Romances de Rutherdel

The front door closed behind me with a soft click, and I stood in the hallway, unable to move.Everything was exactly as I’d left it this morning. The living room was bathed in the golden afternoon light. The television was on low volume—some cooking show my mother loved. The smell of food wafted from the kitchen, and my stomach immediately twisted in protest.How can everything look so normal when my life is falling apart?That was the cruelest part of it all. The world kept spinning. The sun kept shining. My parents kept going about their routines like nothing had changed, like their daughter wasn’t broken on the inside, carrying a secret that was slowly poisoning her from within.I could hear my mother in the kitchen, the sound of utensils clinking against plates, water running, the familiar rhythm of her preparing the evening meal. She had no idea. None. That I’d just spent the last hour being rejected by the man I loved. That I’d walked away from his house with tears streaming do

I gathered courage the way you gather broken pieces of glass-carefully, knowing you’d bleed no matter how gentle you are, standing before a door half closed. Almost two months had passed since Daniel walked out of my life. Two months of silence that felt like drowning in slow motion. Two months of carrying our secret alone, watching my body change, listening to my heart break a little more each day.Clara had cornered me that morning before I could talk myself out of it.“You have to tell him,” she said, and there was something final in her voice. “Lena, he deserves to know. And you deserve to stop carrying this alone.”I’d been staring at the wall when she said it, my hand unconsciously touching my stomach—a habit I’d developed over the past weeks. The nausea that had plagued me for weeks was getting worse. My body was changing in ways only I could feel. The exhaustion was becoming unbearable. I’d started wearing Clara’s clothes just to hide the subtle way my body was shifting.“He

Carrying a secret like mine changes you.It shows in the way you walk, the way you speak, the way you avoid people’s eyes when they look at you for too long. It seeps into your bones and becomes part of your DNA. You can’t hide it, no matter how hard you try.And somehow… Clara saw it the moment I stepped into her house.Two weeks had passed since I found out I was pregnant. Two weeks of carrying this knowledge alone. Weeks of Daniel’s silence crushing me from the inside out. Weeks of pretending everything was fine when nothing was fine.I’d hidden it well at school. I’d hidden it from my parents. I’d hidden it from my friends. But Clara, Daniel’s sister, the woman who knew him better than anyone—she saw straight through me the moment I walked through her door.It was the day of Manuel’s graduation from kindergarten to primary school. A celebration that should have filled me with joy. Instead, I felt like I was drowning in my own skin.I’d worn a loose dress, something I thought would

Daniel's silence was louder than any insult he could have thrown at me.Days turned into weeks, and with each passing moment, I waited for him to text me. To call me. To show up at my door like he always did when things fell apart. I kept my phone close, checking it obsessively, refreshing my messages like maybe I’d missed something.Nothing.His number still worked. I knew because I texted him multiple times, pouring my heart out in messages he never replied to.“Daniel, please. We need to talk.”“I’m sorry for what I said.”“Please don’t do this to us.”“I love you. Please come back.”Each message felt like screaming into a void. Each unanswered text was a knife.I told myself he was being dramatic. That he’d come around. That a man who loved me the way he did couldn’t just disappear like this. I told myself I hadn’t really done anything that wrong. Yes, I’d questioned his job. Yes, I’d made a comment about him not being cut out for it. But that wasn’t grounds for abandonment. That

The first sign that something was wrong didn’t come with a fight.It came with silence.Daniel had always been the kind of man who texted me before I even opened my eyes in the morning. A simple “good morning beautiful” or a heart emoji or sometimes just my name. Those texts were the first thing I’d see, and they’d set the tone for my entire day. They meant I was on his mind. They meant he was thinking about me.But that Tuesday, my phone stayed quiet.At first, I told myself it meant nothing. People get busy. People have off days. It didn’t have to mean anything.Still, by lunchtime I had checked my phone more times than I could count. Refreshing my messages. Refreshing my emails. Waiting for something that wasn’t coming.Finally, around four in the afternoon, my phone buzzed.Daniel: “Hey. Busy day today. I’ll call later.”That was it.No good morning.No I miss you.No heart emoji he always sent.No “can’t wait to see you.”Just one short message. Five words that felt cold in a way

The long weekend started on Friday, when he showed up at my school.I wasn’t expecting him. I’d been trying so hard to distance myself, to protect both of us from the complications of my family situation. But he’d driven all that way anyway, determined to see me, determined to understand what was happening.The car ride to his house was quiet.Not the comfortable kind of quiet. The heavy kind. The kind where you can feel someone’s worry filling up all the space between you. He kept his hand on my thigh, but he didn’t try to talk. His jaw was tight. His eyes were focused on the road. I could see the tension in his shoulders.He was scared. Scared of losing me.When we got to his house, he took me downstairs to his wine cellar.The temperature was cool and controlled. Rows of expensive bottles lined the walls, organized by vintage and region. He moved through the space like he was on autopilot, searching for something specific. His hands were shaking slightly as he pulled out a bottle—s

Mike’s days had become a careful balancing act. Between back-to-back meetings that stretched late into the evening and the endless demands of his work, he rarely found a moment to himself. Every decision he made seemed to carry weight, not just for himself but for the people who depended on him. Being a multimillionaire at such a young age came with a lot of pressure. Work never seemed to stop. Yet, somehow, he always made time for the person who mattered most to him, his grandmother, the only family he had left. After the painful experience of losing his parents as a child, Mike never took her for granted. Even in the briefest of pauses, he would check in, making sure she was well, that she had eaten, that she didn’t feel lonely.It wasn’t much, but to him, it was everything. On one particularly hectic afternoon, he managed to call her during a short gap between meetings.“Hello, Grandma,” he said, his voice warm despite the exhaustion that tugged at the edges of his patience.“Ah,

Anne woke early the next morning, the soft glow of dawn spilling through her bedroom window. She had a morning shift at the hospital, and despite lingering fatigue from the previous night, she pushed herself up, determined not to be late. Joy had slept soundly in her own room, still carrying the weight of worry over the boyfriend she hadn’t heard from. Anne called out briefly to let her know she was leaving, but when there was no response, she sighed and left a small note on the table, hoping it would reach her later.The streets were quiet as she made her way to the hospital, the early morning air fresh against her skin. At the nurses’ station, she greeted the night staff with a polite nod. “Morning, everyone. Hope the night went smoothly,” she said with a smile. Their tired eyes brightened at her familiar cheer. Anne moved to the changing room and quickly changed into her scrubs, fastening her badge with precise movements. Today’s ward would demand focus and stamina, and she felt re

The movie had just ended when Anne suddenly sat up.“Oh no.”Joy turned toward her, surprised. “What?”Anne quickly reached for her phone on the table, her expression tightening as a realization struck her.“I forgot something.”Joy raised an eyebrow.“What did you forget?”Anne exhaled slowly. “Earlier this week I told Jeffrey I might take a day off… but I never told him which day.”Joy straightened a little.“So he might be expecting you today?”Anne nodded, already unlocking her phone.“He likes things organized,” she said quietly. “If I didn’t say anything, he probably assumed I was coming.”Joy shrugged lightly. “After last night, forgetting makes sense.”Anne typed quickly."Sorry, I forgot to tell you that today is my off day. I mentioned I might take one this week".She stared at the message for a second before pressing send. A small pung of guilt ran through her chest.For a moment, she simply watched the screen, waiting.Nothing happened.Joy leaned back on the couch , watch

The next morning was Anne’s off day, both at the hospital and at the care home.For the first time in several days, she woke up without the pressure of rushing somewhere. Soft morning light slipped through the curtains, filling the room with a gentle warmth.Anne turned slightly and noticed Joy still sleeping beside her. The tension that had filled her face the night before had softened. Her breathing was slow and peaceful now.Anne smiled faintly.A few minutes later, Joy stretched and slowly opened her eyes.“Morning,” Anne said softly.Joy stretched lightly before sitting up. “Morning… I actually slept well.”“I’m glad,” Anne replied.After getting ready, the two of them decided to step outside for some fresh air. The morning was calm, the streets still quiet as the city slowly came alive.They walked side by side down the road, enjoying the cool breeze brushing gently against them.At a small café not far from the apartment, they stopped to get coffee. Sitting across from each oth

Chapter 4 – NIGHTFALL AND UNEXPECTED BONDSAnne arrived at the house earlier than usual that evening. Her bag felt lighter than when she had first started, and there was a quiet sense of purpose in her steps. She had finished her hospital shift ahead of schedule, giving herself time to prepare mentally for the home care in the evening.The front door was slightly open, a warm glow spilling into the hallway. Anne paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. She went over her bag quickly, medications, water, snacks, a small blanket she had brought from home. Everything was in place. She stepped inside, and the familiar rhythm of the house greeted her.Jeffrey was already moving quietly through the living room, straightening cushions and stacking a few books. He looked up and gave a small nod.“You’re early,” he said calmly. “Everything’s ready, but it’s nice to have some extra time.”Anne smiled faintly. “I like to be prepared. Hospital shifts can be unpredictable.”“Good habit,” he said.

The following morning, Anne headed to the shared kitchen, her slippers making soft taps against the floor. She reached for the kettle to get some warm water before leaving for the hospital, still half-awake and thinking about the day ahead.A soft voice from behind made her jump.“Careful, you don’t want to burn yourself.”Anne turned to see a young woman leaning casually against the counter, arms folded, a playful smile on her face.“Oh! I… I didn’t hear you come in,” Anne said, cheeks warming.“I’m Joy,” the woman said, stepping fully into the light. “I live upstairs. Usually come down for breakfast before heading to my office at the beauty pageant company.”Anne smiled, relaxing slightly. “I’m Anne… just moved in. Nice to meet you.”Joy grinned, a little mischievous. “Finally! I’ve been wondering who the new tenant downstairs was. Don’t worry, I’m not one of those people who watches every move… mostly.”As Anne poured water and Joy brewed coffee, they chatted easily, the kitchen fi