The house was too quiet when Ethan stepped in. Maya was seated on the edge of the couch in a long robe, her legs folded up like a sad painting. The curtains were half drawn, and her face dimly lit. She looked up the moment she heard the door open.
"You didn't come home," she said almost immediately.
Ethan didn't answer immediately. He dropped his keys on the console table, loosened the collar of his shirt, and let out a slow breath.
"I couldn't sleep," he said simply.
"That's not what I asked."
He looked at her, her eyes were red, watery, like she'd been crying for hours or maybe she just wanted to look like it.
"I needed space, Maya."
"You left me alone," she whispered. "At the hospital. After everything."
He walked to the bar corner and poured himself a glass of water his back was turned when he replied.
"Since when do you care whether I come home or not?"
"I've always cared."
"No," he said, voice low. "You've always been controlling, that's different."
Maya stood now. "I lost our baby."
"And you didn't even tell me you were pregnant until it was convenient."
Her lip trembled. "What are you saying? That I lied?"
He sighed. "I'm saying... I don't know what to believe anymore."
She walked toward him. "Ethan look at me. I'm your wife. You think I'd lie about something this serious?"
He didn't answer.
She reached for his arm. "I'm hurting. I'm scared. I feel like everything is falling apart and you're just... slipping away doing nothing."
"I'm already gone," he muttered under his breath.
She paused.
"What?"
He didn't repeat it. Maya looked at him harder now.
"You weren't with a friend last night, were you?"
His eyes finally met hers. "Maya, don't."
"Was it her?" she asked, voice rising. "Did you go running to Lara?"
Ethan looked tired. "I didn't go to her. I needed air Maya! I needed peace and you weren't giving me that"
Maya laughed bitterly. "And you found it Lara's?"
He didn't respond, Her face changed.
"Wow."
He ran a hand down his face.
"You lost a baby, we lost a baby. I couldn't handle it, So I had to leave the hospital. I'm sorry i left you that way."
"So you gave me your pity. Then went back to the one woman who's been ruining everything."
"No," he said. "I went back to the only woman who's ever made me feel like a man."
Maya blinked. Her mouth opened but nothing came out, Ethan moved to the door.
"I'll send someone to come pack."
She rushed forward. "You're throwing me out? Just like that?"
"I'm not throwing you out," he said. "I'm leaving." And then he walked out.
Maya sat on the floor, legs tucked under her, Her hands shook as she dialed a number, the call connected almost immediately.
"Hello?" her mother's voice came through, soft and confused.
Maya didn't speak immediately. She let herself cry, loud enough for it to be heard.
"Maya? Maya, what is it?"
Her voice broke. "Mummy... I lost the baby."
Silence.
"What?" her mother asked, stunned. "What baby?"
Maya sobbed more to sound more convincing. "I was pregnant... I wanted to wait before telling anyone but... it's gone. I lost it, the doctor said there was nothing they could do."
"Oh my God," her mother whispered. "My child... how long? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I was scared," Maya cried. "I didn't want to jinx anything, Ethan said we should wait... but now it's all gone."
"Wait.... Ethan knew? He knew and didn't even call us?"
Maya wiped her face. "He left me, Mum. At the hospital, I was lying there in pain, bleeding, and he left me alone."
"Jesus Christ. Are you serious?"
Maya nodded like her mother could see her. "He didn't even come home last night, He said he needed space. Space mother!! Can u imagine"
Her mother's tone hardened. "Where is he now?"
"I don't know. I think... I think he's with her again."
"You mean Lara?"
Maya hesitated. "I'm not sure. But he looked different when he walked in this morning, he was cold and distant."
Her mother was quiet for a few seconds, then said, "Your father must hear this."
"No, no please," Maya rushed. "Not yet. Daddy will overreact. Just... just talk to him for me please. Try to remind him of what we had."
"Maya..."
"Please, Mum. I can't lose everything, I already lost the baby."
Her mother was quiet then she finally talked "Alright. I'll talk to him."
Maya hung up and dropped the phone beside her. She curled tighter into herself and let the last tear fall this time with a bitter smirk behind it. She was just getting started.
Ethan's phone buzzed on the table.
He was seated in his car, his engine was off, his eyes blank as he stared at the dashboard. The name on the screen made his chest tighten Mrs. Alden.
He hesitated, then picked.
"Hello?"
"Ethan," her voice was cold. "I'm only going to ask this once, What exactly is going on with you and Maya?"
He exhaled slowly. "Ma'am … it's complicated."
"No, no, Ethan. Losing a child is complicated, but abandoning your wife in the hospital is heartless."
His head dropped.
"She told you."
"Of course she did! She called me crying, saying you left her alone after a miscarriage."
There was a rustling on the other end, then a deeper voice boomed in.
"Put it on speaker!"
Mr. Alden said, he sounded furious.
"Ethan," he barked. "Is it true? You left our daughter in a hospital bed after she lost your child?"
"I....." Ethan closed his eyes. "I didn't mean for it to be like that. I wasn't thinking straight."
"You weren't thinking straight?" the man snapped. "What kind of man does that? Is this because of Lara?"
Ethan's jaw tightened. "With all due respect sir, this isn't about anyone else."
"No. You don't get to twist this Ethan, my daughter is grieving. She's in pain and you, you just walk out like nothing happened?"
"She lied to me before," Ethan said quietly.
There was silence, then Mrs. Alden's voice came back, gentler but still firm.
"She said you both agreed not to tell anyone yet that she was trying to protect the pregnancy. Ethan, if there's something you know, say it. Because right now, you look like a monster."
He ran a hand down his face. "I don't know what to believe anymore, everything's blurry. But I didn't want to hurt her, I just... I needed space."
"That 'space' is breaking her for christ sake she just lost a child," her mother said. "She's fragile right now and it doesn't help that people are already whispering."
Ethan frowned. "Whispering?"
"About you. Ethan the media is always watching. Maya said you barely even looked at her when you walked in today."
He didn't reply.
"We're coming over tonight," her mother added. "With or without your permission and I suggest you be there."
The line went dead immediately.
Ethan stared at the phone for a long second. He leaned back in his seat and shut his eyes.