It's a goodbye, my friend.

Yara.

Disbelief, anger and venom surged through my veins as I looked at her hand, which was pointed towards my belly.

Subconsciously, my hands went to my stomach, shielding the innocent little life that was growing there.

It was barely a week since I found out that I was pregnant, and here she was, already pointing it out.

Four days ago, I had been feeling unwell and a colleague had suggested going to the hospital.

Later, after several tests, it was confirmed that I was pregnant, barely three months along. Honestly, it came as a surprise. We had been using protection, but we were not ready for a baby since we were too focused on building our future.

But even then, I had been excited. I could still remember how happy I was throughout the day after I found out. I was already looking forward to the future, our future. And I couldn't wait to surprise Andrian with the news. I understood that our family was not in a good place financially, but still, I was positive that Andrian would be excited. We could afford to raise the baby, after all, his start-up was slowly picking up, and I was hardworking enough.

I could still recall how disappointed I was when I got home, carrying the scan and test results, only to be greeted by an empty house.

Andrian was not at home, which was weird since he usually got home before me. I was juggling between three jobs after all.

Regardless, I tried calling him, excited to share the news with him, even if through the phone, but he was unreachable, and sadly, he had blocked me.

Later, after I had taken a shower, browsing through the channels as I waited for him, I stumbled upon the shocking news: the Fox family's long-lost heir had been found and below the caption was a heartwarming picture of my husband and his family.

He had found his family, blocked me and disappeared from my life. And the other day, when I went to look for him, he humiliated and rejected me, so obviously, he never got to know about the pregnancy.

And his evil mother was already on the know. She had investigated me, obviously. But why was I not surprised? They were the Fox family, of course, they had the money. They could bend and twist everything at will.

A sense of unease washed over me as I locked gazes with her sinister eyes. Even after signing the divorce papers, I was obviously not safe, and neither was my unborn baby.

"You are quite informed, Mrs Fox. " My voice was cold as I mocked.

"Get rid of it." My blood froze as her words rang out, cold and ruthless.

There were no emotions on her face as she pronounced the fate of my baby. It was her blood, too. She was supposed to be the baby's grandmother, wasn't she? I already predicted the outcome the moment she pointed at my belly, but hearing her say it on my face, I was still disappointed. What was I even expecting?

" Does Andrian know that you want his baby gone, then?" Masking all my emotions, I asked.

'What should we do with the baby?'

'Let her get rid of it. She is not fit to carry the Fox family's next generation heir.'

From the other end of the phone came a too familiar voice, cold and detached. She had called him.

'Let her get rid of it. She is not fit to carry the Fox family's next generation heir.' Adrian's voice reverberated throughout my mind, over and over, and each time, something died in me.

He wanted me to abort my baby, our baby, how ruthless. He had always been so kind, and I fell for that. Unbeknowest to me, it was all an act, and after twenty years, his true face was finally unveiled. I hated myself for how blind I had been. How could I not have seen his true colours? The selfishness? Always taking from me? Throughout my life, I have had to sacrifice things for him, like I was supposed to be grateful just because he existed.

Other than loathing, I had no other feelings for him in my heart.

"There, you got your answer. " With a smirk, she ended the call before tossing her phone inside her handbag.

"The baby is not his." I wore a smirk as I informed, and for a second, I saw her composure faltering.

"You..you." She stuttered, anger and disbelief contouring her face.

" As you have said, I am poor..I am also poorly brought up. I don't have morals. While Andrian was working on his company, I was supposed to provide for the family. I did three jobs a day, but it wasn't enough. " As I narrated, my voice was smooth, a gentle smile playing on my lips.

"I had to think. I had to do something. Then there was one of my bosses, generous and kind. I sold myself to him for some little benefits." I whispered, my tone casual, like I was talking about an insignificant change in the weather.

" Who would have thought that I would be pregnant for him? But it's understandable, he didn't like using protection after all." This time, a shy smile was playing on my lips as I informed.

From the corner of my eye, I could see her red face, her lips quivering from anger, well, I just ignored it as I proceeded.

"Looking back, it was a good thing otherwise, your good Fox family would have had to go through the trouble of taking me to the operation table and keeping things under wraps. " Saying that, a sneer stretched the corners of my lips.

" If you don't believe me, you can investigate. Your Fox family is very good at digging dirt after all. But let me warn you, it might cost you some cash and time." This, I whispered next to her ears, looking past her enraged face.

" We were very careful after all. It was an affair between a married woman and a rich third-generation heir. " I smirked, and oddly, I found satisfaction in seeing her pale face.

***************

"She didn't buy the nonsense, did she?" Harper wore an excited smile, already activated to gossip mode as she asked.

"Andrian, that b***tad. How dare he? " Anger was glazing in her eyes as she questioned. It was the second day after Adrian's mother visited me. Out of concern, Harper had come to visit me after I vaguely explained the situation to her over the phone.

" It doesn't matter, good riddance. You were too good for him anyway. " In seconds, her expression shifted, and I swear I saw relief in her beautiful eyes.

How could she not be excited? She hated Andrian, and she never failed to let him know. She always thought that I was too good for him, and now that his mask was off, I was swimming in a pool of regret, if only I had listened to my best friend back then.

Harper and I grew up together, and just like Andrian, I also met her in the orphanage. She joined us a year after Adrian's arrival, and we soon became good friends. Later, after eight years of being friends, she was adopted by a good family, but we still kept in touch. We had been friends ever since, and we even attended the same college. We were also around the same age.

" It doesn't matter, Harper.. Whether she believes my nonsense or not, that will buy me enough time to escape. "

" I will leave this country. I will never cross paths with Andrian ever again. " I whispered, my voice an echo of determination.

"I will protect my baby at all costs. It is now my family. They won't take that away from me. " My tone was cold as I stated, vowing to protect my baby at all costs.

" You can do this, Yara. I will be on this journey with you. And yeah, you will be an amazing mother." Harper whispered, her positive spirit pumping me with the courage that I needed.

" Yeah, you will also make an amazing godmother, Harper. " A small smile adorned my lips as I thought of the beautiful journey. I was ready to be a mother with or without Andrian.

" It's a goodbye then?" There were tears in Harper's eyes as she asked.

Yes. We had just finished packing my last bag, and I was ready to leave that one place that had once felt like a home to me. I was about to leave the country that had been my home for over twenty years.

I was offered a fresh start in a small country, on an island, surrounded by mangroves and lots of fishermen. The orphanage director planned to retire there with his wife, and as if he had anticipated Adrian's betrayal, he had called me the other day, asking me if I could join them. And I said yes. Our flight was leaving in the next two hours.

Maybe the heavens were on my side. They wanted me to keep the baby.

Taking one look at my used-to-be safe haven, I wiped away my tears before turning to face Harper.

" Yes. It is a goodbye, my friend. " I whispered, my voice breaking.

It was a goodbye to her, to the only home I had ever had, to the life that I once lived, to the love that I ever had and to the future that I had once envisioned....

" We will keep in touch. " She whispered back, wiping away her tears before pulling me into her warm arms.

I was going to miss her. I was going to miss the life that we had here..

"After you settle down, call me, will you? I will list your apartment. " With a small nod, I wound up the car mirror, my once warm home disappearing into the distance as my ride sped towards the airport.

" It's happening. " I was still in disbelief as I whispered.

"Don't worry, my love, we will be fine. I will take good care of you...of us." Caressing my belly, I whispered, glints of resolution cropping my eyes.

We were approaching the airport and looking into the distance, I could see the future beckoning to us, to me. A blissful future with my baby.

Too lost looking into the future, I was brought back to reality by a distressed shriek. It was the cab driver. A fast-moving track was approaching, full speed..

Then I saw red, then the darkness....