The moment I set foot inside the mall, a sense of unease gripped me. My pulse quickened as I scanned the bustling crowd, an inexplicable feeling that somethingāor someoneāIād rather avoid was just around the corner. Brushing off the feeling, I reminded myself of my mission: buy some dresses. My wardrobe had suffered after the last purge when I realized Alex bought those dresses for her. The nerve of himāgifting me his mistressās rejected outfits as if they were symbols of love. Iād burned every last one, and today, I intended to replace them.As I wandered through the Western wear section, my fingers grazed a sleek, emerald dress. A small smile formed on my lips, thinking how satisfying it would feel to treat myself after months of pouring myself into the Royals project. Just as I was about to pull the dress from the rack, a familiar voice cut through the air, freezing me in place.āWell, well, if it isnāt Mila,ā the voice purred, dripping with false sweetness more likely in moking t
I blinked, my cheek throbbing as my vision cleared. Standing in front of me, his face twisted with rage, was Alex. He looked like a stranger, nothing like the man Iād once thought I loved. Beside him stood Lily, eyes wide and hands covering her mouth in a theatrical display of innocence.āAlex?ā I managed, voice low but steady despite the burning pain. I refused to show weaknessānot in front of him, and certainly not in front of her.āWho do you think you are, Mila?ā he spat, his eyes blazing with anger. āHarassing Lily like thatāhave you lost all decency?āLily stepped closer to him, clutching his arm as if she were afraid, her voice soft and trembling. āAlex, pleaseā¦ donāt be too harsh on her,ā she murmured, her eyes flicking over to me with a barely concealed smirk. āIām sure she justā¦ misunderstands the situation.āMisunderstands. That word echoed in my mind, thick with irony and the memories of a thousand twisted lies. I clenched my fists, feeling the fire building in my chest.ā
āThe one from the mall, Mila! The one where Alex slapped you in front of everyone! Itās gone viral, like, everywhere! Itās all over social media. People are posting it left and right. I canāt believe it!ā Sallyās voice was a mix of anger and disbelief. āWhat the hell happened? Why didnāt you tell me? Are you alright?āI froze, the breath catching in my throat. Viral? The thought of my humiliation being broadcasted to the world, out of my control, made my skin crawl. This canāt be real.I squeezed my phone tighter, trying to steady my breath. My mind was still racing, trying to piece everything together. Alex had always had a way of controlling the narrative, but this timeā¦ this time he had crossed a line.āIām fine,ā I lied, forcing calmness into my voice. āIām just heading home now. Iāll explain everything later.āBut I was too numb to take in her concern. All I could think of was how my world had just exploded in the worst way possible. The slap, the video, my privacy shatteredā¦ I c
I hesitated, eyeing the screen as the unknown number flashed. The last thing I needed was someone else trying to drag me back into todayās mess. Still, something in meā desperation for any distractionāor maybe it was the faint hope that someone, anyone, might actually have something helpful to say urged me to answer.With a sigh, I pressed "Answer" and lifted the phone to my ear.āHello?ā I said, trying to keep my voice steady.A pause, then a deep voice, smooth yet unsettling, came through. āMila. Iāve been waiting to talk to you.āMy grip tightened on the phone, a chill running down my spine. There was something familiar about the voice, though I couldnāt place it. No name, no explanationājust a tone filled with a strange confidence, like he already knew everything.āWho is this?ā I demanded, my words sharper now.āYouāll find out soon enough,ā he replied, his tone calm and almost teasing. āMeet me tomorrow. Iāll send you the location.āBefore I could respond, the line went dead, l
I barely made it to the sink before I started vomiting, my body heaving, all that delicious food suddenly working against me. When I straightened, I felt dizzy, my head spinning as if Iād just stepped off a roller coaster. My hands were cold, and a strange exhaustion washed over me, settling deep in my bones. Sally was right outside the door, her concern quickly turning to worry. āMila, are you okay? You look so pale. Do you need water or something?ā I tried to reassure her, forcing a shaky smile. āIām fine. Mustāve been a long day and maybeā¦maybe I ate too fast.ā But as I walked back to the living room, a few things lingeredā the sudden nausea, the dizziness, a lingering tiredness I couldnāt shake. I brushed it off, chalking it up to stress and fatigue. Yet something gnawed at the back of my mind, as if my body was trying to tell me something just beyond my understanding. But for now, I ignored it, focusing instead on cleaning up and carrying on, pretending that everything was perf
The doctor looked at us, her expression soft but unyielding. āI understand your surprise, but these results are accurate. Sometimes, diagnoses change. Bodies change. And from what weāre seeing here, youāre in the very early stages.ā Sally was the first to speak up, her voice a little shaky. "Can weā¦ can we see the report?" The doctor handed us the report, and we both scanned it, even though it may as well have been written in a different language. It was undeniable; every line pointed to one thing: I was, somehow, actually pregnant. Still, I couldnāt believe it. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I shot Sally a look, and she nodded, as if reading my mind. āThank you, Doctor, but I think weāll get a second opinion.ā The doctor nodded, still patient. āOf course, Mila. If you need any further assistance, donāt hesitate to reach out.ā We barely made it out the door before Sally pulled me aside. āMila, we need to check this again. Letās go to another hospital. Mayb
After a long moment of silence, I made up my mind. I couldnāt ignore this anymoreāwhoever had been reaching out to me clearly had something important to say. I looked at Sally, determination set in my eyes. āI think I need to go,ā I said quietly. Sallyās face immediately filled with worry, but she didnāt argue. Instead, she nodded firmly. āThen Iām coming with you. Youāre not going anywhere alone, Mila, especially not inā¦ well, this situation.ā A small smile tugged at my lips. āThank you, Sally. I donāt think Iād want to face this on my own anyway.ā I reached down, my hand unconsciously resting on my stomach. There was a strange warmth there, a feeling that almost felt protective, like my body was somehow reminding me that I wasnāt truly alone. My heart softened, and I knew then that I had to be carefulānot just for myself, but for the tiny life inside me too. After gathering a few things, we headed out, the drive long and winding as we left the familiarity of the city behind. Sall
I stood there, my mind spinning as he continued. "Mila, the reason I asked you to come here is because you deserve to know the truth about what happened to youāespecially about that test, the one where they told you that you couldnāt conceive. It was all a lie, Mila. Those results were faked, part of a plan to make you believe something that was never true."I felt like I was in a fog. "What are you saying? That someone lied to me about my own test results?"āYes,ā he said gently. āSomeone close to you made sure those results said you couldnāt have children. They knew that Alex desperately wanted a family, and they used that against him.āMy heart sank, a sick feeling building inside me. āBut who would go that far? Why?āHe looked at me, his eyes filled with something like regret. āLily,ā he said finally. āShe was behind it, but she didnāt work alone. She had help from someone inside Alexās circle, someone with the power to access your medical records and change them.āThe pieces bega
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š© Alex glared at Arine, his eyes blazing with fury as he yanked his hand free from Arineās iron grip. āThis is a personal matter,āhe growled, his voice sharp and accusatory. āYou have no right to interfere.ā I instinctively drew back, my fingers brushing against the fabric over my stomach, seeking some sense of calm. But Arine didnāt budge an inch. His gaze was cold and unyielding, as if Alexās rage didnāt even register. āAnything involving Mila is my concern,ā Arine said coolly, his words measured but laced with a quiet authority that made even me pause. Alexās eyes narrowed, darting from me to Arine and back again. āConcern?ā he sneered, his voice tinged with suspicion. āAnd who exactly are you?ā he demanded, his tone dripping with disdain. āWhat gives you the right to involve yourself in this?ā I could feel the tension spike in the air, thick and suffocating. I glanced at Arine, unsure of what he would say, but there was no hesitation in him. āWho am I?ā Ari
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as I lay resting on the hospital bed. Sally sat nearby, busy typing away on her laptop, her focus unwavering. Arine had left a while ago, needing to attend a meeting. He had promised to be back in an hour or two despite my protests. āDonāt stress yourself out for me,ā Iād said.Heād refused, his tone firm. āIāll be back soon. Rest.ā Then he was gone, leaving me with Sally, who, as usual, balanced everything effortlessly. It had been nearly half an hour when the calm was shattered by a commotion outside. A womanās shrill voice pierced through the silence, shouting at someoneālikely a staff member. The tone struck a strange chord within me, so familiar that it made my stomach churn. But I brushed the thought aside, chalking it up to exhaustion.Moments later, a deep, booming man's voice echoed through the hallway, scolding someone viciously.His words were cruel, demanding explanations for what he called their āinco
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©When my eyes fluttered open, I was greeted by the blinding white of the hospital ceiling. A dull ache pulsed in my head as I struggled to recall how I ended up here. The last thing I remembered was the sharp pain and dizziness that had overwhelmed me back at home. Everything after that was a blur.Turning my head slightly, I spotted Sally slumped over the edge of my bed, her head resting on her folded arms. Her soft breathing was the only sound in the quiet room. A faint smile tugged at my lips. She looked so serene, almost like a child.I didnāt want to wake her. Knowing Sally, sheād worked herself to the bone worrying about me and ensuring I was safe.She mustāve been exhausted from her work and looking after me.I placed a gentle hand over my belly, holding my breath as I focused. Relief washed over me when I felt a faint flutter, a reassurance that my baby was okay. āThank goodness,ā I whispered, closing my eyes briefly in gratitude.The sound of the door opening
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©I curled up on the couch, aimlessly flicking through channels,hoping to find somethingāanythingāthat could distract me. A random show played on the screen, but I wasnāt really watching. The laughter track, the vibrant colors on the screenānone of it could lighten the heaviness in my chest.My mind refused to cooperate, dragging me back to memories Iād rather not revisit. Memories of him. Of Alex.I never thought weād end up like thisābroken and distant. There was a time when Alex loved me like I was his whole world. He had been my rock, my shield, my everything. It felt impossible to reconcile that version of him with the man who barged into my office today, spewing accusations without a shred of doubt.My thoughts wandered to a moment etched deeply in my heart. It had been at one of those high-profile social events he insisted I accompany him to, despite my protests. I never liked being in the spotlight, but Alex was always by my side, making sure I felt safe.That
š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© I sat at my desk, meticulously reviewing the project details before attaching the finalized drafts to an email. Arineās PA had requested these, and I wanted everything to be perfect. The sooner the contract-signing process was complete, the sooner I could focus on the actual concept. After hitting send, I leaned back, letting out a small sigh of relief. One task down. I shifted my attention to my inbox, scrolling through the new emails. Most were routine updates, but one caught my attention, making me pause. Before I could open it, the door to my office flew open with a loud bang, startling me. I looked up, and there he wasāAlex.His broad frame filled the doorway, his face contorted with fury. His stormy eyes locked onto mine. āHow dare you, Mila?ā he shouted, his voice echoing through the room. āHow dare you try to harm my child?ā I blinked, utterly baffled. āWhat the hell are you talking about?ā I asked, annoyed at his sudden intrusion. āAnd lower your voic
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¼š As I forced myself to tear my gaze away from Arineās intense gaze.I straightened my shoulders and walked into the building. His cryptic words still buzzed in my head, but I shoved them aside, focusing on the work awaiting me. But today, something felt off.The moment I stepped inside, the energy around me shifted. Colleagues who usually greeted me warmly were whispering amongst themselves, their eyes flickering in my direction before quickly looking away. The tension was palpable, and I could feel their stares burning into my back as I walked past.Unease prickled at me. What was going on? Why did it feel like Iād suddenly become the center of everyoneās attention? Why was everyone acting so strange?I walked briskly, my heels clicking against the tiled floor as I ignored the murmurs and headed straight for my office. If there was something to be said, they could say it to my face.When I opened my office door,I froze. The reason for the gossip became clear.Sittin
I was completely absorbed in my phone, reviewing the designs I had worked on tirelessly yesterday in the office. Hours of tweaking and perfecting had gone into these samples, but I still felt like they werenāt quite right. The lines blurred together as I analyzed every detail, trying to fix the drawbacks that kept nagging at me.The car jerked to a stop at a red light, and Arineās voice pulled me out of my thoughts.āAre those designs for the project we discussed?ā he asked, glancing at my screen.I nodded, holding up the phone so he could get a better look. āYeah. Just some samples. What do you think?āLeaning closer, he studied the designs with a focus that surprised me. After a moment, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.āAs expectedāyouāve always been one of the best at this.āI frowned, his words catching me off guard. āWhat do you mean, āalwaysā?āHis smile faltered for a second before he casually replied,āI meant your designs. Iāve seen some of your previous work on
As Sally and I stepped out of the car and approached the front porch, we saw Arine waiting, leaning casually against his car with his arms crossed. His sharp gaze immediately softened as we walked toward him, though his expression remained serious.āYouāre finally here,ā he began,pushing off the car. āWe need to start planning how to expose Lily. Her baby shower is next week, and itās the perfect opportunity to settle the score for what they did to youāslapping you in public and posting it online for humiliation. Let them have a taste of their own medicine.āHis words struck a chord. The idea of exposing Lily in front of everyone at her grand celebration felt like poetic justice. I nodded thoughtfully, the wheels in my mind already turning.Inside, the three of us sat around the living room table,Sally grabbed a notepad and began jotting down ideas.As Ideas were thrown around, but nothing concrete emerged. Finally, Arine leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.āWe need so
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¼š After dinner, I lay on my bed, scrolling through countless websites about pregnancy. Each article and forum seemed to offer endless adviceāwhat to eat, what to avoid, exercises, mental health tips how to care for myself, and ultimately, how to ensure my babyās well-beingābut the sheer amount of information was overwhelming. Still, I couldnāt stop reading.This journey was unexpected, but I wanted to embrace it wholeheartedly. I owed it to my child to be the best version of myself, despite everything.Page after page of advice filled my screen, but the deeper I dove, the more overwhelming it became. I tried to focus, but the flood of information left me mentally drained.This was too much to take in at once.I closed the laptop with a sigh, resting my hand on my stomach.It was clear that I needed a doctor to guide me through this. No amount of internet searching could replace professional advice.The next morning came quickly.I got ready quickly, wanting to be done wi