Ian slid the key card and opened the hotel door.
"Thank you, Ian. I don't know what I would have done without you tonight," Samantha said, walking in and standing by the door.
"We are friends. I can be there for you just like Catherine and Natalie." Ian smiled softly. "Would you call the twins and tell them what happened?"
She shook her head. "No, I don't want to talk to anyone tonight. I just want to fall on a bed and sleep."
"I understand."
"Good night, Ian." She gently closes the door.
Ian shoved his shoe between the door.
Samantha froze.
He smiled, fingers still curled around the doorknob.
"What now?" she asked.
"So..." He tilted his head, a smirk creeping in. "I was thinking, since it's late, I could just come in and-"
"Are you serious right now?" Her eyes flashed.
"Whoa." He lifted his hands. "What exactly are you thinking?"
Ian shook his head. "I don't want you to be alone after what happened today."
Realization hit her.
"Oh."
"What were you thinking?" He gasped theatrically. "Your mind went there? Wow."
He clutched imaginary pearls. "I'm offended. I can't believe you."
She laughed despite herself.
"You're insane, Ian."
His smile softened. "There it is. You smiled."
Samantha consciously stops smiling. "I smiled. Thank you."
He moved his foot. "That's all I wanted."
He shrugs. "See, I am a good person. I was only trying to make you smile."
She chuckles. "Thanks, I needed that."
"Good night."
"Good night."
She closes the door.
Now she was alone in the hotel room. The mind was eerily quiet, like the room. Numb and tired, she dragged herself to the bedroom and fell on the bed. Her phone vibrates. The thirtieth call from Dave. She ended the call.
The phone rang again.
She pressed down on the power button on the phone.
Then, she threw the phone to the edge of the bed. She closed her eyes. And no, she didn't cry or think about Dave; rather, she fell into a very deep sleep.
[|]
The morning sun filtered through the window, waking Samantha from her dreamless sleep. She sat up on the edge of the bed and stared at the wall in front of her.
She didn't know how long she sat there. Still, she didn't think about Dave; rather, she thought of her mother. She was very young when she died, but she still had memories of her.
The home-baked cookies she made. The trips they had together and the animated fights they had. She briefly remembered sleeping in her mother's room at night when her father was out working. It felt warm, and she smelled of flowers and protection.
A tear trickled down her cheeks. Suddenly, she missed her mother. If not for pictures, she would have forgotten what her mother looked like, but she could remember how safe she was.
She felt a sudden twist in her stomach and instinctively pressed a hand there. She had not eaten anything since yesterday morning. She noticed the slight bump on her stomach...
Her stomach was growing fast.
Her gaze drifted towards the mirror.
The faint swell. The exhaustion. The nausea she'd ignored.
Her breath caught.
"I'm pregnant." She swallowed. "I am still pregnant with his child."
The words didn't shake. They landed.
She caught her reflection in the mirror. Dried tears, dark circles, and her whole haggard expression.
Having a family with Dave would be stupid. She was right when she said she was aborting. After the contact time expires, she would go through with the abortion and divorce Dave.
Being delusional for the past week, thinking they could work was enough. Now it was time to wake up.
There was a knock at the door.
It must be Dave.
Samantha stood up.
At the door, she checked the peephole. She couldn't see who it was. The back of the person's head was blocking the view.
She smiled suddenly. It could be Dave! Maybe he was here to work things out!
She opened the door quickly.
"Dave!"
It wasn't. It was Ian.
"You," she sighed. "Of course, it was you."
Ian's eyes darkened. "I don't think you are happy to see me."
Samantha stares at the floor. She couldn't believe how desperate she was a moment ago to let a cheater, the man who hurt her, back into her life.
Ian was right. She was losing it.
"Sam?"
She looks up. "Yes?"
"I am sorry, but I have some bad news."
"What bad news?" Samantha's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"Hmmm," he said, nervously, holding up his phone. " You are trending."
"Huh?" She snatched the phone from his hand.
"The so-called love marriage of the century is nothing but a business contract between the Rice and the Jones family, forcing their children into a marriage, just to build their empire. Dave broke up with his long-time girlfriend because of the contract, and Samantha broke up with her college sweetheart. When will we stop the unethical tradition that does nothing but hurt the children just because of money?"
Samantha watched the video of Maya-style, the highest followed influencer online, known for her so-called truthful stories about the rich and famous. The video had 3 million likes. Samantha scoffed.
"Good video, but you know she is lying. I didn't break up with you. You did." She hands the phone back, indifferently. " This is not the first time something like that has trended." She sighs deeply. " I was scared for a second, I thought it was something else."
"She is a liar." Ian's smile was forced. "I thought...forget what I thought." Ian waved his hand dismissively. "I thought you would be in trouble because of the post."
"Something like this is nothing," Samantha said. Forcing a smile.
"I brought you breakfast," he says, handing her a big paper bag.
"Thank you. I am famished."
"I will take my leave now. Turn your phone back on. I tried calling you and got scared when I couldn't get a hold of you."
"I will do that," she said, smiling thankfully.
She starts closing the door—
"Sammy?"
She pauses.
"There's a video of us arriving at the hotel together," Ian said lightly.
He watched her face.
"That's not a big deal either... right?"