Chapter 9 Am not a whore

She stopped.

Her eyes moved between them.

The tension in the room was impossible to miss.

"What's going on?" she asked slowly.

Silence.

Elara shook her head slightly, silently pleading with Peter.

Please don't.

But he didn't look at her.

"Mum," he said.

And just like that-

It was over.

"Elara is pregnant."

The bag slipped from her mother's hand.

The sound echoed louder than it should have.

"What?" she whispered.

Elara's entire body went cold. " is it true" Elara mom asked.

"Mum, I can explain..." before she could get words to respond, SLAP, she staggered slightly

Her head snapped to the side.

Before she could even recover.....

Another slap came and this time she staggered to the ground. The second hit was harder. Sharper.

Tears streamed down Elara's face instantly.

"Who is the father?" her mother demanded, her voice shaking with anger.

Elara couldn't breathe.

"I... I don't know him," she whispered.

Silence.

Dangerous silence.

"It was just one night..."

Her mother let out a bitter laugh.

"A one-night stand?" she said, disbelief laced with disgust. "You're carrying a child for a man you don't even know?"

Elara couldn't answer.

Couldn't defend herself.

Because it was true.

"You've ruined everything," her mother muttered, pacing slightly. "Everything."

"I'm sorry..." Elara cried. "I didn't mean for this to happen-"

"Sorry?" her mother snapped. "Sorry won't fix this!"

She pointed toward the bed.

"Look at your brother!" she said. "He is your responsibility.

Elara's chest tightened painfully.

"I'll take care of him," she said quickly. "And the baby too, I promise..."

"I don't want to hear it!" her mother shouted.

Before Elara could react, She was shoved.

Hard.

"Get out."

Elara stumbled backward, shock flooding her system.

"Mum, I said get out!" she yelled, pushing her toward the door.

Elara's vision blurred with tears as she was forced out into the hallway.

People turned.

Stared.

Whispered.

But her mother wasn't done.

"Your stepfather was right!" she shouted, her voice echoing down the corridor. "You are a whore!"

The word hit harder than the slap.

Everything went silent in Elara's head.

"I should have abandoned you when I had the chance!" her mother continued, her face twisted with anger.

Gasps.

Murmurs.

Eyes everywhere.

Watching.

Judging.

Elara stood there

Frozen.

Broken.

Then-

The door slammed shut in her face.

Silence.

Then whispers.

"She's the one..."

"I heard she's pregnant..."

"No husband..."

Elara's breathing became uneven.

Fast.

Too fast.

Her chest tightened violently.

Air-

She couldn't get enough air.

Her hands started shaking.

Her vision blurred.

No... no...

The walls felt like they were closing in.

The whispers grew louder.

Closer.

Mocking.

Judging.

Her heart raced uncontrollably as panic consumed her whole body.

"I can't..." she gasped softly. "I can't breathe..."

No one helped.

No one moved.

They just watched.

She didn't stop running.

Elara only stopped when her legs gave out.

Her knees hit the pavement just outside the hospital gates, the impact barely registering through the storm inside her chest.

"I can't breathe..." she gasped, clutching her shirt tightly. "I can't..."

Tears blurred everything. Voices echoed in her head. You are a whore. I should have abandoned you.

Her body trembled uncontrollably as panic swallowed her whole.

"Hey-hey, breathe."

A voice.

Close.

Firm.

Real.

Elara flinched as a hand touched her shoulder.

"Look at me."

She didn't want to.

The voice was deep, calm nothing like the chaos inside her head.

"Sit down," he said gently.

Before she could protest, he guided her to a nearby bench.

Elara barely registered it.

All she knew was that she was falling apart.

"Look at me."

She shook her head weakly.

"I can't"

"You can," he said firmly, but not harshly. "Just for a second."

Something in his tone.Grounded. Unshaken.

Slowly... she lifted her gaze.

And for a moment She forgot to breathe for an entirely different reason.

He was... striking.

Not Adrian.

Not anyone she knew.

But just as impossible to ignore.

Tall. Broad shoulders that filled out his dark shirt effortlessly. His jawline sharp, clean, like it had been carved with intention. His skin a warm tone that caught the fading light, and his eyes-

His eyes were the most unsettling part.

Not cold.

Not distant.

But intensely observant.

Like he could see straight through her.

"Focus," he said again, softer this time.

Elara swallowed.

"Inhale," he guided.

She tried.

Her chest fought it-but she tried again.

"Good," he murmured. "Now exhale."

Again.

And again.

Until the tight grip around her chest loosened.

Just enough.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a bottle of water, opening it before handing it to her.

"Drink."

Her hands still trembled as she took it.

"Thank you..." she whispered between shaky breaths.

He didn't respond immediately.

Just watched her.

Making sure she was okay.

"You get panic attacks often?" he asked after a moment.

She shook her head. "No... just... today."

"Bad day?" he asked.

Elara let out a weak, humorless laugh.

"You could say that."

A brief silence settled between them.

Not uncomfortable.

Just... quiet.

Safe.

After a while, Elara's breathing returned to normal.

Her thoughts were still messy but at least she wasn't drowning in them anymore.

"I'm okay now," she said softly, wiping the last of her tears. "Thank you for helping me."

She stood up slowly.

He stood too.

Still watching her like he didn't fully trust that she was fine.

"I should go," she added.

She turned but his voice stopped her.

"Wait."

Elara looked back.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, holding it out to her.

She hesitated before taking it.

"If it happens again," he said, "or if you need help... call me."

Her fingers curled around the card.

"Why?" she asked quietly. "You don't even know me."

A small pause.

"Maybe," he said. "But you looked like someone who shouldn't be alone."

Something in her chest shifted.

Slightly.

"Thank you," she said again, more sincerely this time.

He gave a small nod.

And just like that they parted ways.

Elara walked slowly, her mind still trying to catch up with everything.

After a few steps she glanced down at the card.

Simple.

Clean.

But the name beneath it made her pause.

VALE CORPORATION

Her brows furrowed.

Why did that sound so familiar?

Before she could think deeper she turned slightly.

The man was already gone like he had never been there.

Elara tightened her grip on the card.

Because somehow she felt like that wouldn't be the last time their paths crossed.