HER WOMB, HIS HEART

SECOND TIME

“Where is everyone? Why can’t I reach any of them? Emily, Alan, and Mrs. Noldi’s phones are all out of range. Even the landline isn’t answering,” Soraya grumbled.

Alan and Emily shared a tender, intimate moment as they talked about their unborn child.

“May I see our child in there?” Alan whispered.

Emily nodded slowly.

They kissed, their emotions growing stronger as the moment continued.

Tyson stared at the anklet with a small sunflower charm in his hand. His thoughts drifted back to a spring several years earlier.

“Becca, what are you doing?” Tyson asked as he approached one of his students, who was painting a sparrow in a tree behind the school.

“Ssshh!” Becca whispered. She carefully continued what she was doing.

“Becca, it’s a modern age. You could simply take a picture of it and paint it comfortably,” Tyson said, worried that Becca might fall from such a height.

“Painting from real life will produce a different result, Sir. Isn’t that what you said last week during art class?” Becca whispered. She continued enjoying herself as she painted from the tree branch.

“Yes, but this is dangerous, Becca. Come down!” Tyson urged.

“Give me five more minutes!” Becca remained focused on the pencil in her hand.

“Done.” Becca smiled brightly and prepared to climb down from the branch. However, she stepped on a fragile branch and fell from the tree.

Fortunately, Tyson immediately caught her. They stared at each other for a few moments.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Gerald,” Emily said as she climbed down from her teacher’s arms.

The school bell rang, and Emily hurried away.

“Don’t run, Becca. You could fall!” Tyson called as he watched Becca race toward her classroom.

Tyson chuckled at Becca’s now much brighter demeanor. His eyes fell on an object decorated with a small sunflower charm lying on the ground.

“An anklet? This must belong to Becca.” Tyson picked it up.

Several months passed, and Tyson forgot to return the anklet to its owner.

**

Afterward, Alan gently stroked Emily’s swollen belly. “Daddy loves you, little one,” he whispered.

Emily stared at Alan as he whispered to their baby.

What have I done? Was this wrong? Mr. Alan must have only been using me as an escape. He loves his wife so much. I should have realized that without this baby, he would never have cared about me.

Emily hurried to gather her clothes from the floor.

“Where are you going, Emily?” Alan asked.

Emily didn’t answer. She hurried into the bathroom.

“Why does Emily look upset? Is she in pain?” Alan got up and followed her to the bathroom.

“Emily, what’s wrong? Are you in pain?” Alan asked from outside the bathroom door.

Inside, Emily cried over what she believed had been a foolish mistake. How could I have let my emotions take over and do something inappropriate with another woman’s husband?

“Emily, are you all right?” Alan grew increasingly worried.

“I’m fine, Sir,” Emily replied, her voice trembling beneath the sound of the running shower.

“Just tell me if you need anything, Emily. Call me,” Alan said.

**

“Dr. Tyson!” Soraya knocked on Tyson’s bedroom door.

Tyson startled and quickly slipped Becca’s anklet into his bag.

“What is it?” Tyson opened the door.

Soraya wrapped her arms around Tyson affectionately. “I can’t sleep alone. I want to sleep in your room.”

“I...” Tyson’s words caught in his throat.

“I won’t disturb your work, darling.” Soraya kissed Tyson’s cheek before running toward the bed.

“So comfortable.” Soraya stretched out on the bed.

Tyson laughed at her behavior. “Would you like some tea?”

“Sure.” Soraya smiled.

Tyson brewed a cup of chamomile tea for Soraya. “Be careful. It’s still hot.”

“Thank you, my darling.” Soraya accepted the cup from Tyson and sipped it slowly.

“Darling, once the baby is born and I have the Horison family fortune, what country should we live in? I want to go somewhere far away with my child and live happily with you,” Soraya said, her eyes shining.

Forgive me, Soraya. You are not my goal. I only want Emily. I will take her away with me. I love her so much.

“Darling, what’s wrong? Is something troubling you?” Soraya asked, gazing intently into Tyson’s eyes.

“No, I’m fine. I’ve just been busy with work. I’m sorry if I haven’t been fully focused these past few days. We only have a few months left. How far along are you with your plan?” Tyson asked.

“My father-in-law has already given me thirty percent of the shares and most of his wealth to the child in Emily’s womb. He’ll give it to us after the baby is born. I’ve secured your share too, darling.” Soraya gently stroked Tyson’s cheek.

“Darling, how much do you love me?” Tyson asked.

“I love you very much, Dr. Tyson. I’d do anything for you.” Soraya gently kissed Tyson’s palm.

Five Years Ago

“Hi, Dr. Tyson. I’m Soraya!” Soraya confidently shook Tyson’s hand.

Tyson, who had been sitting alone in the corner of the party, shook her hand.

“Soraya? Alan’s girlfriend?” Tyson asked.

“Yes. We’ve only been dating for a month. Are you Alan’s brother?” Soraya asked.

“Yeah, his adopted brother. Where’s Alan?” Tyson’s gaze swept across every corner of the crowded party room.

“You won’t find him. Alan left after receiving a phone call. He’s busy handling a new project,” Soraya replied.

Tyson’s phone rang. A name appeared on the screen.

“He’s calling me?” Tyson showed the screen to Soraya.

“Hello, Lan. What’s up?” Tyson asked.

“Tyson, please take my girlfriend to her apartment! I have to fly out of town. There’s a problem with the project!” Alan said before hanging up without waiting for Tyson to respond.

“Alan is always in such a hurry. Soraya, would you like me to take you home now?” Tyson smiled.

“Now?” Soraya asked.

“If you’re ready, I’ll take you home,” Tyson said.

“Actually, there’s somewhere I want to go. You can go home first. I’ll go there by myself. Thank you for the offer. I should get going.” Soraya placed her empty glass on the table.

“Wait! I’ll take you!” Tyson caught Soraya by the arm.

“Are you sure? I’m fine going alone. I’ll tell Alan,” Soraya declined with a sweet smile.

“I’ll take you. Let me keep my promise to my brother,” Tyson said with a smile.

“All right, if you insist.” Soraya laughed.

Tyson opened the car door for Soraya.

“Where would you like to go, Miss?” he asked.

“Take me to Gold Apartments,” Soraya replied softly.

“All right, Miss. We’ll leave now!” Tyson stepped on the gas.

Throughout the journey, Soraya’s expression grew somber. Tyson glanced at her briefly.

“Why has Soraya’s expression changed? Wasn’t she so cheerful earlier?”

When they reached their destination, Soraya quickly got out of the car.

“Thank you, Dr. Tyson. Drive safely.”

“You be careful too, Miss.” Tyson watched her hurried steps.

Tyson saw Soraya jog toward the side courtyard of the apartment building. “Where is she going?”

Soraya looked around before getting into a taxi.

“Where is she going?” Tyson watched Soraya from across the street. He decided to follow her.

The taxi Soraya was riding in stopped in front of a nursing home.

“A nursing home?”

Tyson remained inside his car. He watched Soraya enter the nursing home with hesitant steps.

“What’s wrong with Soraya? She looks hesitant to go inside.”

Fifteen minutes passed, and Tyson could no longer contain his curiosity.

“To fulfill Alan’s request to keep his girlfriend safe, I traveled two hours just to become a stalker?”

Tyson entered the nursing home.

“Mom, it’s me! Soraya, your daughter!” Soraya knelt down in tears in front of a fifty-year-old woman who was raging. The woman struck Soraya repeatedly without mercy.

“Ma’am, please calm down!” Two nurses tried to restrain her, but the woman with the vacant stare paid no attention.

Tyson immediately pulled Soraya away and wrapped his arms around her. The woman’s blows landed on his back.

“Drink this. You must be in shock.” Tyson handed Soraya a bottle of water.

Soraya slowly drank it.

“Forgive my mother, Tyson. I hope you can forget what you saw. Please keep this a secret from Alan.”

“All right. I’ll keep it a secret.” Tyson smiled.

“Why did you just let your mother hit you?” Tyson asked as he placed a bandage over Soraya’s injured pinky finger.

“I’m an illegitimate child. I never knew who my father was. My mother suffered from depression after giving birth to me. I was raised in an orphanage owned by one of my mother’s friends. Knowing that I still have a blood relative who is alive makes me happy. At least I’m luckier than the other children at the orphanage. I still have my biological mother. Whatever my mother does, I’ll accept it as a form of love.” Soraya’s eyes filled with tears.

Tyson gently wiped away Soraya’s tears.

**