002

Oh... you didn’t know." Ivy chimed in as she noticed Alexa's pale and bewildered expression. She snickered. "Clueless idiot."

Catherine and Ivy erupted in laughter.

"You're just a naive fool now, aren’t you?" Ivy asked rhetorically, shaking her head.

Alexa felt her heart shatter, a painful constriction tightening within her chest. How could she have been so oblivious? The realization stung, and she could no longer suppress the tears that welled in her eyes, leading her to sob uncontrollably. She couldn't believe any of this was truly happening to her. What had she done to deserve this?

"You know what would be best for everyone now?" Ivy started coldly, ignoring Alexa's emotional state. "You should leave this house and never return. Nobody wants you here. You can go back to your wretched family abroad. Oh, wait... They disowned you, didn’t they? Ha!" Ivy chuckled mockingly, and Catherine smirked, her menacing eyes fixed on Alexa.

"My family is not wretched," Alexa defended amidst tears, her voice breaking. If only the Salvadors actually knew who they were belittling like this.

Ivy's expression twisted into a glare, her gaze demanding. "What?! Did you just talk back at me, you crazy witch?! Who gave you the right?!" Ivy shot back. In a fit of rage, she shoved Alexa to the ground, not caring she was pregnant.

Taken by surprise, Alexa lost her balance and fell.

"Ouch!" Alexa cried, a sharp pain shooting through her abdomen as she stumbled on her stomach.

Ivy snapped further. "If it weren't for the fact that you’re pregnant with your bastard child, I would have...!"

"My child is not a bastard; he is Jordan's," Alexa defended, still sobbing as she instinctively cradled her three-month pregnant belly.

Ivy raged upon hearing Alexa's daring response. "Shut..." Ivy's hand swung towards Alexa's face but froze when Jordan's voice resonated through the room.

"Leave her!" He ordered.

All eyes instantly turned to him, including Alexa's.

A flicker of relief and elation washed over Alexa as she spotted Jordan upstairs alone, especially when he had intervened to shield her from Ivy's impending slap. Perhaps her husband had finally reconsidered and chosen to show her some compassion. As Alexa continued to gaze at him, a feeling of warmth stirred within her, her sobs momentarily halting as they locked eyes.

However, Alexa's moment of joy quickly soured when Luciana appeared behind Jordan, leaning against him with her head resting on his bare shoulder as her eyes trailed to Alexa's, with a smirk curving on her lips. The two women locked eyes, and Alexa felt her heart twist painfully at the sight before her. To matters worse...

Old wounds reopened when she heard Jordan's voice cut through the tension. "Let her go." He ordered coldly, Alexa instantly comprehending what he meant. Jordan was rejecting her.

Tears streamed down Alexa's face, her heart shattered anew. This was the man whom she had sacrificed everything for, pouring her love and devotion into their relationship, and this was how he chose to repay her. The pain was so profound that Alexa wished for it to end. She felt as though life was slipping away from her, exhausted by the emotional toll. She had done nothing to deserve this treatment from him or his family.

Eventually and quietly, Alexa gathered her strength and rose to her feet, her hand still wrapped around her belly. When she looked at Jordan once more, his calculating green eyes were cold and devoid of any emotion or remorse for her pain.

With a heavy heart, Alexa resolved to comfort her shattered spirit and exit their presence, for now. Wordlessly, she made her way out of the mansion, hot tears still streaming down her cheeks.

**

"Alexa..." Alexa's best friend's dulcet voice broke through her conflicting thoughts, pulling her back to reality.

Alexa blinked severally, her gaze lowered as she stared at the food in front of her with a heavy heart.

Nearly an hour had passed since the distressing incident at home, and Jordan had yet to reach out to her, not even by mistake. This thought plagued Alexa further. Did Jordan really not care about her? They had been married for three years, and she had never before run out of the house, regardless of how intense the situation may have been. Yet now she had done so in her moment of distress and heartbreak, Jordan didn't even chase after her or care to know her whereabouts. Was she that unimportant to him?

Elena noticed Alexa's perturbed expression and her heart ached.

She dropped her cutlery, addressing her in a comforting yet annoyed tone. "Come on, Alexa. If he truly cared, he would have reached out by now. You've spent the last hour worrying and crying over him. Isn’t that enough? He’s not worth it, and you deserve better than this treatment from him or his family. Can you please just let him go? He's an ass." Elena implored her tone a mix of concern and frustration.

Alexa responded with calmness, her eyes still lowered as tears trickled down her face in a silent cry. "It’s not that simple, Elena. He’s the love of my life." She slowly lifted her head, locking eyes with Elena before acknowledging sadly. "I—I love him and I'm carrying his child. I have nowhere else to run to."

Elena couldn’t suppress a roll of her eyes at this. She sighed and added. "Listen, I understand you, Alexa, but..." She paused, knowing it was a futile effort to attempt to convince her. "You know what? Nevermind. Let's just eat something, okay?"

Nodding curtly, Alexa picked up her utensil and attempted to take a bite from the dish, but quickly realized she had no appetite. She dropped her fork, stating politely, "I’m not hungry. I don't want to eat. Sorry." She apologized, pushing the food aside. This brought a frown to Elena's face.

As Alexa rose from her chair, a sudden, sharp pain gripped her stomach, causing her to scream instantly. "Argh!!" Alexa froze, clutching her abdomen as the pain worsened. "Argh."

"Alexa!" Elena exclaimed, clearly agitated as she rushed over to her.

"A-argghhh! W-what’s happening to me?" Alexa cried out, the pain overwhelming her. She felt paralyzed, her shouts intensifying until she felt something warm trickling down her thighs. Looking down, horror washed over her as she realized it was blood. Blood!!

"Arghhh!" She screamed in terror at the sight. "Help me, Elena! What is this?!"

Elena's fear mirrored Alexa's as she witnessed the blood flowing down Alexa’s slender, tanned legs. "Oh, my days!" she gasped, blinking in disbelief.

Alexa, sensing the dread in Elena's voice, asked fearfully. "W-what’s happening to me, Elena?"

With trembling hands and a shaky voice, Elena replied, "I—I think you might be having a miscarriage, Alexa. We need to get you to the hospital right away!"

Tears erupted from Alexa’s eyes as her heart thudded in disbelief and shock. She shook her head vehemently, refusing to believe it. "What? No, no, no! This can’t be happening. He’ll leave me if this occurs. Jordan will divorce me straightaway. This can’t happen, please. No. No. Please, not a miscarriage." Alexa cried out in anguish.

"Enough, Alexa! This isn’t the time for this," Elena scolded, offering her support. "Just hold on to me!"

**

Elena hurriedly took Alexa to the hospital. Fortunately, when they arrived, the medical staff was prompt in their response. They swiftly transferred Alexa from Elena's care to a hospital bed and began wheeling her toward a ward.

As they moved, Alexa felt herself slipping into unconsciousness; her surroundings began to blur, and her breaths became shallow. An oxygen mask was quickly placed over her face as they entered the hospital, leaving her feeling disoriented amidst the flurry of medical personnel in white uniforms. Her mind struggled to grasp that she was in a hospital as she felt dizzy.

Suddenly, Alexa felt a hand grasping hers as the bed continued its motion. With great effort, she fluttered her eyes open to see Elena leaning over her, worry etched on her face.

"Are you alright?" Elena asked, her voice filled with concern.

Unable to articulate a response, Alexa merely shook her head, her eyes fluttering weakly as she fought to stay conscious.

Elena’s worry deepened. "Stay with me, Alexa. Please, stay with me..." Alexa could barely hear her.

Short and labored breaths escaped Alexa as she struggled to communicate. Noticing her distress, Elena leaned in closer, hovering around her.

Eventually, with a shaky breath, Alexa managed to speak, "C-call my husband, please. Call Jordan."

With those words, her eyes rolled into her head as she slipped into unconsciousness.