++Chapter 2++

I lingered outside Ivan's office, my palms sweating and my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't want to be here again. I didn't want to see him. But I had no choice. I needed my job back. My baby deserved more than this mess.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open. Ivan was leaning against his desk, his back to me. And there she was—Ruby, the new girl. Her forced laugh echoed in the room, and my stomach twisted.

At first, neither of them noticed me. Ivan's hand brushed her waist, and she slapped his arm playfully, acting all shy. My throat tightened, and I froze as I watched his lips brush against her neck.

"Ivan," I managed to choke out, my voice shaking.

They both jumped apart like kids caught doing something wrong. Ruby's wide eyes flicked to me, then she smiled—sweet and innocent. The kind of smile that made you second-guess your anger, but I wasn't falling for it.

"Ms. Villanueva, what are you doing here?" Ivan's voice was smooth, but his eyes flickered to the door like he wanted to escape.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. "I need to talk to you." My voice cracked, but I didn't let it stop me. "This... This is why you let them fire me, isn't it? So you and Ruby could do this behind my back?"

"What are you talking about?" Ivan ran a hand through his hair, trying to look calm, but I saw the flicker of annoyance in his eyes.

"Don't play dumb," I snapped, my anger building. "You had me fired so you could be with her without getting exposed!"

Ruby crossed her arms, tilting her head, her lips curling into a fake pout. "It's not an affair, Naomi. Ivan and I... We're together now. You should just move on."

"Move on?" I laughed bitterly, the sound unfamiliar. "Move on from what? From being used? From being lied to?"

Ruby's smile turned sharp. "You really didn't see it, did you? Ivan never loved you. You were just... convenient. He told me himself."

Ivan tensed beside her, his jaw clenched. For once, he didn't have a smooth reply.

My chest felt tight. "Is that true?" I whispered.

"Naomi, don't—" he started, but I cut him off.

"Don't what, Ivan? Don't make this harder for you? I gave you everything! I stood by you when no one else would. I trusted you!" My voice cracked, and tears blurred my eyes.

"You're overreacting," he muttered, avoiding my gaze.

"Overreacting?" I could feel the anger and heartbreak bubbling up inside me. "You let me lose my job. You're the father of my child, and you don't even care!"

His eyes widened, but before he could say anything, Ruby scoffed.

"A child?" she sneered. "You really think being the victim will help? No one's going to believe you, Naomi. Why can't you just accept that Ivan doesn't want you anymore?"

Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit, but I refused to let her see me break.

I turned to Ivan, my voice shaking with fury. "I feel sorry for my baby—our baby—because they'll have a father like you. You're not just a liar, Ivan. You're a coward."

Before either of them could say anything, I stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind me.

——————

When I finally managed to get out of bed, I grabbed my phone. No calls. No emails. Just empty notifications. The bills were piling up, and my fridge was almost empty. I had sent out job applications everywhere, even for things that weren't what I used to do, but no luck.

I sighed, pushing myself to get dressed. I didn't have the luxury of staying in bed. My baby needed me to keep going, even if it felt impossible.

——————

It was already late when I left the grocery store. The streets were quiet, and every little noise seemed louder than it should.

The grocery bag felt heavy in my arms, but I kept walking, my eyes glued to the sidewalk ahead.

I didn't see him at first. A man in a black hoodie and a mask covering his mouth was keeping a distance, but he was getting closer with each step. My heart started racing, and I gripped the bag tighter, feeling the sweat on my palms.

Before I could react, he rushed forward and grabbed the bag from my shoulder.

"H—Hey!" I shouted, my voice shaky with fear and anger. I knew it was stupid to chase him, but that bag had everything I had left—my last bit of money and my phone. Without thinking, I ran after him, my feet hitting the ground. I could barely hold back my tears. I pushed past people on the sidewalk, desperate not to lose sight of him.

I didn't even realize I had stepped into the road until I heard the screech of tires. The headlights blinded me. I froze. And then—everything went dark.

—————

I was lying on the ground, my head pounding. I could taste blood in my mouth.

Unfamiliar voices whispered, cutting through the fog in my mind.

"Is she alive?" One of the passerbys asked.

A woman's worried voice called out, "Quick! Someone call an ambulance!"

I forced my eyes open, but everything was blurry. Then I saw him. The man in the suit, standing a few feet away. His face was cold, unreadable.

"S—Sir Gabriel... I didn't see her until it was too late," the old man next to him, probably the driver, said in a shaky voice.

The man in the suit looked at me, his deep brown eyes scanning me like he was trying to decide if I was worth the trouble. He pulled out his phone, speaking with a calm authority that made it clear he was used to being obeyed.

"Send an ambulance to my location. Now," he ordered, giving clear directions. before hanging up the call.

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my body. A hand gently pressed down on my shoulder, stopping me.

"Don't move," he said, his voice firm. "You're hurt."

For a second, I thought I saw something in his eyes—concern, maybe? But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the same cold expression.

The sound of sirens grew louder, and I felt myself slipping again, darkness pulling me under. The last thing I saw was his face, sharp and serious, watching me.