It had been a week.
A week of silent thinking, of pacing the polished marble floors of her spacious, luxurious apartment—high above the noise of Manhattan. Cassidy had thought about everything—about the child growing inside her, about Zeke, and most of all, about herself. What kind of life she wanted. What kind of life she needed.
She'd always dreamed of living somewhere quiet. A small village nestled between mountains and trees, where the air smelled clean and the silence wasn't suffocating. Somewhere far from New York. Far from everything.
Switzerland. That name kept calling to her.
But before she could disappear, she needed help. And there was only one person in the world she trusted.
Cassidy picked up her phone and called her sister.
"Cass?" Georgia's voice lit up immediately. "Wow! We just saw each other not long ago and I already miss you."
Cassidy smiled faintly. "Miss you too."
"How are you?" Georgia asked warmly.
"I'm okay," Cassidy replied. "How about you? Did your surprise for Thiego go well?"
Georgia laughed. "He was over the moon! Finding out I'm pregnant again totally melted him. But now he's being overly protective. I'm barely two months in and he treats me like I'm made of glass."
Cassidy laughed softly too, but deep down, there was a pang of envy in her chest.
Must be nice, she thought. To be loved like that. To be protected. Wanted.
When Georgia finished her story, she asked teasingly, "Alright, spill it. What's going on? You only call like this when something's up."
Cassidy took a slow breath.
"I need your help," she said.
"Okay," Georgia answered immediately. "With what?"
"A passport," Cassidy said. "And a new identity."
There was a stunned pause on the other end.
"What?" Georgia's voice dropped. "Cassidy… why would you—"
"I'm pregnant," Cassidy said quietly.
Georgia gasped. "Oh my God… are you serious? That's… Cass, that's amazing!"
Cassidy didn't respond right away.
"Is it Zeke's?" Georgia asked.
"Yes."
"Does he know?"
"No."
Silence stretched between them. Then Georgia finally sighed. "So that's why you need a fake ID. You're planning to leave."
Cassidy nodded, though her sister couldn't see it. "I want to raise this baby somewhere peaceful. I've always dreamed of a quiet life… Switzerland."
Georgia was quiet again, then said softly, "I'm not going to ask why you don't want to tell him. That's your decision. But if you ever want to talk about it, I'll always be here."
"Thank you," Cassidy whispered.
"I'll talk to Thiego," Georgia said. "He'll handle it."
"I figured you'd say that," Cassidy said with a soft laugh. "Or rather—I figured Thiego would."
Georgia chuckled. "You know him too well."
Cassidy's voice turned serious. "Please don't tell anyone. If someone asks—especially Zeke—just say I'm traveling. Taking time for myself."
Georgia promised, "My lips are sealed."
"Thank you, Georgia. Really."
"You don't have to thank me," Georgia said gently. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That wherever you go… you'll let yourself be happy. You deserve that much."
Cassidy closed her eyes, placing her hand back over her stomach.
"I will"
She was ready to start over. Alone, but stronger.
***
Two days later, Cassidy received the message she'd been waiting for.
"It's done," Georgia had said over the phone. "Everything you asked for. I'll send it to you today."
Cassidy felt a strange mix of relief and dread settle in her chest. It was real now. There was no turning back.
A few days passed. Enough time for her to finish packing the essentials. She didn't bring much—just a small suitcase, and the life growing silently inside her. No goodbyes. No second thoughts. No room for hesitation.
When the morning of her departure arrived, Cassidy hailed a cab and headed straight to JFK International Airport. With her original passport and the plane ticket she'd booked under her real name, she boarded the flight to France without issue.
From the window seat, she watched the city shrink beneath the clouds. Her fingers unconsciously rested on her stomach.
"We're really doing this," she whispered.
She had taken every measure. If Zeke ever checked passenger records, he'd find her name. He'd believe she was somewhere in France, and by then… she'd already be gone.
Gone, with a new name. A new life. And a child to protect.
***
By the time Cassidy arrived at her new home, the sky over the Swiss mountains was painted in soft hues of lavender and gold. It had been a long journey—from New York to Paris, where she landed under her real name and real passport. She stayed for a night, blending in with the flow of tourists and locals. From there, she rented a car and drove across the border into Switzerland, switching to her new identity as Cassidy Montgomery, the one Thiego had arranged through his connections.
The forged passport and new documentation were flawless—complete with background records, a bank account, and even a fabricated employment history. Georgia had assured her everything had been triple-checked. Cassidy Montgomery was officially a fashion designer from Canada, looking to settle down in the peaceful Swiss countryside.
Her new home lay on the outskirts of a serene village, nestled near the base of a quiet mountain range. The house wasn't too big, nor too small—just perfect, surrounded by a vast lawn that rolled out like a sea of green under the afternoon light. A small wooden terrace stretched in front of it, facing the mountains. The place felt like it had been waiting for her.
As she pulled into the stone-paved driveway, she noticed a man already waiting on the porch.
An older gentleman with kind eyes and a soft smile approached her.
"Miss Montgomery?" he asked, with a warm Swiss-French accent.
She nodded, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the car keys. "Yes."
"Welcome. I'm Henri, the former owner. Thought I'd stick around to hand over the keys and show you around a bit."
He didn't question her sudden move or why a woman so young had chosen to settle in such a remote place. Instead, he led her through the home with gentle commentary—explaining the heating, the old cellar door latch, the window in the study that creaked in the wind.
When they stepped back onto the terrace, Henri gestured toward the village below.
"You'll find the people here kind and respectful. Nobody pries. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask—me or the neighbors. We help each other, but we also value peace and privacy."
Cassidy exhaled slowly, for the first time feeling like the weight she carried could be placed down—even just for a little while.
"Thank you."
He smiled kindly. "Oh, and one more thing, Miss Montgomery..."
Cassidy turned to him gently. "Yes?"
"If you ever feel like renovating—upgrading the windows, repainting, or maybe expanding the terrace—I know a few trustworthy locals who could help. They've worked on several houses in the area. Reliable, discreet, and fairly priced."
Cassidy nodded slowly, a bit of relief washing over her. "That's very kind of you. I might take you up on that offer once I've settled in."
Henri gave her a warm smile. "Whenever you're ready. Just let me know, and I'll connect you with the right people."
"Thank you, Henri. Truly."
He smiled kindly. "Bienvenue. Welcome home."
After Henri left, she remained standing on the terrace, staring out toward the mountains. The silence felt different here—not empty, but alive. She placed a hand over her stomach, where a new life was quietly growing.
She was no longer Cassidy Calista. She was Cassidy Montgomery. And this was her fresh start.
***
Cassidy had just finished putting away the last of her clothes into the wardrobe when she heard a knock at the front door. The sound was gentle yet firm, accompanied by a polite call from outside. She walked down the hallway toward the entrance, curiosity creeping into her thoughts. No one had come by since Henri earlier that afternoon.
When she opened the door, she found a middle-aged woman standing on the doorstep, holding a woven basket that cradled a warm tart. The scent of apples and cinnamon wafted through the air, immediately tantalizing Cassidy's senses.
The woman smiled kindly. The fine lines on her face only added to her warm, motherly presence.
"Bonjour. I'm Elise," she said, offering her free hand. "Henri's wife. Sorry I couldn't join him earlier to welcome you. I was tied up with something at home."
Cassidy returned the smile and shook her hand. "It's alright. It's very nice to meet you, Elise."
"I've heard about you," Elise continued as she gently handed Cassidy the basket. "Henri told me you're the one who bought our house. So I wanted to stop by and welcome you properly. This is an apple tart—I baked it this morning."
Cassidy took the tart with gratitude. Its warmth and Elise's thoughtful gesture brought a comforting lightness to her chest.
"Thank you. That's very sweet of you. And It smells amazing"
"I hope you'll be comfortable here," Elise said in a gentle voice. "This village may be small, but the people are kind and they respect privacy. You'll find the peace you're looking for. But if you ever need help with anything, don't hesitate to come by. We're just down the road—the house with the white flower fence."
Cassidy nodded slowly, slightly touched by the unexpected kindness.
"I truly appreciate that. Thank you, Elise."
Elise gave her a warm nod and turned to leave, her footsteps quiet against the stone path. Cassidy stood at the doorway, holding the tart close to her chest. A cool afternoon breeze drifted by, carrying with it the scent of grass and pine trees from the mountains. And in the quiet of the little village, for the first time in a long while, Cassidy felt a flicker of peace settle in her heart.
***