My name is Rachel.
I work from home as a freelance writer, a profession that gives me the quiet solitude I have come to love.
I am now nine months pregnant, and the gentle kicks and movements in my belly constantly remind me of how much I am looking forward to meeting my baby.
My husband, David, is a sales manager at an IT company, a man whose kindness has become the foundation of my world.
We have been married for two years, and every day is filled with a happiness I once thought impossible.
But the road here was not easy.
Eight years ago, I was married to someone else.
My ex-husband, Michael, was the head of a large financial firm, and even then, his whole life revolved around work.
When we first got married, I was attracted to his seriousness and sincerity; I truly believed that we would have a wonderful life.
But the reality turned out to be a cold, empty house.
Michael left at seven in the morning and returned after one in the morning.
On weekends, he had business dinners and golf.
I spent my days alone, eating dinner in front of the television, and the silence of the big house became my constant companion.
‘I feel like I’m married to myself,’ I complained to my friends.
I put up with it for three years.
But one day I saw a photo that came to Michael’s phone.
In it, he was standing next to some woman, hugging her, as if in a hotel lobby.
My heart froze.
Everything I believed in collapsed in an instant.
When I showed him the photo, Michael didn’t try to justify himself.
He just looked tired and said, ‘I’m sorry.’
That was the end of it.
We signed the divorce papers and went our separate ways, and for five years he remained just a ghost — a painful part of my past.
A year after the divorce, I was drowning in loneliness.
The wounds in my heart would not heal.
One day, sitting in my favourite café, I struck up a conversation with a man at the next table.
It was David.
‘You look like you’ve been through a lot,’ he said, looking at me with warm eyes, as if offering me a lifeline.
‘You’re not alone.’
Those simple words brought tears to my eyes.
David didn’t demand anything — he just listened.
He became my friend, a reliable person who supported me without judgement.
Over time, we fell in love.
David was the perfect man I had always dreamed of.
Even when work was stressful, he always came home early.
Every evening at dinner, he would ask, ‘Rachel, how was your day?’
When I got pregnant, he became even more caring.
If I tried to lift something heavy, he would immediately take it from me.
When I suffered from morning sickness, he would rub my back until the nausea passed.
I felt that I had finally found true, unconditional happiness.
But there was one small thing that bothered me a little.
David avoided any conversation about Michael.
At first, I didn’t think much of it.
Of course, I wanted to forget about my ex-husband too.
But recently, when a friend mentioned that she had bumped into Michael, David’s expression changed.
‘You’d better forget about him,’ he said, a little sharply.
He’s probably just worried about me, I thought.
He doesn’t want me to dwell on the past.
David is such a caring person.
The baby moved in my belly, as if to reassure me.
Soon we would meet.
David, the baby and me.
Our new family life would begin.
A happy future was just around the corner.
The past no longer mattered.
I had David.
And that was enough.
Three days before giving birth, around two in the morning, I woke up with a dull, aching pain in my lower abdomen.
At first, I thought I was imagining it, but a few minutes later, the pain returned — stronger.
This is it.
Labour has begun.
‘David,’ I shook his shoulder.
‘It hurts. Wake up.’
He jumped up immediately, his eyes clearing with adrenaline.
‘It’s okay. We’re going to the hospital. Calm down, Rachel.’
His confident voice calmed me down a little.
Without losing his composure, David grabbed the bag we had prepared and helped me to the car.
When we sat down, I screamed as a new wave of pain hit me — it was unbearable.
David held the steering wheel with one hand and my hand with the other.
‘We’re almost there. Hang in there.’
His hand was warm and strong, and it helped me breathe.
At the hospital, we were met by staff with a wheelchair.
David was by my side the whole time as I was wheeled into the delivery room.
‘It’s okay. You’ll see your baby soon,’ he repeated, his voice my anchor.
The contractions were getting more frequent.
The pain was unbearable, and I screamed again and again.
‘Just a little longer,’ the nurse said softly.
‘You can do it.’
But the pain was relentless.
David held my hand tightly.
‘You can do it, Rachel. You’ll see your baby soon. I believe in you.’
His voice was my only hope.
Those hours seemed like an eternity.
Finally, I heard the doctor’s voice.
‘One more push. You can do it.’
I gathered the last of my strength — and suddenly the room was filled with the most beautiful sound in the world: the cry of our baby.
‘A healthy boy,’ said the doctor, placing him on my chest.
So small, so warm.
I didn’t know it was possible to love so much.
Tears streamed down my cheeks without stopping.
David was crying too.
‘Thank you, Rachel. Thank you so much.’
The baby was soon taken away for examination.
I was transferred to a ward, and I felt my strength leaving my body.
David kissed me on the forehead.
‘I’ll be out for a bit. I’ll get your favourite drinks and something to eat. Do you want anything else?’
‘No, I’m fine. Thank you,’ I replied.
I wanted him to stay, but his concern warmed me.
‘Be careful.’
When he left, silence enveloped the room.
It was still dark outside.
The exhaustion after giving birth hit me all at once, and I fell asleep.
I woke up to sunlight.
It was already past eight o’clock.
David still hadn’t returned.
The empty chair by the bed made me anxious.
He hadn’t been gone this long for a normal shopping trip.
The shops must be closed, I tried to convince myself.
A nurse entered the room.
‘Good morning! Your baby is doing great. All his tests are fine. We’ll bring him to you soon.’
She smiled.
‘Is your husband back yet?’
‘Um… no. He went shopping,’ I said.
‘I see. Maybe something’s keeping him. Can you call him?’
‘Yes, I’ll try later,’ I replied, feeling a growing sense of unease.
David always carried his phone with him.
If something had happened, he would have let me know.
After the nurse left, I picked up the phone to call him, but stopped myself.
He was probably driving.
I didn’t want to distract him.
I decided to go to the bathroom.
I slowly got out of bed, my body aching, and walked down the quiet corridor.
Suddenly, I saw a man walking towards me.
My heart almost stopped.
It was Michael.
My ex-husband was walking straight towards me.
‘What?’ I blurted out.
He noticed me too and stopped, stunned.
‘Rachel,’ he said.
‘What are you doing here?’
We stood in the middle of the corridor, looking at each other.
Five years had passed.
Michael looked thin and tired.
‘Did you just give birth?’ he asked.
‘Congratulations.’
‘Thank you,’ I replied, my voice trembling.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘The president of one of our client companies is in hospital. I came to visit him.’
Michael looked away.
‘How are you?’
‘Fine,’ I replied curtly, and an awkward silence ensued.
Suddenly, the lift doors opened.
I looked over automatically.
It was David.
He was walking towards us with bags in his hands.
” David, you’re back,” I said with relief.
He smiled.
‘Sorry I’m late, but I bought all your favourite things.’
I took a step towards him, but heard Michael mutter something behind me.
Turning around, I saw that his gaze was fixed on David.
Suddenly, his face turned deathly pale.
He stumbled backwards, crashing into the wall.
‘You…’ he gasped in a trembling voice.
‘Why are you here?’
I didn’t understand.
‘Michael, what’s wrong? Do you know David?’
David approached him, calm but with a coldness in his eyes that I had never seen before.
‘Long time no see, Michael.’
Michael was trembling.
‘You… you’re with Rachel?’
‘Yes,’ David replied with a slight, frightening smile.
‘Rachel is my wife. Our son was just born. Aren’t you going to congratulate us?’
The blood drained from Michael’s face.
He stood silently, looking at David with obvious horror.
‘Do you know each other?’ I asked.
‘What’s going on?’
David smiled gently.
‘Once, a long time ago. But it doesn’t matter, Rachel. Don’t think about it.’
But Michael’s reaction was abnormal.
He looked at me pleadingly, but couldn’t say a word.
David put his hand on my shoulder.
‘Rachel, let’s go to the ward. You’re tired. Your ex-husband doesn’t matter.’
Suddenly, Michael ran off.
He turned and rushed down the corridor.
‘Michael, wait!’ I shouted, but he didn’t look back and disappeared around the corner.
‘What was that?’ I whispered.
‘Who knows?’ David replied.
‘Forget about him, Rachel. Right now, just think about yourself and the baby.’
He hugged me, and although his embrace was gentle, a chill spread through my body.
There was pure terror in Michael’s eyes.
Something was terribly wrong.
In the ward, David took out the groceries: orange juice, sandwiches, my favourite biscuits.
‘Thank you,’ I said.
‘You’re welcome,’ he smiled, but there was something different about that smile.
Maybe it was just my imagination?
While David was in the bathroom, I sat on the bed, my thoughts racing.
Why was Michael so scared?
Suddenly, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
My heart beat faster.
It was Michael.
The message contained only one sentence:
Divorce him immediately.
This man is dangerous.
I gasped.
What are you talking about, Michael?
David is dangerous?
It can’t be.
He’s the perfect husband, always kind and caring.
But Michael’s face appeared before my eyes again — pale and frightened.
The bathroom door opened.
David was back.
I quickly hid my phone.
‘What’s wrong, Rachel? You don’t look well,’ he asked with concern.
‘No, I’m fine. Just tired,’ I lied.
My phone rang again.
Michael’s name appeared on the screen…
I hesitated.
‘Who is it?’ David asked.
‘A friend,’ I said, forcing a smile.
“It’s just girl talk.
I’ll just step out for a minute.”
David looked a little suspicious, but sat back down.
I hurried into the hallway and answered.
‘Rachel, listen to me calmly,’ Michael said in an anxious voice.
‘Michael, what are you talking about? What do you mean, “David is dangerous”?’
‘He…’ Michael began, but trailed off.
‘He approached you for revenge.’
‘What are you talking about? That doesn’t make sense.’
At that moment, the call was interrupted.
A few seconds later, an unknown number called.
It was Michael again.
“Rachel, he probably interrupted the last bell.
Listen to me.
What I’m about to tell you may be hard to believe, but it’s all true.
‘Tell me,’ I leaned against the wall, my body trembling.
‘David was my classmate in high school,’ Michael began, his voice shaking.
“And I… I did something terrible to him.
It’s the most shameful part of my past.
I bullied him.
Cruelly.
‘Bullied?’ I asked, my head spinning.
‘Every day,’ Michael’s voice sounded pained.
I beat him up, took his money, didn’t treat him like a human being.
I humiliated him in front of the whole class.
I was the worst.
After graduation, I regretted it all the time.
‘And how does that relate to David and me?’
‘Do you remember three years ago, when you were having a hard time in our marriage?’ Michael sighed deeply.
It’s no coincidence that David approached you at that time.
It was all planned.
He chose you when you were lonely and vulnerable.
‘That can’t be,’ I shook my head.
We met by chance.
‘It wasn’t a coincidence,’ Michael’s voice was full of confidence.
He had been watching me for years.
My life, my work, my marriage.
He knew everything.
He waited until you were at your most vulnerable, and then he made his move.
My head was spinning.
I couldn’t believe it.
‘And that photograph,’ Michael said.
“The one in the hotel with that woman.
It was fake.
I never cheated on you.
‘That’s a lie!’ I shouted.
I saw everything clearly!
“It was fake, Rachel.
David created it.
That woman was a colleague.
He put different photos together.
After the divorce, I hired a detective.
They found out that the photo was fake, but it was too late.
You were already with him.
I leaned my back against the wall, my legs shaking.
‘So… David… all this… revenge.’
‘Yes,’ Michael’s voice was full of pain.
Revenge for what I did to him at school.
He approached you to take everything away from me.
He used you to cause me suffering.
‘Used me?’ I whispered.
“His goal from the beginning was to take you away from me.
He didn’t love you.
He just used you as a tool.”
‘No,’ I cried.
David loves me! He was so kind throughout my pregnancy.
Our son was just born.
‘Rachel, think carefully,’ Michael pleaded.
Do you really think he loves you, or is he just using you to hurt me? He’s been planning this for years.
Marrying you, having a baby… it was all part of the plan.
‘The baby,’ I whispered, putting my hand on my stomach.
Our son.
‘That child is also a tool for his revenge,’ Michael’s voice was sad.
He will use your son to cause me even more pain.
‘That’s a lie!’ I said through my tears.
That’s impossible!
“Rachel, please seek help right now.
He’s dangerous.
If the truth comes out, there’s no telling what he’ll do.
I have proof, Rachel.
Everything.
Analysis of the fake photo, recordings of his stalking.
I’m going to the police right now.
‘Does David really… not love me?’ I asked, my voice trembling.
‘He doesn’t love you,’ Michael said bluntly.
All he loves is revenge.
You were just a tool to cause me pain.
My knees almost buckled.
I could barely stand.
‘Call the nurse right now,’ Michael insisted.
I’m going to the hospital with the police.
‘Okay,’ I replied, my voice trembling.
‘Rachel,’ Michael said.
I’m really sorry.
This is all my fault.
The call ended.
I stood frozen in the hallway, tears streaming down my face.
David didn’t love me.
It was all a lie from the start.
Three years of memories, marriage, pregnancy, our son… all tools of revenge.
At that moment, I felt a presence behind me.
I turned around, and there was David.
‘You should put the phone down, Rachel,’ he said.
His expression was not his usual kind and loving one.
It was cold and impassive, like that of a completely different person.
‘David,’ I said, my voice trembling.
‘Were you listening?’
He walked slowly towards me.
‘Yes, I heard everything.’
I took a step back.
‘Is it true? Everything Michael said… is it all true?’
David’s expression twisted into a smirk.
His eyes looked at me without any kindness.
“Yes, it’s true.
Everything went according to plan.
I never loved you.
Not once.”
From start to finish, it was all a game.
Tears streamed down my face.
‘Then this child…’ I held my stomach.
“
A child?” David said dismissively.
To be honest, I don’t care.
My goal was to take everything away from Michael.
To take you, to take his happiness, to make him suffer.
This is my revenge.
‘Why?’ I cried.
Why did you drag me into this?
‘Because you were the most important thing to him,’ David said, his voice full of venom.
That’s why I took you away.
That’s all.
I saw the nurse call button on the wall.
I had to press it.
But before I could move, David grabbed my wrist.
‘What are you going to do?’
‘Let go!’ I screamed.
At that moment, I heard footsteps coming from the end of the corridor.
‘Police! Everyone stay where you are!’
David’s grip loosened.
Several police officers ran up and pinned him down.
He didn’t resist, just smiled that cold, empty smile.
Michael came with them too.
‘Rachel, are you okay?’ he rushed over.
I collapsed in tears, and he held me.
“Everything’s fine now.
It’s all over.
David, in handcuffs, looked at me one last time.
“I don’t regret it, Rachel.
I made him suffer.
That’s enough for me.
The police took him away.
After that, everything came to light.
The evidence Michael had gathered was convincing: analysis of the fake photo, recordings of David’s stalking, even a notebook with detailed plans for revenge.
David was charged with fraud and violation of the stalking law.
At the trial, he spoke of his deep hatred for Michael, but in the end he quietly admitted, “This revenge was pointless.
It was empty.”
He was sentenced to five years in prison and given a permanent restraining order.
Several months passed.
I was holding my son in my arms when I met Michael at a café.
He looked tenderly at my little one.
“I’m sorry, Rachel.
It was all my fault.
I shook my head.
“You tried to make amends for your mistakes.
That’s enough.”
Michael took my hand.
‘Can we… try again? Slowly, gradually.’
I looked at him with different eyes.
This man had also suffered because of the past.
He had made mistakes, but he had tried to make amends.
‘It will take time,’ I said.
But I’ll think about it.
Michael smiled, then looked at my son.
‘Can I raise this child as my own?’
‘Even if you’re not related by blood?’ I asked.
“Family isn’t about blood.
Family is about love,” Michael said.
I can love this child.
I can love you too.
Isn’t that enough?
My son grabbed Michael’s finger, his little hand holding the big one.
Maybe someday we can be a family again.
For the first time in a long time, it seemed possible.
Outside the window, the spring sun was shining.
A new season was beginning…
