Maya stared at the filing receipt, surprised.
She and Elara had been close friends for over ten years, and in all that time, Maya had witnessed just how deeply Elara loved Julian.
There was a time when Elara would have died for him, and no one would have doubted it.
They got married a year ago. Maya had smiled at the wedding, even though something about their relationship felt off.
But still, Elara had gotten what she wanted. That had been enough for Maya.
Now this…
What had happened?
“I don’t love him anymore,” Elara said before Maya could ask.
She looked over and gave a small, calm smile.
In that smile, Maya caught a glimpse of the old Elara—the one from before everything fell apart, before grief etched deep lines into her face, before her father’s death and the downfall of the Vance family changed her.
It brought Maya a strange sense of peace.
“Julian doesn’t know I’m pregnant,” Elara said calmly. “And before the divorce is final, I don’t want to take any risks. It’s better if he doesn’t know.”
If either party had a change of heart before the divorce was finalized, they could withdraw the application, and the process would be halted.
And that was when Maya knew that Elara was serious about divorcing Julian.
After taking it all in, Maya did what was necessary: she scheduled Elara’s medical tests and then advised her carefully, “Wait a few days before the surgery.”
Elara frowned in confusion. “Why?”
“You know your blood type—Rh-negative. It’s rare. We need time to prepare a blood supply, just in case. I’ve already contacted the blood bank. They said it might take a week.”
Elara fell silent. The sadness in her eyes was unmistakable.
She had inherited that blood type from her father. And now she missed him all over again.
If he were still here…
“Okay.” Elara nodded slowly. A smile tugged at her lips, but her eyes turned red.
“You also have early signs of a miscarriage. You need to be careful these next few days,” Maya added, her voice full of concern.
They had grown up together, and Maya knew Elara’s sadness all too well.
She held Elara’s hand. “Wait for me. My shift’s almost over. I’ll go home with you.”
Elara nodded and went to wait in the hallway.
She looked down at her stomach.
Early signs of a miscarriage.
Did the baby know what she had decided and want to leave first?
Pursing her lips, Elara walked toward the lab for her tests.
Her phone buzzed. It was a bank notification.
She had opened a new account—one Julian wouldn’t know about. She was keeping her finances completely separate before the divorce was finalized.
Every cent she earned from now on would go into that account.
A second message followed. “Payment for the composition and lyrics has been completed. Finance has sent the transfer. Kindly confirm.”
Before she married Julian, Elara had worked quietly as an anonymous songwriter.
Music had always been her first love. Back when her father was alive, life had been good, and she lacked for nothing.
As the Vance family’s only daughter, she had the freedom and the means to nurture her talent.
The turns her life had taken had taught her lessons she never knew she needed.
Perhaps her father never imagined that the pastime he once encouraged would one day be the very thing that kept her afloat.
Elara paused, then typed back, “Money received. Thank you.”
The reply came quickly. “It’s what you deserve. You’ve written many hits over the years. Why don’t you come back? There’s a new show coming up. It’s a perfect fit for you. I’ve sent the details to your email. I’ve reserved a contestant slot just for you.”
Elara opened her email. A new message sat at the top, inviting her to join a music competition show.
The format was familiar, but this one required original work.
She typed a quick reply. “I’ll think about it.”
Then she set her phone down. A light cramp tightened in her lower belly.
She thought of her father again.
The second time today.
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