Three

A sharp, throbbing pain split across Nita’s temple, dragging her out of unconsciousness. Her eyelids fluttered open, heavy and reluctant, only to meet darkness. Not the peaceful kind that comes with nightfall, but a dense, suffocating black that made her heart quicken.

She tried to sit up, but her body felt leaden, each muscle protesting. A groan slipped from her lips as she sank back against the soft mattress beneath her.

l Where was she?

Her eyes adjusted gradually, shapes bleeding out of the shadows. A dim bulb hummed faintly overhead, revealing walls painted a muted navy blue. The room was bare – no pictures, nothing to suggest that a human being actually lived here. A table in the corner, a single chair, curtains pulled tightly over the window. It was cold, impersonal.

Panic pricked at the edges of her chest.

What happened?

Her last memory was of storming out of Nick’s office, anger clouding her vision. Then the blast of a car horn. A flash of white. The sickening crunch before everything went black.

Her hand darted to her stomach, trembling. She pressed her palm flat, almost afraid of what she might not feel.

The baby… please, let the baby be fine.

Tears stung her eyes as she whispered a prayer under her breath. The pain in her was sharp, but not unbearable. That gave her hope. If she could still feel this much, maybe her baby was safe.

She tried to push herself upright again when the door creaked open.

Her head whipped toward it, heart hammering.

A figure stepped inside, careful and measured. A woman. Her face was partly hidden beneath the brim of a dark cap, and in her hands she carried a tray with a single glass of water. There was no crisp uniform, no sterile gloves – nothing about her said doctor or nurse. Instead, she moved with deliberate slowness, each step almost counted, as though she wanted to be noticed.

The stranger stopped at Nita’s bedside and held out the glass. “Drink this,” she said softly.

Nita’s throat burned with thirst, but suspicion sharpened her voice. “Who are you?”

The woman chuckled lightly, as if amused. “Still curious as ever, Nita. I should’ve known.” She tipped the glass toward her again. “You must be parched. Drink first. Questions later.”

Nita froze.

Her name.

This wasn’t some random stranger. This person knew her.

Her pulse thudded in her ears as she forced herself upright again, fighting the ache in her side just to get a better look.

The woman laughed softly at the effort and reached out, pressing her gently back against the pillows. “Careful. You’re still recovering from the hit. No sudden moves.” Her tone was teasing, familiar in a way that sent a rush of memories through Nita’s mind.

Then, with a quick motion, the woman removed her cap.

A cascade of brilliant red hair tumbled free, catching the dull light.

Nita’s breath caught in her throat. Recognition hit her like a second collision. Her mouth opened, then closed again, her voice a broken whisper, “Mia…?”

The woman’s lip curved into a smile that was both mischievous and warm. “The one and only.”

For a moment, Nita could only stare. Years of separation melted away in an instant, leaving her disoriented with disbelief. She had long buried the idea of ever seeing Mia again. Her childhood best friend had vanished from her life without a word, leaving behind questions and an ache that time never fully dulled. And yet here she was.

“How…?” Nita’s voice broke as tears spilled unbidden down her cheeks. “Where have you been? I thought I’d lost you forever.”

Mia set the tray aside and crouched beside the bed, her hands warm as they clasped Nita’s trembling fingers. “I know. I owe you answers. And I’ll give them. But first, drink.” She lifted the glass again, steady against Nita’s lips. “Please. For me.”

This time, Nita obeyed, sipping slowly. The cool water slid down her parched throat, calming the dryness that burned her tongue. She exhaled shakily, finally able to lean back against the pillows without chocking.

Mia pulled a chair close and sat beside her. “I nearly couldn’t believe it myself,” she admitted. “When my car struck a woman this morning, I thought I’d ruined someone’s life. But when I saw your face…” she shook her head, smiling with a kind of awe. “Fate. Nita. Nothing less. Fate put you back in my path.”

Nita’s heart swelled with both relied and sorrow. She studied Mia’s face, drinking in every line. “All this time,” she whispered. “And you just show up because you hit me with your car?”

Mia laughed, brushing a tear from Nita’s cheek. “It wasn’t planned, I swear. But I won’t question it. You’re here. Alive. In front of me.

For a moment, silence fell between them, heavy with emotion.

Nita’s gaze wandered around the room, more curious now. “You live here?”

Mia shook her head. “Not exactly. This is just where I stay whenever I’m in the States. My real home…” Her lips quirked into a secretive smile. “Adonis.”

Nita frowned. She had heard the name before – a secluded island, whispered about like a myth. Aplace where people disappeared to live unbothered, hidden from the rest of the world.

“You don’t live here?” she pressed.

“No,” Mia said simply. “Adonis is where I belong. And…” she leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “where I think you belong too.”

Nita blinked. “what do you mean?”

“I came here for a reason,” Mia said, folding her arms. “I’m recruiting. I need the best hacker I can find. And as fate would have it, the best happens to be lying in my bed right now.”

Nita’s stomach tightened. She shook her head lowering her gaze. “I don’t do that anymore.”

Mia’s brow knit together. “What do you mean you don’t? You were a genius. The best in the game. Why waste that?”

Nita swallowed hard. Shame, grief, and resignation welled up inside her as she spoke. Words tumbled out before she could stop them; about her family, marriage, Nick, the lies, the heartache. Also about her pregnancy.

“You’re carrying a child now?” Mia asked softly.

Nita nodded, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. “Yes.”

A slow smile spread across Mia’s face. “Then all the more reason to some with me. You need to protect yourself and the baby. You need stability, safety, freedom. And I can give you that.

Nita’s lips trembled as she tried to form an argument. “We’ll manage. Somehow.”

“How?” Mia pressed gently but firmly. “Tell me, Nia – how? Alone? Depending on the mercy of a man who already broke you?”

Nita’s eyes burned as she blinked rapidly, words failing her.

Mia leaned closer, her tone soft but resolute. “You need this. Not just for you but for your child. Adonis isn’t just a place to hide. It’s a place to start over.”

The silence stretched between them, heavy and undeniable. Nita’s thoughts churned – Nick, her broken heart, her unborn baby, the impossible weight of her circumstances.

Finally, she drew in a shuddering breath and nodded, “Fine,” she

. “But on one condition.”

Mia’s eyes narrowed curiously. “What’s that?”

“I work anonymously. No one knows my name. No one knows it’s me.”

For a moment, Mia studied her face, then a grin spread wide across her face. “Deal. Anonymous or not, I just need your brilliance. And I promise, Nita – I’ll keep you safe. Both of you.”

Her hand brushed over Nita’s stomach knowingly.

Relief washed over Nita, so sudden it almost made her dizzy. She leaned back, exhaling for what felt like the first time since the accident. Adonis. A hidden island. A fresh start.

Her palm rested protectively over her stomach, a fragile smile curving her lips.

Adonis might just be the perfect place for me and my child.