The silence on the other end stretched long enough for me to hear my own heartbeat. Then came a quiet laugh—soft, familiar, and edged with disbelief.
“Marry you now?” Brendon said, amusement lacing his tone. “After you broke my heart back then? It’s been seven years, Danica. What happened to your perfect husband—Johan?”
I swallowed hard, staring at my reflection in the mirror—pale, hollow-eyed, the woman I barely recognized. “He betrayed me,” I said, my voice trembling but steady enough to carry the truth. “He killed our son. And I can’t live with him anymore.”
There was silence again. Then a sigh. “Danica…”
“Forget it,” I said quickly, my throat tightening. “If you don’t love me anymore—if you’re married or happy now, that’s okay. I shouldn’t have called.”
I was about to hang up when his voice stopped me.
“Who says I don’t love you?” His tone softened, warm and sure. “Seven years didn’t change that. You might’ve hurt me, but I never stopped caring. If you really want to do this, then fine—let’s see each other again. I’ll pick you up, and we’ll get married.”
I froze. For the first time in so long, I felt something crack through the numbness—a glimmer of hope or madness, I didn’t know which.
“Is there anything else you want me to do?” he asked gently.
“Nothing,” I whispered. “Just… don’t make me regret calling you for help.”
And before he could say another word, I hung up.
I stared at the phone in my hand, my chest rising and falling rapidly. The room felt smaller somehow, my heart heavier yet lighter all at once. I exhaled shakily. That’s better now.
After all, Brendon had once been my entire world.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, memories flooding back—his laugh echoing through the empty classroom, his hand brushing mine under the bleachers, his promise that someday we’d see the world together.
We were high school sweethearts—two dreamers who thought love could conquer everything. He’d even saved enough to buy a ring back then, cheap and simple, but it meant the world to us. We were supposed to get married after college.
But life had other plans.
When my father got sick, everything fell apart. My father’s company was in debt, and his business partner—Johan’s father—offered help. The price? My hand in marriage to Johan.
Brendon begged me not to do it. He promised he’d work hard, that we’d make it somehow. But I was scared. I was young and lost. I thought marrying Johan would keep me safe.
And for a while, I tried to believe I was happy. I learned to love him, or at least I thought I did. But now, looking back, it all felt like a carefully woven lie.
I snapped out of my thoughts and stood abruptly. I couldn’t stay here any longer—not in this house filled with memories that weren’t even real.
I opened my closet and began to pack, one item at a time. Dresses. Shoes. Photographs. Each thing I touched felt heavier than the last. My wedding gown was still hanging at the far end, wrapped in plastic. I stared at it for a long moment, then tore it down.
By the time I finished, I was shaking. I gathered everything Johan had given me—the gifts, the jewelry, even the letters—and carried them to the backyard. The night air was cold against my skin. I struck a match, watched the flame catch, and tossed it all into the fire pit.
The gold bracelet he’d once clasped around my wrist melted into the flames, turning black. I watched until everything turned to ash, until there was nothing left of us.
The doorbell rang just as I turned back inside.
I frowned, wiping my tears quickly before opening the door. A man stood there holding a box.
“Delivery for Mrs. Johan Valdez,” he said, handing it over.
“Delivery?” I echoed. “I didn’t order anything.”
“It’s prepaid,” he said, then left before I could question further.
Curious, I opened it. Inside was a limited-edition Audrey Hepburn figurine—elegant, poised, and delicate. My breath caught. I loved collecting them. Johan used to tease me for it.
For a moment, I thought—maybe, just maybe—it was an apology gift. That perhaps he remembered something that mattered to me.
But then I heard footsteps behind me.
“Don’t touch that.”
I turned. Johan stood in the doorway, dressed sharply in a suit, his expression cold. He snatched the box from my hands.
“This is for Ella’s birthday,” he said flatly.
I blinked. “What?”
“I won’t be here the next few days,” he added. “Business trip.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Of course. Business trip.”
“Danica, come on,” he sighed, rubbing his temple. “Are you mad again? Okay, I’m sorry.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out something small—a cheap replica of the same 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 up. “Just do whatever you want.”
Before I could reply, a loud, frantic knock echoed from outside. Then a voice.
“Johan! Help! Please—something’s wrong!”
It was Ella.
Johan’s expression changed instantly, panic flashing across his face. “What happened?”
“It’s John,” she sobbed. “He’s sick again! Please, come quick!”
And just like that, he was gone.
I stood there, staring at the empty doorway, the silence pressing in like a suffocating blanket. Once again, I was left alone—forgotten, dismissed, discarded.
I pressed a trembling hand against my stomach. The tiny life growing inside me didn’t deserve this.
Tears blurred my vision as I whispered, “I’m sorry, baby… but I have to let you go now. Your father doesn’t want you.”
That night, I went to the hospital. I signed the papers with shaking hands, the nurse’s words barely reaching me as the tears fell silently.
“This procedure… are you sure, ma’am?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice breaking. “I’m sure.”
As the anesthesia started to pull me under, the last thing I whispered was a promise to the child I’d never meet—
“I’ll find peace. Even if I have to burn everything to get it.”
