abortion and blindness to silent suffering

The scent of the room and the luxurious surroundings Ethan woke up to brought a bright smile to his face. For the first time in a long while, he felt an unusual sense of peace, a comforting glimpse of the future he hoped to build for himself. Rising slowly, he sat on the edge of the bed, his thoughts inevitably drifting to Sophia.

A wave of unease crept over him. He hadn't heard from her in days. She hadn't returned his calls or replied to his messages. The silence gnawed at him, leaving his heart restless. After hesitating for a few moments, he picked up his phone and dialed her number again.

The shrill ringing of her phone startled Sophia awake. She was lying on the cold, hard floor of an unfamiliar hospital room—a place she had come to the night before to terminate her pregnancy. Her body felt heavy, wracked with pain and guilt. She winced as she turned her head, her eyes catching the screen of her phone.

"Ethan," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her chest tightened at the sight of his name. What would she even say to him if she answered? Her trembling fingers hovered over the screen until the call ended, the sound of silence amplifying the ache in her heart.

Scrolling through her phone, she saw several missed calls—not just from Ethan but also from her mother, David, and even her father. Panic flickered within her. They all must have noticed her unusual absence; she had always informed them of her whereabouts, even when it was only for a short time. The weight of her secrecy now bore down on her.

Sophia attempted to stand, but the lingering pain from the procedure was unbearable. She collapsed back onto the floor, utterly drained and hopeless. A woman, likely the nurse in charge, rushed to her side.

"No, no, you shouldn't try to move yet," the woman said gently. "You need more rest. Stressing your body could make things worse."

Sophia had no choice but to lie back down, her strength depleted. The nurse offered a reassuring smile. "I'll make you some breakfast so you can regain some energy."

Meanwhile, back in Ethan's room, he was just finishing brushing his teeth when a soft knock sounded at the door. "Come in," he called out, drying his face with a towel.

The young woman who had served him dinner the previous night stepped in with a polite smile. "Breakfast is ready, sir. Mr. Maxwell is waiting for you at the table."

Ethan froze mid-motion. "Breakfast… with Mr. Maxwell?" he repeated, the words catching in his throat.

"Yes, sir," she confirmed before leaving the room.

Ethan stood there, debating his next move. Should he quickly shower? "I can't smell bad in front of Mr. Maxwell," he muttered, scratching his head. But the thought of keeping the man waiting ultimately won out. Smoothing his clothes hastily, he stepped out the door.

"Good morning, Ethan," Mr. Maxwell greeted him warmly as he entered the dining room.

"Good morning, sir," Ethan replied, his voice slightly rushed.

"How was your night?" Mr. Maxwell asked as Ethan took a seat at the table.

"It was great, sir. Thank you. And yours?" Ethan's nervousness made his words come out stiff.

Mr. Maxwell smiled. "Mine was good. I had an emergency to attend to last night, so I couldn't make it back."

Ethan nodded, unsure how to respond. His attention drifted to the table, laden with an array of dishes. The enticing aromas made his stomach growl softly.

Ethan was about to interrupt Mr. Maxwell but hesitated, carefully choosing his words. His nervousness was evident as he opened his mouth to speak. However, Mr. Maxwell cut in before he could say anything.

"Alright, let's eat," Mr. Maxwell said, picking up his fork. After a pause, he added, "And tell me about your mother."

Ethan glanced at him, slightly startled but quickly composed himself. "Oh, there's not much to know about her," Ethan started, his tone soft but filled with unspoken emotion. "She's sick… the last time I saw her, she looked worse. I've been working hard, saving up so I can take care of her properly. Before, I used to think it was her fault that my dad didn't stay, but when she told me her story… I understood. She did what she had to do and even risked her life to save mine. She's a wonderful mother."

Ethan spoke slowly between bites, almost unaware that Mr. Maxwell was intently watching him. When he finished speaking and looked up, Mr. Maxwell's gaze was piercing.

"What's your mother's name?" Mr. Maxwell asked, his voice breaking the silence.

"Audrey," Ethan replied lightly, dabbing at his mouth with a handkerchief.

Mr. Maxwell sighed and stood abruptly, causing Ethan to freeze. His nerves spiked as he watched the older man walk toward the wall, his hands brushing the frames lined neatly along it.

"Well," Mr. Maxwell said, his back still turned to Ethan, "I guess I'm not leaving all I own to a stranger's child after all."

Ethan blinked, his mind racing. Mr. Maxwell's words washed over him like cold water.

"I've suffered trying to have even one child of my own blood," Mr. Maxwell began, his voice steady yet filled with a mix of emotions. "But I couldn't. The doctors confirmed there was nothing wrong with me, yet my wife… she went outside our marriage, got pregnant, and brought another man's son into my home." He turned to face Ethan, his expression unreadable. "She thinks I don't know, but I do. I've just smiled and kept my silence. If it came to it, I'd rather give everything I own to an orphanage than to that boy she dares to call my son."

Ethan swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. "I'm… I'm so sorry to hear that," he managed, his appetite vanishing as he pushed his plate aside.

"It's fine," Mr. Maxwell said dismissively. "I haven't seen her in over a year. She calls me on video every day, pretending everything's fine, but I know better. She only comes home when I need her for events or important meetings, playing the part of the loyal wife." He scoffed, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But none of that moves me anymore. My focus now is on what's next."

He turned toward Ethan, his tone softening. "Tell me, do you know who I am? Do you have any idea?"

Ethan hesitated, his voice trembling as he said, "Uh, sir, I… I think I do."

Mr. Maxwell stepped closer, his gaze locking onto Ethan's. "It's alright, kid. Tomorrow, you'll take me to your mother. I need to see her and discuss a few things."

Ethan's throat tightened, but he nodded. "So… it's true. What my mom said about you being my father?" His voice cracked as his emotions welled up, tears pricking his eyes.

Mr. Maxwell gave a faint smile, placing a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Eat up, son. We'll leave in the morning. I have some business to attend to today, but I'll be back early. Be ready."

The rest of the meal passed in reflective silence. Once Mr. Maxwell left for his meeting, Ethan returned to his room, showered, and settled onto his bed, still processing everything. His gaze wandered to the muted television, where the name "Caldwell Horizon" caught his attention.

Quickly, he grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. His heart sank as he saw James on the screen. I thought Sophia said James was out of Caldwell Horizon for good… what is he doing here?

The broadcast continued, announcing an upcoming vote for a new president. Ethan's stomach churned. What's happening at Caldwell Horizon? His questions multiplied when Mr. Caldwell appeared on screen, walking with purpose into the room.

The reporters swarmed him, their microphones thrust forward, but his bodyguards held them back. The tension in the room was palpable, and even James, standing nearby, looked visibly shaken.

Mr. Caldwell stepped to the microphone, cleared his throat, and began to speak. His voice was firm, filled with resolve. "As you all know, my family has faced unimaginable betrayal and hardship. I trusted many of you, built your businesses alongside mine, and yet, when Caldwell Horizon fell under a $40 billion debt, you turned your backs."

His words resonated in the silence. "Let me make one thing clear. The person who did this to me will never know peace. They thought they could destroy me, but they underestimated my resolve. I am back, and I will rebuild Caldwell Horizon stronger than ever."

The room erupted in murmurs as cameras captured James, who looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. His lips moved, but no words came out.

Ethan watched, his mind racing. What could have happened to Caldwell Horizon?

A knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts. Opening it, he saw the young man who had spoken to him earlier.

"Good morning, sir. Mr. Maxwell said I'm your driver for the day. If you'd like, I can also take you shopping," the man said with a cheerful smile.

Ethan hesitated. "Do you know anything about Caldwell Horizon?"

The young man chuckled. "Oh, of course. The company crashed suddenly, with debts worth $40 billion. Mr. Caldwell has been fighting to keep it afloat."

"Take me to the Caldwell estate," Ethan said firmly.

The man nodded. "Right away, sir. I'll get the car ready."

Ethan closed the door, his mind buzzing. I need to know what's happening to Sophia and her family.. and about James contesting to be the president of Caldwell Horizon.