Whatever choices she made along the way, they would be solely hers.
When Aria finally exited the office late that evening, her inner decision solidified with the finality of a concrete setting cured around her bones. The unusual case of fatigue that had hit Aria for weeks might have kept some temporary distance but was now being replaced by the certainty of a clear mind, fueled by the fireworks of a very concrete plan. She took a different route home, instructing her Uber driver to deliver her instead to another place. Twenty minutes later, Aria stood in front of a small medical building located in a quieter section of the city. The very discreet signage out front read "Bay Area Women's Health Collective." During her lunch, Aria had done her homework and had found a clinic that had evening hours and was known for keeping its business confidential.
The waiting room was surprisingly cozy—more like an artistically decorated living room than a medical setting. Dim lights, modern furniture in soft blues and greens, and blissfully no other patients. Aria had made a special request for the last appointment of the day.
"Ms. Chen?" An attractive woman in her fifties with salt-and-pepper hair and kind eyes smiled and approached. "I'm Dr. Patel. Come with me, please."
The consultation room continued the non-clinical theme; there were comfy chairs rather than examination tables. Aria actually appreciated the lack of stirrups and paper gowns for this first meeting.
Dr. Patel gave her a keen look. "Your intake form indicates you've had a positive home pregnancy test. And you're here to look at your options."
"Yes." Aria answered, more steady than she'd expected. "I need to confirm the pregnancy first, but I want to know everything."
Dr. Patel nodded. "We can do a blood test today for confirmation and an ultrasound to determine just how far along you are. That way, it will be clear what options are available to you."
The next hour blended clinical efficiency: Blood; an internal ultrasound confirming what Aria already knew; and much discussion about procedures, time frames, and recovery expectations.
"You're about six weeks along," Dr. Patel said, swiveling the ultrasound monitor in the direction of Aria. "You see here, there's the gestational sac and some early development of the embryo."
Aria stared vacantly at the small gray blob on the screen. How strange: this was not a baby yet; it was simply a bunch of cells multiplying according to biological orders. A very messy complication in her otherwise neat and tidy life.
"I want to schedule the termination as soon as possible," Aria announced in a matter-of-fact tone. "My work schedule is very busy, and I need to avoid interrupting it."
Dr. Patel scrutinized her face for just under a moment. "We can schedule it, Ms. Chen, but our policy is that patients take no less than forty-eight hours to consider their decision once it is confirmed. Not to change your mind; just to make sure you feel fully comfortable with your choice."
Frustration rippled through Aria. She was determined to keep her schedule free of any further delay. "I don't need time to think. I've already—"
"Two days," the therapist intervened, rather gently but rather firmly. "Use the time to just let the body rest. Your blood work has shown very slight anemia, which is common during early pregnancy, but it still needs to be addressed."
So she was going on Friday morning, reluctant to book the appointment-a spot apparently made up by the doctor for exceptional cases. She had also taken the prenatal vitamins Dr. Patel had insisted on prescribing "just for these couple of days, to help with the anemia."
Outside the clinic, the evening had turned cool in San Francisco, and the fog was rolling in to wrap the city sounds. Closing her coat tighter around herself, suddenly Aria felt exhausted beyond all measure. For once she didn't immediately check her work emails or even do something productive with the Uber ride home; instead she looked out the window at the passing strangers, a private thought running through her mind: "How many, do you think, carry secrets that might change the course of their meticulously planned lives?"
At 3:17 AM, the figure of Aria was very much awake as she stood before her apartment windows, looking outside to the sparse lights of early mornings in the city. It had been a fitful night of sleep, interrupted by a series of dreams she couldn't really remember waking from, only impressions that she had been searching for something important but misplaced.
She pressed her palm to her flat stomach, trying to connect present knowledge of her condition with the corporeal reality of her body. Somewhere beneath her palm, cells divided and multiplied to make something that was half hers and half Xavier Knight.
"This isn't in the five-year plan," she whispered to her reflection in the darkened window.
At impulse, Aria opened her laptop to make a new floor sheet-it was not her kind of traditionally meticulous business document but merely a pure analysis: Left Column: Reasons to terminate. Right Column: Reasons to continue pregnancy.
As quickly as possible, the left column filled:
Career trajectory would be compromised Financial implications of childcare costs No support system/family structure No co-parenting arrangement possible Entirely unprepared for motherhood No desire to be tied to Xavier Knight Never planned on children
Then she stared at the right column, the cursor blinking in the empty space. After a few minutes, she typed one entry:
Never had a real family
Aria watched the words, amazed they could come from such a buried part of her. After her mother's death, her childhood had consisted of clinical arrangements-ingrained to some distant aunt, who regarded her as an obligation rather than a child to love. Aria virtually brought herself up since she had learned early on that attachments were liabilities and freedom ensured survival.
Closing the laptop, she did not bother to save the document.
Before the dawn illuminating the city had passed, therefore, Aria had made an entirely different decision concerning the future-something that quite confused her with its apparent clarity and conviction.
"I am going to have this child. Alone. On my terms."
I believe this isn't the place. Not here in San Francisco where the ever-growing Xavier Knight's empire heightens the chances of them meeting again. Not at Pinnacle Marketing, because she would lose the authority she fought so hard to establish, through pregnancy and motherhood. She needed a complete and thorough reset; retreat tactically and build an even stronger come back.
Aria opened her laptop again and resumed searching for international marketing firms that have offices in Singapore. With her credentials, it should not be difficult to secure a post there. The distance would guarantee that Xavier would never discover any connection between him and her child, while a fresh start would let her establish herself as both an executive and mother without the shackling expectations.
Before the alarm went off at 6:00 AM, she had already sending inquiries to three headhunters who specialize in executive placements in Asian markets, drafted her resignation letter to Pinnacle, and had begun researching prenatal care in Singapore.
That morning, she donned a lot of care. It was a power suit, deep burgundy that made her skin glow as exhausted as she was. Today was the day she would set in motion the most major life change-one that required every bit of her strategic thinking and determination. As she applied her makeup with precise, practiced movements, Aria studied her reflection. For a moment, she thought she caught a glimpse of something different in her own eyes-not just the calculated ambition that always drove her, but something more complicated. Something that might, if she was fanciful, be described as hope.
"New plan," she revealed to her reflection, applying her trademark red lipstick with steady hand. "New life."
Then, she placed her hand briefly against her abdomen before straightening her shoulders and heading for the door. She had a resignation to submit, an international move to plan, and about seven months to set up a completely new life before her child arrived.
Xavier Knight and his corporate empire were about to become her past. This unplanned child-and whatever future they would build together-had become her primary focus.
But later that morning, when Aria entered Marcus Wei's office and shut the door behind her, his expression transformed from distracted immediacy into something grave.
"You've made a decision," he said rather than asked, setting down his pen.
"Yes." Aria set a sealed envelope on his desk. "This is my resignation letter. Effective three weeks from today."
Marcus stared at the envelope without touching it. "Tell me you're not doing this because of what we discussed yesterday."
"I'm doing this because it's the right strategic move for my situation," Aria replied, her voice calm and measured. "I've accepted a position as Regional Director of Strategy with Meridian Global in Singapore. The opportunity arose unexpectedly, but the timing is... appropriate."
"Singapore? That's halfway around the globe, Aria." Marcus leaned forward, concern etching deeper lines around his eyes. "Is this about Knight? Did something happen with the SmartTech acquisition?"
No, Aria shook her head. "It has nothing to do with Xavier Knight or SmartTech. This is for advice about the best possible long-term opportunity for my career."
And for my child, she added silently, the words still too new and strange to speak aloud.
"You are running," said Marcus. Nobody else had ever had the gift of seeing through her. "I'm not sure what from exactly, but I can tell that this isn't a relocation solely for career purposes."
Aria held his gaze steadily. "I'm not running. I'm repositioning."
That left long silence between them, heavy with unasked questions. He sighed eventually and picked up the envelope, saying, "Richard is really going to lose it. We just promoted you."
"I have prepared a transition plan and recommendations for my replacement." Of course she had- Aria Chen never left loose ends. "You might consider Melissa. She's ready for more responsibility."
Marcus shook his head with a wistful smile. "You're always three steps ahead." Shuffling the envelope on his desk, he inquired, "When do you leave for Singapore?"
"As soon as my visa paperwork clears. Two weeks, possibly three."
"Will you at least tell me if this is related to what we talked about yesterday?" Marcus asked quietly. "Not as your colleague. As your friend."
Aria hesitated before taking careful judgement. Marcus was the closest thing to family she had. If her scheme was going to work out, she had to make sure she had at least one anchor to her old life.
"I'm pregnant," she confirmed, saying the words aloud for the first time. "I've decided to keep it. Singapore offers better maternity benefits, more affordable childcare options, and a fresh start."
For his credit, Marcus didn't go to bomb her with the boyfriend's nor alternative suggestions, but instead slowly nodded like he had digested the information just like that analytical way he applied into financial projections.
"You'll need somebody you can trust there," he finally said. "I have contacts in Singapore. Financial advisors, real estate specialists. I'll make some calls."
An unanticipated emotional lump tightened Aria's throat. Words such as these would matter much more than large gales of encouragement, practical help standing in the way of better things. "Thanks.
"And when the baby comes," Marcus said, softening his voice slightly, "I expect pictures. Lots of them."
A little smile crept onto Aria's face. "I'll consider it."
As she turned to walk away, Marcus called after her: "One last question. Does the father know?"
She paused at the door not turning around. "There is no father," she replied firmly. "Only me. That's how it needs to be."
Thus, with a steady hand, Aria shuts the door behind her, most likely sealing in an entire chapter of her life. She stiffly had three weeks to transition her role, pack her apartment, and leave the city for good-San Francisco-the same city Xavier Knight built up his whole empire and blissfully unaware of the fact that their night together would lead to consequence.
There was Singapore in the offing. The new position, the new home, and in about seven months, something new would come along and change her life completely.