Chapter 5

Corinne Preston POV:

My finger finally hit 'Send'. The email, a brief confirmation of my travel details to Dr. Perkins, disappeared into the digital ether. I unconsciously touched my belly, a small, involuntary gesture that had become second nature. It was done. The last loose end severed.

Within minutes, an email from Dr. Perkins landed in my inbox. Corinne, wonderful news! Our team is eagerly awaiting your arrival. We' ve managed to secure the dedicated long-range observation module you requested, and the living quarters are ready. My assistant, Liam, will meet you at Santiago International. He' ll handle everything. Just focus on a safe journey, and please, take care of yourself. We' re excited to have you.

A wave of unexpected emotion washed over me. Kindness. Respect. Consideration for my well-being. It was a foreign, almost shocking sensation after years of Arlo's indifference. My eyes welled up, a warmth spreading through my chest. I quickly typed a grateful reply.

The airport was a blur of hurried footsteps and hushed announcements. I kept my head down, a large scarf draped around my neck, trying to appear inconspicuous. My heart pounded a frantic rhythm against my ribs, a mixture of fear and exhilarating anticipation. Would Arlo show up? Had he found out about the divorce? About the baby?

"Corinne Preston?" A friendly voice broke through my reverie. I looked up to see a tall, lean man with kind eyes and a welcoming smile. Liam. Dr. Perkins' assistant. "Dr. Perkins sends his warmest regards. He's arranged for a priority boarding pass and a quiet seat for you. He knows you'll want to review your notes in peace." He took my small carry-on, his movements solicitous. "He also mentioned a slight... sensitivity you might have, so the cabin crew is aware."

My gratitude choked me. This was a level of care I hadn't known existed.

As Liam guided me towards the premium check-in, my vision was momentarily obscured by a towering display of duty-free perfume. When I stepped around it, I froze. There, at the opposite end of the terminal, stood Arlo. And Brielle. Her arm was looped through his, a possessive grip, her head resting on his shoulder. They looked like the picture of marital bliss.

Arlo' s head suddenly snapped up, his gaze sweeping the terminal. For a terrifying second, his eyes seemed to lock onto mine. His body stiffened. "Corinne?" I heard him mumble, a question more to himself than to me.

Brielle, sensing his distraction, tightened her hold. "Arlo, darling, what is it? Don't tell me you thought you saw your ex-wife again. You're imagining things. Come on, our gate is this way." She tugged him forward, her voice a low, dismissive murmur.

I pulled back, melting into the crowd, my heart hammering against my ribs. A narrow escape.

Liam, oblivious to the near-miss, continued to chat cheerfully. "The observatory is truly a marvel, Corinne. We have the fastest optical systems for cosmic microwave background studies, cutting-edge data analysis suites, and a fully stocked library. Dr. Perkins has already cleared your access to the primary telescope arrays." He beamed. "He thinks you'll be instrumental in the dark matter mapping project."

His words, filled with genuine enthusiasm and respect for my work, were a balm to my soul. No dismissal. No casual suggestion of building my "own private observatory" as a glorified hobby. Here, I was seen. I was valued.

"Oh," Liam added, pulling a sleek, heavy pen from his pocket. "Dr. Perkins also specifically asked me to give you this. It's a Hatfield Tech prototype-the new quantum-encrypted data pen. Very rare. He thought you might find it useful."

My hand, which had been reaching out, froze in mid-air. Hatfield Tech. Arlo' s company. The symbol of everything I was desperately trying to escape. The pen, a subtle reminder of the world I was leaving behind, felt like a burning coal.

"No," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "Thank you, but no."

Liam looked surprised. "Oh? Are you sure? It's quite advanced-"

"I'm sure," I interrupted, my gaze hardening. "I don't need anything from that world. From him." I imagined Arlo, still distracted by Brielle' s fake pregnancy, still oblivious to my real one, still blind to the wreckage of our marriage. This pen, this "gift" from his empire, felt like a final, insidious attempt to tether me.

"My marriage is over," I stated, making it clear. "Completely. And I intend to keep it that way."

The plane lurched, then gently ascended. The roaring engines were a symphony of freedom. Liam, seated beside me, smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Corinne. You'll love Chile. The stars are unlike anything you've ever seen."

Below, the city lights twinkled, a shrinking tapestry of a life I was leaving behind. Goodbye, cold mansion. Goodbye, empty promises. Goodbye, Arlo Hatfield, his indifference, his betrayal. Goodbye, Brielle Yang, your manipulative smiles and your parasitic embrace.

I leaned my head against the window, watching the familiar landscape recede. I was shedding my past, like a snake sloughing off old skin. No longer a victim, no longer a shadow. I was a woman on her own, embarking on a journey of self-discovery, fueled by intellect and a fierce maternal instinct. My child, nestled safely within me, was my sole focus, my new universe. They would grow up knowing they were cherished, seen, and deeply, truly loved.

The plane climbed higher, piercing through the clouds. The city disappeared from view, swallowed by the vast, open expanse of the sky. A profound sense of peace, a tranquility I hadn't felt in years, settled over me. Liam, sensing my quiet moment, offered a small, comforting smile, then turned back to his book, a gesture of silent support.

For the first time in a long time, I felt truly safe. Truly seen. I was Corinne Preston, astrophysicist. And soon, I would be a mother. The past was a distant memory, a fading star in the rearview mirror. My future, vast and bright, stretched out before me.

Weeks turned into months. Life at the observatory was everything I had dreamed of-and more. The crisp, clean air of the Atacama, the dizzying blanket of stars, the camaraderie of brilliant minds who spoke my language, intellectually and emotionally. Dr. Perkins was a revelation, a mentor who treated me with respect and genuine encouragement. He treated me like a colleague, an equal.

My apartment, small but cozy, became my sanctuary. The endless paperwork, the complex equations, the thrill of discovery-it all consumed me in the most satisfying way. My pregnancy progressed smoothly, carefully monitored by the observatory's excellent medical team. I felt strong, capable, and more at peace than I had ever been.

Sometimes, late at night, a fleeting image of Arlo would flash through my mind. But it was fleeting, quickly dismissed. He was a ghost, a faded memory from a life that no longer held any claim over me. I told myself I didn't miss him. Not a single bit.

Arlo Hatfield POV:

The world felt... off. Dull. Empty. It had been weeks since Corinne left. His life, once a meticulously structured symphony of power and ambition, now felt like a discordant, unfinished melody. He noticed it in the silence of the mansion, the sterile perfection of the rooms that used to hold her quiet presence. His personal assistant, Mark, kept asking if he wanted to replace the antique chair where Corinne used to read, now slightly scuffed from his own restless pacing. He refused. He didn't know why.

He was driving, his mind miles away, when a sudden horn blared. He swerved, narrowly avoiding a collision. Brielle, beside him, shrieked, clutching her swollen belly. "Arlo! What's wrong with you? Be careful!"