The morning began quietly inside the Carters residence, a soft stillness hanging the air as Mary stood outside Mrs Carter's office,. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. Being called this early could never mean something small.
" come in Mary." Mrs Carter's voice called.
Mary stepped into the office, her heart thudding painfully. She braced for questions....suspicious...or worse, discovery of her pregnancy.
But Mrs Carter face wasn't stern. It looked worried, almost motherly. Papers lay spread across her desk medically reports Mary instantly recognized.
They were about her daughter ( christine )
" mary" she said gently, " I spoke with your daughter's doctor last night.?
Mary tensed." Is she okay."
" she us stable." Mrs Carter reassured. " but she cannot improve without specialized surgery. The kind that wasn't available here."
Mary swallowed hard." What does that mean?"
" it's means," Mrs Carter said softly " she needs to be treated abroad. And I want send you both. "
Mary froze."ma'am....abroad? I...I can't afford. "
" you don't need to ," Mrs Carter cut in calmly " I will pay for everything. The flight, the surgery, the care all of it."
The room blurred as tears dwelled in Mary's eyes." Why....why would you do that for us ?"
" because your daughter deserves a chance I saw her growing and she also likes my daughter how can I let her suffer when I'm here," Mrs Carter said , voice low ." And because you've been strong for too long. You need help, Mary let me help you."
Mary pressed her hands to her face, overwhelming. " thank you.... thank you so much...."
Bit Mrs Carter wasn't done.
" the earliest flight is today," she continue.
" within few hours. "
Mary's breath hitched " t..today?"
"Yes everything is arranged. You'll stay in the hospital apartment near it, the specialist. They expect you by tomorrow morning. "
Mary nodded slowly, still crying leaving today meant. She wouldn't face any questions. It meant.... escape.
Mrs Carter reached out and touched her hand.
" you're good mother. You deserve this chance."
Mary whispered. " thank you, ma'am, truly,."
What Mary didn't hear was the silent part _ the part. Mrs Carter kept buried deep inside her tightened chest. She didn't hate Mary. She respected her. But she feared the invisible thread lying Mary to Daniel. The softness in his eyes whenever he looked at her. The quiet pull he didn't hide well.
Sending Mary abroad was kindness. But it was also protection.
Protection of Daniel's future.... and the marriage Mrs Carter had already planned for him.
Mary moved quietly through her small room, packing her clothes with trembling hands she kept pausing to wipes tears form her cheeks. It felt unreal _ leaving within hours. Leaving everything she knew behind.
Leaving him behind.
She placed a hand a her stomach, whispering, it's better this way... for all of us.
By noon, she had already left the house. A private car had driven her straight to the airport under Mrs Carter instruction no goodbyes, no questions, no painful moment of facing Daniel.
Just silence..... and escape.
Daniel arrived home hours later, cheerful and humming lightly. He had been planning to find. Mary_ maybe even convince her to talk to him he couldn't pretending nothing had happened, to know why she kept running.
He walked toward the kitchen and noticed the unusual quiet.
" where is everyone?" He muttered.
One of the junior maids hesitated before stepping forward " sir... Mrs Carter wanted you to know she's in the sitting room.
Daniel arched brow." Something happen?"
The maid swallowed, " yes, sir...Mary left."
Daniel blinked. " left? Left where?"
But the girl only lowered her eyes.
Daniel rush to the sitting room " mom...what is going on? Where's Mary?"
Mrs Carter sighed, placing down the papers she was reviewing. " Daniel sit."
" I don't want to sit," he snapped " what happened?"
His mother met his gaze steadily," I've sent Mary and her daughter abroad for surgery. "
Daniel's breath caught " you what?"
" it's was necessary," Mrs Carter said calmly.
" her daughter needs specialized treatment she already on her way."
" she didn't even tell me," he whispered in disbelief.
" she had no time," Mrs Carter replied " the flight was arranged urgently."
Daniel stare at her, anger rise in hie chest like fire " you planned this behind my back."
" it's was right thing to do ."
" for who?" He demanded " for her? Or for you?"
Mrs Carter stiffened, bit said nothing.
Daniel pressed a hand to his forehead. " I didn't even get to say goodbye..."
His voice cracked.
He stormed upstairs, only to find Mary's room empty_ the bed neatly made, the closet half open, the faint scent of her perfume still lingering
She was gone
And he'd told her how he felt.
For a moment he felt hopeless suddenly he called Patrick to look for the flight that Mary took . After a few moments Patrick sent him a message telling him that there is no record of Mary flight or her daughter's.
Daniel was furious. He went down stairs looking like he is about to explode.
" Mother which country did you send to?" He ask," which hospital, which capital," he continued.
" Daniel that none if your business."
" it's my business everything about her is my business." He responded
" listen i sent her abroad for treatment to in jail. So you need to relax , besides you shouldn't be worried about this , you should be thinking about tomorrow's dinner we have guest and I hope you won't disappoint me." After she saying that she stood up and went upstairs living Daniel alone .
Daniel was angry, sad and confused.
He thought to himself " maybe that why yesterday she didn't want to talk , she was pushing me away because she knew she was living me get alone." Tears dwelled on her face.
Far above the clouds, Mary sat quietly on the plane, starring out the window with tears in her eyes.
She didn't know Daniel was searching for her at the very moment.
She didn't know he was furious
She didn't know he'd tried to fight for her.
All she knew was that she had to save her daughter and protect the secret that was growing inside her womb.
The secret that Daniel never knew.