42

The news made Aaron's heart skip a beat.

Laurel is pregnant; Laurel is pregnant with his child. They will have a baby together.

Aaron immediately drove his car, half-speeding towards Laurel's dorm. He couldn't wait to meet her, make sure his wife and baby-to-be were all right. Whatever happens, he will keep this marriage. The baby further strengthens his reason for fighting to get Laurel back. He hopes that Laurel will at least give him a chance.

He parked his car in front of the hostel carefully. Several students passing by on the street turned to look at him, some of them couldn't even take their eyes off him. The hostel is indeed close to the famous campus in this city; so many students pass by with various matters.

Aaron is indeed worth seeing twice. His handsomeness is very exotic and flashy, so it attracts people's attention. Today he wore casual jeans and a matching shirt and wore a knitted vest that beautifully wrapped his body. His broad chest was imprinted manly there, his hair slightly wet from the rush after taking a shower, just brushed back with his fingers, making him look even more exotic.

The man is handsome… he is a nervous handsome man. His steps were hesitant and excited at the same time. All the words intertwined in his mind. He had to be able to convince Laurel to come back to him.

When Aaron reached the front door of the dormitory, he was about to knock. However, the door immediately opened from the inside, revealing Aunt Sarah's pale face.

“Laurel left. She wasn't anywhere, I don't know when she left. She left this letter.” Aunt Sarah's eyes widened in panic. “Oh my God, Aaron, looks like she overheard our conversation this morning and was furious to discover one more lie.”

Aaron's head seemed to have been hit hard at the news. He received the letter from Aunt Sarah and read it. His face paled reading the short message written on the simple paper.




—You won't be able to manage my life anymore like a God to His creation, Aaron, it's all over here. I will go far away and you will never be able to find me again.—




_______________

Laurel knocked on Alin's door and waited anxiously. A few minutes later, footsteps were heard from inside and the door opened.

“Laurel?” Alin looked at Laurel and smiled broadly. “Why didn't you tell me if you wanted to come? I can cook a special meal for you—!”

“Alin.” Laurel's expression was so serious that Alin's smile faded and looked at her in confusion. “Promise me you won't tell Aaron I'm here.”

“What's wrong, Laurel?” Alin looked at her. “What happened to you?”

“Promise me first, Alin!”

Alin saw how serious Laurela was, so she nodded her head quickly. “Alright, alright, I promise you. Come on in, I'll make you a drink.”

Laurel followed Alin into the house. Alin made tea for her and invited her to sit in the family room. It looks like the baby is sleeping because the house is very quiet.

“My husband is out of town because he has office work. He won't be home in a week, so I'm alone here with my baby.” Alin poured tea into Laurel's cup. “Here, have a drink first.”

Laurel accepted the cup and took a sip, feeling the refreshing scent of mint and jasmine. Alin looked at her worriedly.

“Are you having a fight with Aaron?”

Laurel nodded, and then shook her head, confused by herself. “Almost like that, but not really. It's a long story.”

“I have plenty of time.” Alin smiled. “Come on, tell me.”

Thus, Laurel was telling the story, everything, from the beginning. She explained her feelings to Aaron, her heartache when the man lied to her and her decision to distance herself from him. When she finished, Alin just pensive and looked at her skeptically.

Laurel looked at Alin, asking for her opinion. “I was right, wasn't I, Alin? I think Aaron is very arrogant. He rules my whole life, trying to mold me into what he wants me to be. He seemed to want to play the role of God in my life. Plus, he started it all with a lie.” Laurel tried to find justification.

Her friend took a deep breath. “I think Aaron has gone mad.”

“Might also.” Laurel frowned in confusion at the words of the woman in front of her.

“Aaron has gone mad; crazy for loving you too much.”

“His love is just a sweetener for his lies,” Laurel interrupted. She wanted to gain support from Alin, but her best friend seemed to sympathize with Aaron instead.

“There's no way someone with fake love would do anything to have you. Think about it, why would he marry you if that's the case? I know for sure in his past, Aaron never opened his heart to other women. He always looked… sad. It turned out to be because of this. It turned out to be because he bore a deep sense of guilt. You've been repeating that Aaron is controlling everything in your life, turning it into what he wants it to be.” Alin looked deeply at Laurel. “But from what I see, he doesn't want to be God in your life, Laurel. He wants to be a hero. He takes care of you.”

“No, he's not!” Laurel argued again. “He just wants to satisfy his ego, heal his guilt and make me owe him a debt to break even!”

“Why would he do that? It's no good for Aaron.” Alin leaned forward. “Laurel, if it was someone else in Aaron's position, he would have left you with a pile of money, apologized and then left. Even if you don't want to accept it, at least he tried. Aaron could waltz away at any time carefree, without any loss, but he didn't. Instead he chose to tie heavy guilt-ridden chains around his feet, keep your life easy and happy, and then marry you and be an incredibly good husband to you.”

Laurel was silent. “Why are you defending him?”

“Because, for God's sake, open your heart, Laurel! Think carefully. Okay, he was guilty in the past; he did cause your father's death. It's happened, time can't be turned back, but he's tried to make amends.” Ali took a deep breath. “Think about it, Laurel. Everything he did for you, his lies, and all his plans to interfere in your life; did anything harm you? No, right? He always ensures your happiness above all else. He loves you, girl, and deep in your heart, you know it.”

Laurel gritted her teeth. “I do not believe it.” Her eyes felt hot. “He has lied to me. If he loves me, he won't lie to me.”

Alin smiled softly at Laurel who started to sob. Alin patted her shoulder encouragingly. “You can stay here first. You have nowhere to go, do you?”

“I was planning to go out of town, but my health condition didn't allow it. I was throwing up all the way here earlier.” Laurel wiped her tears and looked at Alin doubtfully. “Perhaps I will trouble you, but may I stay here for a while? When my health condition improves, I will leave.”

“You can stay as long as you want. We have two empty rooms here. My husband will also be very happy if you stay here. He's often out of town and would be happy to have you with me.”

“I won't stay here long. I have to leave immediately, otherwise Aaron will find me.”

“Are you still determined to go?”

Laurel massaged her head. “I don't know. I'm confused, Alin, and I'm dizzy.”

“You are pregnant; you must take good care of yourself and your future child. I always used to have nausea and vomiting in the early days of my pregnancy. Stay here for now, Laurel. Rest and recover. You can think about what you should do after that.”

_______________

Aaron had been looking everywhere aimlessly and he was confused. It felt like he was almost crazy because he didn't know where Laurel was, what and how she was doing.

His wife was pregnant, for God's sake! However, now she was out there somewhere. Angrily, he slammed his hands on the steering wheel.

Does Laurel hate him that much? Why doesn't she want to understand? Aaron knew he was guilty and full of sin towards Laurel. He is indeed unforgivable. However, does he not have the right to love? Can't he love her?

_______________

“I've seen Aaron. He's in bad condition. He hasn't come to the office since two weeks ago. All he did every day was circle around looking for Laurel. When I looked at his house, he looked pathetic; he doesn't shave and just sits in his room like a madman, cursing himself.” Aamber sits in front of her mother with concern. “We have to find Laurel for him; otherwise I'm afraid he's going to really go crazy.”

“His personal driver said he also always drove around every night, didn't come home, and circled the whole city, looking for her.” Her mother massaged her throbbing head. “Mom is also worried about him. Have you been looking for information? What about the employees who knew Laurel back at the office?”

“I questioned them all, but no one knows where she is.”

“What about Alin? Laurel took her place, didn't she? And I hear they're quite close.”

“Alin was the first person Aaron went to.” Aamber remembered Aaron had told her. “But Alin said Laurel didn't come there.”

The two women looked at each other, confused. They couldn't do anything to help Aaron. What he needed was Laurel's presence. Only that.

Laurel, where are you? Don't you feel sorry for Aaron?