Chapter 3 No Where to Run

Chapter Three: No where to Run

Reina gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she drove through the dark, empty streets. The road stretched ahead of her, lit only by the soft glow of streetlights. The night felt endless, just like the weight pressing on her chest.

She hadn't planned for this moment. She had been so desperate to leave that she hadn't thought about where she would go next. But staying wasn't an option anymore. She glanced at her phone, sitting on the passenger seat, knowing she couldn't call anyone. Her father had abandoned her years ago, and her mother... well, her mother was long gone. Reina was truly alone.

Her heart sank as she realized the only thing she could count on was the child growing inside her. She had to be strong now-for the baby. She MUST protect her child from the toxic life Ethan would have forced them into. But where could she go?

Her mind raced, thinking of the few friends she had left. None of them knew the real story of her marriage. To them, she had always been Ethan's trophy wife, living the dream with a billionaire husband. If they knew the truth, if they knew how much she had suffered, would they help her? Or would they turn her away?

She drove for hours, the city slowly giving way to empty highways. Her thoughts swirled, growing darker with each passing mile. How had her life turned into this mess? A loveless marriage, constant humiliation, and now running away in the dead of night with nothing but her suitcase and a broken heart.

I MUST keep going, she told herself, her hands gripping the wheel tighter. She couldn't afford to stop. She needed to get far enough away that Ethan wouldn't find her. But the question still loomed-where could she go?

As she continued driving, the car's fuel gauge dropped dangerously close to empty. She hadn't even noticed how far she had gone. Reina's stomach twisted with worry. She couldn't afford to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Finally, she spotted a small gas station ahead, a dim light flickering in the distance. It looked run-down, almost abandoned, but it was her only option. She pulled into the station and parked beside the pump. The silence around her was eerie, the only sound coming from the hum of the car's engine.

Reina sat there for a moment, staring at the pump, unable to move. The reality of what she was doing hit her all over again. She had no plan, no destination, and no idea what the future held. All she knew was that she couldn't go back.

I MUST not look back.

With a deep breath, she grabbed her wallet and stepped out of the car. The cold night air bit at her skin, and she hurried inside the small convenience store attached to the station. The old man behind the counter barely glanced up as she walked in.

"Twenty dollars on pump three, please," she said, handing him the money. Her voice was shaky, but she tried to sound confident.

The man nodded, sliding the cash into the register without a word. Reina hurried back outside and started filling her car. The gas flowed slowly, and with every passing second, the fear in her chest grew. What if Ethan was looking for her right now? What if he found her? He had the resources-he could find her anywhere.

She couldn't stop imagining his face, cold and cruel, as he told her she would come back. That she always did. But not this time. She was determined to never return to the life that had broken her spirit.

As she finished pumping gas, Reina noticed a car pulling into the station. Her heart skipped a beat, and panic surged through her. Was it Ethan? Had he already found her? She quickly ducked down, peering around the pump to get a look at the vehicle.

It wasn't his. Relief washed over her, but the fear lingered. She couldn't stay here any longer. She quickly replaced the nozzle, got back into her car, and sped off, leaving the gas station behind.

For hours, she drove through the night, the landscape becoming more desolate the farther she went. The small towns blurred into nothingness, and the highway stretched on, endless and empty. Reina's eyes burned with exhaustion, but she couldn't stop. Not yet.

She MUST find somewhere to stay, at least for the night.

Finally, just as the first hints of dawn touched the sky, she saw a small, run-down motel on the side of the road. It wasn't much, but it was something. She pulled into the gravel lot and parked, staring at the dingy sign that flickered above the entrance.

Sunset Motel.

It looked as tired and broken as she felt, but it was a place to rest. Reina grabbed her suitcase and walked up to the small office. The man behind the counter barely glanced up from his newspaper as she entered.

"I need a room," she said quietly, her voice hoarse from hours of silence.

He grunted, reaching for a key and tossing it onto the counter. "Cash only."

Reina nodded and handed him a few bills, then took the key and walked to her room. The door creaked as she opened it, and the room smelled faintly of mildew, but it didn't matter. She was too tired to care.

She dropped her suitcase by the door and collapsed onto the bed, her entire body aching from the stress and exhaustion of the night. For the first time in hours, she allowed herself to relax, if only for a moment.

But as she lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling, the weight of everything she had left behind pressed down on her. Ethan wouldn't give up easily. He would look for her. He would send people to track her down. And when he found her, what would he do?

Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach. I MUST protect my baby, she thought again. She couldn't let Ethan take the child away from her. He didn't love her, and he would never love their baby. To him, the child was nothing more than an heir, a tool in his game of control.

Reina's mind raced, trying to think of a plan. She couldn't stay here forever. She needed to disappear, to start over somewhere far away. But how? She didn't have enough money to keep running. And the baby... she couldn't keep moving once she started showing. She needed a place to settle, to figure out her next move.

As exhaustion finally began to pull her into sleep, one thought echoed in her mind.

I MUST find a way to keep him from finding me.

But how long could she stay hidden? How long before Ethan caught up to her, demanding what he believed was his?