A week had passed, and Vera had almost forgotten about the pregnancy. She had thrown herself into work, determined to make up for the days she had missed.
It wouldn't have been so exhausting if Ava, the woman who almost took her position, had done her job properly. But from what Vera had seen, Ava was far from competent. Mistakes were everywhere, and Vera had to correct them one by one. On top of that, a pile of approved projects waited for her and her team to execute.
She worked extra hours to keep up, pushing herself beyond limits. The stress consumed her so much that the pregnancy barely crossed her mind. She might have remembered if the symptoms had persisted, but the exhaustion of her workload seemed to have wiped them out.
Her phone rang, interrupting her. She glanced at the screen. Stan. He must already be waiting outside.
A soft smile crossed her lips as she answered. "I'll be down in a minute, sweetie." Ending the call, she quickly packed up her things.
Stan had told her he'd pick her up after work. It was the start of the weekend, which she always spent at his place. Because of that, she had taken a cab to work instead of driving.
Stepping outside, she spotted his sleek, luxurious car, and her heart leaped in excitement. As soon as she reached the car, she pulled open the passenger door and slid in.
Stan greeted her with a quick kiss, his fingers brushing through her hair. "How was work?"
"As exhausting as ever, but I'm just glad it's over," she said with a tired smile.
"No work this weekend," he murmured, his voice warm.
"It's settled then, no work this weekend," she affirmed with a soft smile.
Stan started the car, and soon they were speeding toward his house. The city lights blurred past, but Vera barely noticed. Her body ached with exhaustion, but the thought of spending the weekend with him made everything feel lighter.
Before long, they arrived at his estate, a magnificent gated mansion. As the gate rolled open on its own, his luxurious car drove into the driveway and pulled up in the spacious parking lot.
Vera unbuckled her seatbelt with a sigh of relief. "Feels good to be home," she said, stretching slightly.
Together, they stepped out and made their way inside. The grand sitting room welcomed them with its elegance, king-sized, handcrafted sofas arranged in a way that exuded both luxury and comfort.
Stan was a billionaire, a successful businessman whose wealth was evident in everything he owned, from his cars to his home and the gifts he showered her with. Vera often thought herself lucky to have someone like him, someone who never hesitated to spend on her or ensure she lacked nothing. Even the car she drove had been a gift from him.
Yet, despite all his riches, there was one thing that always unsettled her. He lived alone.
No friends. No family. No house staff.
She had asked him once why there was never anyone around. His answer had been simple yet heavy. "I have no family. And I don't keep friends.
Vera had understood. She had accepted him, loved him unconditionally, despite the thought that he might have a deep secret.
She slumped onto the sofa, tilting her head back and shutting her eyes for a brief moment of rest.
A soft touch brushed against her lips. Her eyes fluttered open just as Stan leaned in again. Without hesitation, she melted into the kiss, letting it erase the stress of the day.
"I missed you," Stan murmured between kisses.
"I missed you more," Vera whispered back, her fingers grazing his cheek.
As their lips parted, she breathed, "Freshen up, sweetie. I'll prepare dinner."
"Alright," he agreed, pressing one last kiss to her lips before stepping away.
Vera stood up, but as she did, her bag slipped off her lap and fell to the floor. Everything inside spilled out, and before she could move, Stan had already crouched to pick them up.
Then he stopped.
His face changed, and his eyes darkened as they focused on two small items lying on the floor. Pregnancy tests. Both clearly showed two lines.
His jaw clenched tightly.
Vera froze. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears. How did I forget those? Panic rushed through her. She had been so focused on work, she didn't switch bags. She didn't even remember the tests were still inside.
Stan picked them up, holding them tightly as he slowly stood. His eyes, now hard to read, looked straight at her.
"How could you?" he said quietly, his voice full of something she couldn't understand.
Was he angry? Shocked? Hurt?
"Stan, please—" her voice trembled. She didn't know what to say.
She had no idea how to explain.
"I explained this to you. Why are you doing this again?" Stan's voice was low but tight, as he struggled to control his anger.
"I don't know what happened," Vera finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You stopped taking the pills?" His sharp gaze bore into her.
"No! No, I took them exactly as prescribed. I never missed a dose, but—"
"You're lying." His words cut through hers like a blade.
"I'm not! Please, believe me," she pleaded, desperate for him to understand. But the look on his face, the way his eyes darkened, stole the rest of her words.
"I trusted you. And this?" he shouted, his voice full of anger. Suddenly, he threw the pregnancy tests across the room. They hit the floor with a loud noise, breaking the heavy silence around them.
"Believe me, my period came every month! I had no idea!" she said quickly, her heart pounding.
"The doctor said this can happen to some women," she added, hoping he would understand. But his face only grew colder.
"You even saw a doctor?" he yelled, his anger growing. "And you didn't tell me?"
"I went because I couldn't believe it either! I wanted to prove the tests were wrong!" Her voice broke, and tears filled her eyes.
But it didn't matter. Nothing she said could change his mind.
"You wanted to keep the baby and give birth, without even telling me?" he shouted, his voice shaking the room.
"No, Stan! That's not—"
"But let me be clear," he cut her off, his voice cold as ice. "No child of mine will be born unless I agree. And I've told you again and again. I don't want a child right now!"
Then, without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving the room in silence.
Vera stood still, staring at the pregnancy tests scattered on the floor. Her chest ached.
Then, the tears finally came.
He said he loved her. He gave her so much care. But he wouldn't let her have his child. Why?
They had been together for three years, and in all that time, he never gave her a real answer. Every time she asked, he always said, "I'm not ready."
But why wasn't he ready? What was he hiding?
Wiping away her tears, Vera bent down and picked up the pregnancy tests. She stuffed them into her bag, threw the strap over her shoulder, and walked to the bedroom.
She tried to ignore the pain in her chest. Instead, she went to the kitchen and focused on making dinner. When the food was ready, she paused, unsure whether to call him.
She thought he might ignore the meal, still angry. But to her surprise, he came downstairs and sat at the table with her.
The silence between them was heavy. No words were exchanged, but he ate—and that gave her a small sense of relief. Maybe he wasn't completely shutting her out.
After dinner, Vera cleaned up, got ready for bed, and lay beside him. Before, he would've wrapped his arms around her, whispered softly, kissed her until she melted in his arms.
But tonight, he totally ignored her.
He lay still, his back turned to her.
Vera looked at him for a moment, her fingers itching to reach out. To close the space between them.
But she paused. What if touching him made things worse?
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she whispered, "Good night, sweetie." She leaned in, gently kissed his cheek, then pulled the blanket over herself and turned away.
He didn't move. Didn't say a word.
The silence between them felt heavy, full of things they couldn't say. Even though they were both tired, she knew neither of them really slept.
They spent the night trapped in their thoughts, wrestling with feelings they kept hidden.
Then, morning came too fast.