Chapter 3

Betty’s POV

That night, I am unable to sleep. Each time I closed my eyes, the two pink lines that changed my entire life flashed in front of me on the pregnancy test strips. I had to tell Larry, I knew. He was entitled to know. But my chest was weighted with worry. Would he believe me? Would he refer to me as a gold-digging, and not just a slut?

I had to try at least. Picked up my phone and sat on the edge of my bed.

"All right, Betty. Just call him, you can do this... nothing to be afraid of, he isn't such a monster...I guess.” I gave myself a pep talk before punching Larry's number with my shaky fingers. After the first ring, the call cut mid-way.

"Hey?...Larry?” I said into the cold silence on the phone. However, the call was already over. I gave it another go, but this time it didn't ring. It immediately went to voicemail. It's Larry Ronan here. Make a note.

His voice made my heart skip a beat. I talked quickly. "It's me, Betty, Larry. I must speak with you. It's crucial. Call me back, please....” I waited after sending the message. Minutes turned into hours. Not a single response...Nothing. Instead, I texted: Please, Larry. It has to do with something important. I am unable to state it here. Meet me, please.

I hit the transmit button. But in my gut, something wasn't quite right. There was still no response hours later. I tried emailing the following morning. I poured my heart out in a lengthy message that I typed.

“I must see you, Larry. I'm expecting a child. There's no trick here. I felt you had the right to know...I sent it. I felt a wave of relief.”

Now he would see it. Can't escape it now.

But again—nothing. nothing from him. Days went by. No answer.

I said to myself in confusion, "Why isn't he responding? Has he blocked me? "

I was unaware that my calls, texts, and emails had already been intercepted by someone else. Someone who wished to keep my secret hidden from Larry. A week later, I heard someone knock on my door. My stomach turned over. I didn't think anyone would show up.

"Who is it? I asked thoughtfully.

A cool, silky voice responded. "Come on, Megan. Or ought I to say... Betty? "

My blood froze. Vivienne was the one.

After some hesitation, I opened the door. A vicious smirk was plastered on her face as she stood tall in her dazzling heels. She entered without waiting for my invitation. "You thought you could keep me in the dark, didn't you?”

I stroked my stomach gently with my palms

"Vivienne, what do you want? " I sighed.

She took out an envelope from her bag and pushed it across to me. She lets out a hideous smile before spitting out.

"I know your little secret. You are carrying Larry’s child.”

My eyes widened in shock.

"H-how did you?"

"It doesn't matter," she interrupted abruptly. “You must vanish. Take this cash and disappear. Don’t even think about telling Larry, I will ruin you if you don't. I will make life more terrible and pathetic for you than it already is. I will make sure your name appears in every headline. Larry will despise you even more than he does now. “

Her words pierced through my heart, causing hot tears to blaze from my eyes. I shook my head frantically.

"He is entitled to the truth. He has a right to know about his child,” I spoke, my voice breaking.

With icy eyes, Vivienne leaned in closer. “Would he believe you, in your opinion? You mean nothing to him. He already believes you are already a gold-digging slut, and could do this to tie him down for his money...” I shook my head in disbelief, watching her recite this false narrative.

“On the other hand, you will ruin him if you stay. If you have any ounce of humanity, you’ll consider how hard he has worked to get to where he is; you and your child will both be better off away. And he wouldn’t blame you or the child, so you both would be saved if you disappeared.”

Her remarks were profound. Fear and anguish ached in my chest, knowing she could be right.

"What are you doing?" I asked, not wanting her to answer. She had a mean smile that I could wipe it off her face.

"Because Larry and I belonged to each other, unlike you.... You are opposite each other. Look around you, Betty....Do you even think you fit in Larry’s world?”Vivian is everything terrible, but she wasn't wrong, I mean, look, even her perfume doesn't fit in my crappy apartment, come to speak of Larry. What was I expecting? I was only a call slut to him and nothing more. The flash of how Larry threw the dollar bill at me in the hotel room hurts more than Vivian’s words.

There was a loud silence between us. Then I grabbed the envelope with shaking hands.

"Good girl," Vivienne purred excitedly.

"Now go far away. Never return.”

The toughest thing I had ever done was leave the city. I packed my tiny suitcase with just the envelope containing the hush money and a few clothing. With a shattered heart and watery eyes, I looked back at the city skyline as the bus departed.

Goodbye. Larry. My love. In stark contrast to the bustle of the city, the seaside village felt peaceful and at the right pace. However, I still felt imprisoned in my own secret, even though the air smelled like freedom and salt. I used a fictitious name to rent a little cottage. I was no longer Betty after then. I was "Lena," a woman who concealed her past. After several months had passed, my belly began to show; it was unreal, yet it unfolded beautifully.

At night, I'd stroke my belly gently, reassuring my unborn child.

"You are not a mistake, my darling baby. I love you endlessly. I love you always and forever.”

One stormy night, the reality of what my secrets were worth began to come to life through pain and a few pushes. With courage, I finally delivered on that stormy night. With a smile, the midwife gave me a tiny bundle. "It is a boy."

When I looked at him, my heart melted. Little hands. Little inhalations. An ideal small life. I kissed Liam's forehead. "Hello, Liam, Mama is here, i will never leave you.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt whole and broken at the same time for the first time. Life continued in the distance without me.

The city heard that Larry Ronan had gotten engaged once more. For business, not for love.

Vivienne's family provided the authority that his family desired. They pretended to be a happy couple as they smiled for the cameras. However, I was aware of the reality behind closed doors: Larry's eyes lacked warmth. His smile was devoid of enthusiasm.

When the wind howled outside my cottage, I rocked baby Liam and held him close to my chest. "He doesn't even know you exist." I wispeared, quietly to your father. However, one day he will. I had no idea when or how. But stories were cruelly woven together by fate. And I had a long way to go. There was a knock on the door one evening as I was putting Liam in his cradle.

My heart pounded. Knocks rang through the cottage, hard and harsh. I went cold. I never had any visitors here. I was expected to keep where I lived a secret.

I grabbed for the door handle with shaking hands. I opened it slowly— And let out a gasp. I never imagined seeing that figure again, standing there in the darkness.

"Hello, Betty." I stumbled back, holding on to Liam. How did you locate me, yo...you? "

With a menacing gleam in its eyes, the creature entered. There, I realized my secret was no longer secure.