Chapter 0001

“I’m pregnant!” It hits her.

Why now?

Emily Greenfield sat on the luxurious bed of the presidential suite, a grin on her face as she gazed at the letter in her hand. It was a pregnancy test result, and the news was life-changing.

But before she could process the information, the door to the suite burst open, and her husband Jackson rushed inside.

Startled, she quickly hid the letter behind her back.

"Jackson, what are you doing here? You’re home early." she asked, trying to act casual. But she knew that her heart was racing and her face was flushed.

“I have a great new!” She exclaimed but his face remained serious. Before she could tell him the great news, he cut her off.

“Amelia is sick again and she needs your blood, now!.” His voice sounded hoarse, “You have to follow me quickly, there’s no time left.”

Emily's heart sank as Jackson spoke. She had been so excited to share her news, but it seemed that there were more pressing matters at hand.

Amelia, Jackson's best friend, had been sick for a long time, and it was taking a toll on the whole family.

Emily understood that her husband was concerned, but she couldn't help feeling disappointed. She wanted to share her joy, but it seemed like it would have to wait.

Reluctantly, she followed Jackson out of the room as he pulled her by the arm. The letter still clutched in her other hand.

Inside ward 466, Amelia was happily chatting with the doctor at her bedside but when the door to the room opened, she acted like she was shivering to death.

Jackson pushed Emily forward into the room.

"Take her blood now!" Jackson barked at the nurse, his voice tinged with panic.

Emily flinched at his tone, but she knew that Amelia's condition was dire. The doctor nodded and got to work, expertly prepping Emily's arm for the blood draw.

Amelia lay on the bed, her face pale and drawn.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to Emily, her voice weak and oblivious. "I didn't mean for this to happen, I’m always sick and cause you trouble, I hope you don’t hate me." But it was too late to apologize. The damage had already been done.

Jackson and Emily's marriage was contractual and had started out strong, but over time, it had become clear that Jackson's first priority was always Amelia.

He spent hours at her bedside, taking care of her needs, while Emily felt increasingly left out and neglected. She had given up everything for him - her family, her career, even her health - and it still wasn't enough.

As she sat there, watching the nurse take her blood, she couldn't help but feel like a stranger in her marriage. Was this really happening?

Emily sat alone in the waiting room of the hospital, staring blankly at the wall. She could hear the beeping of the machines and the hushed voices of the hospital staff, but it all seemed distant and surreal.

Then, she heard the sound of wheels on the linoleum floor, and she looked up to see Amelia approaching her, pushed in a wheelchair by a nurse.

When she got closer, Amelia's voice was soft but firm as she spoke.

“How are you feeling, Emily?” Amelia asked with a smile on her lips, however Emily refused to respond.

"You know that as long as you're married to Jackson, you'll always be my blood bank..." The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. “You’re a fool to remain in this marriage and to think he still doesn’t love me, how I pity you.”

Emily's face trailed Amelia's voice. Slowly she stood to her feet and staggered closer to Amelia then leaned in.

“If you know what’s better for you, I’ll stop this pretentious act of yours.” She whispered slowly. “Stay away from my husband while I’m being nice.”

As the words left Emily's mouth, she realized that she had never sounded so fierce in her life. The last few years had turned her into someone she barely recognized, but she didn't care.

All that mattered was protecting her marriage, and she would do whatever it took. Amelia was the problem and she needed her gone.

Amelia sat there in stunned silence, the color draining from her face.

"What...what do you mean?" she stammered. Emily fixed her with a steely gaze.

"Stay away from my husband, or you'll regret it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you." she hissed and turned to leave.

But then, Emily heard Amelia begin to laugh. It was a harsh, grating sound that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

She turned around to see Amelia standing firm on the floor, looking more lucid than she had in months. The nurse had already left the room. Amelia rushed at her and grabbed hold of her hand.

“You think you can just walk away from me?" she sneered. "I'll be your husband's wife, whether you like it or not."

Emily struggled to free herself from Amelia's grasp, but it was no use. She was trapped, and she knew that things were about to get much worse.

[AUTHOR- Dear readers, please don’t forget to drop all votes for me! Happy reading!]