Emma’s POV
"Congratulations! You're ten weeks pregnant. You're going to be a mom!" the doctor said.
I was shocked and happy.
My fiance—Benjamin Anderson, known as the powerful CEO in the country is going to be a father.
It kept playing back in my head after the doctor stated I am pregnant. I couldn't help but smile happily. Lastly, this might make everything different since Benjamin and I are getting married soon! I can't wait to tell him the great news.
Grateful and excited, I left the hospital. With a smile still on my face, I hop in my car.
Then I took out my phone and called Benjamin's number while I was trying to start the car. Benjamin finally picked up as I slowly made my way to the highway.
“Benj—”
But my voice hitched when I heard a sweet and seductive woman's voice on the other end. "Hello, Emma! Looking for Benj? I'm so sorry; he's a little tied up with me right now." Her voice trailed off, laced with a sigh. “You know I just came back, so I think Benjamin missed me terribly. So don’t call anymore, okay? Benjamin is mine now."
Hearing Violet's voice - Benjamin's ex-girlfriend - shattered my world. The confirmation hung heavy in the air, a sickening certainty. Tears streamed down my face as I choked out, "W-Who is this?! Why do you have his phone?!"
“Oh? Don’t you recognize my voice, Emma? Or maybe you’re just trying to act like you don’t know me? Stop playing like a fool. It doesn’t suit you.” she whispered mockingly, and added, “This is Violet, Benjamin’s first love….”
As she laughed at the other end of the line, my heart was beating fast with anger—until I accidentally hit the gas pedal and made a mistake on the street that goes around, losing control of the car and hitting the tree in front of me.
I gasped nervously and hit my head on the steering wheel. I was so out of breath that I couldn't even grab my phone on my feet but still managed to snatch my phone and put it on my ear. I called Benjamin's number over and over until he answered. Tears ran down my face as I whispered, "B—Benjamin... h–help me."
Benjamin let out a frustrated sigh and said, "Enough, Emma. I'm sick and tired of your drama. Can you stop playing?"
“Benj—”
He hung up the phone without even asking if I was okay.
Drama? Am I, for real, making this up?
I cried so hard that it hurt, and my heart was beating so fast that I felt like I couldn't breathe. I slowly dropped the phone while enduring the pain all over my body, even blood on my forehead slowly dripping on my face until memories from the past flickered to life.
THREE YEARS AGO.
"Do you really want to do this, Emma?" my dad asked, doubting, glancing at me.
I nodded. "Yes, Dad. I want to marry him. He's the only man I want. And he's the son of one of your directors—he could be the best CEO in the future. What do you think, Dad?"
My father didn't answer, still contemplating. Then I pleaded, "Mom, please, convince Dad..."
And because of my foolish infatuation with Benjamin, everything went according to my plan. My parents talked to Violet and made her gave up on her boyfriend. I thought he'd love me after Violet left him and went abroad, but I was wrong. I was the one who trapped myself in this situation, doomed from the start.
I tried to breathe softly, but I felt the darkness welcoming me, my vision blurring. Until I couldn't feel my body anymore.
My heart throbbed nervously, “No… no! M-My baby…”
Chapter 2Emma’s POV
"W-Where am I?" I blurted out weakly, my throat parched and scratchy.
The doctor said, "You're in the hospital." He opened his folder and glanced at me quickly, "Your name is Emma Hart, right?"
I managed a weak nod, still feeling confused and empty about what had happened to me.
The doctor continued, "You've been here just a few hours. You have everything here, including your ID, wallet, and phone. We tried to call the last person you called, but there was no answer. So, we waited for you to wake up."
My head hurt so much that I couldn't even bring myself to answer.
Think, Emma. What happened? Why am I here?
I gasped in horror as I suddenly remembered what happened to me. My lips trembled as the only concern now was my baby! My baby. The baby.
"I-Is my baby okay?" I asked with desperate concern while staring at the doctor's face.
He looked at me, his face heavy, and he sighed. "I'm sorry to inform you that the fetus didn't make it."
The room seemed to tilt, with the walls closing in as tears of hopelessness and pain burst in an instant. My heart throbbed heavily as I said, "No, that's not true."
"I'm sorry..."
Then a strangled escape sob escaped my lips as I said, "No....."
While panicking, I picked up my bag from the side table, opened my phone, and scrolled to find Benjamin's number. With tears flowing down my face, I dialed the number, but the phone continued to ring, and no one answered.
My hands trembled. I tried calling him again until my panic rose. I cried out, my voice filled with desperation as I said, "Benjamin... Please pick up the f*cking phone...."
The doctor and the nurses rushed to my side, and one of them injected me with something to calm me down.
The doctor whispered softly, "It's okay, Emma... It's okay."
I slowly closed my eyes and drifted back into unconsciousness.
HALF A MONTH LATER.
It's been two weeks and two days, and I still can't get over what happened, especially since it felt like it had only happened yesterday.
It took me half a month to get better, but no one called me. Not even Benjamin tried to find me or see if I was still alive.
Why is it so hard for him to love me?
Doctor Grey walked towards me and handed me my things. I would be completely helpless and dead if he hadn't saved me. So, all thanks to him.
"T-Thank you, Doctor," I stuttered out.
He smiled and said, "You're welcome, Emma. The papers for your release are ready. Take it easy for a few weeks, and if you feel any pain, don't hesitate to call me."
Leaving his clinic, I nodded and smiled as I walked down the hallway. But I froze at my feet as I heard two familiar voices in the admission ward. Unsure and angry, my heart slowly pounded as I slid open the blue curtain and saw Benjamin and Violet.
I gasped softly; it felt like they dug a dagger into my heart. I looked over and saw my fiancé holding Violet's injured left knee. He only came to the hospital for that reason, but he didn't even call or look for me when it came to me.
Violet acted innocently and asked Benjamin, in a soft voice, "What is Emma doing here? Did you tell her?"
Benjamin's eyes frowned disgustingly and said, "Emma..."
I scoffed bitterly while staring at them with hatred, then took a few steps back and walked away. But Benjamin got up, followed me outside, grabbed my wrist, and asked, "What are you doing? Are you stalking me?"
I shoved his hand away from me then I stepped back, and glared at him as I exclaimed, “Stalking? Don’t you mean… cheating? You’re cheating on me?”
I boldly accused him without even stuttering, and his face turned darker.
"Watch your mouth, Emma!" Benjamin said in a low voice as he grabbed my arm.
I forced a sour smile, but tears of pain, hopelessness, and anger couldn't help but fall from my eyes. Then, my voice shook as I said in a soft voice, "You made a promise to my parents before they died..."
And he slowly let go of me as he realized something in the past.
And I continued with an outburst of anger, "You promised to marry me and to take care of me for the rest of your life!”
A look of comical disbelief written all over his face as he saw how I just acted. “What—”
But I cut him off before he could say something, then wiped my tears and snarled, “So you better think it all over again in case you forgot.”
Chapter 3Emma’s POV
"I could only marry you on one condition," he murmured, casting me a chilling glare that could send shivers down my spine.
A soft scoff escaped my lips.
The fact that I had a miscarriage while he was unaware of it, spent half a month in the hospital without him even trying to find me, and now this—his f*cking condition to ruin my mood even more.
He continued, "Violet has cancer.”
I was shocked but it has nothing to do with me, so why would I care?
"And I want you to try a new medicine that has not undergone any critical trials---"
My eyes widened with shock, and I asked sarcastically, "Wait, what?"
He sighed, "She just came back because she has cancer and wants to spend her last days with me. So, I want you to do something for Violet's sake. I don't want her to die."
"But you want me to die just to test some medicines for her?" I asked with a bitter, heartbreaking voice. I can't believe Benjamin would do this to me. I've always been a substitute for Violet, and I finally had enough of this bullshit. I can't take this anymore.
I stepped back and stubbornly shook my head, "No. The wedding is off, and I'm done with you. I won't sacrifice myself just for your woman."
And I immediately walked away from him as fast as I could.
"Emma!" he called my name, but I didn't look back.
Tears streamed down my face as I kept walking. I had done everything for him, but now he'd do anything for his lover – the woman he cheated on me with. I had sacrificed everything, even my own dreams of becoming a singer. I had disregarded them all, choosing to support him. I even invested all my family's inheritance to help his company reach new heights.
But then... betrayal. All I got was him betraying me all over and over again.
***
ANDERSON’S VILLA.
The air hung heavy as I entered the Villa. I don’t even want to see them anymore, but when I opened the front door. I was surprised to see them already waiting for me in the living room.
Violet sighed softly, “Maybe there’s other way, Benj… we don’t need to force Emma if she didn’t want to—”
Benjamin cut her off, “Violet, there’s no other option.”
Benjamin walked towards me and said, "We need to talk, Emma…”
I raised an eyebrow, "If you're asking me the same thing, my answer is always no. Don't worry, I'm leaving tonight."
He grabbed my arm so tightly that I could feel his nails digging into my flesh, "Let go of me, you're hurting me!"
My tears suddenly spill from my eyes again as I think about our baby. The miscarriage, the threats— it all feels so cruel.
Now, I can’t help but think if he really truly cared for me, but I was wrong, he never cared for me right from the start.
I still remember how the doctor told me that it was impossible for me to conceive, but it beat all odds. I got pregnant, but then it got away from me all because of these twisted games Benjamin tried to play with me.
“You would get nothing from me if you didn’t comply!” Benjamin glared at me angrily.
I pushed him away and snarled, “I don’t care about your money, Benjamin! Leave me alone.”
Just as I was about to leave, Benjamin's assistant, Leo, walked in, carrying the experimental medication.
Rage and frustration welled up inside of me, and I let out a roar at him. "I'm not some lab rat doing all the tests for her!"
Benjamin gazed over me and ordered his guards to clutch me tightly. He said calmly, "But you can't do anything about it, right?"