Chapter 50: CHAPTER 49

“Damn it! I swear, I wanted to slap that witch of a wife Aeros! Did you know she refused to hand over your things to me last night?” Elsie snapped angrily.

Her voice trembled with fury as she visited me at the hotel where Manang Hilda and I were temporarily staying after everything that had happened.

I kept my head down, unable to meet her eyes. My own eyes were swollen and burning from crying all night. I felt as though my entire world had collapsed.

“At least... you managed to get my things back,” I whispered hoarsely.

Elsie immediately placed her hands on her hips, her eyes blazing.

“Of course I got them! I told her that if she didn't hand over your belongings, I wouldn't hesitate to sue her for theft! Acting like some innocent saint!”

“That woman is truly awful...” I muttered bitterly. Why did things have to end up like this?

Elsie turned toward me. Her expression softened slightly, though the seriousness remained.

“Now that Aeros’s wife has caught the two of you, Lilith... please. Surely this time you'll finally forget about him?”

I nodded firmly, even though it felt as though my heart was being squeezed.

“That’s what I wanted to do... That's why I went out with Tomas, remember? I wanted to move on...” A sob escaped my lips as I covered my face with both hands. “But why did it have to happen like this? Just when I finally decided to let him go... I found out I was pregnant.”

Elsie immediately rushed over and gripped my shoulders tightly to calm me.

“Instead of being sad and regretting everything, Lilith, think of this as a sign. Why don't you start a new life? A clean beginning with the child growing inside you.”

Slowly, I lowered my hands and touched my still-flat stomach. Another warm tear slid down my cheek.

“My baby... our baby.”

“And remember this,” Elsie continued, concerned about lacing her voice. “If Aeros finds out you're pregnant, everything will become even more complicated. His wife will never leave you alone. She'll do everything she can to destroy you.”

I looked at her, wiping away my tears and gathering what little courage I had left.

“He won't find out. He'll never know that we have a child.”

“Exactly. Don't ever tell him,” Elsie said firmly. “Get as far away as possible, Lilith. Hide somewhere he can never find you.”

“Can you help me?” I pleaded, clinging to my last remaining hope.

“Of course. I'll take you to the province where my mother grew up. You'll be safe there.”

Despite the heaviness in my chest, I forced a smile.

“Thank you, Elsie. Thank you so much.”

“We're leaving right now, while everything is still fresh.”

“Ma'am Elsie...” Manang Hilda interrupted, worry evident on her face. “Ma'am Lilith should have a medical checkup first. She looks pale, and she needs vitamins for the baby as soon as possible.”

“She can have her checkup in the province, Manang,” Elsie replied. “It's safer there.” She turned to me. “You can take prenatal vitamins temporarily, even without a prescription, if you're comfortable with that.”

“I'll start taking the baby's vitamins once we've found a doctor in the province,” I agreed. “I want to leave this place as soon as possible.”

“Alright. Then let's go while it's still early.”

I turned to our elderly companion.

“Manang Hilda... do you really want to come with me?”

She nodded without hesitation. There was warmth and motherly affection in her eyes.

“Yes, Lilith. I'll come with you. I can't leave you alone in a situation like this.”

Elsie spoke up, wanting to make sure the older woman wasn't forcing herself.

“Are you sure, Manang? Don't worry. I can pay for your travel expenses and even give you a year's advance salary if you'd rather return to your family.”

Manang Hilda glanced at Elsie before looking back at me.

“My children already have families of their own, so it's alright if I don't go home for now. The truth is, I'd rather accompany Lilith wherever she's going. She's the one who needs me right now. Even if you stop paying me, that's fine.”

“Manang Hilda...” I whispered.

My heart nearly burst with gratitude. In the midst of losing everything, there was still someone who chose to stay by my side.

“Well then, we'd better leave before Sir Aeros finds out what's happened,” Manang Hilda said, quickly changing the subject to hide her own emotions.

Without another word, she lifted two heavy suitcases and two large bags.

“Let me help you, Manang Hilda,” Elsie offered.

I stood from the bed as well.

“I'll help too. It's embarrassing to let you carry everything—”

“No!”

They answered simultaneously and with such force that I froze.

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

“They're not even that heavy.”

“Don't,” Elsie insisted. “Think about what you're carrying. Manang Hilda and I will handle your luggage.”

“Alright... if you insist.”

“Come on, Manang Hilda.”

Once we were inside Elsie's car, a deafening silence settled over us.

Then suddenly, the sharp ringing of my cellphone shattered the quiet.

My heart lurched.

A wave of cold dread washed over me when I saw Aeros's name flashing across the screen.

My voice trembled as I looked at Elsie.

“A-Aeros is calling...”

“Reject it. Don't answer,” Elsie said firmly, her eyes fixed on the road.

I declined the call and forced myself to breathe.

But only seconds later, the phone rang again.

Fear tightened its grip around my chest.

“Sir Aeros must have realized you've left the mansion,” Manang Hilda said worriedly from the back seat. “He's probably looking for you now.”

“Turn your phone off completely, Lilith!” Elsie ordered, stress evident in her voice. “And buy a new SIM card later so he can never contact you again!”

“But... I've had this number for years. All my contacts are connected to it,” I protested weakly, reluctant to let go of the final piece of my old life.

“For heaven's sake, Lilith!” Elsie shouted, clearly fed up with my hesitation. “Don't use your SIM card as an excuse! You're not running away and hiding just to go back and let him hurt you again! Wake up!”

I lowered my head.

Her words stung, but I knew she was right.

“Okay... I'm sorry.”

I turned off my phone.

As the screen went black, it felt as though I was also extinguishing the last fragile hope that there was still something left between Aeros and me.

“If that number is connected to your email accounts or bank accounts, just update everything once you've bought a new SIM card in the province,” Elsie said more gently when she noticed my silence.

I nodded without answering and turned my gaze toward the window as the car sped farther away from the city.

Elsie was right, I thought as I fought back another wave of tears.

I would never truly forget Aeros if I allowed even a single thread to remain between us.

I had to erase him from my life.

For my own sake.

And for my child's.