EMILY’S POVI step out of the office with my heart pounding. My mind is racing with everything that has just transpired. I can barely process the emotions inside me—anger, betrayal, exhaustion—until I hear a familiar voice call my name."Emily."I turn to see Sir Henry standing a few feet away. His usual stern expression is softened with something that looks almost like regret. Carlos' father is a proud man, always composed, but today, I can see pity in his eyes."Sir Henry," I say, forcing a polite smile despite the ache in my chest.He looks me over then sighs. "I had a feeling this would happen, but I didn’t want to believe it. Carlos... he has always been reckless, but I never thought he would be foolish enough to hurt you like this."His words strike something deep within me. I swallow hard, keeping my emotions in check. "Well, he did," I say, my voice steadier than I expected. "And now, we’re done."Sir Henry’s brows furrow. "Done?"I nod. "We’ve decided to divorce."For a momen
EMILY’S POVEverything looks perfect. I made chicken, garlic butter vegetables, mashed potatoes and other things I know Carlos will love. My hands can’t seem to stop trembling as I arrange the table. I smooth down the linen napkins for the third time, adjust the candles, and glance at the clock. Carlos’s flight landed two hours ago, and he should be walking through that door any minute now.I inhale deeply, trying my best to calm myself. Yesterday, when the doctor said the words, “You’re pregnant,” I’d sat frozen for a moment, blinking back tears of disbelief and joy. It must have happened during that night—the one time Carlos had let his guard down. The night he had been drunk. It was the first time we had sex.For a year, I’ve dreamed of moments like this. A family with Carlos. A real chance at love. Maybe...just maybe, this news will be the start of something beautiful between us. This marriage started as a contract but I hope the news of my pregnancy will make Carlos realize that
EMILY’S POVThe sunlight rays filter through the curtains as I stir awake. For a brief moment, everything feels right—perfect even. I feel content. In that moment, I’m blissfully unaware of everything else—but then I shift. The gentle warmth of Carlos' arm around me tightens as I stir, as if he doesn’t want to let go. The familiar scent of his skin fills my senses, and for a split second, I allow myself to enjoy the feeling. I’m warm and safe, nestled in Carlos’s arms. His breath is soft against my hair. His body radiates a heat I’ve come to crave more than I’d like to admit. I feel perfect in his arms. It’s almost like we were made for each other.This is what I’ve always wanted: to wake up next to him, to feel like I belong here. To be a perfect married couple. I want our mornings to be like this all the time.But as soon as the thought crosses my mind, I feel sad again and my chest tightens painfully. The joy isgone before it even has a chance to settle. He isn’t mine. Maybe he ne
EMILY’S POVThe kettle whistles on the stove as I sit across from my grandmother at her small kitchen table. I just had to see her. Her presence is the only thing that can calm me down in this moment. I’ve always found solace in this house—the way it smells, the way the sunlight filters through the lace curtains and the way her cute little snacks taste. But today, even this place can’t stop the sadness I feel.“Emily,” my grandmother says softly, setting a plate of cookies on the table. “You’ve been staring at the same spot for minutes now. What’s wrong, darling?”I force a smile, though it feels like my face might crack from the effort. “Nothing’s wrong, Nana. Just a lot on my mind, that’s all.”She tilts her head, studying me with those intense eyes of hers. “You’re not a good liar, sweetheart. Never have been. Now, tell me. What’s troubling you?”I take the cup of tea she pours for me and wrap my hands around it. For a moment, I’m tempted to tell her everything—to lay it all out an
EMILY’S POVThe clock on the wall ticks louder than usual this night. Each second feels like an eternity as I sit on the couch, staring at my phone. It’s late, much later than usual and Carlos hasn’t come home. My mind keeps circling back to the same thought. Lina.She’s back. She’s the reason he wants a divorce. They just be together. I’m sure of it.I can’t help but imagine two of them together, laughing and catching up on old times. I imagine how the spark must have ignited again when they first saw each other after years of being apart. Truly, men never forget their first love.I close my eyes, trying to forget about it. Still, all I can picture is two of them together – kissing, touching each other, whispering how much they love each other.The thought alone is like a knife twisting in my chest. I rub my arms, trying to shake the chill that has nothing to do with the temperature. He’s probably with her. Maybe they’re having dinner. Maybe he’s holding her the way he used to hold m
It’s late afternoon when I find myself sitting in my grandmother’s cozy living room again. Today is Carlos’ birthday and I’m sure he’ll be spending it with Lina. Where else will he spend it? definitely, not with me. "You've been coming here a lot lately," she says as she looks at me "Not that I don’t enjoy your company, but it’s unlike you. Has something happened?"For a moment, I pause. Trust my grandma to always see through me.I force a smile and shake my head. "Nothing’s happened, Grandma. I just miss being here with you."I wonder if she notices I’m lying. I don’t tell her about the nausea that disturbs me due to the pregnancy or the fact that I’ve barely eaten since yesterday. I don’t tell her how the mere thought of being alone in that cold, empty house feels unbearable right now.We settle into our game, and for a while, the world feels smaller, simpler—just me and her and a deck of cards. Being with her always makes me feel better."You’re terrible at this," she teases with
EMILY’S POVI rush back to my room with my heart pounding in my chest. The moment the door shuts behind me, I turn the lock, sealing myself away from him. Carlos's footsteps echo in the hallway as he follows, and within seconds, he’s on the other side of the door, knocking."Emily, open the door," he demands. His voice is filled with so much concern it makes my chest ache.I press my back against the wood. My hands shake as I struggle to calm my fast breathing. He can't take me to the hospital. He can't find out."Emily, what the hell is going on?" His voice hardens. "You were throwing up. You nearly collapsed. I need to take you to get checked."I swallow hard. I can't let him know. He can't find out that I'm pregnant.I think of an excuse.Think of a lie, Emily. Think of a lie.I wrack my head, trying to come up with something. My breathing gets heavier by the second."I just ate something bad," I call out, trying to sound casual, but my voice wavers. "I'll be fine after some rest."
EMILY’S POVI sit anxiously on the examination table. My heart is pounding against my ribs as I clutch my phone. Carlos had stepped out to pick up more of the prescribed medicine, leaving me with a small window of time. Without hesitation, I quickly text Helen.Emily: Come to the examination room. Now. Urgent.A few minutes later, Helen rushes in. Her expression is laced with concern. As soon as I see her, I exhale in relief and pull her into a tight hug."Okay, spill," she says, pulling back to look me over. "What’s the big fuss about?"I hesitate. The nerves are still twisting in my stomach. I bite my lip, knowing there’s no way around it. I have to tell her."Helen... I’m pregnant."Her eyes widen in shock before a squeal escapes her lips. She jumps up and down in excitement, grabbing my hands and squeezing them tightly. "Oh my god! Emily, that’s amazing! I can’t believe it!""Shhh!" I hiss, looking toward the door in panic. "Please, Helen, keep it down."She presses a hand over her
EMILY’S POVI step out of the office with my heart pounding. My mind is racing with everything that has just transpired. I can barely process the emotions inside me—anger, betrayal, exhaustion—until I hear a familiar voice call my name."Emily."I turn to see Sir Henry standing a few feet away. His usual stern expression is softened with something that looks almost like regret. Carlos' father is a proud man, always composed, but today, I can see pity in his eyes."Sir Henry," I say, forcing a polite smile despite the ache in my chest.He looks me over then sighs. "I had a feeling this would happen, but I didn’t want to believe it. Carlos... he has always been reckless, but I never thought he would be foolish enough to hurt you like this."His words strike something deep within me. I swallow hard, keeping my emotions in check. "Well, he did," I say, my voice steadier than I expected. "And now, we’re done."Sir Henry’s brows furrow. "Done?"I nod. "We’ve decided to divorce."For a momen
EMILY’S POVThe moment Carlos leaves, an unbearable silence settles in the room. Lina turns to me. her lips curl into a smirk that sends a shiver down my spine. There is something triumphant in her gaze, as if she has been waiting for this moment."You poor thing," she sighs, tilting her head as she looks at me. "I almost feel bad for you. Almost."I narrow my eyes at her "What are you talking about, Lina?"She steps closer, lowering her voice. "Carlos and I... we were meant to be together. You do know that, don't you?" Her words drip with false sympathy, and my stomach knots painfully. "If it weren’t for his family—your grandmother, to be precise—he would’ve never married you."My breath catches in my throat. "That’s a lie."She chuckles. "Is it? Let me enlighten you, Emily. Years ago, I was forced to leave Carlos. Not because he wanted me to go, but because his family demanded it. I was sick. Weak. And they thought I wasn’t good enough for him. They threatened me, threatened my fam
EMILY’S POVA message from Carlos comes just before noon. My phone vibrates on the countertop, and when I check, his name flashes on the screen.Carlos: Come to my office.There’s no greeting, no pleasantries. Just a direct command. A part of me should be irritated, but I’m not. Instead, I stare at the message, feeling a strange weight on my chest. This is it—the moment I’ve been waiting for. The moment where I finally get to set him free.I glance at the clock. 11:47 AM. Almost lunchtime. Before I leave, I want to do one last thing for him. I send him a message.Me: Have you eaten?The reply comes almost immediately.Carlos: No.Just like that, my decision is made. My fingers tighten around the phone, and I push away from the counter. The maids are already busy preparing lunch, but I stop them.“I’ll cook today.”They blink at me in surprise. “Miss, we can—”“I want to do it myself.”They hesitate, exchanging glances before nodding and stepping back. I take a deep breath and roll up
EMILY’S POVWhen I wake up the next morning, Carlos is nowhere to be found. Again. The cold emptiness of the apartment makes me sad.I sigh, rubbing my temples as I sit at the kitchen table. My fingers absently trace patterns on the wooden surface. My mind keeps drifting back to last night. Not just Carlos storming off ,but also Alexander—the man who, despite everything, had stepped in at the banquet and taken a hit for me.Carlos broke his nose. And now, I can’t help but wonder how he’s doing.I pull out my phone and call Bridget, my friend who was also at the banquet. It rings a few times before she answers.“Emily?” Her voice is laced with curiosity. “What’s up?”“Hey, Bridget. I know this is random, but do you know Alexander?”“Alexander Hamilton? The one your husband beat up last night. What went wrong?”I sigh “It’s a long story. Do you know how he’s doing?”“I heard he was taken to the hospital”My eyes widen in surprise. Poor guy.“Which hospital?” I ask.“I heard he’s at St.
EMILY’S POVI can’t believe Carlos acted like that at the ball. The moment we step into the house, the silence between us is thick and suffocating. Neither of us speaks a word. I don't even spare him a glance as I head straight to my room, shutting the door with more force than necessary.The next morning, I wake up with the events of last night still fresh in my mind. The frustration is still there, but there’s also something else—confusion. I don’t understand why Carlos acted that way, why he seemed so violent.Pushing aside my thoughts, I go through my usual morning routine, determined to act as if nothing happened.Breakfast is a quiet affair. The clinking of utensils against plates is the only sound filling the air. Carlos sits across from me, his expression unreadable as he eats. I refuse to look at him, focusing instead on my plate, even though my appetite is nearly nonexistent.Then, without a word, Carlos reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. He places it on the
EMILY’S POVCarlos hasn’t been home since he walked out the door. It’s been three days.Three days.No calls. No messages. Nothing from him.What do I expect anyway? Why am I so surprised? He’s with the love of his life.I look at myself in the mirror. Tonight, Carlos and I are supposed to attend a special banquet. It’s an important event for his company. Since he’s not around, I have to go alone.I’m dressed in a black evening dress that hugs my curves. There’s a high slit on my left, high enough to reach my thigh. I pair the dress with a pair of red heels. My jewelry sparkles against the lights and my make up is flawless.Even though I’m dying inside, it doesn’t mean I should look it. luckily, I’m not showing yet. Nobody will be able to tell I’m pregnant.After making sure I look perfect, I make my way to the car where my driver is waiting. In silence, he drives us to the location.The moment I step out of the car, the blinding flash of cameras explodes in my face. My fingers tighten
EMILY’S POVThe air between us is thick as we sit at the dining table. I barely touch my food. Carlos sits across from me. His eyes are filled with exhaustion.I prepared something light for him this morning, knowing alcohol always upsets his stomach. A bowl of oatmeal, a few slices of toast, and some fruit. Nothing greasy. Nothing heavy. He eats mechanically. His jaw is tight and his fingers grip the fork a little too hard.I take a deep breath. "Carlos, we need to talk about the divorce agreement."His hand freezes midair, the fork hovering just above his plate. He exhales sharply and sets it down, rubbing his temples like he already has a headache. "Emily, not now.""If not now, then when? We can’t just keep avoiding this."His jaw clenches. "I’m not avoiding it. These things take time.""I understand that, but we need to decide when we’re telling our families," I press, "My grandmother will ask questions. So will your family. We need to be prepared."He lets out a humorless chuckl
EMILY’S POVThe warmth surrounding me feels so familiar, so safe, that for a moment, I forget where I am. I blink my eyes open, only to find myself nestled in Carlos’s arms. His scent lingers around me. My heart clenches painfully as I realize how close we are. His breath fans over my forehead and his body is warm against mine. His strong arm is wrapped around my waist, holding me in place as if he never wants to let me go.I swallow hard and slowly tilt my head up, only to find him staring at me. There’s something in his gaze, something unreadable yet so tender that it takes my breath away. It reminds me of the past—of mornings when we’d wake up tangled together.How long has he been staring at me? and why is he?"Good morning," he murmurs. His voice is deep and husky from sleep. The sound wraps around me like silk. His voice alone sends shivers down my spine. It stirs up emotions I wish I could ignore.For a second, I allow myself to bask in the illusion that we’re still us, that we
EMILY’S POVThe car ride home is tense. It’s filled with the heavy scent of alcohol as Carlos sways beside me, his body radiating heat. His fingers brush against mine, tentative at first, but then he grips my hand as if clinging to something solid in his drunken haze.I sigh, gently pulling away, but he’s persistent.“Emily,” he mumbles. His head lolls to the side, landing heavily on my shoulder.I stiffen. “Carlos, sit up,” I murmur, nudging him, but he only groans in protest.I glance at his face. He looks flushed from the alcohol, and I can’t help but feel worried about him. He never drinks this much. Could it be because he had an argument with Lina? Or was it because of our last fight?When he leans in again, I don’t push him away this time. I let him rest against me, feeling his warmth, his presence. My heart clenches at the memory of better days, when this closeness wasn’t so complicated.By the time we arrive at the house, Carlos is barely able to stand. I drape his arm over my