Something Like Gold

Chapter 4

Early one morning, Avril jolted awake feeling nauseous. She ran straight to the bathroom and threw up. Tears pricked her eyes as she got it all out.

Aunt Matilda found her afterward, alarmed.

“Why are you throwing up?”

Avril shook her head, saying nothing.

“Are you pregnant?” Aunt Linda asked, grabbing Avril shoulders.

Avril eyes went wide, freezing on the spot.

“You are pregnant, aren’t you?” Aunt Matilda insisted. “Do you have a boyfriend? Or have you done something—”

“I’m not pregnant, Aunt Matilda ,” Avril insisted, forcing a laugh. “Why would I be pregnant? I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said, turning away and hurrying to the kitchen.

She blamed it on spoiled food she’d supposedly eaten the night before. But deep down, she was terrified

Avril insisted, forcing a laugh. “Why would I be pregnant? I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said, turning away and hurrying to the kitchen. She blamed it on spoiled food she’d supposedly eaten the night before.

But deep down, she was terrified. It was indeed possible since Fred had never been careful.

That night, Avril tried calling Fred to tell him her situation. By then, she’d already bought a pregnancy test and confirmed she was expecting. But he didn’t answer.

Later, he finally texted her around 9: “Come here. I miss you,” his message read.

Avril’s heartbeat quickened. Aunt Matilda was asleep, so she slipped out without telling her.

She took the elevator up to Fred’s unit, feeling an odd excitement despite her fears. Maybe she hoped he’d be happy, or at least supportive.

She let herself in with the spare key he’d given her. Noticing his luggage from abroad, she headed for his bedroom door, ready to knock—when it opened.

A woman emerged, hair disheveled, wearing nothing.

Avril froze like a statue. The woman looked up, recognized Avril, and scowled.

“I knew it. You’re that woman of Fred’s ,” she said icily, stepping into the hallway.

“Where’s Fred? He told me to come here,” Avril said, her voice shaking.

“He’s asleep,” the woman replied, flipping her hair. “He’s my fiancé, and we weren’t exactly finished before you showed up.”

Avril felt her whole body grow cold. “He asked me to come. I have something important to tell him,” she insisted.

The woman glared. “You have no right to be here.” She grabbed Avril’s hair and dragged her out.

Avril didn’t fight back. She had no right. Fred belonged to someone else.

“I told you—leave,” the woman snarled, pushing Avril away. She spotted Fred’s condo key in her hand and snatched it.

“This is mine. Get out if you don’t want your life ruined. Fred is mine, and we’re getting married.”

The door slammed in Avril’s face. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her hand trembling as she checked her phone.

Fred had just sent a text: “I’m sorry. I’m getting married to Alexandra. Let’s stop this, Avril .”

Avril broke down, stumbling into the elevator and running out of the building. She felt shattered, though she kept reminding herself she had no right to be hurt. They had never been in a real relationship. This was just a transaction so she could save Aunt Matilda .

But her heart still ached.

Returning home, she saw Aunt Matilda outside looking worried. Avril ran to her and burst into tears.

“I’m pregnant, Aunt Matilda ,” Mary sobbed. “Let’s leave this place. I can’t take it anymore.”

Aunt Matilda whispered soothing words, holding Avril close. “All right. Let’s go. Don’t cry. You’re pregnant?”

Avril clung to her aunt. “Yes. And Fred’s getting married. There’s nothing for me here.”

Aunt Matilda just hugged her tighter, promising they would leave soon.

Meanwhile, Fred woke up in bed with a throbbing headache. He’d flown in late from Singapore the night before. He’d come back earlier than planned because Avril stopped answering his calls, and he was worried about her.

He rose, stretched, and went to the bedroom door, expecting to see Avril cooking in the kitchen. He had even bought a ring in Singapore, ready to propose.

He couldn’t explain it well, but he no longer wanted her for just physical pleasure. He wanted to be with her.

Yet, as soon as he entered the kitchen, he was stunned to find Alexandra there—wearing only lingerie.

His expression darkened. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.

She turned off the stove and came toward him with a teasing smile. “I’m here because you’re my fiancé, Fred.”

He had no memory of letting her in. He marched to the bedroom to grab his phone, and she trailed behind him.

“Why won’t you marry me? It’s what your parents want,” she reasoned, tears pricking her eyes.

Fred ignored her. He looked through his phone and saw multiple missed calls from Avril —and a message that wasn’t from him at all.

He spun around to glare at Alexandra. “Who sent this text? I didn’t send it.”

Alexandra, now pale, said, “I did. I just wanted that woman out of your life.”

His rage boiled over. “You messed with my phone?!”

“Yes! Because I know you won’t take responsibility for that girl. In the end, you’ll do what your parents say anyway!” she snapped, voice rising.

Fred hurled his phone at the wall, shattering it.

“Fred!” Alexandra shrieked.

“Don’t think for a second I’ll just marry you because my parents say so,” Fred spat. “You’re mistaken if you think they control my life.”

He stormed out to grab his car keys, determined to find Avril —terrified of what damage Alexandra’s lie might have caused.

Avril needed to speak with Fred properly, so they could clarify whatever was between them. Now that her aunt was okay, maybe they could make this whole thing real.

When Fred arrived at Avril’s neighborhood, he parked his car on the side of the street and got out.

A few neighbors started whispering at the sight of him.

“Avril !” he called from outside her house.

He had never been there before when everyone was around, but he didn’t care. He was there for a reason.

A middle-aged woman stepped closer. “Young man, who are you looking for? Are you Avril’s boyfriend?”

“Yes. I’m her boyfriend,” he replied.

“Oh, you’re a handsome young man, and you look wealthy. But Avril left with her aunt,” the woman explained.

Fred’s heartbeat pounded harder. “She left? Where did they go?”

“We don’t know. All we saw was that they were carrying a lot of bags early this morning,” the neighbor said. “It looked like they might not come back.”

Fred wanted to curse. He tried calling her on his new phone, but Fred was unreachable.

“Damn it,” he muttered, running a hand over his forehead. Anger flared in him, and he slammed his palm against the hood of his car before getting back in.

“I won’t accept this. I’ll find you, Fred. You’ll come back to me.”