The driver, after a moment of surprised hesitation, nodded, clearly intrigued by the generous upfront payment. He maintained a careful distance as Brayden's car navigated the city streets.
I watched, my heart a hollow echo in my chest. Brayden wasn't heading to his usual late-night office building. He was driving towards the outskirts of town, towards a residential area. Not his usual haunts. Not ours.
Then I saw her. Holly. She stumbled out of the Mercedes, clutching her stomach, her face pale and tear-streaked. She looked distraught, a stark contrast to her usual vivacious self.
Brayden rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. He stroked her hair, murmuring reassurances. He looked genuinely concerned, almost tender. A sickening wave of nausea washed over me.
He then did something that stole the last breath from my lungs. He knelt, gently kissed her swollen abdomen, and whispered something I couldn't hear. The gesture, intimate and possessive, felt like a knife twisting in my gut.
Holly giggled, a watery, relieved sound. "Oh, Brayden. I was so scared. The doctor said it was just a scare. The baby's fine. But I couldn't have gotten through it without you. You're my rock."
My world tilted on its axis. A baby. Their baby. The child he had denied me, dismissed as an inconvenience. He was starting a family with my sister. My pain was so profound, it transcended tears. It was a silent scream, a void opening up inside me.
"Ma'am, should I stop?" the driver asked gently, his voice breaking through my stupor.
"No," I choked out, my voice raspy. "Keep going. And there's a bonus in it for you if you don't say a word."
I felt compelled to witness it all, every excruciating detail. To fully understand the depth of their depravity.
Brayden's voice, loud and jubilant, carried across the quiet street. "We're having a baby, Holly! We're going to be parents!"
Holly threw her arms around him. "Yes! Oh, my wonderful Brayden. My hero."
"I hope it's a boy," Brayden said, his voice brimming with excitement. "A strong, healthy boy. Just like I always wanted."
My mind flashed back to our conversations, his dismissive answers, his insistence on focusing on my career, my restaurant. The same words, but with a different woman, a different future.
"But you always said you wanted a girl," Holly pouted, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"I said that to Clare," Brayden scoffed. "She was obsessed with the idea. I just played along. You know, to keep her happy." He paused. "Don't you worry, my love. Anything you want, you'll have. I'll take you anywhere. Paris. Rome. A fresh start for us."
"Promise?" she asked, her eyes searching his.
He sealed the promise with a passionate kiss, his hand resting on her belly.
A car horn blared impatiently from behind us. The driver started the engine. "Ma'am, we should go. We're blocking traffic."
"Drive," I commanded, my voice flat.
As the car pulled away, I glanced in the rearview mirror. They were still there, locked in their embrace, a picture of perfect, treacherous happiness.
My phone vibrated. A message from Holly. I opened it. A grainy ultrasound image filled the screen.
Look, sis! Your new niece or nephew! Brayden is so excited.
Then another message, even more cruel.
He said we should name it after your restaurant. A little tribute. Isn't that sweet? He's making me the new head chef, you know. I guess he prefers fresh talent.
My hands shook, but my face remained impassive. I typed a reply. Congratulations.
The phone immediately rang. Brayden.
I answered, my voice steady. "Hello?"
"Clare! Where are you? Are you alright?" he asked, a practiced concern in his voice. "Holly said you saw her on the street, that you seemed upset."
"I'm fine," I said, my voice empty. "Just enjoying the solitude."
"Good, good. Listen, my love, I'm going to be gone for a few days. Business trip. Very important. Don't wait up."
"How long?" I asked, a strange sense of anticipation building.
"About a week," he said quickly. "Big deal abroad. I'll be back before the gala. We'll celebrate our future then."
A week. The serum would arrive tomorrow. The procedure was set for the day after. His "business trip" perfectly aligned with my escape. The irony was almost humorous.
"Alright," I said. "Have a safe trip."
He sounded surprised by my lack of reaction. "Clare? Are you sure you're okay? You're so quiet."
I heard Holly's impatient whisper in the background. Hurry up, Brayden!
"Everything's just fine," I said, a cold smile forming on my lips. "In fact, it's never been better."
He tried to say something else, a hollow promise of missing me, but I hung up.
He was such a fool. He thought he was playing me. He had no idea I was playing him. He had no idea what was coming.
I arrived back at the house. On the doorstep was a small, discreet package. The Serenity Serum. A single vial, nestled in a padded box, accompanied by a detailed set of instructions. A stark warning about the irreversible nature of the procedure, about the absolute obliteration of the past.
I placed the vial on my nightstand, next to the innocent-looking locket that would soon bring Brayden to his knees. My escape plan was complete.
