THE DISAPPEARING ACT

EVE

Agatha came over one Saturday afternoon, with her arms full of shopping bags, her eyes darting with the kind of excitement that usually meant gossip.

“You’ll never believe who I saw at the mall,” she announced, collapsing onto the sofa beside me.

I was half-distracted, scrolling through pregnancy forums I shouldn’t even be on, but at the mention of who, my heart picked up speed.

“Who?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

She smirked. “Ian.”

The name alone made my stomach twist.

“And?” I pressed.

Agatha shrugged, but the look in her eyes told me she knew the effect this would have on me. “He walked past me. Didn’t even blink. Acted like he hadn’t seen me in his life. Cold. Like I was invisible.”

Invisible.

I tried to laugh it off, but my throat felt tight. “Good. He should stay invisible. He belongs there.”

The sound of the front door opening made us both turn.

“Noah,” I whispered, sitting up a little straighter.

He walked in, still wearing his work shirt, sleeves rolled up, phone in his hand. His eyes moved to Agatha’s bags, and one brow arched.

“Someone’s been busy,” he said with a smile. Which was weird, Noah never smiled around Agatha, in fact he hated her.

Agatha laughed, brushing him off. “Just a little reward for working so hard this week. A girl deserves to spoil herself once in a while.”

Noah chuckled, but his gaze shifted back to me, sharper now. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied quickly, forcing a smile. “I’m fine.”

He studied me for a moment, like he didn’t quite believe me, but then nodded. “Good. I just came to pick up a few things. Won’t be long.”

And just like that, he disappeared down the hall, leaving behind the faint smell of his cologne and the weight of his unasked questions.

I exhaled slowly, sinking back into the sofa.

Agatha nudged me. “See? He didn’t notice a thing. You’re good.”

I swallowed hard, as my hands knotted in my hoodie. “Agatha… what if there are people watching me? What if Ian knows I didn’t do it?”

She put her phone down and turned to me, frowning. “Eve, stop. You’re being paranoid. Ian doesn’t know. And he’s definitely not watching you.”

“But what if…”

“No.” Her voice was firmer this time. “You need to let it go. You’re working yourself up over nothing. Ian’s out of the picture. You’re safe.”

As soon as Agatha left, I buried myself in distractions. Cleaning. Cooking. Rearranging my room until it looked nothing like mine. Anything to keep me from thinking about him. Anything to keep me from touching my belly and wondering if this baby would be the only piece of Ian I would ever get to keep.

The first time, I thought it was nothing — just a man in a black hoodie standing near the lamppost across the street. By the time I looked again, he was gone.

The second time, I caught sight of a car parked down the road, the windows were tinted too dark for this neighborhood. The same car, again and again, but it never stayed long enough for me to be certain.

By the third time, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Two men, standing at the corner store, not buying anything.

Just… watching.

I closed my curtains and turned off my room light.

What if I was right, Noah’s late nights, the way he slipped in and out without explanation. Ian’s silence, his sudden appearance in town without a word. The strange cars outside. The men who didn’t belong on my street.

Breakfast was awkward. Noah had insisted I eat with him since he’s been out so much because of work like he claimed, and Agatha had stayed, chattering to fill the silence.

But I could feel Noah’s eyes on me. Watching me. Studying me.

I pushed the plate of grilled chicken aside and reached for the vegetables instead. My stomach churned at the sight of meat, the nausea creeping in quicker these days.

“You’re not eating that?” Noah asked casually, but his gaze sharpened when I shook my head.

“I’m not really in the mood,” I said lightly, stabbing at the broccoli like it was enough of an excuse.

Noah leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “You’ve been avoiding a lot of things lately.

Coffee. Meat. Even wine. Since when do you hate all your favorites?”

I froze, the fork suddenly felt heavy in my hand. “I just… don’t feel like it, that’s all.”

Agatha jumped in quickly, forcing a laugh. “Maybe she’s just trying to be healthier. People go through phases, Noah.”

But Noah’s eyes stayed on me, dark and unreadable. “Phases don’t make people change overnight.”

The tension between us thickened, and I could barely breathe. I forced a smile, pushing away from the table. “I’m fine. Really. Stop making it a big deal.”

He didn’t answer. He just studied me for a moment longer before standing. “I need to step out. Don’t wait up.”

The front door clicked shut, and I felt my shoulders sag with relief.

Agatha exhaled loudly. “That was close. He’s starting to notice, Eve. You won’t be able to hide this forever.”

My throat tightened. “I don’t have a choice. If he finds out, he’ll kill me. If Ian finds out…”

“Don’t even say his name.” Agatha’s voice cut sharp, and when I looked at her, her expression was serious. “You don’t understand the kind of man Ian is.

I’ve been hearing a lot of things about him lately, that he’s the type of man that… Nobody crosses, if they do, they don’t just get hurt, Eve. They disappear. They end up ruined.”

Her words sent a cold shiver down my spine.

Because deep down, I knew she wasn’t exaggerating.

And I was already in too deep.