Chapter 5: The Escape

Midnight came and went, but Nathan didn’t. Instead, Sophia sent a second photo—this time, two hands intertwined at the bedhead, desperation in the grip. On his wrist, I recognized the Patek Philippe I’d given him for our anniversary.

Nathan never touched me, but he couldn’t wait to be with Sophia. The irony stung. That first love—the white moon—destroyed everything in its path.

I opened my laptop, drafting a divorce agreement. My hands were steady for the first time in days. I wanted nothing—not a cent of alimony, not a square foot of property. I just wanted out. I left my wedding rings on the kitchen counter and drove off into the night, the city lights shrinking behind me.

I couldn’t go home to Westchester. If my parents found out I was pregnant and it wasn’t Nathan’s, they’d kill me—or worse, try to use it for leverage. I was supposed to be their golden ticket, the one who secured our place in society. Instead, I was a failure.

I drove north, ending up in a small town near Rhinebeck. I paid cash for a two-bedroom over a coffee shop, planning to quietly find a hospital and erase my mistake. The doctor was kind, but her words hit like a punch: if I went through with the abortion, I might never get pregnant again.

I stood frozen, gripping the exam table. All I’d ever wanted was a real family—something built on love, not transactions. But every choice felt like betrayal.

I stumbled out into the parking lot, the cold biting my cheeks. My hands shook so badly I nearly dropped my keys. The world felt too big, too loud, and I just wanted to disappear.

When I reached my apartment, the sun was setting. Cars rushed past, everyone hurrying home to their uncomplicated lives. Suddenly, a motorcycle roared toward me. I froze—a deer in headlights—until a strong hand yanked me back, solid and safe.

I looked up and my heart skipped. "Derek? Didn’t you go abroad?"

He grinned, genuine concern in his eyes. "Just got back last week. You look pale—are you okay?"

Derek was the genius from my Columbia class, the one everyone admired. I couldn’t tell him about the pregnancy, so I lied. "Just tired from moving."

He raised an eyebrow. "You live here? My uncle’s nearby. Since we ran into each other, want to grab dinner?"

"Okay." The word slipped out before I could think. I needed the distraction—anything to feel normal again.