Chapter 43 Chapter 43
The evening sun was going down slowly, painting the sky with shades of orange and red. Adrian parked his car a short distance from the small apartment he had rented for Savannah. He sat there for some minutes, his hands on the steering wheel, thinking deeply.
He had asked her before to move in with him, but she had refused. She had said she would think about it, but Adrian knew she was just trying to delay. He could not stop worrying. Every time he thought of her fainting on the floor, alone, he felt a strange fear in his chest.
Finally, he got out of the car and walked to the door. He knocked gently at first.
Inside, Savannah was folding the clothes she had washed earlier. Her stomach was showing more now, though she always tried to cover it with her loose gowns. She heard the knock and quickly wiped her hands on a cloth.
“Who is it?” she asked softly.
“It’s me,” Adrian’s voice came.
Savannah froze. She looked around the small room as if searching for a place to hide. Her heart beat faster. Slowly, she walked to the door and opened it.
Adrian stood there, dressed neatly as always, his eyes calm but serious. “Can I come in?” he asked.
She nodded and stepped aside. He entered and looked around. The apartment was clean but too small, too simple. He had known it the first day he brought her here, but now the sight troubled him even more. He imagined her raising a baby here, struggling to fetch water, cooking with little things. It was not right.
“You’re still working too much,” Adrian said quietly as he sat down on the chair. “I told you to rest. Why are you making things hard for yourself?”
Savannah forced a small smile. “I am not working too much. I just try to keep myself busy. I don’t want to be a burden.”
Adrian shook his head, his jaw tight. “You are not a burden. Do you understand? The baby inside you is not a burden. But you cannot keep living like this.”
Her eyes dropped to the floor. She knew what was coming.
“Savannah,” Adrian said firmly, “I came here again to ask you. Leave this apartment. Come to my house. Stay where you will be safe, where I can watch you. This place is not good for you.”
Savannah bit her lip and moved to the window. She looked outside, pretending to admire the sky, but in truth she was fighting tears. “Adrian… I told you before. I can’t. If I move into your house, what will people say? They will think I am shameless. They will think I left Nathaniel and ran into your arms. I don’t want that.”
Adrian stood up and walked closer to her. “Why do you care about what people say? Were they there when you fainted on the road? Were they there when you cried alone at night? These people you are afraid of—none of them care about you. I care.”
Savannah turned to him, her face pale. “You don’t understand. If Nathaniel ever finds out, he will destroy me. He already hates me. If he sees me in your house, it will be worse.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened. “Nathaniel is not your husband anymore. He left you. He insulted you. He threw you away like trash. Stop letting him control your life.”
His words were sharp, but Savannah’s heart trembled. She lowered her eyes. “Adrian… I know you mean well. But it’s not easy. You don’t know how it feels to be rejected, to be told you are nothing.”
Adrian softened his tone. He placed a hand on her shoulder gently. “You are not nothing. Do you hear me? You are strong. You are carrying life inside you. That is not nothing. That is everything.”
Her lips trembled, and she quickly brushed her cheek with the back of her hand. “Please… let me think about it. I will decide soon.”
Adrian sighed. He wanted to argue more, but he saw the fear in her eyes. He stepped back and let her breathe. “Fine. Think about it. But don’t take too long. The baby cannot wait. You cannot keep fainting, Savannah. Next time, what if I don’t arrive in time? What if something happens to you?”
Savannah’s heart ached at his words. She remembered the day she fell, the helplessness, the darkness closing in. If Adrian had not come that day, maybe she would not be alive now.
She whispered, “Thank you for always helping me.”
Adrian gave a small nod. He walked to the table and saw her simple meal—just rice and stew in a small plate. He frowned. “Is this what you eat all the time?”
She smiled faintly. “It’s enough for me.”
“It’s not enough for the baby,” Adrian replied quickly. “You need better food. Tomorrow I will bring you fruits, milk, and everything you need.”
“Adrian—” she began, but he raised his hand.
“No. Don’t argue. Just accept it. If you won’t come to my house yet, then I will bring my house to you.”
Savannah looked at him, and for a brief moment her heart softened. She saw the care in his eyes, the way he was always there when she needed someone. A small voice inside her whispered that maybe, just maybe, she could trust him.
But the fear of Nathaniel and Cassandra’s shadow held her back. She only nodded and said, “Thank you.”
Adrian stayed a little longer, making sure she ate before he left. As he walked out of the apartment, his heart burned with determination. He told himself silently, I will not stop until she is safe. Even if she refuses today, tomorrow I will come back again.
Inside, Savannah touched her stomach and whispered to the child, “Your uncle is kind. But can I really trust him? Or will everything fall apart again?”
The night grew darker, but their hearts were both restless, caught between fear and hope.