The morning's warmth spilled across the estate like a gentle lover's caress. The mansion awakened, as light dances through the trees. Outside, the birds chirped happily, their melodies entwining like tender whispers, filling the atmosphere with joy.
Isla's eyes fluttered open and she glanced at the other side of the bed only to be met with emptiness.
There was no sign of her husband in the room.
'Did he not return yesterday?'
Before she could get up, the door flew open and her husband, Luca walked in. A towel was wrapped around his waist and his hair was damp, telling her he just came out of the shower.
Without sparing her a glance, he walked straight to his closet and started to pick out his clothes for the day.
Isla sighed, a hint of sadness and deep-seated longing settled in her chest. She seemed to be searching for something, a connection, a spark, maybe a glimmer of recognition.
"Lu…." Before she could complete the word, a wave of nausea hit her, sudden and intense. Her stomach churned and her throat constricted. She sprang out of the bed, her movements swift and urgent as she rushed to the bathroom, clutching her stomach.
The door slammed shut behind her, and she bent over the toilet, her body convulsing to in a bid to rid itself of whatever was causing the distress.
Luca didn't even bother to check in on her, instead he just walked out with his clothes in his hand, slamming the door behind him.
Isla sighed, flushing the toilet before getting up to freshen up.
After taking her bath, she wore a casual black dress and went downstairs for breakfast.
Luca was already seated, sipping his coffee and reading through a file.
Isla pulled out a chair and sat down as one of the maids brought her breakfast. Looking at the eggs and sausages in the plate, she began to feel nauseous again so she quickly asked the maid to make her some ginger tea instead.
"Luca?" Isla called softly after the maid had disappeared. He raised his eyes for a split second before looking back at his file but Isla still spoke.
"I haven't been well for some days now and I think I have to see the doctor. Do you mind dropping me off at the hospital on your way to work?"
"Let the driver take you," he said, his eyes glued to his files.
"He has to drive you to the office as well, which is why….."
"Since you know this then why don't you find another alternative?" Luca cut her off sharply.
"But…."
"What? You think I want to sit in the same car with you?"
His words cut Isla like a sharp glass.
"I just wanted you to drop me off, that's all. Or let the driver take me since you can drive."
Luca chuckled, cold and humorless.
" I see… I should drive myself, whiles you enjoy being driven by someone I hired. By someone I pay. You Lucy be sick in the head."
With that he got up and walked out, his file in his hand.
Isla let out a shaky breath, smiling softly at the maid who walked in with her ginger tea but she suddenly didn't feel like eating anything anymore.
She grabbed her phone to call her best friend when she realized she had installed Uber some days ago.
She scolded herself internally as she quickly book a ride. After confirming the ride, she dialed her best friend's number.
"Hey Isla, still feeling like crap," Mara asked as soon as the call connect.
Isla smiled, glad she had a friend like Mara.
"Yeah. I just booked an uber and was wondering if you would accompany me to the hospital."
"Fuck yeah," Mara responded in a "you-know-I will" tone.
"Alright then, see you at the hospital." Isla said and hang up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sterile scent of antiseptic burned Isla's nose as she sat on the hospital bed, legs swinging slightly, her fingers twisted into anxious knots. The room was cold. Too cold. Or maybe that was just her nerves.
Three days. Three days of nausea, exhaustion, and a dull ache in her chest she couldn't shake off. Not just physically—emotionally too. Like her body was trying to whisper what her heart already feared.
"I told you to come sooner," her best friend Mara said gently, perched beside her on the visitor's chair. Her voice was calm, but her eyes worried, searching,betrayed her concern.
"You don't just ignore feeling like crap for days, Isla."
"I thought it was stress," Isla murmured, staring down at her clenched hands.
"Work has been… overwhelming."
That was a lie. And she knew her friend knew it was a lie, but she was glad Mara didn't say what was on her mind.
The stress wasn't from work. It was from home,or what little of it she could still call home. From Luca. From the distance. From the late nights, the quiet phone calls, he moving to the guest room.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. The doctor entered with a clipboard, his expression unreadable. Isla's breath caught in her throat.
"Mrs. Smith," he said, polite but firm. "Your test results are back."
Mara stood up and reached for Isla's hand instinctively. Isla gripped it, hard.
The doctor smiled gently. "You're pregnant."
Silence. It dropped like a stone in the room.
Pregnant.
Isla blinked. Once. Twice. Her heart thudded loud in her ears.
Pregnant.
With Luca's child.
She felt Mara's grip tighten, anchoring her. But nothing could stop the wave crashing through her chest. Her mind screamed with one thought:
How do I bring a child into a marriage that's already broken?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isla stared outside the window, her fingers wrapped around the warm cup that contained hot chocolate. Her warmth seeped through her skin but she felt cold and hollow inside. Everything happening outside was a blur.
"You're pregnant," The doctor's voice echoed over and over in her head, causing it to spin.
"Isla?" She heard Mara call, before she placed her hand over Isla's.
Isla blinked, letting out a deep breath as she diverted her attention to her friend.
"Isla…you're pregnant, we know that now." Mara said gently. "What I do know now is…..your plan."
Isla looked down,
"I don't know," she admitted. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm not sure I can tell Luca."
"Why?"
"Mara, you know how Luca has changed since last year."
Isla looked up again. Mara's eyes were filled with concern and a slight anger.
"So what now? The way he treats you is not ok."
"I know Mara. But maybe…just maybe this child is meant to fix what's broken between us. Maybe this child is the one thing that will bring us back together.
Mara's expression softened, but pain still lingered in her eyes.
"Or maybe the reason you'll finally have the reason to walk away."
Isla looked down, the weight of uncertainty pressed her like a noose.
She didn't know what her future was,but the heartbeat growing inside her had already begun rewriting everything.