CHAPTER 2

 Davina

     Courtney stood up to make her announcement, and the room fell silent as everyone waited for her to speak.

     "So, I just want to share with you all... I'm two weeks pregnant," she said, a smile spreading across her face.

     Everyone’s mouths dropped open, and confused glances were exchanged as they tried to process her words.

     "Then who is the father of the child?" I asked, breaking the silence in a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

     Courtney smiled before answering. "Sebastian is the father."

    My eyes widened in shock at her statement.

      "What?!" I exclaimed, standing up in disbelief as I tried to process what I had just heard. Everyone turned to look at me—Sebastian remained silent, and Courtney wore a smug smirk.

     “Davina, sit down. You’re embarrassing us,” my mother hissed, glancing nervously around the restaurant. All eyes were on our table now.

    I turned to her, fuming. “I’m embarrassing you? Not your whore of a daughter, who slept with my husband?” My voice cut through the air, sharp and unyielding.

      “Watch your tone, Davina!” Sebastian’s voice finally broke the silence. It was the first thing he had said to me since we got here.

     I let out a bitter chuckle. “Oh, now I exist? I thought I was invisible to you. You’re despicable, Sebastian. Sleeping with your wife’s sister? I knew you hated me, but I never thought you’d stoop this low.”

    “If you hadn’t cheated with your sister’s boyfriend, you wouldn’t even be here,” my mother shot back, her words dripping with venom, like she had been waiting to throw them at me.

    Sebastian glared at me, his jaw tightening. “Sit down and calm down before I have you thrown out of this restaurant. And in case you didn’t hear, I’m willing to marry Courtney.”

     I froze, stunned by his audacity. I could see the shock in his eyes earlier when Courtney declared her pregnancy, so what was this performance now? 

     My voice rose, fueled by anger. “Fuck you, Sebastian.”

      A collective gasp rippled through the restaurant. I didn’t care. My gaze locked on Courtney, who looked far too pleased with herself. 

    “You think you’ve won, don’t you?” I snarled. “I promise you’ll regret this.”

       Courtney threw her head back and laughed, the sound grating against my ears. She wiped a tear from her eye as she reached for her wine glass. “Oh, Davina, you’re hilarious. Did you think Sebastian would leave me for you? After you slithered into his bed? I came back because I’m ready to reclaim what’s mine.”

     “I had a child with him!” I shouted, my voice trembling with raw emotion. “I didn’t sneak anywhere. Sebastian, after everything she put you through, you still went back to her?” I turned to him, but he wouldn’t meet my gaze.

     Courtney’s smirk widened. “Luckily, that abomination is dead.”

      The words sliced through me, and I shot to my feet, pushing my chair back so hard it scraped against the floor. My vision blurred with rage as I stalked toward her. 

       “Don’t you ever call my child an abomination,” I warned, my voice low and dangerous. “Or I swear, you won’t like what happens next. After all, the number of children you've aborted doesn’t compare to my child who was conceived.”

        The room seemed to freeze. My fists clenched at my sides as I tried to rein in my fury. But just as I opened my mouth to speak again, a sharp slap landed on my face, the sting radiating through my skin and echoing in my mind.

    Courtney stood over me, her hand still raised. “That’s a lesson you should have learned a long time ago,” she spat. "You do not have the right to speak to me that way."

      My head snapped back, and the room seemed to blur. Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped her so hard she stumbled backward, her body crumpling to the floor.

     The restaurant erupted into chaos. Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone at the table jumped to their feet. Sebastian rushed to Courtney, kneeling beside her as she clutched her stomach, her face contorted in pain.

     “Seb! Seb! Our baby! I can’t feel it!” she cried, her voice rising to a panicked wail.

     “Call an ambulance!” Sebastian barked, his voice filled with urgency. His mother fumbled with her phone, dialing with shaky hands.

     Courtney pointed a trembling finger at me, tears streaming down her face. “She’s trying to kill our baby… just like she killed hers!” she shrieked.

      Sebastian’s head snapped up, his eyes blazing with rage. “You’ll pay for this, Davina,” he snarled, his voice like thunder.

     “I want her arrested!” Courtney sobbed, clutching her stomach as her cries grew louder. “She tried to kill me!”

     I stood frozen, my mind reeling. Around me, diners were recording the scene on their phones, their whispers and gasps blending into an indistinguishable hum.

    The sound of heavy boots echoed against the floor, and I turned to see two police officers stepping into the restaurant.  

One of them addressed the crowd, his voice firm. “Someone called 911?”  

“Yes, sir. That would be me,” my mum replied, raising her hand. Her voice was steady, but her face brimmed with fury.  

My heart shattered into a million pieces. I knew then—announcing my pregnancy wouldn’t change a thing. The damage was already done. Tears welled in my eyes and spilled over as the weight of the situation crashed down on me.  

“Good day, ma’am. I’m Deputy Leo. What seems to be the issue?” the officer asked, his tone professional.  

My mum’s fiery gaze landed on me, her voice cutting like a knife. “That woman tried to kill my daughter! She assaulted a pregnant woman!”  

I froze, my feet rooted to the ground. The words didn’t seem real.  

The officer turned to me, his expression unreadable. “Is that true?”  

Before I could answer, Courtney’s voice rang out, sharp and trembling. “Yes, officer. She slapped me and pushed me down after I told her I was pregnant!”  

“No! That’s not true!” I blurted out, panic rising. “She’s lying! I only retaliated!”  

“Take her away, officer! She’s done enough damage!” Sebastian’s voice boomed from the corner, adding to the chaos.  

The officer stepped toward me, handcuffs in hand. “Ma’am, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”  

I stumbled back, my breath hitching. “But… this is just a family issue!” I protested as he cuffed my wrists.  

The officer remained impassive, leading me toward the exit. “Ma’am, you can explain yourself to the judge.”  

I twisted my head to look back, desperation clawing at me. “Seb, please!” I cried out.  

But Sebastian didn’t even glance in my direction. Instead, he bent down to help Courtney up, his movements gentle. “Are you okay?” I heard him ask her softly.  

The cold air hit me as I was pushed out of the restaurant, where a sea of phones recorded my humiliation. Tears streamed down my face as I was placed in the back of the police van.    

At the station, the officers processed me with methodical indifference, and soon I found myself in a cold, dimly lit cell. The flickering fluorescent lights above cast unsettling shadows on the damp walls.  

Time blurred—hours, maybe days passed. I couldn’t tell anymore.  

I paced the narrow cell, replaying the scene at the restaurant over and over. My mother’s hateful gaze, Courtney’s lies, and Sebastian’s cold betrayal all seared into my mind.  

How could my own mother do this to me? How had it come to this?