Chapter 37 Chapter 37
The morning sun slipped through the curtains of the new apartment. Savannah slowly opened her eyes, feeling the soft bed under her. For a moment she lay still, staring at the ceiling, trying to remember where she was.
Then it came back to her. Adrian had refused to let her stay in that dirty room with rats and cockroaches. He had carried her things here, told her it was safer, and that she deserved better.
She sat up slowly, her hand resting on her small belly. A weak smile touched her lips. “At least you’re safe, my baby,” she whispered.
A knock came at the door. Before she could answer, Adrian stepped in, holding a tray with food. “Good morning,” he said. His voice was calm, but there was a softness in his eyes she had never seen in any man before.
Savannah blinked in surprise. “You brought me breakfast?”
“You need to eat,” Adrian replied simply. “The baby needs it too.”
He placed the tray on the table and pulled out a chair for her. Savannah hesitated before getting up, moving carefully. She sat, looking down at the steaming bowl of porridge, bread, and a glass of warm milk.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.
“Don’t say anything. Just eat,” Adrian said, folding his arms as he watched her.
Savannah lifted the spoon with shaky fingers. The first taste was warm, soft, filling. She hadn’t had a proper meal in days, and the comfort of it made tears gather in her eyes.
Adrian noticed. “Why are you crying?”
She quickly wiped her cheeks. “It’s nothing. I just… it’s been so long since anyone cared if I ate or not.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. He pulled out a chair and sat across from her. “Savannah, tell me the truth. Did Nathaniel know about the baby?”
Her spoon froze. She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Yes. I told him. I was ready to tell him on our anniversary night. I thought it would be a happy surprise. But instead of joy, he gave me divorce papers.” Her voice cracked. “He called me a liar. Said I was only trying to trap him.”
Adrian’s fists clenched on the table. “And then he left you?”
Savannah nodded, her tears falling freely now. “He left me… for her. For Cassandra. He didn’t even look back.”
Adrian stared at her for a long moment. His chest tightened, not only with anger but with something else he couldn’t yet explain.
He reached across the table, gently placing his hand over hers. “Savannah, no man who truly loves you would treat you that way. And no child should be born into rejection. You and this baby deserve better.”
Her lips trembled as she whispered, “But what if I can’t do it alone?”
“You won’t be alone,” Adrian said firmly. His voice was steady, filled with quiet strength. “I’ll make sure of that.”
Savannah looked at him, confused. “Why? Why are you helping me so much? You don’t even know me.”
Adrian’s gaze softened. “Maybe I don’t know everything about you, but I know what I see. A woman who deserves more than pain. A mother who is fighting for her child. That’s enough for me.”
Silence filled the room. Savannah lowered her eyes, afraid of what she might see if she looked too long at him. She didn’t want to hope again, didn’t want to trust again. Trust had already broken her once.
Adrian stood and pushed the chair back. “Finish your food. Then I’ll take you for your check-up. The doctor needs to make sure you and the baby are fine.”
Savannah opened her mouth to protest but then closed it again. She knew he was right. Her baby came first.
\---
Later, Adrian drove her to the hospital. His car was sleek, shining under the sun, so different from the buses she was used to. She sat quietly in the passenger seat, her hands folded in her lap.
Adrian glanced at her. “You’re too quiet.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she admitted softly. “I’m not used to this. I feel like I don’t belong here.”
“You belong wherever you are safe,” Adrian said, his voice low. “Forget what anyone told you before. You matter.”
Her eyes stung again, but she bit her lip and looked away.
At the hospital, Adrian stayed by her side as the nurse led her to the examination room. He didn’t leave, even when she tried to tell him he could wait outside.
The doctor smiled at her after checking. “Good news. The baby is healthy. But you must avoid stress. No heavy work, no skipping meals, and plenty of rest.”
Savannah nodded, relief washing over her.
Adrian asked quickly, “Is there anything else she needs?”
The doctor gave him a list of vitamins and a diet plan. Adrian tucked the paper into his pocket like it was the most important document in the world.
When they left, Savannah finally whispered, “Thank you, Adrian. For everything. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but… thank you.”
Adrian looked at her, his eyes serious. “One day, maybe you’ll understand.”
\---
That night, back at the apartment, Savannah sat by the window. The city lights twinkled far below. She rested her hand on her stomach, whispering, “Maybe this is a new beginning for us.”
From across the room, Adrian watched her silently. His heart was already moving faster than his mind. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was beginning to feel something he had not felt in a long time.
And Savannah, though she tried to fight it, was starting to notice the way he looked at her — with a kind of care that she had never known.
The night was quiet, but in that silence, something new was growing between them. Not yet spoken, not yet confessed, but strong enough to change everything.