Chapter 4

Anyta's POV

“Why didn’t you pack up earlier?” Everett’s voice was full of anger. “The flight leaves in five hours.”

I rubbed at my temple. “I... I don’t feel well. I probably have a fever.”

His face turned dark. “Stop pretending. You’re just stalling because you don’t want to leave.”

“I’m not pretending.” I muttered.

“Pretence or not, you are leaving today!” he interjected. “I’ll drive you to the airport myself, and you’re getting on that plane whether you want to or not.”

His words drove the last bit of sleep from my eyes. He was driving me. Him, not a driver or an assistant. Bitter laughter bubbled in my chest, but I forced it down. Of course it wasn’t because he cared, he just wanted to make sure I actually left.

"Be downstairs in five minutes!" He snapped at me before slamming the door in my face.

Dragging myself, I took a quick bath and stumbled to the half-open suitcase. My limbs felt heavy, but I forced myself to fold clothes, stack shoes and shove toiletries into the side pocket. Sweat dampened my forehead, and I sank onto the bed, panting. The sleep I'd had earlier hadn’t helped at all.

Grabbing the thermometer, I pressed it under my tongue. When it beeped, the numbers glared back at me. Yeah, I definitely had fever.

“Great.” I muttered to myself.

I reached for the bottle of medicine on the nightstand, but my hand froze halfway. What if it wasn’t safe? What if it hurt the baby?

I dropped the pills back onto the table and sighed. I couldn’t risk it.

“Get it together, Anyta,” I whispered hoarsely and continued packing. Then the door banged open again.

“Why haven’t you finished packing yet?” Everett’s voice barked from the entrance.

I squeezed my eyes, too drained to answer.

A moment later, his footsteps were pounding closer. He stopped in front of me, glaring down at me where I sat slumped on the floor.

I pulled myself upright, swaying slightly. "I'm sorry, Everett."

“Well, there's no time!” Everett snatched up a pile of clothes from the chair, crammed them into my suitcase without care and zipped it shut.

“Wait!” I protested.

“Shut up.” He yanked the suitcase handle, hauling it upright with a sharp snap. “We’re leaving.”

Before I could say anything else, his hand closed around my wrist and he dragged me toward the stairs. I barely had the strength to pull back.

********

By the time we reached the airport, I couldn't even hold myself upright. The words I needed to tell Everett: "I’m pregnant" never made it past my lips.

I stared at his profile in the car. What would he do if he knew? Demand I get rid of it? Probably.

No, I’d never let him know. This baby deserved more than his rejection.

The car slowed in front of the departure gate and Everett didn’t bother looking at me. “Get out." He ordered flatly.

“You’re not… coming in?”

“I don’t have time for this.” He grunted. “Get out, Anyta.”

"Right." I reached for the door handle with shaky fingers, dragging my suitcase onto the curb. Everett's assistant who followed us also got down from the car. By the time I shut the door, Everett was already leaning back.

The window slid down just long enough for him to add, “Don’t contact me again.” Then it rolled back up. The car peeled away, leaving me standing there like discarded luggage.

Everett’s assistant grabbed my suitcase handle. “Mrs. Ashbourne, I’ll take you to the security check. Madame Ashbourne wanted me to tell you she’ll arrange money in your account, enough to survive until you find your footing in Italy. She hopes you’ll call once you arrive.”

I managed a weak smile. “Tell her I will.”

Two months later....

“Can you hurry it up?” I leaned against the wall, waiting while my roommate chatted endlessly on the phone. The moment she hung up, I took a deep breath. “Listen… I need help with rent again.”

Rosa my Italian roommate gave me an angry look. “Again? I already covered you once, Anyta. I’m not your sponsor.”

“I’ll pay you back, please."

“Forget it.” She folded her arms. “If you can’t afford rent, you shouldn’t even be in dance school. Honestly, how are you paying tuition? Stolen money?” Her eyes were full of suspicion.

I gasped. “What? No!”

She rolled her eyes and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there humiliated.

I sank onto my narrow bed, pulling out my phone. No bank transfer again. My account was still frozen.

For weeks, I’d scraped by on part-time jobs, selling whatever I could bear to part with. But it wasn’t enough. If things didn’t change, I’d have to quit school and that thought alone made my chest cave in.

I scrolled through my contacts, calling, texting and trying every number I thought might help. Nothing. No reply. Not even from Grandma Jo.

My hand drifted to my stomach. The small bump was beginning to show. My baby deserved better than this, and I couldn’t just give up.

Which left me with one last option.

I dialed Everett’s number with trembling hands. The phone rang and rang, then clicked.

“Hello?” The voice wasn’t his, it was Siena’s.

“Siena?” I whispered.

“Yes. Everett is busy. You can tell me what you need.”

"Siena, this is Anyta." I hesitated. “I… I just… could you tell him I need some money? Please? Just enough to keep up with my classes.”

"Oh, it's you!" Her voice changed from polite to pompous. “Of course. I’ll make sure Everett knows.”

“Thank you,” I whispered. Against all logic, I wanted to believe her. Everett was rich and careless with money. Surely he wouldn’t mind.

But a few days later, nothing came. No call, no transfer and no reply. The landlord showed up instead and kicked me out of the apartment.

And just like that, I was standing on the curb again, this time with nothing but my suitcase and a pregnancy I swore I’d protect.