Chapter 1

Selene:

With bated breath, I anxiously tapped my feet against the cold, sterile floor, waiting for the results of the test I had just taken. My eyes slowly watched the doctor as she pulled out an envelope and stretched it out to me.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Hemsworth, you’re five weeks pregnant!”

My hands shook as I snatched the report off the doctor’s hand, glancing through it as quickly as I could. After three good years of trying, I was finally pregnant!

My heart swelled with an overwhelming urge to shout, scream and yell excitedly right there and then, but Instead I tucked the report carefully in my bag. Turning to the doctor, I managed a shaky smile.

“Thank you,”

Today was my third wedding anniversary with my beloved husband, Maximus. So, I pulled over at a small gift shop and got him gifts I was sure he’d definitely like.

These gifts were just the perfect prelude to the real surprise. My hand brushed my stomach, a smile spreading across my face.

I suddenly felt a shiver run down my spine as I glanced at my phone, the blank screen glaring back at me. No calls. No messages. Not even a ‘happy anniversary’ text from Maximus. I bit my lip, telling myself he was busy. He had been away on business yesternight.

“Hello, ma’am?” A low, husky voice suddenly jolted me out of my thoughts. “Would you like to add this?”

I turned around only to be met with the shop assistant , holding a box which contained a sleek and elegant wristwatch. It gleamed under the shop’s bright lights and my heart skipped a beat at how perfect it looked. But when my eyes drifted to the price tag, a lump formed in my throat.

“It’s a Cartier Santos. Your husband would love this, trust me.” His eyebrows knitted together, urging me to decide quickly so he could move on. But then I thought of Maximus’s smile, the way his eyes lit up when he was pleased. Even though it was a bit pricey, I was sure it would be worth it. I needed it to be worth it.

“Sure, I’ll take this as well.”

After I was done, I headed straight to his office, imagining how Maximus would wrap me around in a tight embrace when I told him about my pregnancy . Even though he had been acting distant these past months, everything was definitely going to change today.

“Hey, baby!” I called out, my voice bright with excitement as I pushed open the door to his office. My heart raced, expecting him to look up, smile, maybe even come over and pull me into a hug. But he didn’t move. He sat at his desk, eyes fixed on the newspaper spread before him, as if my presence meant nothing.

I swallowed, forcing a smile to stay on my face. Maybe he was just busy. I closed the door behind me and crossed the room, each step feeling heavier.

“Maximus?” I said again, softer this time. “I’ve got some amazing news.”

Before I could say another word, Maximus turned toward me, “That can wait. We need to talk, Selene.”

His tone was so cold, it sent a chill down my spine. This wasn’t the Maximus I thought I knew, the man I had fallen in love with. Something was wrong, terribly wrong.

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed a stack of papers from his desk and flung them at me. They scattered through the air before landing on the floor at my feet. I stared at them, unease creeping up my spine.

With trembling hands, I knelt down and picked up the papers. My eyes widened in disbelief as I reached the final page.

"What... What are these?" I stammered, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Divorce papers?"

I looked up at Maximus, searching his face for some sign of a joke, a mistake - anything to tell me this wasn’t real. His eyes flickered with a brief moment of hesitation before hardening into a steely gaze.

"If Jess hadn’t disappeared, we never would have gotten married” he drawled before delivering the final blow. “Well, Jess is back now.”

I couldn’t breathe. How could he think of someone who had run off a day to their wedding?

"Maximus, please," I choked out, tears welling in my eyes. "We..we can work through this. We-"

"There's nothing to work through, just sign the damn papers, Selene."

My heart plummeted. I was well aware that Jess, my stepsister, had been Maximus' fiancée three years ago, but the night before their wedding, Jess had suddenly disappeared. I knew she intentionally ran off, but I never knew the reason why.

Because of the shame it would bring to my family, I had agreed to be a substitute bride for Maximus, just as my father and stepmother had forced me to.

It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience-an arrangement to satisfy our families. Maximus also needed to get married to meet his grandfather’s condition to inherit the company.

Along the way, I started to fall in love with him. I thought he did too, at least for a while. There were moments when his eyes softened when he looked at me, when his touch lingered a little too long. But that was months ago. Since then, he had grown distant, colder with each passing day.

Now I understood why. All he had been waiting for was Jess to return. The woman he’d truly loved. My heart twisted painfully. I had hoped, foolishly, that I had time; time to make him see me, love me. But here he was, cold and detached, his mind on someone else.

"Today’s our anniversary, Maximus!" I clenched my fists, my nails digging into palms as I tried to hold back tears.

“You think I care about that? She’s back, and that’s all that matters.”

I stood frozen, unable to comprehend the words coming from the man I thought I knew, not until he spoke again.

"You know…I'm starting to believe the rumors that you were responsible for Jess' sudden disappearance,” he sneered, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“W-what?” My pulse pounded in my ears, and my hands shook as I tried to comprehend his words. Rumors? I was responsible for my stepsister's disappearance? What lies had Jess told him?

I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper. “Maximus, how could you believe that? Jess left on her own!”

His expression hardened, and he crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair.

“Maybe. But people talk, Selene. And the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. You had everything to gain- money, status. Maybe you wanted me all along and used Jess’s disappearance to trap me.”

“I never wanted this!” I tried to hold back my sobs. “I only wanted to help my family. And then, I fell in love with you...”

“Love?” He scoffed. “You’ve done nothing but pretend. This was all just a game to you, wasn’t it?”

The words stung like a slap. I felt the floor tilt beneath me as if I were on the edge of a cliff. “Maximus, please-”

“Enough!” he snapped, slamming his hand on the desk. “Just sign the papers, Selene. Let’s not make this harder than it needs to be. Jess is back, and she’s the one I want.”

With my hands trembling, I flipped to where my signature was needed.

"Fine, I'll sign it," I murmured, watching a flicker of shock cross Maximus’s face before he quickly masked it. I scribbled my name on the line, feeling as if I was signing away more than just a marriage.

Within moments, I grabbed my bag from the couch and stood up, heading toward the door.

“Wait,” His husky voice called softly as soon as I reached the door. I hesitated, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn back.

He cleared his throat and spoke; “What was the good news you wanted to share?"

“It’s never going to change anything." A tear rolled down my cheek as I replied. I hoped he’d hear it, really hoped he’d care - but he didn’t.

I was right. Even though I was pregnant with his child, it wasn't going to change anything. It wouldn’t matter to him. With a heavy heart, I made my way out of his building, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Once I was settled inside my car, my phone suddenly chimed with a text. I picked it up, still reeling from what had just happened.

“No..no!” When I saw who the text was from, my blood ran cold.