Ten O’Clock Promises

Valeria Langford stood by the window in her silk robe, fingers gently tracing the curve of her barely-there baby bump. A smile made its way to her lips. It was gentle, soft, and full of quiet excitement.

Today was a day she had waited for, prayed for, and even cried for in the darkest hours of the night. Two years of marriage. Two years since she said “I do” to Ares Langford, the man she believed she was destined to be with. But even more beautiful than that milestone was the secret she held within her, a secret that had bloomed two weeks ago and now gre inside her.

She was pregnant.

The thought made her squeal happily. After two years of fertility treatments, disappointment, and sleepless nights filled with whispered prayers, they had finally succeeded. Artificial insemination had worked. And today, of all days,.she would get to tell Ares.

“Mia!” she called out, her voice full of bubbling energy.

The head maid appeared at the door in an instant, her gray hair neatly pinned, her apron tired firmly on her waist. She looked surprised to see Valeria happy knowing she hadn't had this much smile on her face for a while.

“Mia, where should we put the roses?” Valeria asked, walking through the grand hallway.

Mia blinked for a moment before catching up. “Oh! Yes, ma’am. The roses. I think we should place them around the fireplace and also on the porch outside.”

“Perfect,” Valeria said with a quick nod. “And make sure the lavender arrangements go near the dining hall. Aress loves the scent.”

Mia smiled and quickly turned to instruct the other maids. The house was filled with energy, maids scurried around trying to fit everything in the right places.

Decorations beautified the living room, candles were lit, crystal glasses were placed on the long oak dining table. Valeria moved from room to room, fixing minor details, laughing with the chefs in the kitchen, tasting some appetizers, adjusting flower placements. The mansion looked like something out of a dream,

By late afternoon, guests began to arrive. Valeria had only invited Ares’s closest friends, those he trusted, the people who had stood by him since before the Langford name meant something. They came in suits and sleek dresses, bringing gifts, champagne, and congratulations.

Valeria greeted each of them with a smile and a soft hug, carefully hiding her bigger surprise. She wanted Ares to be the first to know. She kept brushing her hand over her stomach, wondering if maybe the child could feel her joy already.

As the clock struck 9:30 p.m., she found herself checking the time more often. Ares was always home by 10. Always. That was one of the constant things about Ares. He was always on time. No matter what meeting he had, what business meeting he had to attend, he always walked through the door at 10 sharp.

The living room glowed under a chandelier, music humming low beneath the conversation. Valeria poured wine for the guests, moving with the grace of a hostess born for this life, though she subtly avoided drinking any herself. Her friends asked if she was tired. She just smiled.

At exactly 10 p.m., she excused herself from the guests and walked to the porch, her heels clicking softly on the marble floor. She glanced at her watch again.

She let out a deep sigh. Nothing.

By 10:20, a few of the guests noticed her growing impatience. She laughed it off, saying Ares was probably stuck in traffic or caught up in a call. Still, deep down, her stomach twisted, not with fear, but with anxiety. This moment had to be perfect.

At 10:30, headlights finally flashed outside.

Valeria’s breath caught.

“He’s here,” she whispered.

“Places, everyone!” Mia clapped her hands quickly. The guests scattered into hiding, the hallway, behind the stairwell, ducking behind pillars and furniture like children playing a game. The music changed to a slow sensual song. The lights dimmed further, leaving only the warm glow of the chandelier above.

Valeria stood in the center of it all, her heart pounding and face lit up with hope.

The front door opened and Ares walked in.

He stepped into the hallway, his tall figure framed by the moonlight from behind. His tailored coat was soaked slightly due to the rain and then suddenly he halted his steps.

And then, everyone jumped out.

“Surprise!”

Cheers erupted from every corner. Balloons floated in the air, and rained from above. Ares blinked rapidly a few times, his jaw clenching. His eyes scanned the crowd, the glittering decorations, the glasses raised in celebration, and finally landed on Valeria, standing just a few steps away in a satin ivory dress, her eyes glistening.

Valeria stepped forward, her heart pounding. Her hands clasped over her belly, her lips parting open to speak…..

But Ares’s voice cut through the celebration, loud and sharp.

“What the hell is going on here?”