Chapter 3: A New Beginning

The taxi came to a stop in front of a modest apartment building on the east side of the city.

Evelyn stepped out, thanked the driver, and stared up at the old brick building. It was nothing like the Sterling Mansion, but at least it didn't hold memories that would keep breaking her heart.

She climbed the stairs slowly, exhaustion weighing down every step.

The apartment was exactly as she had left it three years ago.

A small living room.

A tiny kitchen.

A bedroom with faded cream walls.

She had rented it before marrying Damian and had kept paying the rent every month, even after moving into the mansion. She never knew why she couldn't let it go.

Now she did.

It had become the only place she could call home.

The moment she closed the door behind her, the strength she had been forcing all day finally disappeared.

She slid down against the wall and burst into tears.

She cried for the woman who had loved so deeply.

She cried for the marriage that had never truly existed.

And she cried for the child who would never know what it felt like to have both parents together.

Minutes later, she wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.

"No more," she whispered.

"I can't keep living in the past."

She walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.

Her eyes were swollen.

Her hair was soaked from the rain.

She barely recognised the woman staring back at her.

Gently, she placed both hands over her stomach.

"I'm sorry."

"I should have protected us sooner."

"But I promise you..."

"From today onwards, no one will ever make us feel unwanted again."

For the first time since signing the divorce papers, Evelyn smiled.

It was faint.

But it was real.

The next morning...

Sunlight filtered through the curtains.

Evelyn woke up feeling nauseous.

She rushed to the bathroom just in time.

After several minutes, she rinsed her face and looked at herself in the mirror.

"So this is morning sickness."

Despite feeling miserable, she couldn't stop smiling.

Every wave of sickness reminded her that her baby was growing.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

When she opened it, she found her grandmother standing there with two bags of groceries.

"Grandma!"

Margaret Hartley smiled warmly before pulling her granddaughter into a tight embrace.

"You thought I'd let you go through this alone?"

The tears Evelyn had fought so hard to hold back threatened to return.

"I missed you."

"I know."

Margaret gently cupped her face.

"But no more crying."

"You have a little one depending on you now."

They spent the morning cleaning the apartment and preparing breakfast.

For the first time in months, the small apartment was filled with laughter instead of silence.

As they ate, Margaret reached into her handbag and placed an envelope on the table.

Evelyn frowned.

"What's this?"

"Open it."

Inside was a bank card.

"I can't accept this."

"Yes, you can."

"Grandma—"

"Listen to me."

Margaret held her hand.

"You left that mansion with nothing."

"You are about to become a mother."

"You need security."

Evelyn shook her head.

"I'll find a job."

"I don't want to depend on anyone."

Margaret smiled proudly.

"That's exactly why I know you'll succeed."

Across the city...

Damian sat at the head of the conference table inside Sterling Group Headquarters.

Senior executives were presenting quarterly reports.

Normally, Damian never lost focus during meetings.

Today...

He hadn't heard a single word.

His assistant, Lucas Bennett, noticed immediately.

"Mr. Sterling?"

Damian looked up.

"Repeat that."

The room fell silent.

Lucas cleared his throat.

"We've already gone over the figures."

Damian nodded absentmindedly.

"Continue."

Yet his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

For reasons he couldn't explain, an image kept appearing in his mind.

Evelyn standing in the rain.

Not begging.

Not arguing.

Just walking away.

She hadn't looked back.

Not even once.

He frowned.

Why did that bother him?

Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?

Lucas watched his boss carefully.

In the five years he had worked for Damian Sterling, he had never seen him so distracted.

Something had changed.

Damian simply hadn't realised it yet.

Far away, Evelyn rested a protective hand over her stomach and silently promised her unborn child a future filled with love.

She had no intention of ever returning to Damian Sterling.

But fate had already begun weaving their paths together once again.