Chapter 20 Chapter 20
Savannah stood frozen in the middle of the room, her eyes darting from the cracked walls to Adrian’s face. His words echoed in her ears: Pack your things. We’re leaving.
Her lips trembled. “No… I can’t. Adrian, please. I don’t want to leave. This is my place. I don’t need more pity.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “This is not pity, Savannah. This is survival. Look around you. Rats on the floor, cockroaches on the wall, a leaking roof. This is not a home for you, and definitely not for a child.”
She shook her head, hugging her stomach. “You don’t understand. If I leave here, where will I go? What if Nathaniel finds me? What if people talk? I can’t stay under someone’s roof, waiting for them to throw me out again.”
Her voice cracked, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She sank onto the old bed, the springs creaking under her weight. “I’ve already lost everything once. I don’t want to lose again.”
Adrian’s eyes softened. He walked closer, crouching so he could look her straight in the eye. His voice lowered, calm but steady. “Savannah… listen to me. You didn’t lose everything. You still have your child. You still have your life. And you’re not alone. I’m not Nathaniel. I won’t throw you away.”
She blinked at him, stunned by his firmness. For a long moment, silence filled the room except for the scratching sound of rats in the corner.
Adrian sighed and sat beside her, keeping a careful distance. “You’re strong, Savannah. I’ve seen that. You ran away from a man who tried to break you. You started working even though you were pregnant. You kept fighting. But strength also means knowing when to accept help. It doesn’t make you weak—it keeps you alive.”
Her tears kept falling. She whispered, “I don’t want to depend on anyone. I’ve been depending on Nathaniel for years, and look how it ended.”
Adrian’s eyes grew sharp. “Nathaniel is not every man. Don’t compare me to him. If he threw you away, that’s his loss, not yours. But don’t punish yourself by living like this. Don’t punish your baby.”
The words struck her heart like a stone. She clutched her stomach tighter. “My baby…” she muttered.
Adrian leaned forward. “Yes. Your baby. You said it yourself — the child is all you have left. Then protect it. Give it a safe place. Please, Savannah.”
Her breath came in shaky waves. She wanted to argue more, but his words tore down her excuses one by one. She remembered fainting at the laundry, remembered the cold hospital bed, remembered Rosa’s worried face. She remembered the baby kicking inside her as if begging her to fight harder.
Slowly, she lifted her head and looked into Adrian’s eyes. They were steady, not pitying, not mocking. Just steady.
She whispered, “If I go with you… where will you take me?”
Adrian stood, straightening his shoulders. “Somewhere safe. Somewhere clean. You deserve better than this hole. Just trust me.”
Savannah’s hands trembled. She hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Okay… but only until I can stand on my own. I don’t want to be a burden.”
Adrian gave a small smile. “You’re not a burden. You’re a survivor. Come on, pack your things.”
She looked around the room. There wasn’t much to pack — a few worn dresses, a torn shawl, a pair of shoes. She stuffed them into her small bag, her hands shaking as if she couldn’t believe what she was doing.
Adrian picked up the bag easily. “Let’s go.”
They walked out together. Savannah paused at the doorway and glanced back at the room one last time. For a moment, memories of nights crying alone on that bed, of hunger, of fear, of loneliness rushed back. Then she turned away.
The car ride was quiet. Savannah kept her head down, her mind heavy with questions. Was she making a mistake? Was she rushing into another trap? But then she felt the baby stir in her belly, and she placed her hand over it. Maybe Adrian was right. Maybe this was not weakness but survival.
After nearly an hour, Adrian’s car stopped in front of a tall building. Not as fancy as Nathaniel’s mansion, but modern, clean, and well-kept.
Savannah’s eyes widened. “This… this is where?”
Adrian opened her door and smiled gently. “Your new home.”
Her throat tightened. She followed him inside, climbing a few stairs until they reached a door. Adrian unlocked it and pushed it open.
Savannah stepped inside slowly, her eyes darting everywhere. The apartment was simple but beautiful — cream-colored walls, polished floor, a neat living room with a soft couch, and curtains that smelled fresh. The kitchen was small but clean, and the bedroom had a proper bed with new sheets.
She stood frozen, her bag dropping to the floor. Tears filled her eyes as she whispered, “This… this is too much. Adrian, I can’t stay here. I don’t deserve this.”
Adrian placed the bag on a chair and turned to her. “You deserve more than this, Savannah. Don’t say you don’t. You’re not trash. You’re not weak. You’re a mother now. You need peace. And this place will give you that.”
Her lips trembled. She looked at him, then at the room again. “But… how can I pay you back?”
He shook his head. “Don’t think about that now. Just focus on healing, on resting, on giving that baby a safe place to grow. That’s enough.”
Savannah pressed her hand to her mouth as sobs broke free. She sat on the couch, crying, overwhelmed. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could breathe.
Adrian watched her quietly, then spoke softly. “Welcome home, Savannah.”