Chapter 1: The big news

E L L E

"Congratulations, Mrs. Black, you're two months pregnant!" Dr. Richard announced and I felt my heart explode.

"A-are you sure, doctor?" I asked, tears rapidly blurring my vision. I couldn't believe it. Me? Pregnant? I didn't think this day was ever going to come.

I was finally carrying a child inside me after two years of thinking I couldn't bear a child. Two years of feeling like a disappointment to my husband. But now… now I felt like I was flying.

"Quite positive, Mrs. Black. You and your baby are both perfectly healthy. Would you like to see and confirm for yourself?" Dr. Richard said and I nodded eagerly, wiping the tears from my eyes.

He smiled and moved the transducer over my stomach.

And then there it was. That small but steady beat.

My child's heartbeat.

The most beautiful sound I'd ever heard.

I felt my lips pull into a smile and I felt more tears, these of joy, run down my face. "That's your baby's heartbeat," Dr. Richard told me, but it wasn't like I hadn't already known that. I'd seen an ultrasound before.

But I'd never heard the heartbeat.

"That's my baby," I whispered, still smiling like a fool.

"Yes, and it looks like he or she will be here by September 13th. Congratulations," Dr. Richard told me and my smile got even bigger.

"Oh my gosh. That's only seven months away! Sebastian will be overjoyed! And so will his parents! Oh, I have to tell them!" I said excitedly.

"Of course, but let's finish this ultrasound first, okay? We still have some things to look at," Dr. Richard chuckled.

I nodded, still smiling, and I kept looking at the little being growing inside of me. My child.

Dr. Richard told me some stuff about the baby, but I was so focused on the little being growing inside of me, that I didn't pay any attention.

When the ultrasound was finished, I cleaned myself off and got dressed again.

"You're all set. Take these pictures and tell Sebastian congratulations for me. Good luck, Mrs. Black," Dr. Richard said and he left.

I took the ultrasound pictures and left the hospital, my heart beating with excitement. We were finally going to be parents!

I needed to make the announcement special for Sebastian. I got into my car and drove straight to the mall. Who would ever think I would be here, standing directly in front of the baby aisle, trying to select the perfect clothes for our baby announcement?

I was going crazy over the cuteness, so I bought three onesies and three pairs of little shoes. I'd buy other things when we knew whether the baby was a boy or a girl.

After I had paid, I walked back to my car and drove back home.

I was walking up the stairs with my shopping bag and I saw Sebastian coming out of the bedroom in a singlet and unbuttoned pants.

I paid no mind to it, he must have been coming out of the bathroom. So, I continued climbing the stairs.

"Honey, I've got great news–" My words were immediately cut short when my best friend walked out of my bedroom in nothing but her bra and panties, with my robe on her body.

 "Emory? What are you doing here?" My best friend was supposed to be "out of town", like she said earlier on when I asked her to accompany me to the hospital. 

"Oh, sorry. Your best friend was just leaving," Sebastian said, pulling her against his body and kissing her deeply. 

I felt the bag drop from my hands and it fell onto the ground as I looked at both of them in shock. I had no idea how to react.

My best friend, who I took like my own sister, was currently kissing my husband. Right in front of me. 

My husband, who had sworn that he'd be faithful to me for the rest of his life, was kissing her back. 

I felt my heart stop and I staggered back, holding the stair rail for support. "W-what is going on here?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Emory and Sebastian pulled apart and Sebastian turned to look at me. "You think you could fool me much longer, Elle? You think I wouldn't find out how you've been jumping from one man to another while being married to me? How you're a little whore who is willing to sleep with everyone and anyone?" Sebastian spat, venomously.

His words confused me more than it hurt. What did he mean by that? Sebastian is the only man I've ever been with in my entire life. He was my first, my only and my last.

"Sebastian, what are you talking about?" I asked, completely taken aback by his behavior.

"You're a cheating whore and you think you could hide for long? What a joke." He said, his eyes filled with so much anger. 

"What? You're the only man I've ever been with, you know that! Who is feeding you all these lies?"

Emory came forward, a victorious grin on her face. Her facade was different from what I'd always known. No, this time around, she looked nothing like the woman I called my friend. 

"Me, of course! Who else, you stupid bitch!" She snarled.

"What the hell are you talking about? You don't have proof. I would never cheat on my husband and he knows that." I said, looking at Sebastian to say something but, the only thing I could see is his hatred for me. 

"Oh, really? What would you say about this then?" She threw several pictures at my face and they landed on the floor.

I didn't even need to pick them up to see the content in it. It was a picture of a woman, walking out of a hotel with a man I've never seen in my life, a picture of the same woman kissing a man inside the room. The woman's face wasn't visible, but she has the exact same back tattoos and physique as me.

How is this possible?

No one knew of these tattoos except the tattoo artist, Emory and Sebastian. I never wore a backless dress in public that would expose it. It was a tattoo I drew as a teenager which I ended up regretting as an adult.

Who would imagine the same tattoo would put me in this mess? 

"These are all lies! This isn't me, you know that. How can you believe these pictures instead of your own wife?" I asked, desperately trying to make him believe me.

"Why would you do this?" I asked a smirking Emory. "This isn't me, I swear! I've never been with any man but you, she's trying to frame me and you're falling for it. Please, you have to believe me, Seb." I cried, holding his hand, but he pushed me away, making me fall on the floor.

"Don't touch me. I trusted you. I married you. You're the woman I loved. And you broke my trust. Not only are you a cheat, but a filthy liar. I regret the day I met you!" He spat and I felt like I'd been stabbed right through the heart.

"I've always wanted you, Sebastian. You made the wrong choice and now you're paying the price for it," Emory said, wrapping her arms around him and he didn't push her away. 

"No, this can't be true. You can't believe her, Sebastian. I'm your wife, for God's sake! Can't you see it's not me in the picture?" Emory's eyes narrowed at that.

"Stop lying! The world isn't blind, Elle. You and I know that is the exact tattoo you have in your back. I'm not dumb. Why don't you just confess seeing as you've been caught red handed?"

Before I could open my mouth to speak, he added, "I can't believe it took me two years to see your true colors."

"Seb, please. I-I'm carrying your baby. Our baby. You can't do this to me." I pleaded, but the words were only met by his laughter.

"You think you can blackmail me by pretending that you're carrying my child? That's sick and disgusting. I want no association with you or the bastard child you claim to carry!"

He stared at me coldly and announced, "I want a divorce."