Chapter 2

Emily Pov

As I slowly opened my eyes, I surveyed my surroundings. The last memory I had was a painful argument over divorce papers with my husband. My heart still ached at the thought of his insistence on ending our marriage.

"Ms. Sebastian, you're finally awake." An unfamiliar voice reached my ears, prompting me to turn my gaze toward its source.

I saw a figure of a man in a white dress, with a pair of glasses on his shallow-looking eyes.  

It dawned on me that I was in the hospital room, with a doctor beside me. Memories flooded back_my husband’s scourging remarks, the blurry vision, the collapsing on the floor, and the feeling of life leaving me. 

My fist clenched tightly to the bedspread as I jerked up from the bed.  

“What am I doing here? Where's my husband?” I asked, staring steadily at the doctor, expecting a reply.  

“Ms. Sebastian, relax. Don't stress yourself too much, okay.” He said calmly, gently laying me back on the bed.  

"A couple brought you in; they said you fainted. We…”

“Wait, a couple?” I asked and he nodded in response. “A lady with pink-tinted hair?” I queried and he nodded again.

“Something wrong?” He asked, staring at me, his face masked with confusion. I chuckled, assuring him that everything was fine. He maintained his composure,  adjusting his pair of glasses as he cleared his throat.  

“Uhm, we ran a test on you, ma'am. The result shows you're pregnant," he announced, leaving me frozen. 

I was shocked, the news landed like a bombshell in my ear, taking my breath away. I gazed at my stomach, caressing it gently with my palms.  

“Is everything alright, ma'am?” He asked. 

“I'm… fine, yeah,” I stammered, my looks contradicting my words. 

“The man brought in some luggage and he stated that they were yours.” He said, pointing in a direction, my eyes darted toward the direction he pointed at. 

What I saw ached my soul. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to rain down a storm. Staring at my belongings being tossed around pierced my heart.  

He kicked me out of his house while I was unconscious. How could Alex be so cruel? 

Feeling abandoned and betrayed, I couldn't help but question how Alexander could turn his back on me so heartlessly. The memories of the two years we shared filled me with a sense of loss and emptiness. 

And now, carrying his child, I find myself facing an uncertain future on my own, far from the world we once knew together.

The pain of his rejection cut deep, leaving me shattered and alone in my despair. The realization that he chose someone else over me has left me broken and struggling to understand how our love could have meant so little to him. 

My heart was pressed down with the weight of these emotions, tearing it apart with each passing moment. I battled to contain the torrent of tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

As I left the hospital, my imagination ran wild. I boarded a cab, heading toward an unknown destination.  

With my hand resting on the window, I gazed thoughtfully at every house and street we passed.

I used to think I was perfect, living a life curated to my tastes, content in my self-made sanctuary. Then he came into my life, like a knight in shining armor, showering me with affection and promises. 

"I love you, Emily. I can't imagine my life without you," he had said, his words lingering in my mind like a melody. The moment he kissed me, sealing those promises with his lips, he spoke of an endless future together.

"Till eternity," he vowed words that now feel like hollow echoes.

Men are scum, I told myself, but identifying the one who shattered my world is a task I find painfully elusive.

As I stood ousted from his house, with my dreams and dignity lying in shards at my feet, a single thread of hope remained. My parents' house.

Stepping out of the cab, I towed my luggage across the vast family estate grounds.

Where the moment of childhood came in afresh. We couldn't even eat three squares a day. Going to the charity night was a blessing to my family. I was there to be helped. There, I was greatly favored, not until it started getting into my head.  

My eyes scoured the parking garage, spotting two cars. This was all thanks to Alexander. He must have mistaken my parents' never-ending demands for my greed, branding me a gold digger.

Was that the reason he asked for a divorce? I reasoned.  

I pressed the alarm button, and after a few minutes, the door clicked open to reveal my sister, Sophia. She stood there, eyes wide with surprise, staring down at my bags. 

"Emily, what's wrong? You look completely out of sorts—your eyes are puffy, your nose is wrinkled, and you seem so downcast." She gently touched my face, her concern evident.

"Can I come in?" I asked, avoiding her question as she moved aside to let me in. 

Just like me, Sophia has black hair and hazel eyes. People often mix us up, calling me Sophia and her, Emily. To help others distinguish between us, I started curling my hair.

Our striking resemblance constantly made me wonder why we weren't born twins.

"Emily!" my mother exclaimed, her gray eyes sparkling with delight. Adjusting a curl of her blonde hair, she flung her arms wide open to welcome me.

This was exactly what I needed—a heartwarming embrace from the person I called family. 

“To what do we owe this visit?” My father’s voice echoed as he slowly stepped down the trail. His hazel eyes stared at me in amusement. 

"She came with her bags, Father," Sophia said, their eyes fixating on the bag with confusion.

"Her eyes are puffy, and she looked like some—"

"Stop," I interrupted, raising my hand to halt her words.

"What happened?" my mother asked, concern etched on her face. 

Stammering, I managed to say, "I, uh, me, Alex…” I swallowed hard, trying to steady my heart beat which was faster than usual. I gave out a deep breath.  

“We Divorced,” I announced suddenly,  leaving a blend of confusion and shocked expression on them.  

"D-Divorce?" my father demanded, shooting me a sharp look. "What did you do now?" His words caught me off guard.  

“I didn't do anything, Father. He just brought in a divorce papers.” I replied.  

I could hear Sophia, snickering. Her hand covered her mouth.

“I thought you were Mrs. Perfect? I believed the handsome billionaire man wouldn't stoop low to get involved with you. Poor and wretched.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

I stared at her,  disappointed by her scornful words. Why would she utter such scornful words about me? Her words broke my fragile heart into smaller fragments. 

Just when I thought I'd heard it all, my father’s words came like a bombshell, piercing my already ruptured heart, and causing it to drip in its blood.