Hers to Love

Chapter 42

As Maria walked through the mall, her heart was full of anticipation and a bit of anxiety. Her pregnancy bump was now visible, and she had decided it was time to tell Amir about the baby. She was ready for whatever reaction he might have; she knew she was going to keep the baby no matter what.

She had planned to call him later that day, hoping to clear the air after his recent silence. But as she strolled through the mall, a chance sighting took her completely by surprise.

There, near a coffee shop, was Amir. He was laughing and chatting with a woman who looked to be around his age. Their body language was affectionate and intimate—Amir had his arm draped around her shoulder, and they seemed completely engrossed in each other.

Maria's heart sank as she watched them. She had felt that what she and Amir shared was real, and seeing him with someone else was both confusing and painful. Her eyes darted between them, trying to understand what was happening. She pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling as she prepared to call Amir.

Suddenly, she heard snippets of conversation from nearby shoppers.

"Wow, look at that," a woman said to her friend. "That guy looks like he's really into her. I didn't know he was seeing someone."

"I know," her friend replied. "They seem really close. I thought he was single."

Maria felt a lump in her throat. She didn't want to draw attention to herself, so she took a deep breath and turned away, trying to compose herself. As she walked toward the exit, her phone buzzed with a message from Chad.

Chad: "Hey Maria, just checking in. Are you okay? Do you want to talk or meet up?"*

Maria's mind was racing, but she quickly typed a response.

Maria: "Hey Chad, I'm not sure. I just saw something that really threw me off. I'll call you later."

As she headed to her car, Maria's thoughts were in turmoil. She had been ready to open up to Amir and hoped for a chance to discuss their future together, especially with the baby on the way. But now, seeing him with another woman made everything seem uncertain.

She couldn't help but feel hurt and betrayed. She had invested so much in their connection, only to be confronted with this unexpected reality. As she sat in her car, she took a moment to steady herself. She had to decide how to move forward—whether to confront Amir about what she saw or to focus on her own path.

Maria started the engine and drove home, her mind swirling with emotions. The sight of Amir with someone else had cast a shadow over her plans, but she was determined to face whatever came next with strength and clarity.

-----

Maria took a deep breath and dialed Amir's number, her hands trembling slightly. She needed to talk to him about the baby, and she hoped he would be receptive. The phone rang a few times before Amir answered with a distant tone.

"Hello?"

"Hi Amir, it's Maria. I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Oh, hey Maria. No, it's fine. What's up?"

"I was wondering if we could meet and talk. There's something important I need to discuss with you."

"Is it something urgent? I'm kind of busy right now."

"Yes, it's important. I really think it's better if we talk in person. Could we meet today?"

"Uh, sure. I guess we can meet. Where do you want to go?"

"How about the coffee shop we used to go to? Does 4 PM work for you?"

"Yeah, that works. I'll see you there."

"Thanks, Amir. I appreciate it."

"No problem. See you later."

"See you."

As Maria ended the call, she felt a mix of relief and unease. Amir's distant tone had been disheartening, but she was determined to go through with the meeting. She had prepared herself for the conversation, knowing it would be difficult but necessary.

The hours until their meeting seemed to stretch endlessly. When the time came, Maria made her way to the coffee shop, trying to stay composed. She entered and saw Amir already seated at a table by the window. He looked up as she approached, his expression guarded.

"Hey, Maria."

"Hi, Amir. Thanks for meeting me."

"Yeah, no problem. What did you want to talk about?"

Maria took a seat across from him, feeling the weight of the conversation ahead. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice.

"Amir, I saw you with someone else at the mall. I... I don't really understand what's going on. You said you would follow me to the Philippines, but you never came. I waited for you, sent you messages, tried to call you, but you never answered."

"Maria, I—"

"Please, let me finish. I have something important to tell you. I'm pregnant. I've decided to keep the baby, and I wanted you to know. I am not expecting anything from you; I just wanted you to know."

Amir's face went pale, and he stared at her, seemingly in shock. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Is it mine?"

Maria couldn't believe the words that had just come out of Amir's mouth. She stared at him, her heart pounding with disbelief and pain.

"Is it mine?" Amir's question echoed in her mind. It wasn't just the words, it was the tone—cold, distant, almost accusatory. The man she had once thought understood her more than anyone now stood before her, doubting her in the worst possible way.

Maria felt her hands tremble, but she steadied herself. She wasn't going to break, not in front of him. She had been through too much already to let this moment define her. Her emotions ran wild, but one thought cut through it all: she didn't need Amir. Not anymore.

"You really think I'd lie to you?" Maria asked, her voice steady but laced with hurt. "After everything we've been through?"

Amir looked away, shame creeping into his eyes, but it was too late. The damage had been done.

"You've made it clear where you stand," she continued. "I don't need this from you. I don't need *you*."

In that moment, Maria felt a weight lift from her chest. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure—she didn't need anyone's approval, especially Amir's. Whether it was a boy or a girl, her baby would grow up loved and cared for, and that was all that mattered.

"I can do this on my own," Maria said softly, more to herself than to Amir. "And I will."

Without another word, Maria turned and walked away, feeling both the sting of heartbreak and the warmth of newfound strength. This was her journey now, and she knew, deep down, that she was strong enough to face it alone.