Elisse Winters gently opened her eyes. The pristine white ceiling felt blindingly bright. She squinted, trying to adjust to the light, and slowly began to take in her surroundings.
Her mind skittered as she struggled to recall how she had ended up in the hospital. Flashes of memories danced just beyond her reach.
She remembered being at the boutique where she worked. It had been an exceptionally busy day, with a surge of customers, so she was moving to and fro non stop. That was the last clear memory she could grasp.
The door opened, a nurse in white scrub suit bustled into the room, clutching a clipboard to her chest.
With a deep breath, Elisse pushed herself up on her elbows. She must have appeared lost and confused because without her asking the nurse explained, "Your friend Jessy brought you here after you collapsed from exhaustion. She left to return to work after I assured her that you're going to be fine."
She let out a sigh of relief as her questions had finally been resolved.
"Do I have to stay tonight?" Elisse asked, worried that she might miss her dinner date with Colin. Today was their third anniversary, and they had planned to dine at the restaurant where they had their first date. "I mean I'm feeling much better now and I don't think I need to stay longer."
The nurse paused from scribbling on her notepad to look at her. "I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better. You can potentially go home, but you have to take some laboratory test and once the results are out you'll be discharged."
Elisse nodded, knowing the need to make sure she's alright.
"How long should I wait for the results to be ready?" she inquired, already mentally planning how much time she'd need to prepare her dress and apply makeup.
"Usually, it takes about four hours or so," the nurse replied, offering a reassuring smile. "But I'll make sure to check on them and keep you updated."
"Thank you." Elisse replied, letting out another sigh. At least there was still an hour left to prepare for her dinner date with Colin, she thought to herself.
—
The clock struck 5:30 PM when the nurse returned to check on Elisse. "Your test results are in," she announced, glancing at the folder in her hand.
Elisse had been bored for hours and couldn't wait to get home. Colin must be worried about her since she hadn't been able to message him since the morning.
The nurse gave her a bright smile. "Well, it seems you're going to have some big changes in your life, Ms. Winters. Congratulations—you're pregnant."
"Pregnant?" The smile instantly vanished from her face, and the color drained from her cheeks. This was not how she had envisioned the news coming. She and Colin had been careful and had agreed to wait until they were both ready.
"Yes, the tests confirm it." The nurse replied. "I understand this can be overwhelming for you, but cheer up! It's a blessing."
The nurse left to prepare the necessary paperwork for her discharge. Ellise was left alone to confront a whirlwind of emotions and doubts. She thought of Colin and wondered if he would be ready for this? Would he want the baby?
—
Elisse Stepped out of the hospital. Snowflakes were falling from the sky like a burst of white confetti, blanketing the bustling street of Devon City into a winter wonderland. A shiver ran down her spine, prompting her to tighten her grip on her coat as she hailed a cab.
She settled on her seat. The cab glided smoothly over the slick streets as she gazed out the window, lost in thought. She rehearsed how she would break the news of her pregnancy to Colin. They both wanted a child, but that was something for the future, when they felt truly ready. Having a baby now makes the situation difficult.
Elisse's brother had been against their relationship from the very beginning, warning her that she would be as good as dead to him if she bore a Bradford bastard. But it wasn't just him who opposed them; Colin's grandmother, Doña Inez, had shown her bitter contempt, labeling Elisse a gold digger. Doña Inez had even threatened Colin, vowing to strip him of his inheritance if he ever got Elisse pregnant.
The cab came to a halt, and Elisse was so lost in thought that she didn't realize they had arrived. Peering out the window, she saw her house—a two-story bungalow she inherited from her parents, who had died in a tragic airplane crash five years ago.
She fished in her pocket, pulling out the money the nurse had kindly given her after discovering that she had nothing with her when she was admitted to the hospital. With a deep breath, she paid the driver and exited the vehicle.
The inside of the house was quiet. Her brother must have been asleep, as there was no sound coming from the television. Elisse headed to her room and changed into her favorite pink jumpsuit—the one she wore when she and Collin first met. With no time to style her hair, she let it cascade down her shoulders freely. Although she usually didn't wear makeup, tonight she applied a light touch to her face to look presentable.
Checking herself one last time in the mirror, she felt content with what she saw and decided to head out.
When she arrived at the restaurant, he wasn't there yet. A nervous flutter danced in her stomach as she focused on the double doors, waiting for them to burst open and reveal his familiar figure. Five minutes passed, and finally, Colin walked through the door, causing Elisse to hold her breath. He looked breathtakingly handsome in his gray tuxedo.
Elisse noticed his grim expression when he took the chair opposite her. Before she could say a word, he spoke. "There's something I have to tell you, Elisse.... We are getting a divorce."