"He went searching your room when you were at the hospital…" the maid said quietly to Rita the moment she saw her after she was discharged.
"Hahahahahah… he did?" Rita burst out laughing, her voice dripping with arrogance. "Oh, poor Ben. He never ceases to amaze me."
She tossed her hair proudly and added, "He should know I'm not that dumb to leave any evidence behind." Her eyes gleamed with pride, as if congratulating herself for always being the smart one, always a step ahead in every messy game she played.
Meanwhile, whispers spread through Ella's office like wildfire.
"I heard Ben has lost his child…"
"Oh my God, is it true?"
The murmurs crawled into Ella's ears, leaving her confused and suddenly uneasy. She didn't understand how the news had reached the office before she even had a chance to process it herself.
"How true is this?" Ella asked on the phone, her voice soft but edged with concern.
"How did you find out?" Ben replied, surprised and a little unsettled.
"Words travel so fast, you know," Ella sighed. "I heard whispers in the office, so I called to confirm. I'm so sorry you had to go through this… you'll be fine."
She paused, searching for steadiness before adding, "I need to go. I have a lot on my table." She ended the call gently.
Ben sat back in his chair, staring at the screen like it carried a piece of warmth he desperately needed. Despite the chaos, a faint smile spread across his face, a small light cutting through the darkness. Knowing Ella call gave him unexpected comfort, even though he feared she had already moved on with Jasper.
Ella powered through her day as usual; checking files, replying to emails, attending meetings, and solving whatever problems demanded her attention. Her mind, however, wandered more than once, pulled toward thoughts of Ben and the fragility of the events that had unfolded.
Later that evening, she went to have dinner at her usual spot. To her surprise, Jasper was already there waiting.
"Hey… I thought you'd never come," he said, explaining he had been waiting for some time. Ella was quite late compared to her usual schedule.
They ordered and laughed like they always did. Sharing jokes, smiles, and memories that felt warm and familiar.
"You always find a way to make me love you over and over again," Ella said, her voice soft, her eyes locking with his.
"Do I?" he replied, happiness tugging gently at his tone. The words clearly touched him.
"Thank you, Ella. You've made it easy for me to love and care for you. You're such a darling," Jasper added, brushing her hand lightly.
"Eat… the food must be getting cold," Ella reminded him, nudging her plate as they both dug in.
After dinner, Jasper offered to drive her home, because Ella insisted she wanted to stop by and check on Rita for a while, especially after the miscarriage.
"I thought you hated her," Jasper said, surprised that Ella wanted to sympathize with Rita.
"I don't hate her," Ella replied calmly. "I just dislike her attitude. But anyone can be in her situation… and I'm a woman. She needs someone to talk to." She tried to convince Jasper with a soft but steady voice.
"Alright… you win. But just be careful. I'll be missing you," he said with a tired smile, giving in even though he didn't love the idea.
"You're welcome, ma'am," one of Ella's favorite house helps greeted her with a warm smile, reaching to take her handbag.
"Where is she?" Ella asked, eager to know where Rita might be.
"In her room, ma'am. She has refused to step out or eat anything that has been served… she is really hurt by the loss of her child," the maid added softly, worry lacing her voice.