Aria's hands shook as she dialed the number.
"Maya," she whispered into the phone. "It's me. I… I need your help."
There was a pause, then a familiar voice, calm and steady. "Aria? Where are you? Is everything okay?"
"No. Not exactly. I… I need to disappear."
Maya's voice dropped, sharp now. "Disappear? What do you mean?"
"I can't… stay here anymore. Not with him, not with Victor. I have to leave. For the baby."
"I understand," Maya said quietly. "Are you alone? Is it safe to talk?"
"Yes. I'm alone. Please… can you help me?"
Maya exhaled. "Of course. Meet me at the old clinic in an hour. I'll bring everything we need."
Aria nodded, even though Maya couldn't see her. "Thank you. I'll be ready."
She hung up and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. Her heart pounded. Every step she took from now would be dangerous, every sound could betray her. But she had made her decision. She would not let Sebastian control her life—or the life she carried.
Aria moved through the house quietly, gathering what she could: a small bag of clothes, some money she had managed to save, copies of important documents she had quietly kept in her room. Each item felt heavier than it should, weighed down with years of fear and hope.
"Just a few more things," she whispered to herself. "Then we go."
She paused at the desk. There, neatly stacked, were the divorce papers Sebastian had signed, a cruel reminder of what he thought he controlled. She stared at them for a long moment, heart aching. But she didn't touch them. They would stay behind. A symbol of the life she was leaving—and the life she was taking back.
Aria moved to the door, peeking into the hall. No one. Perfect.
"Everything will be fine," she muttered. "It has to be."
She slipped out of the house, every footstep careful. The night air hit her face, cool and sharp. It smelled of freedom and fear, and she embraced both. She walked to the waiting car that Maya had arranged, sliding in quietly.
"Are you ready?" Maya asked, eyes scanning the road.
Aria nodded, clutching her stomach. "Yes. Let's go."
The drive was silent at first. Both women knew that words would only weigh them down. But after a few minutes, Aria spoke, voice low.
"I can't believe it's come to this," she whispered. "All these years, all that hope… and he never wanted me. He never wanted the baby."
Maya's hand brushed Aria's briefly. "You're safe now. That's all that matters."
Aria let out a shaky laugh. "Safe? I hope so. He'll send people looking for me. I know he will."
"They won't find you. Not with me," Maya said firmly.
Aria's mind drifted back to the conversation she had overheard between Sebastian and Victor. "He doesn't care… not for me, not for the baby. Victor said… he's only temporary."
Maya frowned. "Temporary? That's cruel."
"He's cruel," Aria said simply. "And he's brilliant at it. He makes it look like he's doing the right thing, but it's all about control. I won't let him control me—or my child."
Maya's hand returned to the wheel. "Then we leave. No looking back."
Aria exhaled, pressing a hand to her stomach again. The baby kicked lightly, and she smiled through her tears. "We'll be okay," she whispered. "You'll be safe with me."
They arrived at the clinic just before dawn. Maya had prepared it quietly, months in advance, knowing someday Aria might need this. There were beds, supplies, and rooms that could serve as temporary living quarters.
Aria stepped inside and sank onto a chair, exhaustion washing over her. "I can't believe it. It's actually done. I… I did it."
"You're brave," Maya said, helping her settle. "Braver than most people could be."
Aria's hands shook again. "I feel… free, but terrified. What if he finds us? What if he…"
"He won't," Maya interrupted firmly. "Not while I'm here. We'll move, we'll hide, we'll make sure neither of you are ever in danger again."
Aria took a deep breath, closing her eyes. For the first time in weeks, maybe months, she felt a flicker of hope. Her life was hers again. Her child's life was hers to protect.
"Where do we start?" she asked quietly.
"We start by making sure no one knows you're here," Maya said. "No calls to the house, no messages to Sebastian, nothing. We'll handle the money, the identity, the documents. You're starting over. You're building a life on your terms."
Aria nodded, heart pounding. "I want that. I want that for him… for my baby. We'll be safe."
The morning passed in a blur of packing, moving files, arranging temporary IDs and bank accounts. Every step felt surreal to Aria. This was really happening. She was leaving everything behind—her old life, Sebastian, the mansion, even the Blackwood name.
By midday, they were ready. Aria looked around the empty clinic and let herself imagine a future: one with safety, love, and control over her own life. One where her child would grow without fear of being treated like an object.
"I need to thank you," Aria said, voice thick. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You don't need to thank me," Maya said firmly. "You did the hard part yourself. You made the decision. You chose your freedom."
Aria looked down at her stomach again. "We did it," she whispered softly. "We really did it".
Maya smiled. "And we're not stopping here. This is just the beginning".
Aria nodded, she felt determination settling over her like a shield. She could feel the weight of the past lifting, even if the memory of Sebastian's words haunted her: If she fails, I'll replace her.
She clenched her fists. "Not this time," she whispered. "Not ever".
Even as the day stretched on, Aria and Maya moved quietly, carefully, planning their next steps. Every moment was filled with purpose: securing money, setting up a safe house, preparing for the inevitable questions from anyone who might try to find them anytime.
Sebastian returned home that evening, only to find the house empty. The staff looked confused, hesitant. The rooms were neat, untouched. But Aria was gone.
"Where is she?" he barked, his voice echoing in the vast, silent mansion.
"She… she left, sir," a timid maid said.
"Left?" he repeated sharply. "Without a word?"
"Yes, sir," she said quietly.
He slammed his hand on the table, fury building. "Find her! Now!"
"But sir—"
"Do you understand me? Now!"
The staff scurried, whispering, checking the cameras, calling security, trying to track her movements. But it was useless. Aria had planned this meticulously. She had vanished like smoke.
Victor appeared soon after, calm, almost pleased. "She's gone," he said, sipping his coffee. "Finally, you're free to move on."
"Free?" Sebastian growled. "Do you understand what she's done?"
Victor shrugged. "Yes. And yes, she's gone. There's nothing you can do now. The divorce will be finalized without her presence. She's gone for good."
Sebastian stared at the empty room, at the signed papers left behind, at the silence. For the first time, he felt powerless.
Aria, miles away, touched her stomach once more. "We are safe," she whispered. "We are free."
She had lost a husband, but she had gained her life. And nothing would take that from her—not him, not Victor, not anyone.
The night came, quiet and still. Aria and Maya prepared the safe house. Aria finally allowed herself to rest, hands pressed protectively over her stomach. The past was behind her, and the future was hers to shape.
"We're safe now," she whispered. "We'll make a life. A good life. For both of us."
Her eyes closed. She didn't know what Sebastian would do, what Victor would try, or how the world would respond. But she knew one thing: she had taken control, and she would not let it go.
For the first time in years, she felt calm.
And somewhere, far away, Sebastian stared at the signed divorce papers, fury and disbelief in his eyes. He had lost control, and it burned him to his core.