Chapter 155 I got in
June
I kneel in front of the toilet, my stomach heaving, my hands shaking, my knees threatening to buckle. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block the world out.
I can’t believe what just happened.
Hermes… he acted like I didn’t exist. Like I was a stranger. And for a terrifying second, it felt real, because maybe it was.
Was this his way of fixing things? Pretending I wasn’t there? Pretending I didn’t matter?
And apparently… it worked. Natalya fired me. Released me, erased me. She freed me from her claws. I should feel relief. But I don’t, not with what I’m carrying.
I glance up at the pregnancy test lying on the skin. My chest tightens, my throat goes dry. Two faint pink lines. My doom.
Hermes can’t just let me go like this. What am I supposed to do with this… thing inside me? Raise it on my own? What if Natalya finds out? Would she ever actually let me go? Should I run?
I close my eyes, taking a shuddering breath. My world is spinning, collapsing, and I have no map out.
Then—there’s a knock on the door. My heart leaps. I splash cold water on my face, rinse off the nausea, and force myself to straighten.
I open it, and see Leila standing there.
"Come in," I say, my smile weak, faint.
"She fired me, Hermes’s fiancée. So… I guess I’m finally free," I say, my laugh brittle, almost like I'm testing if freedom tastes real.
It’s ironic. Tragic.
She and I—both tied to men we can’t reach, both trapped in situations bigger than us. Tobias in his coma after the surgery and Hermes… tied to his fiancée, tied to responsibilities I can’t touch.
I swallow hard. My hands tightens.
What can we even do?
Leila’s voice breaks me from my thoughts. "This is great news… but why don’t you look thrilled?"
I sigh heavily, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I should even tell her about the pregnancy. I don’t want to add to her burden, not now.
"Is it because you still love him?" Leila asks softly, a warm smile on her face.
I scoff, flopping back onto my bed. "Oh, we’re far past that stage. I’m just tired, that’s all," I lie. I flip onto my side, forcing a shrug. "What about you? Where did you go to?"
Leila sits beside me, swinging her legs over the edge. "The hospital," she says breezily.
My eyes widen. "To see Tobias? Is he awake?"
Her head shakes slowly, sorrow clouding her features. "No. He hasn’t woken up yet."
I exhale, letting my shoulders slump. "Oh… well, what did Lia say? Did you see his parents?"
Leila bites her lips, glancing away. "No, they left to go get something. Lia let me in. I told her you sent me, but I think she doesn’t believe a word I said."
"Trust me," I mutter, matter-of-factly. "She doesn’t. I wonder if you’ll tell them the truth. I’ll have to explain myself to Lia too—clear up all the lies I told her."
Leila sniffs, wiping at her cheeks. "Yeah… but that doesn’t matter. I just want him to wake up."
I place a comforting hand on her back, tapping lightly. "Don’t worry. The doctor said the surgery was successful. He will wake up," I assure her, though inside I’m not so certain.
Just then, my phone blinks. I glance at it and my eyes go wide. I fling it onto the bed.
Leila jumps, startled. "What happened?" she asks, seeing my frozen expression.
She grabs the phone, reading the screen. Her eyes light up. "Oh my God, June. You got in! You got in!"
I nod slowly, still in disbelief. My chest tightens with a mix of relief, disbelief, and hope. I had passed the international business competition—the one I did before starting at Apex. And now… a job offer in Germany.
This was it. My escape plan. My way out.
My hands tremble as Leila grabs them, tears streaking her cheeks. "You got your second dream job, June. You did so well."
I can’t stop the tears. I pull her into a tight hug, holding onto her like she’s the only thing keeping me grounded.
Leila pulls away from our hug, her face glowing with excitement.
"What will you do now? Are you going to accept it and move straight to Germany? Oh my, we need to tell Kayla!" Her voice spills out before she can stop herself. "We need to celebrate. I’ll go get drinks, and we can do shots. Oh… I’m pregnant. I can’t!" She laughs, and I can’t help but join her, a small smile tugging at my lips.
"Don’t worry, La. Calm down," I tell her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh! I know what to do! I’ll be right back." She practically jumps up and rushes out of the room.
"Where are you going?" I call after her, but she’s already gone.
I exhale deeply, sinking onto my bed for a moment. I wish I could feel the same lightness Leila does, but the seed growing inside me drags me back to reality. I can’t just accept the job offer while pregnant. I can’t. I have to choose. One life or the other. My future or my baby.
I pace back and forth, uncertainty twisting inside me. Should I just… get rid of it? Force myself to forget Hermes, forget everything, and start fresh in Germany?
But… can I really do that?
I don’t want to hide it from Hermes. I can’t.
I drop onto my bed again, staring at the email on my laptop. Maybe… maybe I should just text him. Tell him everything. Set an ultimatum: show up or I handle this myself.
I nod to myself, fingers hovering over the keys. And then—there’s a knock at the door.
"Leila?" I call, my voice shaky as I drop my phone. I stand and hurry to the door.
"Leila?" I call again, but there’s no answer.
Had she already gone outside?
But
then… who could it be?
I slowly open the door, my curiosity rooting me to the spot.
And I freeze.