The Woman Who Vanished
1026 Words
The next morning, the hospital room was unusually quiet.
Soft rays of sunlight filtered through the white curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Nurses hurried past the hallway while the sound of medical equipment echoed faintly in the distance.
Aria sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the pregnancy report in her trembling hands.
Positive.
She had read the report at least twenty times, hoping the words would somehow change.
They never did.
A tiny life was growing inside her.
A tiny life created with the man who had thrown her out of his life less than twenty-four hours ago.
She slowly placed a hand over her stomach.
“I don’t know how we’re going to survive,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes. “But I promise… I’ll never abandon you.”
A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts.
The doctor walked in with a warm smile.
“How are you feeling today?”
“A little better.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” The doctor sat beside her. “Have you told your husband the good news?”
The question made Aria’s smile disappear.
“There is no husband anymore.”
The doctor looked surprised.
“I’m… sorry. I didn’t know.”
“We got divorced yesterday.”
Silence filled the room.
The doctor sighed sympathetically.
“I understand this is difficult, but your baby needs you to stay healthy. Stress isn’t good for the pregnancy.”
Aria nodded absentmindedly.
“I’ll be careful.”
“You should also start your prenatal vitamins immediately.”
“I will.”
The doctor handed her a small prescription and stood up.
“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to come back.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
After the doctor left, Aria stared around the room one last time.
There was nothing left to do.
She picked up her handbag and quietly walked out of the hospital.
Outside, the city buzzed with life.
People laughed.
Cars rushed past.
Street vendors called out to customers.
Everyone seemed to have somewhere to go.
Everyone except Aria.
She stood on the sidewalk with a single handbag and nowhere to call home.
The mansion that had once been hers no longer welcomed her.
Her parents had died years ago.
She had no siblings.
No one knew she had spent the night in the hospital.
She was completely alone.
Her phone vibrated.
She looked down.
Maya.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Maya Johnson had been her best friend since university.
They hadn’t spoken in weeks because Maya had been working abroad.
Aria answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“Aria!” Maya exclaimed excitedly. “I’m finally back in the country! Guess who just landed this morning?”
Normally, Aria would have laughed.
Instead…
Silence.
Maya’s cheerful tone disappeared.
“Aria… what’s wrong?”
The tears Aria had been holding back finally escaped.
Everything came pouring out.
The fake affair.
The photographs.
The divorce.
The pregnancy.
Every painful detail.
For several seconds after Aria finished speaking, Maya said nothing.
Then…
“What hospital are you in?”
“I’ve already been discharged.”
“Stay where you are.”
“Maya”
“I’m serious.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
The call ended.
Exactly fourteen minutes later, a white SUV stopped in front of Aria.
Maya jumped out and ran toward her.
The moment she saw Aria’s pale face, she wrapped her in a tight embrace.
“You’ve lost weight,” Maya whispered.
Aria broke down completely.
For the first time since signing the divorce papers, she cried in someone’s arms.
Meanwhile…
Inside Kingsley Group Headquarters…
Ethan stood in front of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city.
His assistant, Daniel, entered cautiously.
“Sir?”
“What is it?”
“We’ve completed the transfer of Mrs. Kingsley’s settlement.”
Ethan remained silent.
Daniel hesitated before speaking again.
“The house in Riverside Estate has also been transferred into her name.”
“I don’t want her to struggle financially.”
Daniel frowned.
“If I may ask…”
Ethan turned.
“Ask what?”
“If you still care about her…”
“…why divorce her?”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“I saw the evidence.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“I understand.”
But something about the entire situation didn’t sit right with him.
Mrs. Kingsley had never behaved like someone capable of betrayal.
Still…
He wasn’t in a position to question his boss.
Back at Maya’s apartment…
Aria stood by the window holding a cup of warm tea.
Maya walked over and gently placed an envelope on the table.
“What’s this?” Aria asked.
“My resignation letter.”
“What?”
“I quit my job this morning.”
Aria stared at her.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because my best friend needs me more than that company does.”
“Maya, don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not.”
Maya smiled.
“We’re going to raise this baby together.”
Fresh tears filled Aria’s eyes.
“I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You could never be one.”
Maya held both of Aria’s hands.
“Listen to me carefully.”
“You are not going back to Ethan.”
“You are not begging anyone.”
“And you are definitely not raising this baby in fear.”
Aria nodded slowly.
For the first time in two days…
She felt a tiny spark of hope.
Then Maya asked the question Aria had been avoiding.
“Does Ethan know about the baby?”
Aria looked down at her stomach.
“No.”
“And he never will.”
Far away, in his luxurious office, Ethan stared absentmindedly at the wedding ring still lying in his desk drawer.
He had picked it up after Aria left.
He told himself it meant nothing.
Yet somehow…
He couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.
Neither of them knew that fate had already begun weaving their paths back together.
But before that day came…
A dangerous secret was about to surface.
- Writer
