The line went silent, stretching long enough for me to hear the thudding of my own heart. Then, a soft laugh—familiar, disbelieving, and tinged with amusement—cut through the quiet.
“Marry you… now?” Raphael’s voice was low, edged with teasing. “After all these years, after you broke my heart, Alyssa? Seven years, and here you are. What happened to that perfect husband of yours—Julian?”
I swallowed hard, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Pale, hollow-eyed… the woman staring back at me was barely recognizable. “He betrayed me,” I admitted, my voice trembling but carrying the weight of truth. “He killed our son. I can’t live with him any longer.”
Another silence fell. Then, a quiet sigh.
“Alyssa…”
“Forget it,” I said quickly, my throat tight. “If you’ve moved on—if you’re married, happy… that’s fine. I shouldn’t have called.”
I was about to hang up when his voice stopped me, calm and steady, full of warmth I hadn’t heard in years.
“Who says I don’t love you?” he murmured. “Seven years didn’t change that. You might’ve hurt me back then, but I never stopped caring. If this is really what you want, then fine—let’s do it. I’ll come get you, and we’ll marry.”
I froze, shock and disbelief mingling with something I hadn’t felt in ages—a flicker of hope, or maybe madness, I couldn’t tell.
“Do you… need me to do anything else?” he asked softly.
“Nothing,” I whispered, voice barely audible. “Just… don’t let me regret reaching out to you.”
And then, before he could speak again, I hung up.
I stared at the phone in my hand, chest heaving, the air around me heavy and suffocating, yet lighter somehow. That’s better. After all, Raphael had once been my whole world.
I sank to the edge of the bed, memories flooding back—the way his laugh had echoed in empty classrooms, the brush of his hand under the bleachers, the promises whispered in the dark about a future we would share.
High school sweethearts, we had been—two dreamers who thought love could conquer everything. He had even saved enough to buy a simple ring, cheap but meaningful. We had planned to marry after college.
But life… had other plans.
When my father fell ill, everything crumbled. His company teetered on the edge of ruin. Julian’s father offered help—but the price was my hand in marriage to Julian.
Raphael begged me not to go through with it. He promised we’d find a way, that we’d make it work. But I was young, scared, and desperate. I believed marrying Julian would keep me safe.
For a time, I tried to convince myself I was happy. I learned to love him—or so I thought. Now, in retrospect, it had all been a lie woven so carefully it had almost fooled me.
I shook myself from the memories and stood abruptly. I couldn’t stay in this house any longer—not amidst walls filled with false memories.
I opened the closet and began packing slowly, piece by piece. Dresses. Shoes. Photographs. Each item felt heavier than the last, weighted with betrayal. My wedding gown hung at the far end, wrapped in plastic. I stared at it for a long moment before yanking it down.
By the time I finished, my hands trembled. I gathered everything Julian had given me—gifts, jewelry, letters—and carried it to the backyard. The night air bit at my skin as I struck a match, letting the flame consume it all.
The gold bracelet he had clasped around my wrist melted black in the fire. I watched as every last token of us turned to ash, leaving nothing but emptiness.
The doorbell rang just as I stepped back inside.
Frowning, I wiped my tears and opened the door. A man stood there holding a box.
“Delivery for Mrs. Julian Herrera,” he said, handing it over.
“I didn’t order anything,” I muttered.
“It’s prepaid,” he replied, then left before I could ask more.
Curious, I opened it. Inside was a limited-edition Audrey Hepburn figurine—elegant, poised, delicate. My breath caught. I had loved collecting them. Julian had teased me endlessly for it.
For a brief moment, I thought—perhaps it was an apology. Maybe he remembered something that mattered.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
“Don’t touch that.”
I turned. Julian stood there, impeccably dressed, his gaze cold. He snatched the box from my hands.
“It’s for Sabrina’s birthday,” he said flatly.
“What?” I whispered.
“I’ll be away for a few days. Business trip,” he added.
I let out a bitter laugh. “Of course. Business trip.”
“Alyssa, come on,” he sighed, rubbing his temple. “Are you upset again? Fine, I’m sorry.” He pulled something small from his pocket—a cheap imitation of the figurine—and handed it to me. “Here. To make it up to you.”
The fake one. Of course.
He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned away. “Never mind,” he muttered, straightening. “Do whatever you want.”
Before I could respond, frantic knocking shook the front door. Then a voice.
“Julian! Help! Please! Something’s wrong!”
Sabrina.
Julian’s expression changed instantly, panic flashing across his face. “What happened?”
“It’s Max,” she sobbed. “He’s sick! Please, come quickly!”
And just like that, he was gone.
I remained, staring at the empty doorway. Silence pressed in like a heavy fog. Forgotten. Ignored. Cast aside.
I pressed a trembling hand to my stomach. The tiny life growing inside me didn’t deserve this.
Tears blurred my vision. “I’m sorry, baby… but I have to let you go. Your father doesn’t want you.”
Later that night, I went to the hospital. My hands shook as I signed the papers, the nurse’s words barely registering over the torrent of tears.
“Are you sure about this procedure, ma’am?”
“Yes,” I whispered, voice breaking. “I’m certain.”
As the anesthesia began to take hold, the last thing I murmured was a promise to the child I would never meet:
“I’ll find peace… even if I have to burn everything to get it.”
