Chapter 41: Traces of a Pregnancy

That same afternoon, Alexander arranged the appointment at the private clinic. When they arrived, the place was calm, with the murmurs of patients and doctors moving in the background. Isabella felt her stomach churn with nerves as Alexander accompanied and guided her through the halls, offering her a sense of security that, in that moment, was her only support.

Finally, they were received in a small private room, where the doctor, a man with gray hair and a kind expression, greeted them with a smile.

—Isabella, Alexander, welcome. Alexander briefly explained your situation to me —the doctor began—. We will conduct some tests and check the hospital database to see if there are any previous records.

Isabella nodded, feeling her heart race. Her mind was filled with thoughts and fears, wondering if this path would lead her to the truth or if, once again, she would find shadows and unanswered questions.

The doctor examined her with delicacy and professionalism, requesting a series of tests to get a complete view of her history. When he finished, he left them in the room, mentioning that the results would take a few days.

As soon as they were alone, Isabella lowered her gaze, not knowing how to express the mixture of anxiety and hope that overwhelmed her.

—Alexander… I'm scared. What if… what if I'm not who I think I am? —she whispered, her voice trembling, finally letting out some of her vulnerability.

Alexander gently took her bandaged hand, conveying his calmness.

—It doesn't matter what we discover, Isabella. I'm here, with you. And whatever happens, you can always count on me. You’re not alone in this.

Isabella looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and a spark of hope. She knew she was on an uncertain and painful path, but with Alexander by her side, she felt she could face any truth, no matter how difficult.

As they left the clinic, Isabella and Alexander walked in silence toward the car. The atmosphere was charged with contained emotions, and each step made Isabella's chest feel heavier and heavier.

—Do you want me to take you home? —Alexander asked as he opened the car door for her.

Isabella shook her head, still distracted.

—No… I want to go to the park, the one I used to take Ethan to when I started taking care of him. I need to clear my head a little —she replied.

Alexander nodded, and without saying anything, he drove toward the park. They arrived shortly after, and together they began walking among the trees, listening to the whisper of the leaves moving with the wind. The calmness of the place gave them a moment of peace amidst all the uncertainty.

—Alexander —Isabella began after a while—, I want to thank you. I never thought anyone would take such an interest in helping me… especially with something as complicated as discovering my own past.

Alexander looked at her seriously, but his eyes reflected a sincere warmth.

—Isabella, you're someone very important in Ethan's life, so you're also important in mine. I couldn’t do this any other way —he said firmly.

Isabella lowered her gaze, unable to hide the emotion those words provoked in her. For so long, she had felt that her life was filled with emptiness, with unanswered questions, and now, Alexander was becoming her anchor amidst that storm.

—I hope the truth isn’t as devastating as I fear —she murmured, almost to herself—. There’s something about that dream, that woman who takes the baby from me… it's like I know her, but I can’t remember anything else.

—Maybe the answer is closer than we think —Alexander replied, trying to infuse hope—. Don’t worry, Isabella, whatever happens, we’ll face this together.

They both continued walking, sharing the silence of those who understand that sometimes words are unnecessary. Even though the questions were still there, just the fact that she didn't have to face them alone gave Isabella a breath, a renewed strength to face whatever destiny had in store for her.

After a few minutes of silence, Isabella stopped by a bench in the park and sat down. Alexander looked at her, understanding that she needed this moment to gather her thoughts.

—Alexander —she said finally, looking at him with a mix of determination and vulnerability—, what if what we find out is… something hard to accept?

Alexander sat beside her and gave her a firm look, full of empathy.

—Then, we’ll face it. You’re not alone in this, Isabella. Whatever it is, I won’t let it consume you.

She nodded, but her hands trembled as she played with a twig she found on the ground.

—Sometimes… I feel like I'm living someone else's life, like everything I’ve done so far has been a kind of lie —she confessed—. It's like every time I close my eyes, that dream becomes more real, more tangible. And the woman who appears… I can't remember her face, but her presence feels so familiar, so terrifying…

Alexander observed her gestures, realizing how much this was tormenting her.

—Isabella, maybe this investigation isn’t just about knowing whether you were pregnant, but reconnecting with who you really are. Sometimes, forgotten memories hold answers we didn’t even know we were looking for —he replied calmly, placing a hand over hers.

Isabella looked at him, her eyes reflecting the deep unease she felt.

—Thank you, Alexander… I don’t know what I’d do without you —she whispered, feeling how the weight in her chest lightened a little.

Alexander's presence, his constant support, gave her the courage she needed to face that dark uncertainty surrounding her past.

That night, as the mansion slept in silence, Isabella walked down the dark hallway, with slow and cautious steps. She couldn’t sleep, and the memory of the dream, of that baby being ripped from her arms, burned in her mind.

She reached the door to Alexander's study, which was still ajar. She hesitated for a moment, but finally pushed the door open and entered, finding him reviewing some documents under the dim light of a lamp. Upon seeing her, Alexander lifted his gaze and smiled softly.

—Can’t sleep? —he asked in a low voice.

Isabella shook her head, walking toward him.

—I can't stop thinking about what we talked about. The memories I'm trying to decipher and that woman who… who seemed to hate me with all her soul —she said, her voice trembling—. I feel like there’s something terrible behind all of this, and no matter how hard I try to remember, there’s a void in my mind, like a part of my story has been erased.

Alexander stood up and approached her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders.

—Isabella, tomorrow we’ll do everything we can to uncover the truth. We’ll meet with doctors, search for records, anything that will help you recover those memories. But I want you to know that, no matter what, I’ll be here —he assured her.

She looked at him with a mixture of relief and fear.

—Thank you, Alexander. I don’t know how I ended up here, in the middle of your life, but… your support means more than you can imagine.

In that moment, Isabella felt that she was taking the first step toward something that would change her life forever.

The next day, Isabella received a call from the hospital. They informed her that the test results were ready and that she could pick them up. Nervous and with trembling hands, she decided to go alone, feeling that this moment was too personal to have anyone else by her side.

When she arrived, the doctor greeted her with a serene expression and invited her to sit in his office. Isabella looked at the walls, the diplomas, anything that would help her stay calm.

—Isabella, here are the results —the doctor said, extending her a white envelope.

She took the envelope, feeling the weight of the truth in her hands, but still hesitated to open it. After a deep breath, she slid her finger to open the envelope and pulled out the sheet detailing the tests. Her eyes scanned the lines, searching for the words that would confirm what she had feared.

—It says… that I was pregnant —she whispered, her voice broken, as the paper fell onto her lap.

The doctor nodded in understanding.

—That’s right, Isabella. There are clear signs that your body went through a pregnancy at some point. However, there’s no information in your records about the birth of a child.

Isabella felt the ground crumble beneath her feet. The idea of having had a child and not remembering it, of not knowing what had happened to him, was an unbearable void. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she tried to find some answer.

—What happened to my baby? —she asked in a whisper filled with pain, as if the very air was missing.

The doctor lowered his gaze, aware that he couldn’t give her the answer she sought.

—Unfortunately, there’s no more information in our records, Isabella. The only thing I can recommend is that you continue searching. Perhaps in the past, someone might remember that moment.

Isabella left the hospital, feeling lonelier than ever, although now she knew she had had a child… one who, in some way, had been taken from her.