Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Emma felt a lump in her throat, as if someone was physically holding it tightly, rendering her speechless. Peyton, leaning on a walking stick, entered the room and retrieved the money Patrick had left behind during his last visit.

"Emma, this should be enough for you, and you can even treat yourself to some nice clothes. Go on, after you leave, I'll head over to the Odeberg family and tell them you're off to town to treat someone and won't be back for a few days. The Odeberg family is anxious, and no other woman in the village can take care of people the way you do. They'll wait for you."

Peyton's face was a mixture of concern and urgency, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I don't know what we've done to deserve this, but here you are, carrying a stranger's child."

Emma's hands trembled as she accepted the money. She had thought, if he ever came back, she would return the money to him. But it had been almost three months, and it seemed unlikely he would return. As the neighbors often said, a celestial being visiting earth is but a fleeting moment before they return to the heavens.

Her fate seemed sealed to follow the traditional path: marry a local man, take care of his family, strive to provide education for her children, and then, like the other gossiping women, spend her days discussing the private affairs of others.

If she hadn't met him, she would have resigned herself to this fate, accepting her family's arrangements without complaint. But what was that night about? Was it a parting gift of affection, or a moment of passion clouded by impaired judgment? There had to be a reason. "Emma, don't hesitate any longer. If you wait, the clinic will be closed. Come now, do as I say."

Holding the cash, a heavy sum of twenty thousand, a fortune for her family, Emma walked out with heavy steps. Patrick had not brought much money with him, given that they usually carried cards, but in this remote village, a card was as good as useless. So, he left what he had as a token of gratitude for sheltering Dustin.

Now, Emma was on her way to town to terminate her pregnancy. As she boarded the bus, her expression was distant, barely noticing when someone greeted her. She just stared out at the mountains, her eyes welling up with tears. How could she have been so naive to think he would come back? The message was clear when he left the money: to forget about that night

and move on.

It was her fault for not taking precautions and ending up pregnant. The bus, an old model suited for the rugged mountain roads, had a strong leather smell that made Emma nauseous.

She opened the window for some

fresh air, trying to calm her

emotions. But as the bus passed the

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spot where she and Dustin had been stranded where they had shared that night, she couldn't help but revisit those moments. The village women often described such encounters in a way that made her uncomfortable, but with Dustin, it was different. He was unusually handsome, not seeming to belong to this world.

What struck her most was a compliment he'd given her that night, calling her beautiful. No one had ever said that to her before

because of her dark complexion net

Remembering this made Emma flush with embarrassment, but as she saw the trees passing by, her expression darkened. It was pointless to dwell on it; their paths were unlikely to cross again.

Arriving in town by the afternoon, Emma located a clinic, hesitating as she went to register. She had never been fond of anyone before, let alone been this close to a man, and she couldn't understand the pain she was feeling. She touched her stomach, doubting her decision to go through with it.

The janitor, with a thick accent, asked if she was lost. Emma, feeling weak in the knees, shook her head. She had always been healthy, accustomed to the physical demands of village life, but now felt utterly unwell. The clinic had a stifling atmosphere, and Emma found herself sitting nervously as she waited her turn.

She overheard a conversation between two young women, one comforting the other about a decision to terminate her pregnancy due to being deceived by a man who was already married.

"Men's promises are as reliable as pigs flying," one said.

That phrase struck Emma like a hammer to the heart.