Divorced with my newborn,l rose to power

Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes, I found everything arranged so carefully in the small room she had given me.

The bed was neatly made.

My baby clothes were folded and placed in a small basket.

Even diapers and small blankets had been bought and arranged like someone had prepared a life for me again.

I sat there quietly, holding my newborn baby.

My heart felt heavy.

I had never received this kind of care before—not even from family.

“She is like a sister to me…” I whispered softly.

Then I stopped.

My throat tightened.

Because the word sister brought another face into my mind.

Brianna.

The betrayal.

The smile.

The poison behind her eyes.

A sharp pain hit my chest instantly.

I closed my eyes tightly.

“Why…” I whispered. “Why does it hurt so much?”

I rocked my baby slowly, trying to calm myself.

But memories don’t leave easily.

---

Later that morning, Carol came into the room.

She looked tired but still smiling.

“I have to go out today,” she said.

I looked up quickly.

“Now?”

She nodded.

“My boss needs me urgently. It’s work things… I can’t avoid it.”

I nodded slowly.

“I understand…”

Then she hesitated for a moment.

“There’s something important,” she added.

I waited.

She continued gently.

“I won’t be sleeping here again for a while.”

My heart dropped slightly.

She saw my expression and quickly added:

“Not because I don’t trust you. It’s just work. I have meetings, late nights… I’ll be moving around.”

I nodded again, but I didn’t feel calm.

Then she said something that made me feel even more uneasy.

“I might leave Michael here sometimes when I pass by to pick things.”

My stomach tightened.

Michael.

Her boyfriend.

I forced a small smile.

“Okay…”

Carol walked closer and touched my shoulder.

“You are safe here,” she said firmly. “I promise you.”

I wanted to believe her.

I really did.

But life had already taught me not to trust easily anymore.

---

After Carol left, the house became quiet.

Too quiet.

I sat in the room with my baby, trying to calm my thoughts.

Minutes passed.

Then suddenly—

I heard footsteps.

I froze.

The sound came closer.

Slow.

Deliberate.

My heart started beating faster.

The door opened.

Michael walked in.

My body stiffened instantly.

I stood up quickly, holding my baby tightly.

“What do you want?” I asked immediately.

He smiled.

But something about it made my skin crawl.

“Relax,” he said. “I’m just checking the house.”

I stepped back.

“Carol is not here,” I said firmly. “Please leave my room.”

But he didn’t leave.

He stepped closer instead.

Too close.

My breathing became uneven.

“I said leave,” I repeated, louder.

He ignored me.

And at that moment, I felt real fear.

Not just discomfort.

Fear.

I moved quickly toward the window.

“Help!” I screamed. “Help me!”

My voice echoed outside.

I screamed again.

“Help!”

Michael’s expression changed instantly.

He looked around, nervous now.

But he still didn’t leave immediately.

I held my baby tighter, shaking.

Then suddenly—

Footsteps outside.

A door opened.

Carol.

She had returned.

But she wasn’t supposed to.

She had forgotten something.

A notebook.

Important documents for her work.

And she had come back for it.

She entered the house quickly.

“Michael!” she called out.

Then she stopped.

The scene she saw made her freeze.

I was standing near the wall, shaking.

Michael was inside my room.

Too close.

Too tense.

The air was heavy.

For a moment, Carol didn’t understand.

Then her face changed.

Confusion.

Then anger.

“What is going on here?” she asked sharply.

Michael immediately stepped back.

“She… she called me in,” he said quickly.

My eyes widened.

“What? No! That’s not true!”

Carol looked at me.

Then at him.

Silence filled the room.

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would break.

“Carol, please listen to me—” I started.

But Michael cut in again.

“She tried to seduce me,” he said firmly. “I came in to stop her.”

My world stopped.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“No!” I shouted. “He is lying!”

Tears filled my eyes immediately.

“I swear to you, Carol—he came into my room without permission!”

For a moment, Carol stood still.

Her expression was unreadable.

My fear grew.

I thought she didn’t believe me.

I thought I had lost her trust.

But then—

Her face changed.

Slowly.

Anger.

Sharp and powerful.

“Get out,” she said coldly.

Michael blinked.

“What?”

“I said GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!” she shouted.

Her voice shook the walls.

Michael stepped back immediately, shocked.

“I didn’t do anything wrong—” he tried to argue.

But Carol stepped forward.

“GET OUT!”

Her voice was louder now.

Fierce.

Final.

Michael hesitated.

Then, realizing she was serious, he turned and left quickly.

The door slammed behind him.

Silence fell.

Only my heavy breathing filled the room.

Carol turned to me.

Her face softened slightly.

“Are you okay?” she asked gently.

I shook my head, crying.

“He came into my room… I swear I didn’t do anything…”

Carol walked over and pulled me into a hug.

“I believe you,” she said firmly.

My legs almost gave out in relief.

---

That night, Carol stayed with me.

She helped me lie down.

She rocked my baby gently until she fell asleep.

Then she looked at me.

“You need rest,” she said softly.

But I shook my head.

“I can’t sleep,” I whispered.

She sat beside me.

Then slowly, she started rubbing my back gently.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Just close your eyes.”

Her voice was calm.

Warm.

Safe.

And slowly… my eyes closed.

For the first time in a long time, I fell asleep with someone protecting me.

---

The next morning came quietly.

Soft light entered the room.

I opened my eyes slowly.

Carol was already awake, packing her bag.

“Good morning,” she said softly.

I sat up carefully, holding my baby.

“Good morning…”

She smiled.

“I have to go to work,” she said.

Then she added something that surprised me.

“I’ll lock the doors properly this time. No one will disturb you again.”

I nodded.

Then I hesitated.

“Carol…”

She turned.

“I want to find a job,” I said quietly.

She paused.

“What?”

“I don’t want to depend on you,” I continued. “You’ve already done so much.”

She sighed and came closer.

“You just gave birth,” she said. “You are not my burden.”

I looked down.

“I feel like I am…”

She shook her head.

“Stop saying that.”

Then she added:

“You haven’t even named your baby yet. We still have a lot to do. Baptism, everything… just relax first.”

I nodded slowly.

She picked up her bag.

“I’m going,” she said. “I’ll be late.”

Then she looked at me seriously.

“Food is in the fridge. Everything you need is there. Don’t stress yourself.”

I nodded again.

She smiled softly.

“Bye. Take care of my little girl.”

Then she left.

The door locked behind her.

Silence filled the house again.

I sat there, holding my baby.

And for the first time…

I wasn’t just broken.

I was thinking.

Planning.

Because I knew one thing clearly now.

I couldn’t stay weak forever.

Not in a world like this.

Not for her.

And not for me