You Belong To Me (A Spin-Off To Avenge Marriage Series)

(PART 1) Chapter #1 Vera Makes A Choice

Vera sat and stared blankly at nothing in the first class lounge, waiting for her flight which was delayed. Goodbyes were never hard for her. She didn't even give a second thought before walking out two years ago. But this time, it was harder than anything she has ever done up until now. She was finally starting to get a feel of what it was like to have a family, a brother and a sister. For the first time, in twenty-six years of her life...she was finally starting to enjoy herself here. But she knew she needed to leave and sooner rather than later. Because with the enjoyment and the warm fuzzy feeling that you get from your family's love came the pain of his rejection. The pain of memories, no matter how short-lived they were. The pain of falling in love without any warning or at least some sort of heads up to help her brace herself. 

She fell for him. Hard. And the intensity of her feelings and the realization that she wasn't an emotionless b***h as she thought herself to be and that she too was capable of loving someone was too intense for her liking. She do not enjoy feeling things at a deeper level. Shallow emotions, shallow relations and no attachments, that was her thing. She has always felt like she was enough for herself. The only love that mattered to her was her love for herself. She firmly believed that no one can love yourself the way you can. But to see all her believes, that she firmly held onto all these years crumbling down like a house of cards, it was too much for her. 

Exactly two months ago, when she landed in this very same place, she knew she was in for trouble. But she didn't expect trouble to be in guise of a 6'2 man, drinking at the bar with the most beautiful smile she has ever laid her eyes on and the kindest heart. She was supposed to meet him for her greater good. He was the one who forced her to be nice, to be good and caring about others. Maybe he never said those things in words. Maybe she was a little jealous of her sister's kind, caring nature  and wanted to outshine her in front of him. Who knows what it was but she was damn sure it boils down to just one person: Enrique Ortega. 

"It's okay. You are safe," 

"I am not being nice to you, Vera. I am treating you the way I would want to be treated as well. Trust me, I know how it feels to be unwanted," 

"I said...stay away,"

Vera closed her eyes and pinched them to stop the tears. What the f**k did he do to her? Why was it so hard for her to leave him? She was so tempted to run back to her family. Stay there and watch and cherish him from afar. That would be hard. Extremely hard but the thought of never being able to see him again was a hundred times harder. There was nothing between them. But there was still something. What happened between them was just sympathy s*x but if she closes her eyes, she could still feel him. His body pressed against hers, his lips, his touch...it was like he stamped himself on her body and heart for good. Was it possible to feel all that if you don't have an inkling of emotions for each other? 

And now, it was no longer just one night that happened out of mistake. 

It was more. So much more that the realization knocked the wind out of her. Her stomach crumpled again, the nauseating feeling returning full force. She cannot chew on enough mints and gums to keep that at bay. Vera knew this was hard. But she knew what waited her, the looming decision that could change the course of her entire life, it was the hardest, most difficult decision she has to ever make in her life. With shaking hands, she fumbled in her bag and pulled out the report. 

URINE PREGNANCY TEST : POSITIVE

And just like that, with these four words printed in a stupid piece of paper, her life changed completely. 

Four Days Ago...

"Ms. Vera Moreno?" The doctor mumbled and Vera nodded her head. For the reason she was here, she cannot use her surname at any cost. She will be screwed of that goes out. 

"That's...that's right," She nodded, the words barely getting out of her mouth. 

"So, tell me...what is it that's bothering you?" The doctor asked and Vera shook her head. 

"Nothing, I...I want to get a pregnancy test done," She cannot believe, she cannot ever imagined that these words would be leaving her mouth. She was not the motherly, kids loving type. Not in hell.  

"Did you do a test at home first?" She asked and Vera nodded her head. Her heart was beating so fast against her chest that she could barely get the words out of her mouth. 

"I...I did," She answered and the doctor nodded her head. Vera was sure, judging from her reaction, the doctor could tell how very devastated she was. She was hoping inside herself that the test would prove wrong. It can, more than often so she has to be confirmed before allowing herself to get a coronary. 

"Okay...here," She shuffled in her drawer and pulled out a small container. "You would need to pee in this," She jotted down her name and age with a black marker outside the container and handed it to Vera.

 She took the small, demeaning thing from her and silently headed to the loo. This was embarrassing. And terrifying as s**t. Once she was done, she splashed some water on her face and sighed. She was doing this because she was aiming with every cell in her body for something going wrong while doing the test. But deep down, she knew nothing was wrong. She knew this test would be doing nothing but confirming what she already knows inside of her. She could already feel it and that  terrified her. How the f**k did this happen? 

Yes, okay...asking Enrique to help her in that way was very very wrong decision to start with. Helping him that night was also very wrong and she wasn't sure which of the either encounters lead to this disaster. But what she was pretty sure about was that, Enrique was involved either way. She was on contraceptives or at least that's what she thought, the f**k she knew that amidst all this craziness that was going on, she would have completely forgotten about her pills. She always, always took pills to be extra sure but now  when all the hell was already breaking loose in her life, did she has to forget about it. 

Vera fidget in her purse to grab her handkerchief when she was distracted by the ping of her phone. She pulled it out from her pocket and was surprised to see an email from the HR team of one of the very affluent fashion brands till date. So affluent that Vera was sure they accidentally ended up sending her the mail. But then you can send a text by mistake...can you send an email by mistake? Her hands shook a little as she tapped on the screen and the email popped open. 

Dear Ms. Vazquez, 

Hope this email finds you well. 

We came across some of your mock shoots a few days back and our screening team is quite impressed with the work that you submitted. We are thrilled to inform you that you have been selected to shoot the fall collection of our brand. The twenty-days shoot will take place in different parts of the world as they will also feature in our monthly magazine apart from other influential features that we get as you may already be aware of. 

We sincerely hope that you are ready to get on-board with our team. The itinerary can be found in the attachments and schedule details will be discussed personally at our head office. We would also need to see a complete health report not older than a month so that no problem arises later as the shooting starts. We hope that won't be a problem. We are hoping for your cooperation. 

Glad to welcome you to the team! 

Hoping to hear from you soon...

Regards,

Teddy Atkins 

Holy fuck...

Now what? This was the BIGGEST opportunity of her life. She cannot fathom the turn her career will take when the shoot is over. She can take the leap worth four or five years of hard work just after twenty-two days. She will be featuring in magazines and influential lists, she would be dealing with high-profile celebrity clients and hell, she could open her own company if she wants. The door to infinite possibilities has opened up for her but...

She stared down at her belly and abruptly remembered the red lines on the pregnancy kit. No, she cannot chase the life she wants if she decides to go through with this. No one would want to hire a photographer dealing with nausea and morning sickness and belly so big that it would need someone to make her even stand up. Photoshoots just doesn't involve the models posing. The photographers has to go to a great lengths to get the perfect angle too. Sometimes there were underwater shoots and some will actually involve precautionary measures. She cannot do all that with a baby to look after. And what the hell...was she even ready to be a mother? 

She guess she knew the answer only too well. 

_______________________

Present Day...

Vera grabbed her stuff and distractedly headed to the terminal to catch her flight that has finally been called. Her mind was set and she knew what she was going to do. And she has hated herself every second since the time she made the decision. Yesterday, at Vin's wedding. She knew this was undoubtedly the worst decision of her life but there was no other option with her. It was what it was. She tried talking to Amber about this yesterday but she was already distracted with her parents returning and Vera held herself back at the right time. Amber will never understand where she was coming from. She was already so motherly and gentle kind. She will see the wrong in her decision and not the practicality of it. 

She even gave herself another chance and decided to based this decision on Enrique's reaction to her. And given the decision she has taken, it was pretty clear what his reaction would have been. 

"I am glad that you are leaving tomorrow, Vera. And I don't mean it in a mean way. I know its hard for you. I have been through that and is still going through it. I am so sorry for ever doing this to you. I am really really very very sorry. I hope you can have a happy, abundant life ahead and I hope you can forget all about me and move on. I wish you a best of luck..."

There was nothing else left to be said. He wanted nothing to do with her at all. And the last thing Vera wanted or deserved was to get his attention just because he accidentally knocked her up. No, that was too much for her. So she turned away from him and the decision was clear in her head. 

She cannot do this. 

It broke her down completely. Everyone thought she was crying like a crazy person because she was touched by Cecilia and Vin's vows. And she was. She almost envied them a bit but that was not the reason her tears wouldn't stop. It was the ghastly, disgusted decision that she took. And it was Enrique who lend her his handkerchief to wipe her tears. How ironic was that?

 If only he could have lend her his heart instead. He only needed to say the words and Vera would have let go of every opportunity and given birth to this child. But he didn't. He pushed her away. And she cannot do it knowing that the little life inside her was nothing but a very very wrong decision on her apart, a spur of the moment weakness and somebody's regret and unwanted on both the sides. He or she didn't deserved that. She didn't deserved that. Her appointment was already booked. Day after tomorrow she will go through her decision. And she deep down knew...

She will never ever be able to forgive herself for this...

________________________________________________

A/N: Whew! Don't hate me readers. And don't hate Vera either. Motherhood is a choice and not a responsibility. There were two woman dealing with the same situations (if you know what I mean) and they both make two different choices. As a reader, I don't think what Vera decided is wrong. I mean of course, abortion is a crime and a sin and literally people should seriously understand the importance of contraceptives before they take any step towards intimacy. But again, it was she who would be carrying the child so she does gets to make her own decision. 

Anyways, lecture done, I hope you liked the first update. Now we will see where this one decision of her takes Vera and Enrique. The chapter is short and I want to keep it that way because I don't want to unnecessary drag the story out. I hope you enjoy the update and the story! 

Thank you so much :) 

PS: What do you think about the cover guys? I love that we can get a glimpse of both Enrique and Vera here and what might come ahead lol;)