บท 8: Plan (2)

Bella tried to hold back her laughter after hearing Noora's sentence.

"Aunty Noora, since when have you had heart disease?" Bella asked. Before Noora could say anything, she continued, "Well, don't worry, you will not end up in the emergency room today, Aunty—"

Bella smiled when she saw Noora's face look more relaxed.

"I am pregnant!" Bella finally said.

"W-WHAT? P-PREGNANT!?" Noora roared, shocked to hear that. She hadn't expected to hear this good news from her. "Miss Bella, are you for real? You... you didn't try to prank me, did you?"

"Hmm, this is true, Auntie... Do you want to meet an OB-GYN with me?" Bella asked. She needed someone to see a doctor; she felt nervous about meeting the new doctor at this hospital. Because this is not the hospital, she usually visits.

"Yes, miss, of course, I want to—" Noora said excitedly. She feels so happy to accompany Bella to meet the OB-GYN doctor; however, a second later, she frowns when something crosses her mind.

Noora was confused.

Earlier, Bella said Tristan divorced her because she couldn't bear a child. But now she said she was pregnant. So, why are they still deciding to divorce?

"Miss, you are already pregnant but still divorced. Why?" Noora asked.

Bella took a deep sigh. She wanted to give Tristan a chance to continue their marriage, but the gossip she heard before completely shut down her plan. She never imagined being able to share her husband with another woman. It would be better for her to go and raise her child alone without Tristan.

"Aunty Noora, Tristan already has another woman to warm his bed," Bella said with a smile. Still, inwardly, she felt her heart hurt. "And his woman is also pregnant..."

Bella continued to tell Noora about what she heard from the nurse.

"So, divorce was the only option to solve this all. I decide not to tell him about my pregnancy. I will raise my child alone. And I hope you can help me, Aunty..." Bella sincerely said.

"I will help you, young Miss, but did you believe them right away before confirming the gossip was true?" Noora asked.

Bella didn't immediately respond. Her mind flashed back to last night. She was initially doubtful about the rumors she heard, which made her investigate further, only to confirm that Tristan and Laura had visited the hospital yesterday.

"I did check the gossip, and it was true, Aunty..." Bella maintained her smile, though inwardly, she struggled to contain the pain now gnawing at her heart.

"Y-Young Miss..." Noora said while faintly smiling back at Bella, but her heart aching for her. She feels so angry; how could Tristan do such a thing to her young Miss?

Seeing Aunty Noora's sympathetic expression comforted Bella, momentarily diverting her mind from the pain in her heart.

"It's okay, Aunty Noora. You don't have to look at me that way; I'm fine now," Bella said calmly. "What Tristan did won't weaken me. Instead, I'll grow stronger. I've already made a promise to myself to forget about him. That man won't have a place in my heart and my future—"

Bella couldn't finish her sentence as she noticed Noora rushing towards her, enveloping her in a hug. She smiled when Noora cried in her arms.

"Miss Bella, I cry not because I'm sad but because I'm thrilled you included me in your plans. Thank you very much," said Noora between her happy tears.

Noora felt immense joy because she would fulfill her promise to Bella's late grandmother to care for Bella.

"Miss Bella, I promise you, I will always look after you and your child..." Noora continued.

"Thank you, Aunty," Bella said, her eyes blurry, but she tried not to cry. She had so much to do in a short time. "Alright, you can let me go now, Aunty... I feel suffocated with your embrace."

Instantly, Noora released her embrace and stood before Bella.

Noora wiped the traces of tears on her cheeks before saying, "Miss, I will prepare breakfast. You go change your clothes," urging Bella to do so. She was excited to accompany Bella to meet the OB-GYN.

Bella nodded at her.

After changing her clothes, Bella found Noora hadn't returned yet. She took her phone and dialed Sean's number. However, Sean's cell phone remained inactive after she tried a few times.

Bella remembered that Sean had told her that if he was on a military mission, his cell phone would definitely be off or couldn't be contacted.

"Is he on duty now!?" She muttered while looking at her phone screen. After thinking for a while, she decided to send a text.

[Bella:] Thank you, Sean, for your help.

[Bella:] I tried calling you, but it seemed like you were on duty. Please call me if you have time.

After texting Sean, Bella checked for missed calls, finding only from Aunty Noora.

Bella felt relieved that her family wasn't aware of her divorce yet. She hadn't planned to tell them; she wanted to avoid their judgment. She plans to leave the country quietly.

...

With limited time, Bella contacted several people to take care of the documents she needed to live in another country.

Once she finished, the door opened, surprising Bella as she saw Aunty Noora carrying shopping bags in her hands.

"Aunty, why did you buy so much?"

"Miss, this is all healthy food..." Noora replied as she unpacked the items onto the dining table.

Bella approached, amazed at how quickly Noora had bought everything.

Without saying anything, she began eating what Noora had served.

After breakfast, Bella shared her plan to temporarily return to her old apartment.

"I never imagined we'd return there again..." Noora mentioned. For the past four years, every weekend, she cleaned Bella's old apartment, where Bella used to live before marrying Tristan.

"That place is special because I bought it with my own money."

"You're right. Even your family didn't know about that place. How many days are we staying there?"

"Until all the necessary documents are ready."

Noora fell silent before asking again, "Miss, which country are we moving to?"

"Sweden!"