Chapter 5: Final Decision.

At night, as June lay beside Ellie, the only thought that filled her mind was her discussion with Ellie.

Going back to school.

Her hand rested on her stomach. Could she do that while pregnant and also work at the same time?

It seemed impossible.

If it were just herself, she would have picked going to school anytime.

Before getting married, she had always wanted to become a medical doctor. She had placed the care of others above everything. It was one of the reasons she had easily fallen into the role of taking care of Rauf without a caregiver.

And back then, her nose was always in a book. It was how she had been able to maintain the brilliant results Ellie was talking about.

But now, she had this child coming, and she had to think of it first. School wasn’t what she needed now.

She needed money.

She needed to register at a hospital and also gather money to buy the things her baby would need.

Regardless of what Rauf claimed, her child was a Salvador heir, and she would do all she could to give her the life she deserved as a Salvador.

"Are you still awake?" Ellie’s voice was hoarse. She had temporarily woken up from her sleep and saw June still wide awake.

June shut her eyes quickly. "I’m sleeping."

A low chuckle left Ellie’s lips. "Yeah. Yeah. You’re dreaming. Come on, let’s sleep. You need to rest well for the baby to grow properly."

June nodded. She felt a lone tear drop from her eyes. Instantly, she wiped it off.

She wasn’t going to cry. It was no good for her and the unborn baby.

When morning broke, June was the first to wake.

She moved easily around Ellie’s small apartment as she arranged it. By the time Ellie woke up to prepare for work, the apartment was already spotless and neat.

And there was a breakfast sitting on her dinner table.

"Come on, June. You’re going to spoil me," Ellie murmured as she ate her breakfast.

For the first time since Rauf had denied her, June let out a soft chuckle. "It’s nothing. I’m used to doing all of this. I wake up early to help Rauf do this, so I can spend more time with him when he wakes up."

Ellie stopped eating and stared at her. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to let you bring him up again."

June waved her hand. "It’s nothing."

But within, she knew it was everything. Rauf wasn’t just a fleeting moment she could forget because she wanted to. He was a constant in her life for five years.

And it would take a lot before she started forgetting about him.

"So, did you think about what I said?" Ellie started. She was determined to get June busy, so her mind could be off that cruel husband of hers.

June nodded, playing with her fingers. "Yeah, I did. Thank you, but I don’t think I can both go to school and work while I am pregnant. I need to work for money first."

Ellie wanted to pursue her, but with the way June’s lips were set in a thin line, it meant she had made her decision. "Fine. If that’s what you want. It’s something."

June beamed up. "Thank you, Ellie."

"No mention," Ellie continued. "So, I’m actually thinking of relocating to New Central State."

June frowned. "New Central State? Why?"

Ellie slumped on the seat. "Ever since Jason broke up with me, my life here had been stagnant. It had finished. I had been thinking of it and hadn’t made any decision. But now," she looked up at June with big eyes. "I think it’s the best for both of us."

New Central State.

It was the city where everything happened. Big companies, big schools, people of high society. A place where everyone minded their business.

And most importantly, a place without Rauf Salvador.

It really was the best for them, but... "We don’t have anyone to stay with there?"

Ellie sighed. "Thank God."

"What?"

"I thought you were going to say no. You have always denied every opportunity to leave this place."

June nodded, her head bowed in shame. That was because she never wanted to be far from Rauf or her family.

But now, she didn’t mind being the furthest from them. And New Central State was just far enough.

Before she could say anything, Ellie continued. "You don’t need to worry about where to stay over there. My grandmother stays in a remote part of New Central State, and we can crash with her."

June frowned. "Aren’t we going to be a disturbance to the old woman?"

Ellie’s response was a smile. "The old woman has been begging me to come back. She would be elated to see us."

When Ellie put it that way, June saw no reason for her to refuse anymore.

Ellie was like a guardian angel sent to her. She was more than a friend to her.

Having no idea what else to say, she scraped the chair backwards and walked toward Ellie, only to fall on her. "Thank you, Ellie. I honestly have no idea what I would have done with myself if it wasn’t for you."

Ellie put on a smug look on her face, but rested her hand perfectly on her back. "I’m not doing all of this for you. I’m doing it for my beautiful goddaughter who is on the way."

They both looked down at her stomach.

June’s eyes filled with unshed tears, but her lips curled into a smile. And Ellie’s eyes twinkled with a smile.

"How did you know it’s going to be a goddaughter and not a godson?"

For a moment, Ellie pretended to act as if she was lost in thought. "Because she’s going to be beautiful, kind, lovely like you are."

Finally, the tears streamed down her eyes, and she didn’t bother wiping them off.

By the time Ellie left for work, with plans of tendering her resignation so they could leave as soon as possible, June’s mind was finally made up.

From now on, she was going to live for herself and her child.