EMMA'S POVWhen I opened my eyes, it was like waking up from a coma. The lights were way too bright, and the beeping of some machine beside me made my head pound even worse. Everything felt sore, my arms, my legs, my belly, even my chest. What in the world happened to me? My vision was blurry as I looked down at my arm which was connected to an IV.I blinked a couple of times, trying to adjust, and then I saw him sitting there.Sebastian. He was right next to my hospital bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees like he’d been waiting for me to wake up. His face looked worried, but also... tired. He sat up straighter as soon as I moved, his voice soft. “Emma. You’re awake. Thank God. How are you feeling? Are you okay?” I didn’t answer him right away. I just stared at him, trying to process everything. How was I feeling? What kind of question was that? I felt awful, physically and... emotionally. But all I could focus on was the one thing that had been stuck in my head since
EMMA'S POVI turned and saw Dr. Alex. Sebastian's lead surgeon, standing there. The sight of him pulled me back to a moment I had tried not to dwell on, his steady hands, his calm voice when I'd cried to him about finding who had Matthew's heart."Dr. Alex," I said, quickly wiping at my face, hoping he wouldn’t notice the redness in my eyes. God, the last thing I needed right now was for someone else to ask me what was wrong. "Emma," he greeted. “Long time no see.” The corner of his mouth tugged upward in an attempt at a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s been three years since the surgery.”I nodded stiffly, unsure what to say. Three years. Three years since Matthew’s heart became Sebastian’s. Three years since I begged Alex to tell me who received it, desperate to know where Matthew’s heart would go, who was going to keep it. Three years since I met Sebastian.“Yeah.” I muttered awkwardly after a while.“You came to me back then,” Alex continued, his tone gentler now, “aski
SEBASTIAN'S POV“Sebastian, I don’t want this,” Ava said, scrunching her nose at the tray of soup I’d just brought her. She shoved it away like it offended her.I sighed, already feeling my patience slipping. “What’s wrong with it now? You said you wanted soup.”“This isn’t right,” she snapped, tossing her head back against the pillow. “It’s too salty. And the bread? It’s dry. Stale, probably. I can’t eat this.”“Okay,” I said, trying to stay calm. “What do you want, Ava?”She made a big show of thinking, tapping her chin and staring up at the ceiling. I knew she already had something in mind, she just loved making me jump through hoops as always. “A fruit parfait,” she said finally. “But it has to be fresh. Like, with real berries. Not the frozen kind.”“Got it,” I muttered, already moving the tray away and bringing another flask closer.Ava had always been particular and picky about everything, but her demands had only grown more exhausting since she’d been admitted to the hospital.
EMMA'S POVThe air in the café felt colder the moment Sebastian walked close to my table.I spotted him from the corner of my eye, his shoulders tense, his brows furrowed. He didn't usually look like that, so dark, so closed off, but right now, his eyes were locked on me like I’d done something wrong. My laughter died in my throat, and I sat up straighter, my body stiffening on instinct. “Sebastian,” I said, trying to keep my voice light, even though I was very mad at him “I didn’t see you there.” His eyes flicked to Alex, and I swear I could feel the temperature drop. “Who’s this?” he asked, his tone cold. I swallowed, trying not to let his mood rattle me. “This is Alex. He’s… he’s a friend.” After our little discussion, I was sure we were way past doctor and patient.Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “A friend?” His gaze darted to Alex’s white coat, the tag on it. “Funny, you’ve never mentioned having a doctor friend before.” I felt my chest tighten, frustration growing within me. “I
EMMA'S POVTwo pink lines staring back at me from the test bar. The doctor’s words kept playing over and over in my head. "Congratulations, you're pregnant. About three weeks along."Oh. My. God. For someone with PCOS, this was HUGE. I mean, HUGE. It felt like I’d won the lottery... but instead of cash, I got a baby.I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked out of the clinic. I was already painting pictures of our future in my mind. Sebastian was holding our baby, his usually grave face softening as he held our child. A family of three. My family. What I'd always wanted.Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the woman in front of me until it was too late. My shoulder bumped into hers making her nearly fall, and I turned quickly, startled, to see a heavily pregnant woman glaring at me. “I’m so sorry,” I said immediately, panic rising in my chest. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you or…” The woman’s pretty face hardened. She rubbed her belly protectively, her expression shifting to disdain.
EMMA'S POVYou’ve got to be kidding me.Everything that had happened before? Straight-up nightmare material. I could’ve sworn my brain just short-circuited. How the hell did this even happen? Of all the people in the world, why her? Why now?I rubbed my eyes, hoping I was wrong, but no amount of blinking could make her disappear or look different. My stomach knotted in unease as I stared at her, mainly because my mind was starting to make up different scenarios. If that child in her belly wasn’t Sebastian’s, then whose was it? And why was she here, in our home? What if the child did belong to Sebastian, and that was why she was here?My heart hammered unevenly, and every beat sent another wave of pain to my head.Ava’s face barely twitched, but I knew she recognized me, the way her green eyes rolled showed that she remembered me before she broke the silence. “Is it you?” she asked, her voice had a hint of familiarity. Sebastian glanced between us, confused. “Wait, you two know eac
EMMA'S POVNo. Telling him would cause a lot, and I wasn't ready to handle any problems.I knew telling Sebastian about my pregnancy now would only throw fuel onto an already blazing fire. The timing was all wrong. I was only three weeks pregnant so I couldn't be sure. Besides, I stubbornly convinced myself that he’d notice me eventually. He’ll take the time to see how I feel or behave. Maybe then, when his attention wasn’t so divided and was only on me, I’d share my news. For now, though, I had to keep it to myself. The days with Ava in the house were agonizing; it was like living in hell. She was everywhere: in the kitchen and the living room.Everywhere I went, she was there, and it felt like she’d claimed the role of mistress of the house. Meanwhile, I was reduced to something unimportant, an extra. She made me feel like I was a burden to her and Sebastian, even though I was his wife.When Sebastian left for work every morning, I dreaded being alone with her. I liked it. It felt
EMMA'S POVAnger. He was angry but also seemed to be trying to calm himself.“It’s not mine,” Sebastian said, his voice low. I could see that he was telling the truth but I still couldn't accept that. He met my eyes, holding my gaze as if willing me to believe him. “Emma, that child she’s carrying… it isn’t mine. My relationship with Ava ended a long time ago. Whatever we had is in the past.” I knew that. But hearing it, feeling it... didn’t make it easier to swallow.I stared at him, searching his face for any sign of hesitation, any flicker of doubt. But there was none. His expression was calm, and for a moment, I felt the weight in my chest ease just slightly. “Then why,” I began, my voice cracking, “why are you so… involved with her? Why does she have to stay here, Sebastian?” I liked that he wanted to be a good person, but why did she have to be here? He could help her with some money.He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Because I owe her family,” he said quietly. “Ava
EMMA'S POVThe air in the café felt colder the moment Sebastian walked close to my table.I spotted him from the corner of my eye, his shoulders tense, his brows furrowed. He didn't usually look like that, so dark, so closed off, but right now, his eyes were locked on me like I’d done something wrong. My laughter died in my throat, and I sat up straighter, my body stiffening on instinct. “Sebastian,” I said, trying to keep my voice light, even though I was very mad at him “I didn’t see you there.” His eyes flicked to Alex, and I swear I could feel the temperature drop. “Who’s this?” he asked, his tone cold. I swallowed, trying not to let his mood rattle me. “This is Alex. He’s… he’s a friend.” After our little discussion, I was sure we were way past doctor and patient.Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “A friend?” His gaze darted to Alex’s white coat, the tag on it. “Funny, you’ve never mentioned having a doctor friend before.” I felt my chest tighten, frustration growing within me. “I
SEBASTIAN'S POV“Sebastian, I don’t want this,” Ava said, scrunching her nose at the tray of soup I’d just brought her. She shoved it away like it offended her.I sighed, already feeling my patience slipping. “What’s wrong with it now? You said you wanted soup.”“This isn’t right,” she snapped, tossing her head back against the pillow. “It’s too salty. And the bread? It’s dry. Stale, probably. I can’t eat this.”“Okay,” I said, trying to stay calm. “What do you want, Ava?”She made a big show of thinking, tapping her chin and staring up at the ceiling. I knew she already had something in mind, she just loved making me jump through hoops as always. “A fruit parfait,” she said finally. “But it has to be fresh. Like, with real berries. Not the frozen kind.”“Got it,” I muttered, already moving the tray away and bringing another flask closer.Ava had always been particular and picky about everything, but her demands had only grown more exhausting since she’d been admitted to the hospital.
EMMA'S POVI turned and saw Dr. Alex. Sebastian's lead surgeon, standing there. The sight of him pulled me back to a moment I had tried not to dwell on, his steady hands, his calm voice when I'd cried to him about finding who had Matthew's heart."Dr. Alex," I said, quickly wiping at my face, hoping he wouldn’t notice the redness in my eyes. God, the last thing I needed right now was for someone else to ask me what was wrong. "Emma," he greeted. “Long time no see.” The corner of his mouth tugged upward in an attempt at a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s been three years since the surgery.”I nodded stiffly, unsure what to say. Three years. Three years since Matthew’s heart became Sebastian’s. Three years since I begged Alex to tell me who received it, desperate to know where Matthew’s heart would go, who was going to keep it. Three years since I met Sebastian.“Yeah.” I muttered awkwardly after a while.“You came to me back then,” Alex continued, his tone gentler now, “aski
EMMA'S POVWhen I opened my eyes, it was like waking up from a coma. The lights were way too bright, and the beeping of some machine beside me made my head pound even worse. Everything felt sore, my arms, my legs, my belly, even my chest. What in the world happened to me? My vision was blurry as I looked down at my arm which was connected to an IV.I blinked a couple of times, trying to adjust, and then I saw him sitting there.Sebastian. He was right next to my hospital bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees like he’d been waiting for me to wake up. His face looked worried, but also... tired. He sat up straighter as soon as I moved, his voice soft. “Emma. You’re awake. Thank God. How are you feeling? Are you okay?” I didn’t answer him right away. I just stared at him, trying to process everything. How was I feeling? What kind of question was that? I felt awful, physically and... emotionally. But all I could focus on was the one thing that had been stuck in my head since
EMMA'S POV“Thank you for the tour. I enjoyed it.” I said lastly with a forced smile.I turned on my heel, ready to leave the room. My chest was tight, breathing seemed hard. My hands trembled at my sides, though I clenched them into fists, trying to stop the shaking. I had said my piece. I had stood my ground. I should be happy; I'd finally put her in her place.But I barely made it a few steps before I heard her voice.“Even if you’re pregnant with Sebastian’s child, so what?” I froze mid-step, her words stopping me in my tracks. What?Slowly, I turned back, my heart pounding in my chest. Ava was walking toward me, her steps hurried, her breathing heavy. Her facade of perfect composure was gone.“In the end, you’re nothing but a stand-in!” she shouted. Her eyes blazed with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. “You think being pregnant changes anything? You think it makes you important?” She stopped a few feet away from me, her chest heaving as she glared at me with disdain
EMMA'S POVWhat the hell? I blinked, my mind struggling to process what she’d just said. Ten million dollars. Divorce him. Leave.“What?” Did I seem cheap?“You heard me.” She placed the card on the coffee table between us, her manicured fingers lingering on it for just a moment before she withdrew. “I think it’s a fair offer. More than fair, actually. I'm sure you've never gotten this amount before so this should keep you afloat for a while.”My heart pounded, as I stared at the card, unable to look away. My hands clenched into fists in my lap, my nails digging into my palms.I hated Ava more than anything in this world.Every single thing she had done today was a part of her plan, taking me on a tour, explaining everything in the company. Ava didn’t just want me to feel out of place, she wanted me to crumble. What the employees had said, the way she and Sebastian bonded over riches, the glint and smirk she always had on when I was uncomfortable, she had planned everything.She had d
EMMA'S POVWe thought you were the CEO’s wife.I clenched my fists by my sides, willing myself to breathe evenly, to keep my face neutral. But Ava recovered quickly. “Oh,” she said with a soft laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Looks like there’s been a big misunderstanding. Sebastian and I are just old friends. With a beautiful wife like this, how could I possibly be his wife? I would even want a wife like this.” I caught the flash of a smug smile curling at the corners of her perfectly glossed lips. She didn’t even try to hide it. If anything, she seemed to enjoy it, being called Sebastian's wife. Her eyes sparkled with a kind of triumphant glee that made my skin crawl. She really was evil.How did Sebastian or anyone not see this? Maybe because I was on the receiving end.She clapped her hands together, getting the attention of everyone. “Alright, enough gossip. Let’s get back to it, everyone.” Her tone was light, almost playful, but there was an edge to it that ma
EMMA'S POVI looked at Sebastian, standing there so casually, as if nothing had happened. As if tossing out my gift was unimportant. “But, you didn’t even tell me,” I said, my voice low.Sebastian glanced at me, his expression blank, as though he didn’t understand why I was upset. “It’s just flowers, Emma,” he said with a shrug. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.” Wasn't it a big deal? Tears welled up in my eyes again and I hurriedly blinked them away, clenching my fists tightly by my side.Ava, of course, chose that moment to interject. She walked over to him, her movements slow as she placed one hand behind her back and placed the other hand on his shoulder. “Seb, it’s okay,” she said softly, like she was comforting him. “You can keep the lilies. I don’t mind being allergic. If it makes Emma happy, I’m willing to endure it. After all, I’m the one dependent on your kindness. Without the both of you, I don't know where I'd be right now.” I couldn’t believe her. The way she spoke, th
EMMA'S POVI was ready for the worst. Sex. Betrayal. The ultimate cliché!But nope. How ironic. There she was—Ava. Sitting like she owned the damn room, lounging on the edge of Sebastian’s office couch with her long legs stretched. When she saw me? Not even a flicker of guilt. And there was my husband, kneeling by her feet, his hands pressed against her ankles in a way that made my stomach churn. He was massaging her feet like she was fragile china.I froze. My grip on the doorknob tightened, the cold metal freezing my palm. They both looked up at me, but neither seemed startled. Ava gave me a slow, deliberate smile, one I'd become too familiar with. Sebastian, meanwhile, had the audacity to look … unbothered. This son of a…“Oops,” Ava said, her voice sweet, too sweet. She tilted her head, like she hadn’t noticed me standing there until just now. “Emma, hi. I hope we didn’t alarm you.” Her words were honeyed, but the tone? It was as if she was savoring every syllable. Mocking me