “

The room looked exactly as it had when he'd left for Palock Land six months ago. His medical textbooks were still stacked on the nightstand. His clothes were still in the closet. But Berry's makeup wasn't on the vanity. Her pregnancy books weren't on the bedside table. The ultrasound photos weren't pinned to the mirror.

It was as if she'd never been here at all.

"Berry?" Valarie tilted her head with practiced confusion. "Johnny, what are you talking about?"

"My fiancee!" The shopping bags fell from his hands, baby clothes spilling across the marble floor. "My pregnant girlfriend! She was staying here while I was away, Mom was supposed to be taking care of her!"

Valarie's eyes went wide with what looked like concern. "Oh, sweetheart. Did you hit your head on the jet? You don't have a girlfriend. You've been single since I broke up with you five years ago, remember?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Johnson's voice cracked. "Berry Winters! She's eight months pregnant with my baby! She's been living in this room!"

He ran to the closet, throwing it open. Only his clothes hung there. He checked the bathroom, only his toiletries on the counter. The dresser drawers held nothing but his own belongings.

"Johnny, you're scaring me." Valarie approached slowly, like someone trying to calm a wild animal. "Maybe the stress of medical school has been—"

"Don't!" Johnson whirled around, his face flushed with panic and rage. "Don't you dare tell me I'm imagining this! I've been talking to her every day for months! I have photos of her, videos, and text messages!"

He fumbled for his phone, pulling up Berry's contact. The last text exchange was from just five days ago:

Berry: Missing you so much. The babies were kicking a lot today. I think she knows Daddy's coming home soon.*

Johnson: Almost there, beautiful. Can't wait to hold you.

"Look!" He shoved the phone toward Valarie. "Look at these messages! Look at the photos!"

Valarie glanced at the screen, her expression shifting to something that might have been pity. "Johnny, there's nothing there. It's just... empty."

Johnson looked at his phone. The screen showed his message list, but Berry's name wasn't on it. The photos app had no pictures of her. It was as if every trace of their relationship had been erased from his digital life.

"This isn't possible," he whispered. "This isn't possible."

"Come sit down." Valarie reached for him again. "Let me call Dr. Tony. He can help calm you down."

"Get away from me!" Johnson pushed past her, heading for the door. "MOM! PA! WHERE IS BERRY?"

His voice echoed through the mansion as he ran down the hallway, his feet pounding against the carpet. The shopping bags

lay forgotten in the bedroom and baby shoes scattered like abandoned dreams.