Racheal sank into her couch, her hands mindlessly reaching for the array of junk food scattered on the coffee table. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mixing with the saltiness of the chips she stuffed into her mouth.
It had been a month since everything fell apart, and though she put on a brave face for the world, the cracks were deep, and her pain felt endless. Each day blurred into the next, filled with crying, overeating, and self-loathing. She had gained weight rapidly, her once healthy glow fading as she neglected herself, forgetting about the tiny heartbeat that depended on her. The sound of the front door opening snapped her out of her daze. Chloe, her best friend, walked in, her face brightening with a warm smile that quickly faded when she saw Racheal. There she was, slouched on the couch, her swollen eyes red from crying, her hair in disarray, and surrounded by empty wrappers. She looked like a broken shell of the vibrant woman Chloe once knew. "Racheal," Chloe said, her voice tinged with concern. "You look like a sad potato left out in the sun too long." She tried to make light of it, but her heart broke seeing her friend like this. "Come on, babe. You can’t keep doing this to yourself." Racheal sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t know how to stop, Chloe. Everything just... hurts.” “It’s been a month, girl!” Chloe's voice rose, frustration edging her words as she tossed her bag onto the chair. “You’re still crying over that douchebag? He’s not worth it!” Racheal’s sobs intensified, her shoulders shaking with every breath. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Chloe!” she wailed, her voice cracking. “I have a child growing inside me, and there’s no father. It’s all too much.” She choked on her own words, tears mixing with snot as she messily wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I don’t know how to be strong for this baby when I feel so weak.” Chloe’s heart clenched at the sight of her best friend falling apart. She moved closer, gripping Racheal’s shoulders firmly, pulling her into a gentle embrace. “There, there, it’s okay, baby,” Chloe whispered, her voice soothing as she stroked Racheal’s hair, trying to comfort her through her own pain. She hated seeing Racheal like this—defeated, lost, and drowning in a sea of despair. But Racheal’s mind was still trapped, unable to accept the harsh reality of her situation. She hadn’t come to terms with Victor leaving, her thoughts clinging to the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, it was all a bad dream she’d eventually wake up from. She still half-expected to hear his keys jingling at the door, his voice filling the empty rooms. A delusional fantasy that she couldn’t shake, even though Victor had made his choice loud and clear—he was gone, and he wasn’t coming back. “You’re not alone in this,” Chloe murmured, holding Racheal tighter. “I know it feels like the end, but it’s not. We’re going to figure this out. You’re stronger than you think, and you don’t need him to be a great mom. We’ll get through this together.” After helping Racheal calm down, Chloe brushed her friend’s messy hair out of her face, trying to restore a sense of normalcy. “Come on,” Chloe said gently, standing up and offering her hand. “Let’s go to the kitchen. Help me whip up something good. It’ll take your mind off things.” Racheal hesitated but eventually took Chloe’s hand, letting her friend guide her to the kitchen. It was a small gesture, but Chloe knew that keeping Racheal busy, even for a few minutes, was better than letting her spiral deeper into her grief. Since the divorce, Chloe had been the only one taking care of her, practically moving in to ensure Racheal wasn’t completely alone with her thoughts. Chloe had become the sister Racheal always wished Evelyn could be, someone who actually cared. As they shuffled around the kitchen, Chloe’s eyes flicked to Racheal’s vacant stare. It was more than just heartbreak—there was a lifetime of hurt simmering beneath the surface. Racheal was an orphan, adopted by Evelyn’s parents when she was just a child. She had always tried to be good to but instead they treated her like trash. Chloe watched Racheal’s pained expression as she chopped the vegetables, her movements robotic and disconnected. It broke Chloe’s heart to see her best friend so lost, and she wished she could take the pain away, even if just for a moment. Chloe continued stirring the pot, her mind racing with ways to help Racheal rebuild, to remind her of the strong, resilient woman she used to be. “You know,” Chloe began, trying to keep her tone light, “we should do something fun, just us girls. A weekend getaway or even just a spa day. You need a break, Racheal. A real one.” Racheal gave a half-hearted smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I don’t know, Chloe. I feel so... heavy. I can’t pretend to be okay when I’m not. Everywhere I turn, it’s like there’s a ghost of what I lost.” Chloe set the spoon down, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she walked over to Racheal. She took the knife from her friend’s trembling hands and pulled her into a tight hug. “You don’t have to be okay right now. But you have to keep moving, for yourself and for your baby. You are not defined by the people who hurt you.” Racheal leaned into the embrace, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. Chloe’s warmth was the only thing holding her together. “I just... I don’t know how to be anything other than this mess, Chloe. I thought I had everything figured out. I thought Victor and I would be together forever. But Evelyn—” Her voice wavered, anger mingling with the hurt. “She took everything from me. And now I’m just... empty.” Chloe pulled back slightly, cupping Racheal’s face in her hands. “Evelyn didn’t take everything. You still have yourself, and you still have me. You have your baby. And that’s a start.” Racheal was about to say something, her lips parting to speak, when the television suddenly blared with breaking news. Both women’s heads turned to the screen, where a flashy headline in bold, all-capital letters demanded their attention: “BILLIONAIRE VICTOR SEEN WITH EVELYN BLACKWOOD, SPORTING A BABY BUMP WHILE SHOPPING FOR BABY CLOTHES. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? IS VICTOR THE FATHER OF EVELYN’S BABY? AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS OTHER WIFE? STAY TUNED.” The words hit Racheal like a punch to the gut. She froze, her breath hitching as images of Victor and Evelyn filled the screen. There they were, smiling and looking every bit the happy couple as they strolled through the baby store, Evelyn’s swollen belly unmistakable. Victor’s hand rested protectively on her back, his face lit up with the same joy Racheal had once seen when he looked at her. Racheal’s vision blurred as tears welled up, the room spinning around her. It felt like she was watching her worst nightmare unfold in real time. The man who had vowed to love her, who she had once believed was her forever, was now flaunting his new life with the very person who had ripped her world apart. Chloe quickly grabbed the remote, fumbling to mute the TV, but it was too late. The damage was done. Racheal staggered back, her legs weak beneath her, and she clutched the counter for support. “No...” she whispered, her voice breaking as the tears she’d been holding back spilled over. “No, no, no. This can’t be happening Racheal’s knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the kitchen floor, her hands clutching her chest as though she could physically hold her heart together. “I can't believe this! What! What the fuck!,” she repeated louder. She rocked back and forth, the disbelief twisting her insides. Each image of Victor and Evelyn together was like salt on an open wound, raw and unrelenting. Chloe dropped to her knees beside her, her heart breaking for her friend. “Racheal, listen to me,” she pleaded, holding Racheal’s trembling hands. “You have to breathe. Don’t let them destroy you. They aren’t worth this.” But Racheal couldn’t hear her. The weight of the betrayal was crushing her, pulling her under. Every dream she’d ever had—the white picket fence, the family, the life she’d built in her mind—was gone. All she could see was Evelyn, glowing and happy, living the life that should have been hers. “How could he do this to me?” Racheal sobbed, her tears flowing freely. “I gave him everything, Chloe. I was his wife. I loved him. And now… now he’s having a baby with her.” Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with the force of her grief. Chloe wrapped her arms around Racheal, her own eyes stinging with tears she refused to shed. “You are so much more than this moment,” she whispered fiercely. “I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but you will get through this. Victor is nothing but a liar, and Evelyn… she’s not worth your tears.” Racheal pulled away, wiping her face with the back of her hand, but the tears wouldn’t stop. “Why wasn’t I enough? Why did he choose her?” The questions spilled out, the doubts and fears she had buried since the divorce now laid bare. It wasn’t just anger; it was the deep, soul-crushing pain of not feeling worthy, of being discarded like she was nothing. Chloe shook her head, her grip tightening on Racheal’s arms. “This isn’t about you, Racheal. This is about them. They’re broken, selfish people, and they don’t deserve you. You are enough, more than enough, and one day, you’ll see that.” Racheal nodded, trying to muster the strength Chloe saw in her, but every breath felt like dragging her lungs through broken glass. Her vision blurred as the weight of everything pressed down on her chest, tighter and tighter. The room felt smaller, the air thinner, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped, suffocated by her own pain. Chloe’s voice seemed distant, her words a muffled echo that barely reached Racheal’s ears. “One step at a time,” Chloe repeated, her face full of concern. “We’ll get through this together.” But Racheal couldn’t respond. Her head was spinning, the edges of her vision darkening. She tried to stand, to shake off the dizziness, but her legs wobbled beneath her. She reached out, gripping the edge of the counter for support, but her fingers slipped, weak and trembling. “Racheal?” Chloe’s voice broke through, sharp with alarm. She stepped closer, watching as Racheal’s face drained of color. “Hey, are you okay? Racheal!” Racheal’s world tilted, and before she could process what was happening, her knees buckled. She collapsed, her body crumpling to the floor in a lifeless heap. The last thing she heard was Chloe’s frantic scream, her name echoing through the house as everything went black.As Racheal lay unconscious on the kitchen floor, Chloe’s panic transformed into urgent action. She grabbed her phone with trembling hands and dialed the number for a local doctor. “Dr. Harper? This is Chloe Wright. My friend, Racheal—she’s collapsed. Please, we need help right away!” Her voice was a desperate rush, her heart pounding as she awaited the response.Within minutes, the doorbell rang. Chloe hurried to answer, admitting Dr. Harper, a calm and experienced physician. He quickly assessed Racheal’s condition, checking her pulse and examining her vital signs with practiced efficiency.“Chloe, can you give me a moment alone with Racheal?” Dr. Harper asked, his voice steady and reassuring.Chloe nodded, stepping aside but remaining close enough to hear. The doctor’s face was set in a serious expression as he worked, occasionally glancing at his medical bag and then back at Racheal.After a thorough examination, Dr. Harper stood up, looking concerned. “Racheal’s vital signs are st
As Racheal stepped out of the taxi, her heart pounded in her chest. She stood in front of Victor’s apartment complex, hesitating for a moment. The building looked the same as it always had, but today it felt different, more imposing. She took a deep breath, clutching her purse tightly as if it would somehow give her the courage she needed. This was it. She needed to do this, for her baby, for herself. With shaky hands, she made her way inside, climbing the stairs she once knew so well. Each step felt heavier than the last, memories flooding back of times she and Victor had spent together—times she desperately wanted to forget but couldn’t. She reached the apartment door and paused, hearing faint laughter from inside. She knocked, her knuckles tapping lightly at first, then louder as her nerves grew. The door swung open, and there stood Victor, his expression shifting from surprise to something colder when he saw her. Before she could speak, her eyes darted around the room, land
**Warning a little bit steamy***Victor leaned against the kitchen counter, the cool glass of whiskey in his hand offering a fleeting respite from his turbulent thoughts.As he sipped his whiskey, the argument with Racheal echoed in his mind, gnawing at him like a persistent ache. His eyes, hardened and distant, stared into the amber liquid, masking the turmoil inside, building inside of him. It's not like he loves her but it was just a pity he felt for her. He literally threw her out of their own home that was there's once, allowing her to fall on her belly and he didn't even give a fuck if the fall made her loose the baby. Evelyn, her mood darkened by the tension in the room, paced restlessly. Her pregnancy had only heightened her emotions, and the sight of Victor brooding only fueled her frustration. She needed to reignite the spark between them, to remind him—and herself—why they were together. She was horny and she needed him now. “You’re lost in your thoughts again. I can see
Months had passed since that fateful day in Chloe’s kitchen, but Racheal’s life had changed only slightly. Victor never came back. He listened to her pleas, nodded politely, but his heart had long moved on, and his eyes no longer held any trace of the love they once shared. Chloe had been right all along, but Racheal’s stubborn heart couldn’t accept it until now.She rubbed her swollen belly absentmindedly, feeling the baby shift inside her. “It’s just you and me now, little one,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise around her.She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself a brief escape into her thoughts. “Maybe one day, he’ll see what he’s missing. Maybe he’ll realize we’re worth fighting for.” But even as she thought it, a part of her knew the truth—Victor had made his choice, and she was foolish to think otherwise. The past months had been a blur of emotions, doctor visits, and sleepless nights. Dr. Harper’s words about stress lingered in her mind like a
Racheal’s breath hitched as she was left there, alone and forgotten. The injustice of it all was suffocating. Tears streamed down her face, not just from the physical pain but from the crushing weight of Victor’s betrayal. He had chosen Evelyn without a second thought, as if Racheal and her baby were nothing more than an afterthought, expendable.“How could he do this?” she thought, her mind a swirl of anger, hurt, and disbelief. “I’m here too. I’m in pain too. Our baby needs help too.” But her pleas were drowned out by the sterile beeps and bustling footsteps around her. No one was listening. No one cared.She gritted her teeth, trying to push down the rage that bubbled within her. “You’re stronger than this, Racheal. You don’t need him. You don’t need anyone.” But even as she thought it, her resolve wavered. She was scared, more scared than she’d ever been. The pain was becoming unbearable, her body screaming for the care that was being denied to her.Chloe rushed to her side, pan
The hospital hallway feels suffocating, each sterile breath scraping against Victor’s lungs like sandpaper. He’s been pacing back and forth for what feels like hours, but the weight pressing down on his chest doesn’t lighten. The scent of antiseptic hangs in the air, mingling with the distant hum of medical machines and the occasional hurried footsteps of nurses. But all Victor can hear are the echoes of his own regrets, bouncing relentlessly inside his mind.Through the glass window, he catches a glimpse of Evelyn, his wife, surrounded by doctors and nurses.They work urgently, their movements synchronized and efficient, but all Victor sees is her face contorted in pain, a stark reminder of the precariousness of their situation.The doctors had mentioned placental abruption earlier—a serious complication that could risk both Evelyn’s life and their baby’s. Victor’s chest tightens at the thought; he can’t afford to lose them, not now.He clenches his fists, his nails digging into his
***Five Years Later***You might be wondering about the young man who showed up at the hospital four years ago. Yes, that was Rachael’s uncle, Clark. But you might be thinking, “Rachael was an orphan!” And you’d be right. However, miracles do happen. Clark, Rachael’s father’s brother, had been searching for her tirelessly, determined to find her so she could inherit her father’s substantial estate. When Clark finally found her, he fulfilled his promise, handing over every property and asset her father had left behind. Rachael wasn’t the same woman who had been humiliated and oppressed. She had transformed into someone powerful and determined, ready to confront anyone who had wronged her.Rachael stood in front of the mirror in her master bedroom, the soft hum of her makeup brush punctuating the contours of her face. Her hair, styled in glossy waves, framed her face perfectly. The tailored designer dress she wore accentuated her transformation into a figure of elegance and strength
Rachael and Damian raced forward, their hearts pounding as they watched Jamal teeter on the edge of a fall. But just before he could hit the ground, Jamal managed to catch himself, landing on one knee instead. He quickly popped back up, dusting off his pants with a proud grin on his face. "I’m Superman! Nothing can hurt me!" Jamal declared, puffing out his chest like a little hero, his eyes sparkling with a mix of triumph and childish innocence.Rachael, breathless with relief, placed a hand over her heart and shook her head. “Jamal, you scared me to death!” she scolded gently, her voice still trembling slightly. She knelt down to his level, brushing a stray curl away from his forehead. “You’ve got to be more careful, okay? Even Superman has to watch his step.”Jamal nodded earnestly, but the cheeky smile never left his face. “Okay, Mama. I promise!” He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, the playful sparkle in his eyes melting her frustration instantly.Damian stepped