One night, Two hearts

Episode 2

Lena winced as she slowly stretched, her body protesting with a dull ache that seemed to reverberate through every limb.

A hazy recollection of the previous night's event flickered to life in her mind, and she gasped in shock.

She turned to glance at the figure beside her, and was met with the sight of a man sleeping soundly.

Minus the gentle rumble of his snores, she wouldn't have been able to discern his gender.

What the hell has she done? She stood up with great difficulty. She doesn't need to be told that she has lost her most cherished possession: her virginity.

Pain shot through her thigh, a starting reminder of the violation she had endured. Gritting her teeth, she dressed hastily and made a quick exit.

She was relieved they couldn't recognize each other publicly.

She stormed out and headed out to her apartment, eager to escape Baltimore. She hastily packed her essentials, as if fleeing from danger, and prepared to leave the city behind.

She refused to be trapped in a loveless union, fearing she'd be treated like a slave due to large payment.

Her parents' transactional approach to her life left her feeling merchandise and desperate to escape.

Lena knew her escape would provoke her mysterious fiance's anger, who would demand reimbursement.

However, she was confident her father wouldn't be able to repay the sun, having squandered it on his vices - liquor and women.

His addiction to indulgences had depleted his wealth, leaving him with nothing to show for it, and yet he remained oblivious to his own downfall.

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Two Months Later

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Lena felt lethargic and wondered why she was already coming down with a fever, having just arrived in a new city.

She went to the hospital, where a young doctor examined her and sent her for lab tests.

Lena sat in the hospital room, her heart racing with trepidation as the doctor entered with a sombre expression, her face etched with concern.

"Miss Lena, I'm afraid we have some unexpected news," the doctor said, her voice laced with empathy yet firm conviction.

Lena's mind whirled with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. "What is it, Doctor?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor hesitated, as if collecting her thoughts before delivering the blow. "You're pregnant, Miss Lena. Approximately eight weeks along."

Lena's world came crashing down around her, the news hitting her like a ton of bricks. She felt like she'd been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. "Pregnant? But.... but that's impossible!" she stammered, her voice laced with incredulity.

The doctor nodded sympathetically, her expression a mix of understanding and gravity. "I'm afraid it's not impossible, Miss Lena. The test results are unequivocal. You're going to be a mother."

Lena's eyes widened in shock, her mind reeling with the implications. "But I.... I don't know who the father is!" she cried, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush.

Lena's mind struggled to process the news, her thoughts swirling in a maelstrom of confusion and despair.

A baby? How could this have happened? She thought back to that fateful night, the stranger, and the alcohol-fueled haze. It all seemed so surreal now, like a distant nightmare.

"How could I have been so reckless?" Lena whispered, tears streaming down her face like rain.

The doctor's hands extended, offering Lena the text results, which she accepted with a sense of trepidation.

As her eyes scanned the page, her hand began to tremble with shock, the words blurring together in a jumbled mess.

She felt an overwhelming urge to dispute the findings, to reject the truth that stared back at her.

However, the hospital's reputation for accuracy and reliability made it impossible to deny the reality of her situation.

A pained chuckle escaped her lips as she grappled to come to terms with the news, her mind reeling from the devastating impact of the diagnosis.

Pregnancy Test: Positive!

Unbelievable!

Despite her trepidation, Lena found herself compelled to share the news of her pregnancy with her father and stepmother, albeit aware of the tumultuous reaction that would ensue.

Their response was predictable - a maelstrom of anger and indignation.

Yet, Lena remained resolute, refusing to divulge to their whims.

Having narrowly escaped their previous attempt to foist an arranged marriage upon her, she was determined to maintain her autonomy and forge her own new path.

"You're so irresponsible, Lena!" her stepmother yelled over the phone, her voice dripping with venom. "What will your future husband think when he discovers the truth?"

"I won't be swayed," Lena said, her tone resolute. "I refuse to marry a stranger to appease you, and I won't disclose my location or the father's identity. Deal with it."

Her parents' anger escalated to threats of disownment if she didn't return and comply, but Lena remained unwavering, confident in her decision.

She was forging a new path in Atlanta, and her parents' controlling ways wouldn't dictate her future.

As she ended the call, a wave of liberation swept over her. She was finally untethered from her parents' grasp, empowered to craft her own destiny.

With a tender hand, she cradled her growing belly, overflowing with love and devotion for her unborn child.

With her baby by her side, Lena was poised to confront any challenge, her heart filled with courage and determination.

As she gazed at her belly, a sudden pain struck, signalling the baby's arrival.

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Five Years Later

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Lena came home to a warm welcome from her don, who hugged her tight. She scooped him up, and stroked his soft, curly locks.

"Welcome, Mum," he beamed, his sparkling teeth and fair skin shining in perfect harmony.

"Missed you, Liam." Lena said, embracing him tightly and sitting on the sofa.

Mrs. Elena was like a second mother to Liam, having raised him from babyhood. Though Lena was his biological mother, Mrs. Elena had shouldered the responsibilities of caring for him.

"Thanks, Mrs. Elena," Lena said with a gracious bow.

"You're welcome," Mrs. Elena said, then left for home, her duties done with Lena's return.

Lena had been a designer of jewelries and clothes at a design company since Liam's birth, but her time there appeared to be ending.

The company's loan default led to forfeiture, as the business was used as collateral, causing them to lose ownership and control.

The new owner hired a new team, but kindly offered the former employees, including Lena, a severance package of two and a half months' pay, ending their contracts.

"How was school?" Lena asked, and Liam quickly slid off her lap to retrieve a letter from his teacher excitedly.

Liam was Lena's beacon of hope, her reason for living. His presence in her life brought her immense joy, and she felt blessed to have such a brilliant son, who made every struggle worthwhile.

"Mum, I aced yesterday's test!" Liam said, thrilled. "My teacher thinks I'm smarter than my age!" He added, his voice brimming with happiness.

"Wow, Liam, you're the best!" she praised, and Liam's face lit up with pride.

"Liam, we're leaving for Baltimore tomorrow," she whispered, as if sharing a secret. Liam froze, then his eyes widened as recalled his mother's stories about Baltimore, and he burst into excited energy.

"Will I see daddy tomorrow?" Liam asked, his tone serious and expectant, needing a confirmatory answer.

Lena's countenance fell, taken aback that Liam recalled his father's connection to Baltimore. She was unsure how to reunite him with a man she herself couldn't recognize.