My Ex–Husband Regrets Letting Me Go

Chapter Five: Taken

Aria’s POV

The hospital door closed behind me and I walked past the hallway without looking up.

I did not see the woman standing there and I did not see the smile on her lips, I just only heard my own heartbeat.

“I would rather die than kill my child.”

My words repeated in my head as I stepped outside.

The sky was bright and people moved around me and cars passed and everything looked normal but my world was breaking.

—

I moved into a small apartment two days later, one bedroom, one window and one weak light bulb.

I then placed my bag on the floor and sat down.

“That’s all we have now,” I whispered, touching my stomach but there was no answer but only silence.

I then opened my jewelry box that night, the necklace Adrian gave me on our first anniversary lay inside.

“You don’t like expensive things,” he said that day. “But wear it anyway.”

I then closed my eyes.

Then I took it out and put it in a small pouch.

The next morning, I sold it.

The shop owner counted the money and pushed it toward me.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes.”

My hand trembled as I took the cash, that necklace once meant love but now it paid for rent.

—-

I found a job at a small cafe near the bus station.

“Can you carry trays?” the manager asked.

“I can.”

“You look weak.”

“I’m not.”

He shrugged. “Start tomorrow.”

The first day, my back ached and the smell of coffee made my stomach turned but I kept moving.

Then a customer dropped coins on the counter. “Smile more,” he said and I forced my lips up.

At night, I returned to my apartment and I sat on the bed and rubbed my belly gently.

“I’m working hard for you,” I whispered. “You must stay strong.”

Sometimes I cried and sometimes I laughed at nothing, while sometimes I stared at the wall for hours.

Adrian never called, not even for once.

Maybe he believed the report or maybe he already forgot me.

I told myself it didn’t matter, I only need to protect my child.

——

One evening, after work, I felt something strange and as I walked home, I heard footsteps behind me.

It was slow and then faster and when I turned, no one was there.

Maybe I was imagining things.

The next day, I saw a black car parked near my building and it wasn’t there before and then I looked at the windows.

They were dark and my heart beat fast.

“Stop being paranoid,” I told myself but the car was there again the next night and the night after that.

I started taking different routes home.

Still, I felt eyes on me, watching and waiting.

—-

Tonight, the air was heavy and I climbed the stairs to my apartment.

I looked around before unlocking my door, but there was nothing, just the long hallway and I pushed the door opened.

Before I could step inside, something pressed against my face, a cloth, with a strong smell and I tried to scream but my voice was trapped.

My hands pushed against someone’s chest, it was too strong and my vision blurred.

“No…” I tried to say and the world spinned and there was darkness.

—-

When I opened my eyes, I could not move, my hands were tied behind a chair and my head hurt.

The room was dark and only one lamp was on and I blinked slowly.

Where am I?

The door opened and heels clicked against the floor and my breath stopped.

Vivian.

She walked toward me calmly.

“You’re awake,” she said and I tried to speak but my mouth was dried and then she pulled a chair and sat in front of me.

“You should have disappeared quietly,” she said and tears filled my eyes.

“Why?” I whispered and she laughed lightly. “Why? Because you don’t know your place.”

“My place?” I repeated.

“For a substitute wife, you’re very stubborn.”

I then shook my head. “I never wanted your place.”

“You took it anyway,” she replied.

“I married him because of the contract.”

“And you think that makes it better?” she snapped and her smile faded.

“You were living in my house, sleeping in my bed, using my husband.”

“He is not your husband,” I said and her hand slapped the arm of my chair.

“He was always mine!”

Her voice echoed in the room and she stood up and walked behind me.

“You should have ended the pregnancy,” she said near my ear and my body froze.

“You knew?” I asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “You’re easy to read.”

Tears rolled down my face.

“Please,” I whispered. “This child has nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me,” she said and she walked back in front of me.

“If that child is born, you will never leave his life.”

I lifted my chin. “I don’t want him anymore.”

She then studied my face.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

She leaned closer. “You still love him.”

I closed my eyes and that was my weakness.

Suddenly, a phone rang and the sound filled the room.

Vivian looked around and picked up a phone from the table and she checked the screen.

A small smile appeared on her lips and she answered it and turned on the speaker.

“Hello?” she said sweetly.

I heard a familiar voice.

“Where is she?” Adrian.

My heart jumped.

Vivian looked at me with amusement.

“I was wondering when you would call,” she replied.

“Don’t play games,” he said. “What did you do?”

“Nothing yet,” she answered.

“Vivian.”

His voice was low and dangerous.

She then walked closer to me and tilted the phone so I could hear clearly.

“If you want to see her alive again,” she said into the phone, her eyes locked on mine, “come alone.”

Silence and then Adrian spoke.

“If you touch her…”

She then ended the call and the room became quiet and I stared at her.

“You’re crazy,” I whispered and she smiled slowly.

“Maybe.”

Footsteps echoed outside the room, it was loud and fast.

Vivian’s expression changed and the door burst open and a figure stood there.

Before I could see clearly, a gunshot echoed and the sound exploded in my ears and someone screamed.

My heart stopped and I didn’t know who pulled the trigger and everything turned black.