Chapter 5: Unspoken Truths
As Elena entered her ninth month of pregnancy, news of Victoria began to trickle in through a distant cousin who refused to take sides. Deprived of her control over Arthur, Victoria had grown increasingly isolated in her grand, empty mansion. Her social circle was shrinking as rumors of her volatile temper leaked out.
""She’s sick, Arthur,"" the cousin, Clara, mentioned over a quiet phone call. ""Not physically, but she's consuming herself with bitter resentment. She tells everyone you abandoned her, yet she refuses to admit what she did to Elena.""
""I don't hate her, Clara,"" Arthur replied calmly. ""But forgiveness doesn't mean allowing someone back into your life to destroy it again. My priority is my wife and my child.""
That evening, as storms rolled over the city, Elena felt the first sharp pangs of contractions. She gasped, holding onto the kitchen counter as a sudden wave of pressure surged through her body.
""Arthur!"" she called out, her voice strained.
Arthur rushed into the room, instantly alert. ""Is it time?""
May you like
Elena nodded, her knuckles white against the granite counter. ""It's time. The contractions are five minutes apart.""
Without a moment's hesitation, Arthur grabbed the pre-packed hospital bags, helped Elena into the car, and drove steadily through the rain-slicked streets toward the hospital. The chaotic drama of the past month faded into background noise; all that mattered now was the miracle waiting at the end of the night.
