1.

THE VOID OF DISAPPOINTMENT

Arabella  Hopkins  had lost count of the number of times she had broken inside.

This was now the third procedure she was undergoing to try to conceive a child, in addition to several fertility treatments that had yielded no results.

The doctor meticulously examined the sonograms, while her husband squeezed her hand tightly. Both held their breath, waiting for an answer.

"It didn't work this time either. I'm sorry, Mrs. Hopkins ," the doctor said, looking them directly in the eyes.

Arabella  pressed her lips together. She remained silent for a few moments and then forced a smile laden with sadness.

"What does that mean? There was no insemination?"

The doctor shook his head, with a serious and compassionate expression.

Fernando Donovan, her husband of five years, could not meet her gaze when they heard the diagnosis; his expression of disappointment wounded her deeply.

"Doctor... could we try again?" she asked in desperation.

"Arabella , your body is not ready yet. You need to recover from the last procedures. We must wait at least a couple of months," he replied firmly.

"You heard the doctor, honey. Let's go home, you need to rest, my love, your health is the most important thing," Fernando got up from the desk and held out his hand to her.

Arabella  nodded without saying anything more. She left the office with Fernando, willing to wait that time. The days were long and filled with anxiety.

However, the long-awaited day arrived. Arabella  got ready as usual and went to the living room.

"Fernando, are you ready, my love?" she asked, confused to see him holding a small suitcase.

"Arabella , my love, I can't go with you today. An urgent business trip came up; they require my presence in a couple of hours outside the city."

"A business trip, just today? Fernando, my love, it's a very important day."

Fernando walked over to her and hugged her tightly against his chest, kissing her on the head.

"I know, my love, and I know everything will be just fine. This time we'll be victorious. Forgive me for not being able to go with you, but I can ask my mother to go for me, can't I? I love you very much, Arabella , you're the most important woman in my life."

Arabella  swallowed hard and shrugged.

"No, Fernando, I can go alone."

However, everything seemed to conspire against her.

When everything was ready to start, she began to sneeze forcefully, and her nose turned red. A sudden flu came over her, canceling her appointment and postponing it for two days.

Arabella  shrieked, frustrated, but waited impatiently for those two days. She couldn't sleep. She felt a premonition lodged in her chest, convinced that this time would be the one, that she would finally get pregnant.

But everything changed as soon as she arrived at the hospital.

She was holding the artificial insemination documents firmly in her hands, ready to hand them over, when the scene in front of her took her breath away. The papers fell to the floor with a thud.

Fernando was tenderly caressing the belly of his secretary, Mariana Eslava. The young blonde, with a charming smile and mischievous eyes, looked at him with complicity. It was a sharp blow to the heart. Arabella  couldn't utter a single word. She stood there, paralyzed, as a tear silently slid down her cheek.

"No... it's not true," she whispered, barely audible.

Fernando saw her out of the corner of his eye. Noticing her motionless expression, he let go of Mariana and approached her in a hurry.

"Arabella , my love... What are you doing here?"

"Fernando..." was all she could manage to say. Her lips were trembling.

"My love, really, everything has an explanation. It's not what you think. Mariana is just my secretary."

Suddenly, Mariana appeared in the hallway, nervously caressing her belly.

"Fernando, the doctor already called for us... please, come with me. I'm afraid something is wrong with our baby."

Our baby?

A flush ignited Arabella 's cheeks. It was as if she had been punched. She reacted instantly and grabbed his arm with force.

"What do you mean, 'our baby'? Fernando, what the hell is going on here?!"

Arabella  demanded answers. Fernando, flustered, forced a smile.

"Please, my love... let me explain everything at home, when you're calmer, okay? Now let me go, I have to leave."

"No! Damn it, Fernando!" Arabella  held on to him even tighter.

Fernando gently freed himself from her grasp and looked at Mariana.

"I told you, Arabella . We'll talk at home."

He let go of her hand without looking at her again and left with Mariana. Perfectly aware of who Arabella  was, she gave her an arrogant and defiant look before entering the doctor's office with him.