Vienna finally walked out of her ex’s shadow. She met Warren, fell in love, and married him in a flash. Until his “no-blood-relation” stepsister moved in, stirring drama, planting doubts, making Vienna question if there was something forbidden between them. Dealing with the stepsister already drained her. Then came the twist—The heart beating in Warren’s chest once belonged to her ex. The misunderstanding ran deep. They both thought they were just each other’s "replacement."Divorce. Separation. Until the truth surfaced. And so did a surprise pregnancy test. Warren stared at the report, tears falling. This time—he’s not letting Vienna go again.
View MoreVienna’s POV
"Madame," the doctor said with a knowing smile, slipping the report into my hands, "this is something your husband deserves to hear from you first."
I took the paper with trembling hands and murmured a quick thank you. Walking out of the examination room, I couldn’t wait to tell my husband Warren that we were having a baby.
The man who rebuilt my world—without even knowing it was broken. He never asked about my past.
And I never told him I once lost someone I thought I could never live without.But somehow, with him… I started breathing again. I wasn't about to let the past drag me down. The future was what mattered now.
I was ecstatic on my way home that I barely noticed when I bumped into someone in the hallway.
"Oops, sorry!" I exclaimed, looking up into a familiar face.
"Miss Vienna," his voice barked, surprised and slightly annoyed.
"Dr. Smith!"
As his stern eyes studied me, the memories rushed in like a wave crashing over me. I hadn’t seen him in almost one year—long enough, I hoped, to bury the past.
He frowned. "Not again. I thought you’d let this go. I’ve told you before, we can’t disclose anything about our organ recipients. It’s confidential."
My lips parted, stunned. He thought I was here for that again.
I raised my hand, flashing the ring with a proper smile, "I think you misunderstood, Dr. Smith. I’m not here for information about Daniel. I’m married now… and pregnant. I came for a check-up."
His face softened immediately, his frown melting into awkwardness. "Ah. Well then—congratulations, truly. I didn’t realize…"
I nodded politely. "It was about time I moved on," I said with a small smile.
"I’m glad," Dr. Smith smiled back.
Daniel wasn’t just my ex; he had been everything to me.
We grew up together as orphans, finding in each other the kind of family we’d both yearned for.
But when the only person who loved me and protected me was gone, with his heart donated to someone in need, something inside me twisted.
I couldn't let it go. At that moment, I could only wonder where Daniel's heart was now, beating in the chest of a stranger?
Because of my deep longing for Daniel, I pestered Dr. Smith for over a year, hoping he would tell me something about Daniel's recipient.
That was the darkest moment of my life, and Dr. Smith also suffered a lot because of my irrational behaviour.
It wasn't until Warren came along that he guided me out of that endless darkness with his tenderness and love.
My background was nothing like Warren’s. I had no parents, no family to turn to.
Warren, on the other hand, came from money. His family ran a successful hotel empire. His mother passed away when he was young, leaving him with a stepmother who never quite fit the role.
Warren once mentioned that every time he saw me, his heart would race, a feeling that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Now, with his child growing inside me, everything felt like a movie, as if life had wrapped itself up in the most perfect, cinematic way.
But just as I was lost in my thoughts about the future, a sharp cry pulled me back to reality.
"Help! I need help here!"
I turned toward the ER and froze.
Warren?
He came barreling through the entrance, carrying a woman in his arms. Her pants were soaked in blood. My stomach turned.
What was he doing here? He’d had an important investor meeting this morning—he was supposed to be across town. And now he was here, carrying a woman bleeding from her lower body into the emergency room.
I stepped closer, as if in slow-motion, heart hammering. Then, I heard the whispers float through the nurses’ station:
"Miscarriage. The bleeding won’t stop."
"She didn’t even know she was pregnant."
"Too rough… probably sex."
My breath caught.
"It can’t be," I whispered. My mind started racing.
Warren had been coming home late for months now. Long calls after dinner, sometimes disappearing to "work" late into the night.
Last month, that sudden week-long trip to Switzerland—he said his stepsister Desiree had planned a ski getaway without asking, and he couldn’t say no. She was willful. Spoiled. She always seemed to get her way with Warren.
My mind struggled to process what I’d just seen.
Who was that woman in his arms? Had he been using work and Desiree as excuses? Was he… cheating on me?
"No, no, no," I whimpered, dread pooling in my stomach.
I waited for hours, trying to stay calm, asking the secretary again and again what room they were in. "That’s confidential, Miss," was her only reply.
Eventually, an observant nurse pitied me and finally gave me the room number. My legs felt stiff as I walked down the sterile corridor and pushed the door open.
It was Desiree. Lying in the bed, IV in her arm, face pale and turned toward the wall.
Relief bloomed in me for a moment. It was just his stepsister, not some other woman. But suspicion crept in just as quickly. Something still didn’t sit right.
"Desiree? What happened?" I asked quietly.
She turned to me slowly, eyes rimmed red. "Vienna? What are you doing here?" she snapped. "Get out. This is none of your business."
I stepped back, startled. Before I could say anything else, Warren walked in.
"Vienna?" He looked at me, eyebrows raised in surprise.
I plastered on a calm expression. "Hey Warren, I was here for a GI exam," I lied smoothly—this wasn’t the time to reveal my pregnancy. "I saw you rushing in. Thought I’d check on you."
"Oh," he frowned. "Now’s not a good time."
"What happened, Warren? Why are you here with her? I thought you—"
"Shh, be quiet, Vienna," he interrupted me bluntly. "You’re stressing her out."
He walked over to Desiree, brushing her hair back from her forehead. "Get some rest, okay?" he murmured.
Something about that gentle gesture made my skin crawl. They weren’t related by blood. What if…?
Warren turned back, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me out of the room. Once the door was shut behind us, he spoke low.
"She had a miscarriage," he said. "Graduation party. Got drunk, hooked up with someone. She didn’t know she was pregnant."
I stared at him. "Who was the guy? Why didn’t he bring her in?"
He shook his head. "No idea. She’s not ready to talk about it."
"She clings to you, Warren. Always has. I’ve never even heard her mention a boyfriend. And now she’s miscarried and you can’t even name the father?"
His jaw tightened. "Are you seriously suggesting—"
"I don’t know what I’m suggesting," I cut in. "But lately, things haven’t felt right. You’re distant. That trip to Switzerland—those photos she posted—"
Warren’s expression darkened. "Stop. You’re being paranoid."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Just tell me the truth. Are you sure the baby had nothing to do with you?"
His eyes burned into mine. He stepped back. "I’m not doing this here. Not in a hospital. Go home, Vienna. We’ll talk later."
But he didn’t come home that night.
Around 11 PM, I got a text: Staying with Desiree. She needs me.
I didn’t reply. I just opened my drawer, stuffed the pregnancy report inside, and shut it hard.
Vienna’s POV"Oh, uh—" I stammered, forcing a smile, "it’s nothing. I do hope to have children one day."It wasn’t a lie. Just… not the whole truth.Elliot beamed at me like I’d just made his year. "Well, I look forward to that," he said, already picturing his future heir toddling around the Luxe boardroom.Across the table, Monica’s lips tightened. Desiree rolled her eyes like the idea of me carrying Warren’s child was personally offensive.Warren gave me a small smile—but it didn’t reach his eyes. It was the kind of smile you give a polite stranger, not your wife. I couldn’t tell what it meant. Guilt? Discomfort? Detachment?Dinner ended after Monica and Desiree stubbornly declined to try any of my desserts. We opted for the restaurant’s specialty instead. As the waiter re-packed my pastries into a neat box, Elliot leaned in with a mischievous wink and said, "I’ll be sure to enjoy these."We exited the private room moments later. Finally, this torture was over. Warren reached out to
Vienna’s POVI sat there frozen, watching in disbelief as her foot slid slowly—teasingly—up my husband’s leg.How dare she?I didn’t know whether to scream, kick her foot away, or walk out of the restaurant entirely. But before I could do any of those things, Warren abruptly pulled his leg back.I blinked. Did he just… reject her?For a fleeting second, hope stirred. Maybe—finally—he saw it for what it was. Maybe he recognized how wildly inappropriate her behavior had become.Or… did he only pull away because he knew I was under the table? Because he realized I could see?I tried to push the doubt down. He was my husband. He pulled back because he wanted to set a boundary. Because he knew it was wrong. Because he didn’t want her.Right?But when I rose slightly from under the table to return to my seat, I caught the way Warren looked at her. There was something in his expression. Something unreadable. Something that made my stomach tighten.It wasn’t guilt. It wasn't a surprise.It wa
Vienna’s POVI closed my mouth again and looked down at my plate, the bite of salmon suddenly tasting like ash. The moment had passed. Whatever strength I had summoned to expose Desiree’s miscarriage evaporated under Warren’s gaze—a silent message that said, don’t make this harder than it has to be.Desiree, of course, filled the silence effortlessly."I just stayed up too late last night," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her tone light. "That’s probably why I look a little worn out today.""A girl your age should be glowing, not dragging herself around like an old woman," Monica said, reaching across the table to pat her daughter's hand with performative concern. "You need to take better care of yourself, my darling."Desiree nodded sweetly, playing the role of a humbled daughter. She was nothing like the smug woman who’d mouthed "He likes me this way" just hours ago.I stirred my soup slowly, taking small sips. It was delicious, but my stomach still felt like it
Vienna’s POVI packed up the carefully crafted pastries, making sure they were presented perfectly."Did we get a last-minute order?" Bella asked, glancing over. "I thought we were finished for the day.""Oh… no," I said, barely masking the dread in my voice. "It’s for Warren’s parents. Family dinner tonight.""I see," Bella said slowly. She walked over to help me pack, then looked at me intently. I forced a small smile as her eyes searched mine."Something’s wrong, isn’t it?" she asked gently, concern etched across her face. She knew me too well."Just not feeling great," I said, keeping my tone light. Evasive, but true enough. I wasn’t ready to unpack everything. Not yet.The day at the bakery dragged on. The scent of bread—usually comforting—felt oppressive today. My stomach twisted any time I stepped too close to the ovens.Bella tried to cheer me up, floating through the kitchen like a burst of sunshine. But there was nothing she could do. My mind kept looping back to this morning
Vienna’s POVI tried to shake off Desiree’s silent comment as I followed them into the dining area. Two plates were already on the table when I took a seat. One plate held a heart-shaped fried egg, yolk perfectly centered, garnished with a touch of chopped herbs. That one sat in front of Warren. Desiree set the second plate down in front of herself. There was no third plate. No breakfast for me. I stared at the table for a moment, half-expecting someone to say something.“Oh! Sorry, Vienna,” Desiree said, with theatrical surprise. Her tone was sweet, but only because Warren was there. “I thought you’d already eaten.”Right. As if she hadn’t clearly been the first one up this morning.I gave her a tired smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “No problem. I’ll make myself something.”Warren offered me a weary smile, as if he were apologizing on Desiree’s behalf.I turned and walked back into the kitchen. The egg carton was still out on the counter, one burner still warm. I cracked an e
Vienna’s POV“Ow!” I winced as something sharp dug into my thigh. I blinked awake, disoriented, and saw Milo perched innocently near my legs, one paw still extended, claws out. “Milo,” I sighed, groggy. “Seriously?”But it wasn’t just the claw. My head throbbed—deep, pulsing pain spreading behind my eyes—and my stomach churned with an uncomfortable, sour nausea. I groaned quietly and sat up, rubbing my temples.The other half of the bed was empty. Again. No sign of Warren.After putting Milo back in his enclosure, I padded downstairs in my pajamas, hoping to at least make a coffee before the day got worse.Instead, the unmistakable sound of a woman’s voice humming greeted me. Not the sound I wanted. Certainly not the one I needed.Desiree.Her voice floated from the kitchen, light and airy, completely carefree. Jazz music played softly in the background—Warren’s favorite kind.I walked into the kitchen, and stopped short.The sight of her made my nausea flare all over again.Desiree
Warren’s POVVienna lay with her back to me, her body tense beneath the blanket. In the dim light, I watched her shoulders rise and fall. Then I heard it—a quiet sigh, tight and dissatisfied, as she tugged the covers up to her neck.I wanted to reach for her. Say something. Explain.“V, I—” I began, my voice soft.She cut me off without turning. “Don’t, Warren. I don’t want to hear anything right now. I just want to sleep.”The finality in her tone hit harder than I expected. I let the silence swallow us.It felt like, in just a few days, the space between us had stretched into something immeasurable. How did we end up here?Minutes passed, maybe more. I don’t know how long I lay there staring at the ceiling. Then it came again—the now-familiar stab in my chest. Not sharp, but deep and persistent, like a warning knock behind my ribs.“Ow…” A quiet groan slipped from my lips. I could only hope Vienna was already asleep.I hadn’t told her about the surgery—for a reason. I didn’t want her
Vienna’s POV"Come here, Milo," I whispered as I lifted my cat out of the enclosure. I carried him into the bedroom like a fragile secret, cradling him gently against my chest. He buried his head under my chin, purring faintly. We were both tense. Both displaced.I closed the door softly behind me and crawled into bed, curling under the covers with Milo nestled beside me. The silence of the room felt louder than ever, pressing in from all sides. “I won’t let her take you away from me, don’t you worry,” I murmured as Milo purred in my arms.My fingers moved instinctively through his fur, hoping for some comfort, some distraction. Then I felt it—a small patch, rougher than the rest.“What’s this, buddy?”I sat up slightly and examined him. A clump of fur had been torn out, the skin beneath irritated and pink.My stomach turned.Desiree.So this is how she’d done it. Tricking Warren, playing the victim, crossing my boundaries. I had to admit—she was good. Subtle. Petty. Cruel. My hands
Vienna’s POVThe door to Desiree’s room was slightly ajar. My hand hovered over the doorknob, uncertain. Then I heard his voice.Warren.That warm, soothing tone he reserved for moments of tenderness. What the hell was he doing in her room, speaking to her like that?I leaned forward slightly—and saw them.Warren was sitting on the edge of her bed, one arm wrapped tightly around Desiree’s shoulders. She was nestled against him, his hand gently stroking her hair as she trembled in his arms. He murmured to her softly, like she was breakable, fragile.Jealousy pierced through me—hot and sharp."Warren? What are you doing here?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper. It cracked in the middle, betraying more than I wanted. Fear, hurt, the sting of being on the outside looking in.Both their heads turned toward me.Warren’s brows pulled together in concern, his expression shadowed with worry—but not for me. His arm didn’t move. He still held her close, as if he couldn’t see how much it gu
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