Morning arrived earlier than it should have.
When I opened my eyes, for a moment I couldn't remember where I was. The ceiling looked familiar, yet it wasn't mine—too high, too perfect. Then the weight of the night pressed down on my chest. My breathing tightened.
I slowly sat up. My body was exhausted, but the real fatigue lived in my mind. This bed, this room, this house… all of it was temporary. But the consequences of the decisions I had made were permanent. It felt as if I had aged overnight.
I walked to the sink in the room and splashed cold water on my face. I flinched as it hit my skin. I looked at myself in the mirror. Dark circles framed my eyes, my face was pale. I stared for a long moment, as if the woman in the reflection was no longer me.
After a while, I headed downstairs. As I reached the stairs, I heard Evan's excited, childlike voice. His joy felt too bright for this quiet house. He was probably playing.
When I came down, my eyes instinctively searched for Victor. Not seeing him left a strange emptiness inside me. At that moment, I met the gaze of one of the maids. With a gentle smile, she said, "Good morning, ma'am."
"Good morning," I replied, though my voice sounded unfamiliar even to me.
Seeing that I was still looking around, she added, "Mr. Victor isn't home at the moment." Then she continued, "Breakfast has been prepared for you. Please."
She walked toward the kitchen, and I followed. Just then, my eyes landed on Evan. He was standing still, watching me. His small shoulders were slightly slumped. When our eyes met, he grew shy and lowered his head.
Something ached inside my chest.
I didn't feel like eating, but I hadn't had a proper meal since the day before. Everything was laid out on the table, yet it was hard to swallow. I ate quickly, as if staying there any longer would cause the knot inside me to unravel.
Then I returned to the living room.
Evan was still there. He was playing with his toys, but he didn't look as enthusiastic as before. I walked closer. I didn't know what to do, but I didn't want to just pass by either. I sat down quietly on the couch.
"Hi, Evan," I said softly.
He lifted his head. His eyes lit up. "Hi," he said.
I hesitated for a moment, then gathered my courage. "Can I join your game?"
His small brows furrowed as he thought. Then his face slowly brightened. "Okaaay," he said, stretching the word. "We can play together."
He pushed a toy toward me.
That tiny gesture… was enough to shift something inside me.
I picked up the little car. We played side by side in silence. For that moment, it felt as though everything had stopped.
Until the door opened.
Victor walked in.
His face held that same cold, distant expression. The atmosphere seemed to change the moment he entered. Evan jumped up immediately.
"Daddyyy!" he exclaimed. Then he turned to me proudly and added, "Nora and I were playing together! You should join us too!"
Victor looked at me first. His gaze was sharp, measured as always. Then he turned to Evan. His expression softened completely—filled with warmth and mercy. After that, he looked back at me again.
"Welcome," I said.
He gave a slight nod.
Then he knelt down in front of Evan. "Son," he said gently, "I need to have a private conversation with Nora for a bit. Can you go to your room? We'll come to you when we're done."
Evan looked at me, then at his father. "Okay, Daddy," he said. Then he quietly went to his room.
When the door closed, the living room suddenly felt larger. Too large.
Victor sat down in the chair across from me.
"Have you changed your mind since last night," he asked, "or are you still standing by your decision?"
My heart raced, but my voice remained calm. "No," I said. "I accept."
Victor's eyes flickered for a brief moment. Then his face returned to seriousness. "We need to discuss everything from the beginning," he said. "I don't want problems later."
I nodded. "Alright."
"There will be contracts to sign," he said.
I agreed silently.
Then he said the thing that shattered me.
"The child will stay with us after the birth," he said.
My breath caught.
I hadn't thought about that. Something burned inside me. The child I would give birth to… I would never see them again.
Victor continued speaking. "You'll live with us during this period. I need to be sure of your safety."
I was listening, but his words echoed hollowly in my ears.
My heart hurt.
And for the first time, I truly felt the cost of this agreement.
He was waiting for my answer—confirmation that I still accepted despite these conditions. I slowly nodded. He nodded back and looked down.
After a while, he brought several folders and placed them in front of me. Inside were the amount of money I would receive and all the terms. My eyes caught on one sentence:
After the birth, there will be no further contact with the child. Everyone will go their separate ways.
A heavy weight settled in my chest. Something inside me twisted painfully. But despite that, my hand moved toward the signature line. Because I had no other choice. I had never felt this helpless before.
I signed.
I handed the papers back to Victor. I hadn't even read most of the clauses.
Victor spoke first. "Tomorrow, we'll go to the doctor and talk things through," he said. "If that works for you."
I nodded. "That's fine."
"Alright then," he said and stood up. He went upstairs—most likely to Evan.
Evan was such a sweet child, yet at such a young age, he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. That realization hurt me all over again.
I had no idea what I was supposed to do in this massive house.
I must have been lost in thought for a long time, because I only realized it was evening when I heard the maid's voice calling me. "Dinner is ready, ma'am. We're waiting for you."
Only then did I notice how hungry I was. Thinking had drained me.
I stood up and walked quickly to the dining room. Victor and Evan were already seated, waiting for me. I felt slightly embarrassed for keeping them waiting, but then I took my seat.
The service began. Plates were placed swiftly, and the staff withdrew. For a while, only the sound of cutlery filled the room.
Evan was quiet. I wasn't sure if he was always like this.
Suddenly, he looked at me. "Nora," he said in a shy voice, "will you play with me again tomorrow?"
Victor's fork paused mid-air.
I didn't know what to say. I swallowed. "If you want to… we can," I said.
Evan's face lit up. "Really?"
"Yes," I said, trying to smile.
Victor turned his gaze toward me. I couldn't tell whether there was a warning in his eyes—or simply restraint.
"Evan," he said calmly but firmly,
"Nora is a guest here. Let's not tire her."
Evan's shoulders drooped. "Okay, Daddy," he said softly.
Something twisted painfully inside me. "It's really not a problem," I said quickly. "Truly."
Victor was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "We'll see," he said briefly.
Silence returned.
After a while, Evan pushed his plate away. "I'm full," he said.
Victor looked at him. "Eat a little more," he said gently.
"I'm not hungry," Evan replied.
Victor took a deep breath, then nodded. "Alright," he said. "You can go to your room."
Evan slid off his chair and waved at me. "Good night, Nora."
"Good night, Evan," I said.
When Evan left the table, the air grew heavier. As the door closed, Victor turned his eyes to me.
"Don't get too close to Evan," he said directly.
His words were harsh, but his tone was calm.
I wasn't surprised. Still, it hurt. "I don't intend to," I said. "It's just—"
"Just what?" he asked.
I hesitated. "He's just a child," I said. "And he's lonely."
Victor's gaze hardened. "He's not lonely in this house," he said.
"And that isn't your role."
I nodded. "You're right."
We didn't speak for a while. The food had gone cold, but no one noticed.
Then Victor stood up. "We're leaving early tomorrow morning," he said. "Be ready."
"I will," I replied.
As he turned to leave the table, he added, "This agreement will work only with boundaries. Don't forget that."
"I won't," I said.
But what I felt inside was nothing like what I said out loud.
After Victor left the room, I remained seated at the table for a while. I stared at my plate, but nothing on it felt like it belonged to me anymore. The house was silent—not even the faint sound of Evan's door could be heard.
I stood up. The sound of my chair echoed far too loudly in the vast space. Pulling myself together, I went upstairs. When I closed the door to the room assigned to me, I felt truly alone for the first time.
I sat on the edge of the bed. My hands were trembling. Without realizing it, I placed a hand over my stomach. No one else knew yet—but I did. What was growing inside me wasn't just a baby. It was an irreversible bond.
I closed my eyes.
I would stay in this house.
I would live this agreement.
And in the end… I would give up.
My throat tightened. I didn't cry.
But that night, something inside me broke—quietly.