CHAPTER 1

EMILY'S POV

“I'm done with you, Emily. I never knew you could stoop so low. Bringing a bastard child into my home to claim it's mine?"

I felt air suck out of my lungs when my husband, Liam, uttered those words with rage in his eyes. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I held on to the front of my dress. My baby bump couldn't let me stand well but what broke me more was the look Liam gave me.

It was filled with disgust and hatred, which made me doubt whatever I was going to say was going to change a thing.

"Liam, please, this is our child..." I began but my voice faltered when a slap suddenly landed on my cheek. My gaze became blurry as more tears threatened to escape my eyes. It stung but the person who slapped me was none other than my fake sister. She was the princess while I was nothing but her shadow.

“How could you lie to my face?" My sister yelled in front of me with pure hatred in his eyes. She cleaned her hand with a handkerchief as if I were a rag before stomping the handkerchief on the floor. She towered over me with her high heels and looked at me with a sense of mockery.

“I know you have a lover, Emily. And the two of you were caught in the CCTV camera. What more proof do you want? I showed Liam everything." My sister yelled again and sat back on the chair while her chest rose and fell.

No matter what I said, there is no way for me to refute their claim. The footage showed me coming out of a hotel room with a man but I knew I was drugged by someone because this happened a few months back before I got pregnant. I didn't even know when I got home but I knew I was brought home by someone.

Undoubtedly, Liam is the only man I have come to rely on. I have loved Liam all my life but my sister ruined everything for me.

I took a few steps towards Liam but he raised his hand again to stop me. The divorce papers were on the floor for me to sign but I couldn't bring myself to.

“I know you aren't going to leave this house, Emily, and this is why I'm going to leave. At least you should gain something for staying with me for two years just to cheat on me with a lover you met a few months ago." Liam said with an indifferent tone, which made me swallow the lump at the back of my throat.

I don't want to cry again. God!

“That's not true. Please, Liam, I love you. I was framed." My voice was barely above a whisper, but Liam heard me.

Liam chuckled with sarcasm and raked his hand through his hair. He stood up from the couch and took bold steps toward me while I took a few steps back in fear.

“You should know that what existed between us is just a contract marriage, Emily. The moment you cheated on me, it was over between us."

"Liam, please, listen to me. We can do a DNA test once I give birth. No man touched me except you, Liam. Believe me," I pleaded with a shaky voice.

My knees wobble slightly but Liam's next words shattered my existence.

“You think I have the patience to wait till you give birth to that bastard you call my son?" Liam's words were like venom to my entire being and I trembled.

My sister gave me a triumphant look but I was too weak to fight back.

I don't know if it was pain I saw in his eyes but it vanished when he blocked his eyes. My mouth opened agape when my sister walked towards me and pushed me slightly.

“Don't look at him as if he is the one guilty. You and I both know that you aren't over Williams." My sister said and tugged on Liam's hand.

Liam took his car key and adrenaline rushed in, which made me rush towards him.

“Whatever my sister told you is not true Liam. Believe me," I pleaded, and my heart ached.

Liam slapped my hand away and took a glance at me.

”Sign the divorce papers, Emily, and I don't want to ever see your face again."

I froze on the spot like a statue. I fell on my knees and tugged on the hem of Liam's trousers. My tears wet the tiled floor and I pleaded silently.

“You are too disgusting, Emily!" My sister yelled and kicked me in the stomach. My face contoured in pain and I shed tears when I felt the pain in my stomach. A scream threatened to fall from my lips.

She kicked me again and my back hit the ice cellar door with a loud bang. Liam stopped my sister from hitting me again when a painful groan escaped my lips.

“She is not worth it," were the last words I heard from Liam before my breathing became shallow.

Blood soaked my thighs as I watched death right in front of me.

“Please, help me," I said with eyes filled with tears, my heart breaking into pieces, but I was scared. I was so scared of dying.

“A... Anyone please."

But no one!

No one came to my rescue.

I tried to crawl but the sharp pain in my stomach made me bite my lips.

“Ah," a painful groan escaped my lips, clouding my head. I heard something creak which made me tilt my head to the back. The ice cellar door was already breaking.

My eyes widened in fear when I saw it crashing down on me which made me close my eyes tight.

My lips shake as I whisper silent prayers while the darkness engulfs me whole.

Thud...

Beep...Beep...Beep.

“Doctor, she is awake!" I heard a distant voice and the smell of drugs assaulted my nostrils.

I heard the door swung open, followed by rapid footsteps.

“Give me a flashlight," I heard a solemn voice say.

“Her fingers moved just now." The person who spoke sounded scared, but I was more focused on wrapping my head around what just happened.

One. Two. Three.

My eyes fluttered open, only to fall on a pair of dark eyes. A man wearing a white coat was looking down at me with a small flashlight in his hand.

"Ma'am, can you see how many fingers I have up?"

I blinked my eyes a few times looking at the white ceiling. Where was I? Realization dawned on me. I was in the hospital. I managed to sit up with the help of the doctor and my head kept ringing.

How did I get here?

Where am I?

What is happening? All these questions flooded my mind as I looked around.

“You were shocked when the car almost caused an accident, but there is no internal or external injury, ma'am."

The man standing far away from me left the room, but I recognized him. He is my husband's bodyguard but what am I doing here?

What is happening to me?

I listened to the doctor, not saying a word as I kept wondering what happened. One minute, I was lying on the floor in the pool of my blood, and now, here.

“I have some good news to share with you, ma'am. You are four weeks pregnant," the doctor said and gave me the report.

Pregnant? Me? But I was pregnant the whole time and...

I looked at my stomach only to see that my baby bump had disappeared. My stomach is flat and my feet are not sore.

All my questions were answered when I checked the doctor's report.

April 30, 2024.

I rubbed my hands with my palm and checked the report again. It was indeed six months ago before Liam presented the divorce papers to me.

I was reborn!

It felt like a dream but then the scene was unfolding right in front of me.

“Doctor, I am pregnant?"

“Yes, Mrs. Nolan. You are pregnant."

Of course, I remembered this scene from my previous life. I was wearing the same blue dress. I was on my way to the signing event of my first comic book when the car suddenly hit a truck.

If I am right, Liam is going to walk in with my sister, and I will divulge the pregnancy news to him.

No, this can't happen again.

This is a chance for me to make things right and not repeat the same mistake. This time, I'm going to act differently. I won't let Liam trample on me again.

A lone tear escaped the corner of my eyes which I wiped off instantly. Before the doctor could leave, I tugged in the hem of his coat.

“Please, can you not tell my husband? I would like to deliver the great news to him myself." I sounded desperate but I don't care right now.

“Of course, Mrs. Nolan. You are free to get discharged now."

“Thank you, Doctor."

As soon as the doctor left, I put on my shoes and made my way to the parking lot while Liam's bodyguard kept on apologizing for almost causing my death.

When I got to the parking lot, I saw Liam and my sister in the same car in a kissing position.

Maybe they weren't kissing, I'm not sure because they were facing each other.

They got out of the car, and I took in a quick breath involuntarily when Liam walked towards me slowly.

“Emily, I was so scared when I heard you had an accident. Are you okay and you, Drake?" Liam said, pointing to his bodyguard.

Rage fueled inside me like a volcano eruption. My gaze was filled with fury when I saw the pretentious sad face my sister had as she walked towards me.

“Emily, I followed Liam here when I heard..."

“I want a divorce, Liam. I'm done with this marriage," I cut in before my sister could complete her statement.