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Vivian POV

The doctor's words whizzed in my ears as I sat frozen with surprise "Are you sure doctor?" I asked with mixed feelings and he smiled.

"Of course Mrs Vivian, You're four weeks pregnant and you would be needing more rest since it's the gestational period for the baby, congratulations once again" He repeated the news once more and in that moment, I didn't know if I should be happy or sad.

How would Max react to the news? There was every possibility that he could even kick me out of the house or perhaps, ask to get rid of the pregnancy or worse more, accuse me of infidelity.

Right now, I don't know if I should be happy or sad, if I should laugh or cry.

Why would a baby come at this time? Just when our marriage was nearing the peak of exhaustion. Max had sternly warned me not to give him an heir that he didn't want a child born of me rather from his first love. He believes that I had taken advantage of him and tied him down with marriage by manipulating his father.

"Thank you doctor, I'll take my leave now" I said, sadness hinging at my voice and he nodded. I pulled the chair back and stood up, placing my hands on my belly as I walked out.

I was lost in thoughts of how things were about to turn sour for my life and instantly I bumped into someone.

"What the hell. Are you blind!" She remarked disdainfully and I shrieked, looking up to see the person and In that moment, my mind froze.

What was she doing here? When did she come back? I looked behind her and realized she wasn't alone and the person behind her was none other than Mr Max.

Should I say my boss since I worked as his secretary or my husband since we were married? I gasped, the realization of the scenario dawned on me and my suspicions were confirmed.

The reason for the late nights recently, the excessive alcohol he took, the strange perfume on him, the lipstick prints on his shirt and lips each time he came back to the house all made sense to me now. It was because of Ruth, his first love and also the beginning of his hatred for me. Ruth had left the country after my marriage and now she was back.

To reclaim what belonged to her or break my relationship with Max? I couldn't quite fathom what the thin bridge lines between I and Max meant but I was sure that Max didn't desire me but rather his first love, Ruth Conells.

Max had wanted to marry Ruth but his father kicked against it and threatened to hand his rights over to his younger brother if he didn't get married to me.

Max's father believed that I was a young promising woman since I was very efficient with my work and had helped him one day, not realizing he was the father to the CEO of the Norman's Pharmaceuticals. He almost got into a fatal car accident one day and I had saved him without having a knowledge about his identity and when we had met at the company, it came as a shock to me and ever since then, Max's father developed intense fondness for me and had asked his son to marry me against his wish.

At first Max was reluctant, but after we had accidentally slept together while in a drunk state which led to an accusation that I had drugged him, Max had agreed to the marriage but on the terms of a contract his father had no idea about. Having no other option as to help my sick mother, I had agreed and just today that marked the three years anniversary of our loveless contract marriage, I had breached one of the rules by getting pregnant.

" I'm.... I'm sorry" I quickly apologized, my gaze still stuck on Max, wanting to catch the slightest expression of guilt on his face but I found none.

It hurt. It hurt me to see that my presence no longer mattered to him and he could fling his lover right in front of my face.

"Bitch!" Ruth cursed out loudly and together they walked away, leaving me standing rooted to the ground. Different emotions swirled through me, a painful pang stung in my heart as I clenched my fists together, suppressing myself from breaking down there.

I loved Max. I've always loved him despite his indifference towards me. I had hoped maybe his feelings might change one of these days in our marriage but all that hope went down the drain.

My crime was that I dared hope. I hoped and loved him even while his heart yearned entirely for another woman.

With a strained effort, I forced my feet to move from where I stood. I needed a solace and the bathroom was the best place to release those emotions and I quickly dashed into one.

As soon as I got to the bathroom, I broke down into a fit of tears, the waterworks rolled down my cheeks relentlessly and blurring my own vision. My heart felt like it had been ripped open.

" Oh God, why must my life always be so different?" I sobbed quietly, the scene of how Ruth clutched to his arms lovingly still replaying in my mind and no matter how much I cried, the sheer truth still remained that my time with Max was almost up.

I cried till I couldn't do any further, not realizing that it was almost past evening. Just then, my phone buzzed loudly in my bag and I brought it out, sliding across the screen to view the message and I felt a chill run through me, putting me in a state of confusion.

"Vivian, you need to get to the hospital immediately! Your mother's surgery for cancer is urgent!" My best friend's text message flashed on my phone, and my heart began to race more intensely than before. I had just borrowed a significant amount from Max to cover her chemotherapy expenses.

"So what am I going to do now? Where exactly am I going to get money again?"