Chapter 40
Dora spoke very softly, and only Shelmaine heard her. Everyone else was busy chatting away, so they hadn’t noticed Dora and Shelmaine.
Shelmaine slowly munched on the fish that she had on her plate. It was odd because she never liked fish before she got pregnant. She even disliked the smell of fish. But somehow, she wanted to eat fish tonight, and she didn’t mind the smell.
Sering that Shelmaine wasn’t responding, Dora thought shelmaine was angry. After checking that nobody was paying attention to them, Dora continued speaking. “My dad was sick, and we needed money. I didn’t have a choice.”
“It’s fine,” Shelmaine said, taking a sip of water. “What’s past is past. You have a better choice, and I’m happy for you”
“Shelmaine…” Dora sald guiltly. “Shelmaine, I didn’t do it on purpose.”
But she didn’t say more.
Shelmaine comforted Dora instead..
“Don’t cry. I didn’t say anything, did? Since you made the choice, don’t regret it”
Dora paused, and she shed tears uncontrollably. Just then, Shelmaine received a phone call, so she got up and answered the call. When she returned from the call, Dora was still crying, and everyone else was trying to comfort her.
When the dinner ended, shelmaine got somebody to send Dora home.
After everything ended, she felt relieved that there was nothing else to worry about.
On the day Shelmaine departed to Aurich, the weather was great. When she waited for her flight, she saw the view–the sun was bright but not blinding. Her mood brightened. Shelmaine had shipped over part of her belongings, and she also secured her new place. She could move in immediately after paying rent. Everything was looking positive. At the very moment before she left, she didn’t have any regrets.
Isabelle texted Shelmaine and said, “Let me know when you’re in Aurich! Send me your address! Be safe! I’d love to see you off but I can’t excuse myself. Ugh!”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Shelmaine replied, “Sure. When I’m more settled, you can visit anytime.”
Isabelle replied, “Of course! Aside from me, don’t let anyone else know your address in Aurich. Do you hear me?”
“okay.”
In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. Shelmaine was more settled into Aurich, and her belly grew bigger.
She started the business again in a small office space. She had sufficient funds, and she hired an assistant with a design major. It was somebody who could really help her out with many things.
Shelmaine focused on her designs. Her life was peaceful and harmonious, just as she wanted it. Nobody disturbed her. But as her belly grew, she became more fatigued and couldn’t spend too much time in the studio. She frequently visited the hospital, too.
She also changed her phone number, but she continued using the same WhatsApp account that she had. After all, she had some customers‘ contacts on WhatsApp, and they came In handy.
One aftermoon, Shelmaine went to the hospital to collect her last medical report. The traffic was bad, and the summer heat was setting in. After collecting hern was surprised when she heard someone call her name inside the elevator
“Ms. Clarke?”
report, Shelmaine
Shelmaine looked over to find a man dressed in a suit. He was handsome and looked very gentlemanly. He smiled politely and said, “What a coincidence, Ms. Clarke ” The man’s gaze shifted downward and saw her protruding belly, but he didn’t react much
shelmane gweit some thought, and then she asked, “And you are?”
“Julien Gallagher. I’m the owner of the car that collided with yours several months ago in South Haven.”