Lucas said nothing at first. He simply stepped forward, as if pulled by an invisible thread, and wrapped his arms around her. The embrace was sudden and desperate. It was not the kind of hug that asked for permission or offered comfort. It was the kind that begged for forgiveness. The kind that said, without words, that he was unraveling. His arms trembled around her as if she were the only thing keeping him from falling apart completely.
“I missed you,” he whispered into her hair. His voice cracked with every syllable, thick with emotion. “I’m sorry. I was a coward. I was afraid of my feelings. But not anymore. I love you, Rhea. I love you so much. Please come back to me. I can’t take this anymore. I don’t want to lose you.”
Rhea’s heart clenched violently inside her chest. For a second, she allowed herself to sink into the warmth of him, the familiarity of his scent, the sound of his voice that used to lull her to sleep during the most painful nights. But then everything rushed back—the lies, the confusion, the heartbreak.
She shoved him away with all the strength she had.
“No.” Her voice trembled, not from weakness, but from all the strength it took to stand her ground. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to come back and act like nothing happened.”
Lucas stumbled back, visibly shaken. The hurt in his eyes was almost unbearable to witness.
“You humiliated me. You made me feel like I was just a placeholder. A joke. Something convenient. I gave you everything, and you—” her voice cracked. “You gave me nothing back.”
“I was confused,” he choked out. “I was scared. I didn’t understand what I felt. But I do now. I love you.”
Her face crumpled, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Too late.”
Lucas dropped to his knees on the doorstep.
It was a sight that shattered something inside her. She had seen him angry. She had seen him cold. But never this. Never broken.
“I don’t care about the company anymore. I don’t care about Crist. He’s gone. I ended it. None of it matters if I lose you,” he said through tears. “Please, Rhea. Please give me another chance.”
He reached for her hand and pressed it to his lips, sobbing into her palm like a man who had lost everything.
“I gave you time,” he whispered, voice raw. “I waited. But every day without you was hell. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I was terrified I’d already lost you forever.”
Her hand burned where he kissed it, her entire body trembling from the force of her emotions. A part of her wanted to believe him, wanted to forgive. But the pain was still too fresh.
“I’m tired, Lucas,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Let’s end this now before we hurt each other more.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She clenched her jaw and forced herself to stay strong.
Lucas pressed his forehead against her knuckles, still kneeling. “I was a coward. But I won’t be that man again. I swear it.”
She slowly pulled her hand away and took a step back, her body trembling.
“I don’t believe in your promises anymore,” she said. “I need peace. I need to feel whole again. And I can’t do that with you here.”
She turned to close the door.
But Lucas surged forward and pushed it open again, desperation etched across his face.
“No,” he cried. “I won’t let you go. I love you, Rhea. I swear, this is the truth. No more lies. Please don’t walk away. Please don’t let me go.”
His words slammed into her like waves against a fragile wall. Her lips quivered, but she held firm.
“I have a heart too,” she whispered. “And it breaks just the same. What we had was supposed to be pretend. So, what’s left to fix?”
She stepped back again.
“Please don’t make this harder,” she whispered. “I love you. But I’m tired of breaking. I think it’s time we both let go. Please, go home.”
This time, when she closed the door, Lucas didn’t stop her.
And as soon as the door clicked shut, Rhea collapsed to the floor behind it. Her body shook with sobs she could no longer contain.
“I love you too,” She whispered into her hands. “But it hurts too much.”
She didn’t know how long she stayed there, curled on the cold tiles, her chest heaving with every painful breath. Slowly, the sobs faded, leaving only silence and the hollow ache of goodbye.
A quiet voice broke through the stillness.
“Who was that?”
Rhea lifted her head.
Her mother stood at the edge of the hallway, wrapped in a soft cardigan, her face pale but alert. Though only recently discharged from the hospital, she looked more present than she had in weeks. But her eyes held confusion and concern.
Rhea wiped her face with trembling fingers and sat up straighter.
“No one,” she lied.
Her mother tilted her head. “You don’t cry like that over anyone. Was he your boyfriend?”
Rhea hesitated, then took a shaky breath. “He is my husband.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “You’re married?”
Rhea nodded slowly. “Yes. But it’s complicated. We broke up.”
She exhaled, her voice quieter now, almost like a confession.
“He helped me when I had no one. He gave me a place to stay. He’s gay. But I fell in love with him anyway.”
Her mother said nothing, listening intently.
“It started as a fake marriage. He needed to get married to inherit his grandfather’s company, and I agreed. It was all just pretend. But somewhere along the way, I fell. And I thought he didn’t. Or maybe he did. But it was too late. I was already broken.”
Her mother reached out and gently took her hand.
“But he came here,” she said quietly. “He came for you.”
“I don’t know if that changes anything,” Rhea whispered.
“You’re scared,” her mother replied gently. “But love sometimes means jumping even when you’re afraid. He may have hurt you. But look at him now. He’s trying.”
Rhea let out a soft, bitter laugh. “You’re more dramatic than I am, Mama.”
“I’m being serious,” her mother smiled. “And I’m grateful to him. He stood by you when I couldn’t. He was there when we weren’t. For that, I’ll always be thankful.”
Rhea swallowed hard. “I just wish you remembered everything again. Maybe then, all of this would make sense.”
She stood and peeked outside the door.
The street was empty.
He was gone.
With a quiet sigh, she made her way to the kitchen, hoping that food would help distract her. The familiar scent of adobo filled the air, warm and comforting. But the moment it hit her, her stomach churned violently. She staggered toward the sink and threw up.
Her mother rushed to her side. “Anak, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Rhea whispered, weak and pale. “Maybe it’s stress or an ulcer.”
But her mother’s eyes narrowed in realization.
“Tell me honestly,” she said, her voice low and careful. “Did something happen between you and your husband? Are you pregnant?”
Rhea’s eyes widened. Her heart stopped.
Pregnant?
Her hands began to shake. Her knees gave way again, and she sank to the floor, eyes wide, lips parted in silent disbelief.
Pregnant?
She stared at nothing, unable to move.
Rhea sat on the couch with a pale face, her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to hold her body together. Her mother sat beside her, gently brushing her hair back from her damp forehead. The silence stretched between them, broken only by Rhea’s shallow breathing and the distant hum of a passing tricycle outside.
“I asked you something,” her mother said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Did something happen between you and your husband?”
Rhea opened her mouth to speak, but her throat felt too tight. Her tongue was dry, her thoughts scattered. She could barely process the word her mother had spoken. Pregnant. It echoed in her mind like a pebble dropped into deep water, the ripples spreading further than she could reach.
“I don’t know,” she finally said, her voice hoarse and uncertain. “I’ve been feeling sick lately, but I thought it was just stress.”
Her mother nodded slowly, her gaze steady and filled with quiet understanding. “Do you have a test kit here? We can find out.”
Rhea shook her head. “No. I haven’t had the courage.”
“Then let’s get one,” her mother offered gently. “I’ll go to the pharmacy. You stay here and rest.”
Rhea shook her head again, still not meeting her mother’s eyes. “No need, Ma. I’ll just go to the clinic and find out for sure.”
Her mother gave a silent nod, sensing her daughter’s turmoil.
Rhea leaned back against the couch, her hands instinctively pressing against her trembling stomach. A soft, involuntary gasp escaped her lips as the weight of realization settled over her. Her period still hadn’t come. It had been over two weeks now.
Could it really be true?
Could she really be carrying Lucas’s child?
A fresh wave of emotion washed over her, hot and overwhelming. Her arms folded over her middle instinctively, protectively. Her tears returned, but they were quieter this time. Not the violent sobs of heartbreak. These were tears of fear, of wonder, and confusion.