I RISK EVERYTHING FOR LOVE YET HE ABANDONED ME AND NOW WANT ME BACK

L POV

The next morning, I woke up on Elara’s bed with swollen eyes and a heavy chest. For a few seconds, I stared blankly at the white ceiling above me, hoping everything that had happened the previous night was only a terrible nightmare. I wished I would suddenly wake up in my own room beside Lucas, with his arms wrapped around me like before.

But reality remained cruel.

The divorce papers still lay on the bedside table.

The pregnancy test rested beside them like a silent reminder that my life had completely changed overnight.

A bitter smile escaped my lips as tears gathered in my eyes again.

“I wish I hadn’t allowed love blind me into sacrificing everything for him,” I whispered painfully. “If I had known Lucas could become this heartless, I would never have trusted him with my life.”

Across the room, Elara slowly stirred a cup of tea while watching me with worried eyes. She looked like someone who had barely slept all night because of me.

“I warned you from the beginning not to lose yourself for a man like Lucas,” she said softly. “I may not have known him for long, but one thing was obvious from the start—Lucas never deserved someone like you.”

Her words pierced deeply into my chest.

I lowered my gaze to the pregnancy test again, and the pain doubled immediately. The divorce alone was enough to break me, but carrying Lucas’s child while he threw me away made it worse.

Everything felt unfair.

Everything felt empty.

“Renee,” Elara called gently as she walked closer and handed me the cup of tea, “I know you’re hurting, but you need to pick yourself up again. You’re not alone anymore. You have a child growing inside you now. You need strength for both yourself and the baby.”

I remained silent.

My fingers tightened around the warm cup while memories of Lucas flooded my head. His laughter. His promises. The way he once swore he would never hurt me.

Every memory now felt poisonous.

“I can help you get a position at one of the companies here,” Elara continued carefully. “At least until you fully recover emotionally.”

I slowly shook my head.

“No,” I said quietly.

Elara frowned. “No?”

“I’m leaving this city tonight.”

The cup nearly slipped from her hands.

“What?”

“If I remain here, everything about Lucas will keep haunting me,” I admitted painfully. “Every street, every building, every memory… they’ll all remind me of him. I can’t survive like that anymore. I need to leave before I completely lose myself.”

Elara immediately sat beside me.

“No, Renee. You’re not going anywhere,” she protested. “You’ll stay here with me. I already booked an appointment with my doctor so you can begin regular checkups. That’s the safest option for you right now.”

“I’m sorry, Elara,” I replied softly. “But I’ve already made up my mind.”

She stared at me in disbelief.

“I’ll start over somewhere else,” I continued. “Maybe I’ll open a small chef business. I can build something for myself again.”

“Why are you making things harder for yourself?” Elara asked emotionally. “You’re pregnant, wounded, and emotionally exhausted. I can’t watch you suffer alone. Renee, I love you like my own sister.”

Her voice cracked at the last sentence.

That alone almost broke my resolve.

But staying in Veritas City felt like slowly dying.

“If you truly love me,” I whispered while tears rolled down my cheeks, “then let me go.”

Elara looked away immediately, trying to hide her own tears.

“This city destroyed me,” I continued painfully. “Everything here reminds me of my worst nightmare. I gave Lucas my loyalty, my dreams, my future… and he destroyed all of it. I need somewhere new. Somewhere I can breathe again.”

The room became silent.

Only the ticking wall clock could be heard between us.

Finally, Elara sighed deeply.

“I can loan you whatever amount you need to start your business,” she said weakly. “But it has to be here. Please stay.”

I slowly shook my head again.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” I replied. “But if I stay here, I’ll never heal.”

Elara suddenly grabbed my hands tightly.

“You don’t understand,” she cried. “I’m scared for you. You pretend to be strong, but I know how broken you are right now.”

Her words shattered the little control I had left.

“I’m scared too!” I finally shouted. “Every single day here hurts me. Every breath feels heavy. Please… just let me leave before this pain destroys me completely.”

Elara’s eyes filled with tears immediately.

Neither of us spoke again after that.

A heavy silence settled inside the room while morning sunlight slowly faded behind the dark curtains.

Hours later, Elara returned to the room holding an envelope in her hands.

Her expression alone made my chest tighten painfully.

“What’s that?” I asked quietly.

Without answering immediately, she sat beside me and handed me the envelope.

Inside was a check.

Five million dollars.

My eyes widened in complete shock.

“Elara…”

“Take it,” she interrupted softly. “It’s all I’ve been able to save over the years. You don’t have to pay me back.”

Tears instantly filled my eyes again.

“No… this is too much.”

“It isn’t enough,” she replied emotionally. “Not after everything you’ve been through.”

I couldn’t speak anymore.

My throat burned painfully as tears rolled freely down my face.

“When you arrive at the new city,” Elara continued, struggling to remain strong, “please register at a hospital immediately. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself and the baby. I’ll handle the medical bills if necessary.”

I threw my arms around her immediately.

For several seconds, neither of us let go.

I cried harder against her shoulder while she gently rubbed my back like an older sister comforting a wounded child.

“I’ll forever be grateful to you,” I whispered weakly. “I don’t know how to repay your kindness.”

Elara smiled sadly through her tears.

“What are friends for?” she asked softly. “Even though I never wanted you to leave, I still want you to find peace.”

Her words broke me all over again.

That evening, I packed my belongings slowly. Each folded cloth felt heavier than the last. My entire life now fit inside only two suitcases.

By nightfall, Elara drove me to the station herself.

The ride remained painfully quiet.

Neither of us wanted to admit this goodbye could change everything forever.

When we finally arrived, I stepped out slowly and looked back at her one last time.

“Please call me when you arrive,” Elara pleaded.

“I will.”

“And Renee…”

I paused.

“You deserve happiness too,” she whispered.

That sentence stayed in my heart long after I boarded the night bus.

Hours later, the bright lights of Veritas City disappeared behind me completely.

I rested my hand gently on my stomach and stared through the window into the darkness ahead.

Fear filled me.

Pain still lived inside me.

But for the first time in a long while, a small piece of hope quietly entered my heart.

Maybe this new city would not heal all my wounds immediately.

Maybe the memories of Lucas would still follow me.

But at least now…

I was finally giving myself a chance to begin again.