Chapter 1

Andrea's pov.

The pen fell from my hands again. 

" Just sign the goddamn papers, would you? " Mother-in-law's voice dripped with venom.

" She can't even hold on to a pen, it's not surprising you couldn't hold your husband's heart, too. " Anna hissed.

    

" I...I can't. " I stammered.

The hate and disgust on their faces was palpable, more tears welled in my eyes.

" For the love of God! is that the only thing you can do Andera, cry? Yuck, look at your face; it's covered in snort; you're so disgusting. We don't want you as a part of our family anymore; so just get this divorce over with!" Imogen thundered. 

 I love Thane, and this family is all I have, where would I go from here?

  Thane walked back into the living room, and I got on my knees to beg him some more.

" Thane, please don't do this to us. I love you, Thane. I don't have a life outside the one you've given me. Thane please, I'll do anything you want "  

    The tears flowed from my eyes in torrents while I pleaded on bended knees.

Thanes eyes narrowed at me. 

" You can keep your useless love to yourself, Andera; it's done me no good. " He spat.

  " No Thane, I won't. Thane I......" 

 The words were lost on my lips as his hands flew to my hair and he pulled it roughly. His grip was so tight, I was sure to lose some strands. 

My teary eyes met his scornful stare; Thane's gray eyes were filled with a burning hatred. Not to be surprised though, he's never looked at me with anything but that in our two years of marriage. 

  " Andrea, you should be lucky we're doing this the easy way. You preyed on my late father's weakness and forced your way into my life you cunning thief." He hissed

 " No, I swear, Thane, I didn't steal your family heirloom. " 

" Lair. " Imogen cut me.   

" It was found in your bag, Andera. " 

They were accusing me wrongly; I didn't steal anything. I'm not foolish enough to jeopardize my stand in this family, even though Thane didn't give me any money for my upkeep, I would never steal. Pa Eugene raised me better than that.

" if you could just check the security footage you'd find the real culprit. "

 I tried to convince Thane while his fingers still held their tight grip on my hair, staring daggers at me from those gray orbs

" Andrea you disgusting b!tch! Now you're trying to accuse one of us? Just admit to your crimes and we won't turn you over to the police. " Anna, the youngest spat.

" Oh Andrea, we won't put you in jail because of the blind love my husband had for you but don't test us. Sign the divorce papers and leave our family! Heaven's forbid my son would stay married to a thief! Just imagine if this gets on the News. The wife of the renowned CEO of Renihardt's Empire steals a family heirloom worth millions; that would be terrible; imagine all the setbacks that could cause us! " 

Mother's words were enough to snap the last thread of Thane's patience. He had always been rough and aggressive in a way I found attractive, well, until now.

His fingers dugged deeper and i yelped. I cried bitterly, not because of the ache in my scalp, but because of the way I was being treated by Thane; the man I loved. 

 He pushed me forcefully towards the center table, I fell on the floor. The fall sent a sharp pain coursing through me, but it was nowhere close to the damage done to my heart. If only his father hadn't died a month ago, we wouldn't be here.  

 " You have ten seconds to sign these papers, Andrea. Ten seconds till I do my worst!" He seethed. 

  My eyes burned. I struggled to hold myself together. I always knew Thane never really loved me, but this level of hatred was something I wasn't expecting, he doesn't trust me, and all I've done is give him the entirety of myself!

I held the pen again, my grip tighter this time; even if I had no one to go to, it was better than jail, and so I signed my divorce papers. Dropping the pen, I looked up at Thane. The man I dreamed about whenever I slept. The only man I let into my heart, the man who took my innocence. 

" Leave. " He said quietly as he looked away from me.

" We've packed your things already. " Anna announced happily. I didn't break my gaze from Thane, now my ex-husband.

" You'll be happy, right? Now that I'm gone. " My voice quivered. 

" Yes, Andera, I feel like a burden has been taken away from me. " He answers dryly. 

Picking up my bags, I cast one last look at the four of them, the only family I've had for fourteen years. They had never seen me as family, and painful, my marriage to Thane didn't make me one either.

 The emergency shelter is far from Thane's mansion, thirty minutes of walking has me weak and tired. My stomach started to churn. Barely three steps later, I fall to my knees and throw up, not before I see people hurrying towards me. 

Next thing I know, I'm waking up to a slow beeping sound by my side. It's so bright in here. 

" Where am I? " I asked weakly 

A woman dressed in an immaculate white gown walks to me, a big smile on her face.

" You're in the hospital; you passed out, ma'am. " 

" Hospital?" 

"Yes, ma'am, congratulations, you're four weeks pregnant. " 

I'm Pregnant! There's a baby inside me. Thane's baby.

That's all I can think about when I walk out of the hospital with nothing but a box of old clothes.

Pregnant, with no home, no family, and no money but whatever I have to do to survive, I will for the sake of this child I'm already starting to love.

" Miss, please wait up. " Someone calls. I turn around to see a man in a black suit running towards me.

" Miss, there's someone who wants to see you. " He points to the other side of the road. Another man steps out from a black Bugatti.

The moment our eyes meet, he inhales loudly and points at me. 

" My child. Andera. "