LOGINNo matter how much Riyana tried to understand it, her mind refused to work. The thoughts were there, loud and messy, but they did not make sense. Everything felt unreal, like she was walking inside someone else’s life.
When she returned home, she did not even change her clothes. She closed the door behind her, leaned her back against it for a few seconds, and then slowly slid down until she was sitting on the floor. Her legs felt weak. Her body felt tired in a way sleep could not fNo matter how much Riyana tried to understand it, her mind refused to work. The thoughts were there, loud and messy, but they did not make sense. Everything felt unreal, like she was walking inside someone else’s life.When she returned home, she did not even change her clothes. She closed the door behind her, leaned her back against it for a few seconds, and then slowly slid down until she was sitting on the floor. Her legs felt weak. Her body felt tired in a way sleep could not fix.She stood up after a while and walked to the bedroom. The room looked the same as always, neat and quiet, but she felt like a stranger inside it. She lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Her hands rested on her stomach without her even realizing it.Pregnant.The word still felt heavy. It scared her, but at the same time, something deep inside her felt warm and protective. She did not know how both feelings could exist together, but they did.She did not know wh
Riyana stood in front of the gallery for a long moment. People were going in and out, familiar faces, familiar routines. Normally, this place grounded her. Today, it felt heavy.She let out a slow breath.Instead of walking inside, she turned around and raised her hand for a taxi.“Hospital,” she told the driver after getting in.Her fingers tightened around her bag strap. She had already taken an appointment yesterday, quietly, without telling anyone.She needed answers first. Only then would she decide what to do next.The ride felt longer than usual. Her thoughts kept jumping everywhere.The way her emotions kept slipping out of her control. She tried to convince herself it was just stress. Too much pressure piling up at once.Still, her chest felt tight.When she reached the hospital, a nurse guided her inside. The clean smell, the white walls, the quiet footsteps. Everything made her more aware of her own heartbeat.
After ending the call, Riyana didn’t waste any time. She opened her banking app, transferred the money, checked the confirmation twice, and then blocked his number. No hesitation. No second thoughts.When the screen showed the contact was blocked, she felt something inside her finally loosen.She placed the phone down on the bedside table and let out a slow breath, as if she had been holding it in for years.At that moment, the door opened.Jabco walked in, his steps quiet, his eyes immediately searching for her face. “Are you okay now?” he asked, his voice low, careful.Riyana turned her head slightly toward him and nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine.”He studied her for a second, as if trying to decide whether to believe her or not. Then he said, “Alright. I’ll take a shower.”Without waiting for a reply, he headed into the bathroom.Riyana stayed where she was. The room was quiet again. The weight
Riyana held her breath.“And?” she pressed.“And lack of nutrition,” he finished.Her shoulders dropped before she could stop herself.Oh.So it wasn’t what she had feared.She didn’t know when that fear had started growing inside her, but it had been there, heavy and quiet. Now it eased, just a little.Jabco scooped up a spoonful of porridge and held it near her lips. “Eat.”She hesitated, then opened her mouth.The porridge was warm and plain, almost tasteless, but her stomach accepted it without protest. Jabco didn’t rush her. He waited patiently between each spoonful, watching her face, her breathing, the way her hand rested limply on the bed.“You didn’t eat anything last night,” he said quietly. “Not at the gala. Not properly at the restaurant.”“I wasn’t hungry,” she replied.“That’s not the same thing as being fine,” he said.She didn’t argue. She was too tired for that.He fed her slowly, one spoon at a time. She hated how weak she felt, hated that she needed this, but she di
Riyana blinked slowly.Her eyes felt heavy, like they had weights tied to them.For a moment, she couldn’t understand where she was.The light in the room felt too bright, sharp against her tired eyes. Sunlight was pouring in through the window, spreading across the bed and the walls.She closed her eyes again, then opened them little by little, giving herself time.Her body felt weak. Even breathing felt like effort.When she turned her face slightly, she froze.Jabco was right there.So close that she could see every detail of his face. His sharp jaw. The faint shadow under his eyes. His brows were relaxed in sleep, nothing like the controlled, distant man he was when awake.He was lying next to her, but not properly. His back rested awkwardly against the headboard, his neck tilted at an uncomfortable angle. One of his arms was stretched above her head, pressed between the pillow and the bed. The other hand was holding hers, his f
The door opened just enough.Jabco reacted without thinking.He caught her before her body could hit the wall or the floor, his arms wrapping around her instinctively.“Riyana!” he called her name, fear sharp in his voice.She didn’t respond.He shook her gently, then a little harder. “Riyana, look at me. Can you hear me?”Nothing.Her head rested limply against his chest, her face pale, her breathing shallow.His heart felt like it stopped.For a moment, his body froze, fear rushing through him so fast his hands began to tremble. He picked her up carefully, holding her as if she might break, and carried her to the bedroom.He laid her down on the bed, brushing her hair back from her face with shaking fingers.Then he grabbed his phone.“I need you here within ten minutes,” he said into the call, his voice tight, leaving no room for questions. He ended the call immediately, sent the







