CHAPTER 3

LAURA'S POV

The Uber finally pulled over in front of my parents' house. I stepped out of the vehicle and the driver helped me get my luggage out of the trunk and up to my parents' doorstep. I tipped him for his services and he drove off. 

I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell, my heart pounding in my chest. My family had never been in support of my marriage to Antonio and now they were going to tell me they told me so at this outcome. I was embarrassed, but I had nowhere else to go. I didn't have any friends in the city and all the friends I had made during my marriage would surely take my husband... no... ex-husband's side. 

"Go get the door, Mira." I heard my father call out. 

A moment later, the door swung open, revealing a very familiar face. I smiled nervously. "Hey, ma."

The green eyes I had inherited from her narrowed at me, displeasure etched on her face. "What are you doing here?" 

I swallowed. "I don't have anywhere else to go. I just need a place to stay for a few days and -"

"You're not welcome here." She hissed. 

"Who's that?" Dad asked. 

"It's Laura." Mum replied. My father joined her at the door a second later, his face drawn into a hard mask. 

"Laura, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be here." He said. 

"I have nowhere else to go, please. You're my parents. You're all I have now." I pleaded. 

"Go back to your crazy husband." Mum snapped. "You're no daughter of us, anymore." 

"You chose that man over us." Father added. "You picked your side. So stay on that side."

"We are divorced. I left. He-"

Mum cut in harshly. "I don't care if he's dead. We knew that man was trouble and we warned you, but you wouldn't listen. You said you were in love. Well, where has that love gotten you now?" 

I sniffled. "Please, I just need a little help. I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. I thought he loved me." 

Mum snorted. "It's too late for that now. Leave and never come back." 

I opened my mouth to plead again but I immediately felt my stomach churn. I bent over and threw up on the grass, narrowly missing the welcome mat in front of the door. I stared up at my parents' weakly, feeling my body shake. "Please, I don't feel so good." 

"That stopped being our business when you said 'i do' to that man." Dad spat out. "let's go inside, Mira. And you, Laura, you had better not be here in the next five minutes or we'll have to call the cops to remove you forcefully." 

I couldn't believe my ears. How could they be so cruel? The door banged shut on me and I stared at it in sorrow. I was unwanted from every corner. I bent over and threw up again. This was the worst time for me to be ill. I already had too much on my plate to deal with. First things first, I had to leave my parents' doorstep before they made good on their threat. 

In my weakened state, I managed to drag my luggage to the road and get into a cab. 

"The nearest hospital please." I croaked out. My body was burning up and I just felt like passing out. 

Minutes later, the cab pulled over at the hospital parking lot. I paid the driver and got out with my things. I made my way into the hospital building, depositing my things with the receptionist at the front desk, then I got into the elevator headed to the second floor where I could get a quick test to check what was wrong with me. I hadn't eaten anything in almost twenty four hours so I discounted food poisoning. 

Luckily, the nurse attended to me immediately. I was asked to pee in a cup and blood was also taken. I didn't have to wait long for my result. 

"Congratulations, miss, you're pregnant." The doctor beamed at me. 

"No. I'm not." I said immediately. 

He gave me a look of confusion. "Yes, you are. Both your blood work and urine confirm that you are pregnant. Three months to be exact." 

I tried to remember when I had last seen my period. The stress of these past few months had made me lose track of it. Oh my God. I was pregnant. My hand immediately flew to my stomach. I was carrying a child. Antonio's child. My heart dropped to my stomach. What was I going to do? I had no money and no job. I couldn't stay in this city. The last thing I wanted was my ex-husband coming to claim this baby. He had enough money to take me to court with the best shark lawyers and my child would be taken away from me. Or worse, he could force me to get rid of the baby. 

This child was mine. My little miracle. My light in an otherwise dark world. I was going to keep it and love it and give this child the best life I could. 

"This is a critical time in every pregnancy, especially as you've not been aware of the baby all this while. You should get a sonogram so we can check how the baby is doing. You'll need-"

I turned the door out, my mind racing with plans. My first course of action was leaving this city. Pronto.

I stood up. "I need to go." 

"Okay, take a pamphlet from the front desk, it'll tell you what you need to know about your first pregnancy." He said. 

"Okay. Thank you." I rushed out of the room. I grabbed the pamphlet on my way out and my luggage and jumped into a cab. 

"Airport." I said quickly, digging my passport and ID card out. 

There was nothing left for me in this city. I was going to start afresh with my child. I clutched my stomach with a sm

all smile. We deserved a fresh start.