Chapter 2

ARIA'S POV

Adam helped me out of the forest, his arm wrapped around me protectively as we made our way to his sleek black car.

The drive to the hospital was a blur of streetlights and worried glances. I couldn't shake the feeling that my world had been turned upside down, again.

We pulled up to the emergency entrance, and before I knew it, I was being whisked away in a wheelchair. Adam's voice boomed through the halls, demanding the best care, the top doctors.

Soon after, I was in a comfortable bed in what looked more like a luxury hotel suite than a hospital room. Doctors and nurses bustled around me, checking my vitals and asking questions I could barely focus on answering.

"Adam," I whispered, reaching for his hand. "You really don't need to go through all this trouble. I'm fine."

He squeezed my fingers gently. "Shh, little sister. Just let them take care of you."

The head doctor, a kind-faced woman with salt-and-pepper hair, came over with a clipboard. "Well, you've been through quite a lot, Princess. But physically, you seem to be in good shape. Just a few minor cuts and bruises."

I nodded, relief washing over me. But then I noticed the doctor's eyes twinkling with excitement.

"However," she continued, "we did find something in your blood work. Congratulations, my dear. You are pregnant!"

The world seemed to stop spinning for a moment. Pregnant? Me?

"Are... are you sure?" I stammered, my free hand instinctively moving to my stomach.

The doctor nodded, smiling broadly. "Absolutely. You are about six weeks along."

I looked up at Adam, expecting to see joy, or at least surprise. Instead, his face had hardened into a mask of barely contained anger.

"Thank you, doctor," he said curtly. "Could you give us a moment alone, please?"

The medical staff exited the room, leaving Adam and me in a heavy silence. I couldn't stop touching my belly, marveling at the tiny life growing inside me. Despite everything that had happened, a bubble of happiness was growing in my heart.

"Adam," I said softly, "I'm going to be a mom. Can you believe it?"

Adam's eyes flashed with a strange look.

Then, he looked at me tenderly and said, "Aria, I will understand and respect your decision. If you do not wish to keep the baby, I will immediately make arrangements for the procedure to be done right now and ensure that you don't suffer. But if you decide to keep the baby, I believe it will be just as adorable as you.”

I was very moved to hear Adam's words of support.

Despite being abandoned by Dante, I am grateful that my family continues to be my strongest support system. They unconditionally supported me, tolerated me, and respected me.

"Thank you, Adam. I... I want to keep my baby!”

“Get some rest. I’ll tell our parents about the good news. They will be thrilled to welcome a new baby.”

Adam and the doctors left the room, and the ward door was gently shut. I was now the only person in the room.

I fell back onto the pillows, sobs shaking my body. One hand still rested on my stomach, and I found myself whispering to the tiny life growing inside me.

"It's okay, little one," I murmured. "Mommy's here. I'll keep you safe, no matter what."

A wave of love washed over me, quickly followed by a burst of determination. Dante needed to know about this. Maybe, just maybe, the news of becoming a father would change everything.

With trembling fingers, I reached for my phone on the bedside table. As I unlocked it, ready to type out a message to Dante, my heart skipped a beat. There was already a notification from him.

I should have trusted Dante… I… I knew he loved me, maybe it was just a misunderstanding.

"Finally," I breathed, a small smile tugging at my lips. However, as I opened the message, that smile froze, then disappeared completely.

It wasn't a text. It was a picture. A picture that shattered my world into a million tiny, jagged pieces.

There was Dante, his arms wrapped around Linda, both of them laughing at the camera. They looked... happy. In love.

My stomach twisted, and for a moment, I thought I might be sick.

But then I noticed something else. Something that made my blood run cold.

Around Linda's neck glinted a familiar necklace. My necklace. The one Dante had given me on our first anniversary.

"No," I whispered, my fingers shaking as I zoomed in on the image. "No, no, no."

But there was no mistaking it. The delicate silver chain, the unique pendant that Dante had said reminded him of my eyes. It was there, nestled against Linda's throat like it belonged there.

I felt like I couldn't breathe. That necklace had been special. I was supposed to be special. But here was the proof, right in front of my eyes, that I was just... replaceable.

Tears blurred my vision as a thousand memories flashed through my mind. Dante clasping the necklace around my neck, his fingers lingering on my skin. Me touching it absently during stressful days at work, drawing comfort from the physical reminder of his love.

All lies. All of it.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw my phone across the room and watch it shatter, just like my heart. But a small, stubborn part of me refused to give up without a fight.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I hit the call button next to Dante's name.

One ring. Two rings. Three.

"What?" Dante's voice was cold, annoyed. Like I was interrupting something important.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "Dante, I... I saw the picture."

A heavy sigh on the other end. "And?"

"And?" I repeated, disbelief colouring my tone. "Dante, you gave her my necklace."

"It's just a necklace, Aria," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Get over it."

His words were like a slap to the face. I struggled to breathe, to think. "How can you say that? After everything we've been through?"

"Look," Dante snapped, "I really don't have time for this. Linda and I are happy. You need to move on."

Move on? How could I move on when I was carrying his child? The child I had been so excited to tell him about just moments ago.

"Dante, wait," I said quickly, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. "There's something you need to know. I'm-"

"Don't," he cut me off sharply. "Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it. And Aria? Just so we are clear, you are not allowed to get pregnant with my child. If you are, you better get rid of it. Immediately."

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. I couldn't have heard him right. "W-what? Dante, you don't mean that. You can't mean that."

"I mean every word," he said, his voice cold and final. "Are we clear?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real.

"Dante, please," I finally managed to whisper.

But the line had already gone dead. He had hung up on me. Again.

I sat there, phone still pressed to my ear, listening to the silence. Slowly, almost mechanically, I lowered the phone to my lap.

The room felt too big, too quiet. The beeping of the hospital machines seemed to mock me, a constant reminder that I was alone. So utterly alone.

My hand moved to my stomach again, and a sob caught in my throat. "I'm so sorry, little one," I whispered. "I truly am. I want to let go of Dante, your father.”