Chapter 3
1001 Words
Avery walked out of the clinic. She stood at the exit, trying to process everything. A sigh escaped her trembling lips. It was either that or tears. Her heart was thudding, though she wasn’t sure why. The black SUV that is parked in front of her? Or the fact that she’d just walked out of a building no longer pregnant?
Avery descended the stairs, heading towards the busy streets.
“You want a ride?”
Avery turned. Startled. A scoff escaped her lips when she saw Atlas behind the wheel of the SUV she'd noticed earlier.
“What are you doing here, Atlas?”
“Stalking the beautiful girl I fell in love with, ten years ago.” Atlas grinned, his canines glistening like sunlight.
Avery’s cheek flushed. Her face lit up with a smile, and she looked away.
“I’ll have to get a restraining order.”
“Get in the car, Avery Hart,” Atlas said, winking.
Avery shook her head but hopped in the front seat anyway.
“Are you okay?” Atlas asked as the engine rumbled to life.
“Uh, y-yeah,” Avery stuttered. She tried not to sound off but failed.
“What’s the deal? Coffee’s 50% off at the clinic after 3 p.m.?” Atlas teased, fighting a smirk.
“Get out of here.” Avery laughed. “I haven’t slept in days. I came to run a few tests.”
“Sorry about that,” Atlas said, his tone softened. “You okay now?”
“Yes, I’m fine!” Avery forced a smile. “Are you always wearing sunglasses and hoodies?” Avery asked.
“Fame takes things away from you – like privacy. I don’t want to run into my crazy female fans.” Atlas said, adjusting his glasses.
“He’s a celebrity now,” Avery whispered to herself.
“What was that?”
“Did I say that out loud?”
"Of course you did," Atlas shot back, and they both giggled.
Silence crept in.
Avery dug her fingers into her palms. She pressed her lips together and looked outside the window.
Atlas stole glances as he drove.
"I'm glad you finally made it," she said, breaking the tension. "You’ve always wanted to be an actor. And now here you are—living your dream."Atlas sighed.
He pulled the car over and took off his sunglasses.
"None of it is worth it without you, Avery. I always wanted to share my success with you. I owe everything to you."Atlas clutched Avery’s shaky hands. “I never stopped loving you, Avery. I want us to pick up where we left off.”
Avery exhaled sharply, her heart racing like a wounded cheetah.
“Atlas, I -”
“Shhh!” He whispered, cutting her off gently. “You don’t have to say anything.”
He leaned close and pressed a soft kiss on her lips.
Avery’s eyes widened. She froze, mannequin-still, as a million waves of emotion surged through her.
‘Did he just kiss me?’
‘Why did he stop, though?’
She rolled her eyes in disbelief and pulled Atlas closer. Grabbing his face in both hands, she kissed him like she was never going to see him again.
****
Avery woke up to her phone vibrating on the nightstand. She reached for it, and her eyeballs dilated like they were going to fall out of her head. Her stomach tightened in knots as she read the headlines.
“Nora’s Baby NOT Carter’s—Scandal Erupts. DNA Tests Leak. Mistress Vanishes.”
Her blood ran cold. She scrolled past the flood of images.
Carter in a courtroom.
Paparazzi are crowding a hospital entrance.
‘Could he have been innocent?’ she thought.
Then another notification flashed across the screen.
A second headline.
“Billionaire’s Runaway Bride: New Sightings in Boston?”
Attached was a blurry photo of her, taken just hours ago, outside the clinic.
“What the hell?” Avery gasped.
“Are you okay?” Atlas mumbled beside her, half-asleep.
He rolled the duvet off his chest and sat up.
“Uh, y-yeah, I’m fine,” Avery stuttered, trying to keep her voice steady.
But Atlas wasn’t fooled. He caught the shift in her tone—the tremble in her hands, the tears welling in her eyes. He leaned closer and pulled her close to him. He held her hands and kissed her forehead.
Avery hugged Atlas tightly and cried on his shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” Atlas whispered, stroking her hair. “You can talk to me.”
Avery didn’t respond. Instead, she allowed the tears to fall freely.
She said nothing.
How could she explain it all to him?
That just hours ago; she was pregnant.
That Carter—her ex-husband—might not have lied about everything.
How could she bring all that into the soft serenity they’d just found?
Atlas kissed her forehead again and pulled her closer.
“It's fine. You don’t have to say anything now.” Atlas concluded. He kissed her forehead again and placed her head on his chest.
******
“Are you Miss Raye Vaughn?” the delivery guy asked.
“Uh, yeah, that’s me. How may I help you?”
“I’m supposed to deliver this envelope to you,” he said, his tone flat and unreadable.
He handed over a brown envelope.
“You’ll have to sign here.”
He pointed to a form on his clipboard.
Avery signed. Without another word, the man turned and walked away.
Back at her desk, she set the envelope beside her design sketches—suddenly meaningless.
Her fingers trembled as she broke the seal.
Inside...
A photograph.
Avery’s breath caught. Her hand slipped, and the photo fell to the floor.
She picked it up and flipped it over.
A message was scrawled in jagged handwriting on the back:
“Meet me tomorrow. Alone. Or she disappears too. I’ll send you the address.”
- Writer
