A tide through the ride.
1149 Words
Seth excused himself, saying he'd forgotten something upstairs. Rose was already heading for the door, but before she left, she paused long enough to shoot me a poisonous look. Then she looked at her mother, Aunt Priscilia, and smiled to herself before walking out.
Aunt Priscilia remained standing in the middle of the living room, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
"What are you waiting for?" she said flatly. "Go upstairs, change your clothes. We're going to the hospital to get rid of that thing you're carrying."
My throat tightened. I stared at her, unable to find a single word. Tears gathered in my eyes so quickly they blurred everything in front of me.
Without saying a word, I turned and climbed the stairs.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
By the time I reached my bedroom, I could barely breathe.
Williams was inside. One of the maids was helping him from his wheelchair onto the bed. Ever since he'd returned from the hospital, he'd spent most of his day lying down. His injuries still hadn't healed completely.
I quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks before anyone noticed.
Pretending to look through the wardrobe, I waited for the maid to finish arranging the bed.
Think, Amanda… think.
I couldn't let them get rid of my baby.
But how could I escape this? The question kept pounding inside my head.
The maid finally adjusted Williams' blanket.
"Do you need anything else, sir?" she asked.
Williams shook his head weakly.
"No."
She gave a small nod before quietly leaving the room.
The click of the door echoed through the silence.
I slowly turned toward Williams, his eyes were closed, his breathing had already settled into a slow rhythm. He had fallen asleep.
For a moment, I simply stood there looking at him.
His face was almost unfairly handsome. His sharp jawline, straight nose and thick lashes softened the coldness he usually carried. Even lying helplessly on the bed, there was something commanding about him.
It was almost laughable.
A man could look that perfect beneath those broken legs….....yet have a heart that makes you feel completely guilty.
I tore my gaze away.
Grabbing a long white flowy dress from the wardrobe, I hurried into the bathroom and locked the door behind me.
I pulled out my phone, and dialed Maddy.
She was the only person I trusted enough to reach out to.
I typed quickly. Are you still in Tribeca? You haven't gone back to Midtown yet?
I pressed send.
Almost immediately—
"Amanda!" Aunt Priscilia shouted from downstairs. "Don't make me come up there!"
My heart jumped.
I shoved the phone into my pocket, changed as fast as I could, then slipped my bag over my shoulder before stepping out of the bedroom.
Williams hadn't moved, he was still asleep.
I stared at him for one brief second before quietly leaving the room.
The moment I stepped into the hallway, another body crashed into mine.
I stumbled backward.
Strong hands wrapped around my waist before I could fall.
It was Seth.
His grip tightened instinctively, too tightly.
I stiffened, he didn't let go immediately.
Instead, his fingers lingered against my waist as though he had forgotten where they were.
A chill crawled beneath my skin.
I quickly pulled myself away.
"I'm sorry," he said, but the corner of his lips lifted into the faintest smirk.
I didn't respond, not even a glance.
I hurried downstairs.
Aunt Priscilia grabbed my wrist the second I reached the last step.
"What took you so long?"
Before I could answer, she dragged me toward the front door.
"Seth," she called over her shoulder, "you're driving."
He nodded.
Turning to the maids, he instructed, "Keep an eye on Williams. Don't leave him alone."
The three of us climbed into the car.
Aunt Priscilia sat beside Seth in front.
I sat quietly in the backseat, as the engine roared to life.
The mansion disappeared behind us, my fingers tightened around the strap of my handbag until my knuckles turned white.
Every minute that passed brought us closer to the hospital.
Closer to losing my baby. No! I couldn't let that happen.
My phone vibrated softly inside my bag.
I carefully pulled it out beneath the seat where Aunt Priscilia couldn't see.
Maddy had replied.
No. I'm still in Tribeca. Why? Is everything okay?
I read the message twice, then a third time.
A strange warmth spread through my chest. She was still here, she hadn't left the town.
I didn't know exactly what I was going to do yet...
But suddenly, running didn't seem impossible anymore.
Maybe...Just maybe… I still had a chance.
I slowly lifted my eyes.
Aunt Priscilia was staring through the windshield, chewing absentmindedly on her thumbnail.
I'd noticed she only did that whenever she was anxious or desperate.
Then my gaze shifted to Seth.
His eyes weren't completely on the road.
Every few seconds, they drifted to the rearview mirror.
To me, watching and studying.
When our eyes almost met, a tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Something about it made my stomach turn.
I looked away immediately.
At that exact moment, another wave of nausea rose violently inside me.
I pressed a hand against my mouth.
The morning sickness was back.
Hot saliva filled my mouth.
My stomach churned so hard it hurt. Then, in the middle of that awful feeling...
An idea flashed through my mind.
It came so suddenly that even I froze. It was risky, yet if it failed...
There would be no second chance.
I leaned forward, breathing heavily.
"Seth..." I whispered.
He glanced at me through the mirror.
"What is it?"
"I... I need you to stop the car."
My voice cracked.
"I'm going to throw up."
Aunt Priscilia sighed impatiently and turned around.
"You couldn't hold it?"
I shook my head, pressing my hand harder over my mouth.
"I can't..."
For once, the sickness wasn't difficult to fake.
It was already threatening to spill out.
Aunt Priscilia clicked her tongue before looking at Seth.
"Pull over."
The car slowed before stopping beside a quiet stretch of road.
The second it halted, I pushed the door open and stumbled out.
"Don't waste our time!" Aunt Priscilia shouted after me. "And don't think of wandering anywhere."
I bent over, with the aim to focus on my nausea, but my eyes were searching.
The road was almost deserted.
A few houses stood farther ahead.
The hospital wasn't far, yet this part of the street was strangely quiet.
No crowd, no traffic, no one watching.
Slowly, I tightened my grip on my handbag.
My pulse thundered in my ears.
This wasn't just another stop by the roadside.
It was the only opening fate had given me.
And I was about to gamble everything... for myself, and for the tiny heartbeat growing inside me.
- Writer
