Melissa thought she had found true love in the arms of Richard Hart, a powerful and charming CEO. Her joy upon discovering she’s pregnant quickly turns to heartbreak when she learns Richard is engaged to another woman. Betrayed and humiliated, Melissa decides to leave everything behind, starting a new life far away while keeping the existence of her child a secret from Richard. Three years later, Melissa is an independent and successful woman, determined to give her son Ryan the best life possible. But fate intervenes when an unexpected encounter with Richard threatens to uncover the secrets she has fought so hard to protect. Faced with overwhelming passion, intense confrontations, and painful truths, Melissa must decide: can she trust the man who once shattered her, or will she do whatever it takes to safeguard her son? An emotional journey of love, redemption, and new beginnings, where past choices shape the future in ways no one could have foreseen.
Lihat lebih banyakI stare at the two red lines on the white strip I hold between my fingers. A smile spreads across my face as a wave of euphoria rushes through me. I blink, happiness swelling within me, thinking of Richard and how thrilled he’ll be to learn that today, we’re making one of our biggest dreams come true.
I’m pregnant. Pregnant with the man I love, who loves me back. Pregnant with a child who, I’m certain, will be the most loved in the entire world.
Richard has always told me he wanted to be the father of my child. That he dreamed of us building a big, close-knit family together, with countless children running through our backyard. Of course, the idea was exciting, but this wasn’t something we had planned to happen so soon.
I’m still finishing college, a young woman alone in the world, an orphan. I have no choice but to study and graduate to survive in this enormous city. Even though Richard is wealthy, I don’t want to rely on that. I want to start my career without his name being so closely tied to mine — something earned entirely on my own.
Still, as I stare at the two lines, I can’t stop smiling, wide and full of joy. I can’t help but think this child is lucky to have such a loving father and a mother by their side — something I never had.
I stand up from the toilet and quickly hide the test strip in my skirt. Smoothing out the fabric, I leave and head straight to the sink. I calmly wash my hands when the door opens beside me.
A tall blonde woman walks in. Her upturned nose and sharp eyes exude arrogance as she looks me over, but she smiles and winks at me while pulling out a tube of red Dior lipstick to touch up her lips.
She’s stunning, I have to admit. Blonde, tall, with curves in all the right places. Her symmetrical face, perfectly groomed blonde brows, and polished demeanor make her the kind of woman I could never hope to compete with.
“Good morning,” I greet her calmly, ready to step aside and leave the restroom.
“Wait,” she says.
I freeze, turning on my heel to look at her.
“You’re Rich’s secretary, right?”
Rich. The nickname makes me want to wrinkle my nose in disgust. Who does she think she is, calling my man that?
“Yes. Can I help you?” I ask, trying to keep my tone polite.
“Of course.” She flashes a broad smile. “Announce me. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“And who should I announce, ma’am?” I swallow my irritation, forcing the word ma’am out.
“Sidney Galloway, his fiancée.” She sighs contentedly, turning to the mirror. “What a beautiful day.”
I blink a couple of times before turning and leaving the restroom with quick, determined steps. When I reach my desk, I take a few deep breaths, feeling the tremors in my fingers.
She must be joking. She has to know who I am and is just trying to provoke me.
No! Richard would never do something like this to me. He would never deceive me, humiliate me, or break my heart this way... he couldn’t.
The red button on the intercom starts flashing beside me, and I blink a few times, swallowing hard. When I pick up the receiver, I can’t seem to speak.
“Can you bring me the papers on your desk?” he asks casually.
“Yes, sir,” I murmur.
I don’t give him a chance to say anything else. I hang up, stand, and grab the small stack of papers just as Sidney walks in.
“Please, have a seat, ma’am,” I smile. “I’ll deliver these to Mr. Hart, and then I’ll let him know you’re here.”
She nods at me with a flirtatious smile, sits down, crosses her legs, and starts scrolling on her phone. I open the door to his office and walk in, placing the papers carefully on his desk without saying a word.
Richard looks up from his computer and stares at me.
“Do you need anything else, sir?” I ask, noticing the crease forming on his forehead.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, his tone more concerned now, as his hands grab my waist and pull me to stand between his legs.
His grip is firm as he looks at me. “Your fiancée is outside,” I say.
I see the small smile on Richard’s face fade, his grip tightening slightly as his gaze hardens.
“I can explain,” he says, standing up.
“There’s nothing to explain, Mr. Hart,” I reply calmly. “I’m just your secretary.” I swallow hard and take a step back, freeing myself from his grasp.
“Melissa,” he calls after me, but I step back again, avoiding his hands.
“Should I let her in, sir?”
“No, not until we talk,” he says, stepping closer to me.
“Talk about what, sir?” I turn to face him, tears welling in my eyes. “About how our relationship was a lie?” His eyebrows lift. “About how you deceived me? About how you’re engaged to another woman who’s the complete opposite of me?”
I look at him, utterly heartbroken. It’s almost as if I can hear something inside me shattering into a million pieces. I can’t bring myself to tell him about the baby — I’m too afraid of how he’ll react.
No. He can’t know. He mustn’t... what if he asks me to terminate the pregnancy? Or worse, what if he demands custody of the baby?
No, that can’t happen... I can’t tell him.
“You owe me no explanations. I’ll let your fiancée in now,” I say finally, turning away and leaving the room quickly before he can say another word. “Ms. Sidney? You can go in. Mr. Hart is ready for you.”
She beams, standing up and smoothing her hair and adjusting her dress before strutting toward his office, her confidence practically radiating from her. I sigh, sinking into my chair and taking a deep breath.
I place a hand over my stomach and close my eyes, breathing deeply.
What are we going to do, baby?
"Good morning," I smiled. "You don’t have to announce me."I walked right past her and opened the office door. Richard was there, of course, sitting in his usual chair, papers scattered across the desk, and Melissa by his side, as if nothing had happened. As if she had the right to sit there next to him, as if the past didn’t exist."Sidney..." Richard said, surprised to see me but trying to hide it. He always used that calm tone when he wanted to conceal discomfort. He knew what I was capable of, so he never challenged me directly.Melissa, on the other hand, looked at me with that inquisitive gaze. The kind of look that tried to hide the tension, but to me, it was like a blank slate waiting to be filled. I took advantage of that."Hello, Richard. Hi, Melissa," I said with a softness that hid all the venom I was swallowing.She forced a smile, probably trying to maintain politeness, but I could see the discomfort in her hands, which trembled slightly as she adjusted her chair. She kn
SIDNEY'S POVThe hatred burned inside me, spreading like an insatiable flame. I could feel the heat on my cheeks, the anger consuming me as I left Richard’s apartment, slamming the door of my car with enough force to have shattered it. My heart was racing, but it wasn’t just anger that controlled me — it was a sense of revenge waiting to be carried out."What the hell!" I screamed into the empty street, pounding the steering wheel in fury. "That woman... that snake!"Melissa had come back into my life, and not only that — she was slithering her way back into Richard's life. I knew she wouldn’t give up so easily, but the truth was, I couldn’t let her destroy everything I’d built. Everything Richard and I had. I wouldn’t allow her to be the only one to get what she wanted.I took a deep breath, trying to control the rage that threatened to consume me. I still had control of the situation. I always would. Richard didn’t love me yet, but he would learn to. The time we spent together, our r
RICHARD'S POVLast night, after an amazing evening with Ryan, it was inevitable that the two of them would have to stay over. I had to insist a lot for it to happen, and after much persistence, she finally gave in.I didn’t sleep all night. I kept waiting for her to need me, for Ryan to need me, for either of them to call me, and even though it didn’t happen, I still felt even more satisfied.I dragged myself out of bed, a little tired from the restless night, but still feeling so happy and fulfilled that it felt like I had slept the entire night.My phone alarm went off the exact moment I finished buttoning my shirt. I turned it off, grabbing my phone and my headphones. It was five in the morning, and I vividly remembered how Melissa would always wrap herself up in the blankets when I woke up to train.Seeing the toy Ryan had brought lying on the living room floor, along with Melissa’s and Ryan’s jackets neatly folded on the couch, made my heart warm. A smile spread across my face be
Ryan hesitated for a moment, perhaps not fully understanding what was happening, but the connection was instant. I could see it in his eyes, small, curious, and cautious. He stretched out his hand toward Richard, not knowing why he was doing it, but seeming to follow some kind of instinct that I couldn’t control.Richard extended his hand carefully, as if afraid to break something delicate between them. Then, with a soft touch, they greeted each other, Ryan’s tiny finger brushing against the tip of Richard’s finger.“Are you a friend?” My son asked, his voice sweet and childlike.Richard looked at me with a furrowed brow. “He still can’t form complete sentences.”I laughed. “He’s only two.”Richard nodded, clearing his throat as he looked back at our son. Nervousness spread in my chest.The connection was immediate. Richard’s smile widened the moment Ryan took a step toward him, though his expression was filled with emotions I couldn’t quite
Hours had passed since I left the office, and the thought that he would finally meet Ryan still left me with a knot in my stomach. I knew he was eager, and despite all the anger I felt toward him, part of me was... strangely nervous. Nervous, not because of him, but because of what would happen next.After I got home, I talked to Eloy and Brittany. We decided together — since I asked for both of their opinions — that it was better to rip the Band-Aid off all at once. It would avoid the stress and pain we would face.Moreover, I knew the moment wouldn't be easy for any of us. Ryan... Ryan was just a child. He didn’t deserve the complications of the adult world. He didn’t deserve to be dragged into the mess between Richard and me. But somehow, he was already caught in it. The truth always comes out in one way or another. Deep down, I knew I would have to face it, sooner or later.Looking at myself in the mirror, I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I was h
Richard's POV"I don't trust a single word that just came out of your mouth," she says, making my heart ache.Melissa is standing in front of me, the most exceptionally beautiful woman in the world. After all these years, having her so close and not being able to touch her is still the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure.The first time I saw little Ryan, I knew immediately that he was mine. All night long, I tossed and turned, trying to make sense of everything, trying to understand how and why we’d reached a point where she felt the need to hide a child from me.She never let me explain my situation, but after all this time — and after finding out she kept a child from me — I guess that’s the least important thing between us now. And yet, even after deciding last night that I was going to hate her...Hearing everything she said made me feel like driving a knife into my own chest. I wanted to punch myself, scream at myself to have more sensitivity. All she ever wanted was to protect
I spotted Richard's car a few blocks away as I drove out of my building. I adjusted Ryan’s little bear hat, pulling it snug over his dark hair — an undeniable trait inherited from his father — to shield him from the cold air-conditioned breeze.The day had started chilly, which delayed me a little longer than usual as I helped the nanny pack a bag with everything Ryan might need. I considered myself a prepared mom, and I had to admit I took some pride in that.Ryan was still groggy. It always took him a while to fully wake up, and his puffy little face rested against my chest. His tiny arms clumsily wrapped around me as his sleepy eyes blinked slowly.“Mommy, where are you going?” he asked, his small, raspy voice melting my heart.I smiled. Ryan hadn’t yet learned how to ask, “Where are we going?” so instead, he had mastered the question, “Where are you going?” which worked as a catch-all.“We’re going to the doctor, sweetheart,” I explained.“Doctor?” His question came out a little m
“We’re doing the test today, Melissa.”I stood there in shock, blinking once, then twice, trying to process his words. I hadn’t expected him to decide this now, not like this. He was here, the words spilling effortlessly from his lips... as if — “What?” I blinked again, startled. “No, we’re not.” “Yes, we are. I can’t wait any longer,” he said firmly. “Rich,” Brittany chimed in, waving slightly in his direction. “Mel, I’m going to help Eloy in the bathroom,” she added. I nodded as she left. As much as I understood her position, I wanted to yell "traitor" at the top of my lungs as my best friend abandoned me to deal with this alone. “I want to be part of my son’s life,” he finally said. “How can you be so sure he’s your son? He might not be.” I shrugged. “You could be deluding yourself. I know you are.” I paused. “Is it really so hard to accept that I’m just some damn traitor?” The words spilled out before I could stop them, and I regretted them almost immediately. I hadn
“I feel like he’s mine, Melissa,” Richard continues, his voice lower now but carrying a weight that makes me want to disappear. His fingers tighten around my waist, and I feel his body so close to mine, the heat of his presence enveloping me in a way I can’t control. “If he’s not my son… then who is the man?” I swallow hard, my heart racing, but I try not to show the whirlwind of emotions overtaking me. The thought of revealing anything more about Ryan’s paternity makes me feel like I’m about to crumble. “You don’t need to know who he is,” I say softly, almost pleading. “Please, Richard, it doesn’t matter anymore. Ryan is mine. Only mine.” “But I am his father, Melissa. I know it,” he says, refusing to back down. “I’ll find out the truth, one way or another.” I try to pull away from his grip, but he’s unyielding. His eyes won’t let me escape. I can feel the weight of his words, the pressure of the doubt beginning to erode everything I’ve tried to protect. He won’t give up so easil
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