BEHIND THE MARRIAGE

“You’re pregnant, Mrs. Anderson. Seven weeks along. We’ll need to run a few more tests, but I’ll refer you to our specialist to make sure you receive proper care. Congratulations, Mrs. Anderson,” the doctor said before stepping out of the room.

The noise around her felt deafening, like her ears were about to burst, yet somehow she still managed to walk out of the doctor’s office. She noticed the nurse looking at her with concern, but she ignored it.

She walked out stiffly, her hands trembling as she gripped the test results. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might explode at any moment. She had tried to appear calm in front of the doctor earlier, but inside, everything was in chaos.

She had gone to the hospital thinking it was just a simple headache and a bit of weakness. But the news she received turned her world upside down—she was pregnant. She was carrying Nathaniel’s child.

It felt like a heavy truck had slammed into her. She could barely breathe under the weight of it. Her vision blurred as she fought back tears while walking quickly down the long hospital corridor.

How am I supposed to face this? What am I going to do now?

Just one moment of weakness, one reckless decision—and now there was a life growing inside her.

When Nathaniel crossed her mind, her chest felt even heavier. It hurt to remember how her own husband had humiliated her again and again. She didn’t know how he would react to this news, and she feared even more that he might not care at all.

“Fuck… would he even want this child? Would he blame me for completely destroying what was already a fragile marriage?”

Leaning against the cold hospital wall, Elara felt the weight of the world slowly pressing down on her. It was too much—so heavy she could hardly breathe. She didn’t know how to move forward from here.

She and Nathaniel were married—but not for love. She had known that from the very beginning. He only needed someone by his side, someone who could help him build his name in the industry. And Elara? She was a familiar face from their university days, someone easy to trap.

They got married, but she knew it wasn’t like a normal marriage. There was no love—if there was, it was only from one side.

For a long time, she had felt like Nathaniel was just using her, yet she kept convincing herself that she meant something to him. That somehow, somewhere, he cared. But now? She realized just how foolish she had been.

Her phone vibrated in her hand. When she looked at the screen, a name she had long wanted to forget appeared—Nathaniel.

She forced herself to steady her voice before answering.

“Where are you?” he asked coldly. “There are some documents you need to sign. I need them done immediately.”

Elara swallowed. Was this how it would always be? No emotion, no concern. She felt like an employee in a company where she herself was the product.

“I’m outside,” she replied quietly.

“Well, might as well run back here to the office. I don’t have all day, Elara.”

Her heart cracked at the sharpness of his tone. After everything, why did she still hope he would be different? Why did it feel like fate was punishing her for loving a man who never had a heart for her?

Her chest tightened again. All the pain she had been holding in for so long threatened to burst.

Elara hesitated to tell Nathaniel about the pregnancy. She didn’t know how he would react—and she was terrified that he might not care at all.

What if he got angry? What if he said he didn’t want the child—that what happened between them was just a mistake, just like their marriage?

So many questions weighed heavily on her mind, like a storm about to break. Being pregnant was already enough to shake her, and now she didn’t even know how to face it.

She began to overthink, sinking into a dark space she knew wasn’t good for her. She tried to rehearse the right words in her head.

“Are you okay?” Nathaniel asked from the other end of the line, his voice carrying a faint trace of concern.

She was slightly startled. There was a bit of warmth there—something she rarely heard from him. A tiny spark of hope flickered inside her.

Maybe I can try. Should I tell him?

Silence stretched between them. Elara tried to swallow her fear, but she still didn’t know how to begin.

If I tell him about the baby, will he accept it? Will everything between us change?

She silently cursed herself. You’re so stupid, Elara. She had been careless. She should have been more careful. She already knew how difficult her life with Nathaniel was—and now, there would be a child added to it.

“C’mon, Elara. I don’t have all day. I’m a busy man, and I can’t wait for you forever,” he said irritably.

She closed her eyes, bit her lip, and whispered a small prayer. She needed courage—now.

But before she could speak, she heard a woman’s voice in the background.

“Nathaniel, love, who are you talking to?”

The sweetness in the voice was painfully familiar.

Shaira.

Elara’s body went cold.

What did you expect, Elara?

Of course it was Shaira—the woman who had been there long before she came into Nathaniel’s life. The woman he once loved… and perhaps still did.

Only a second passed, but to Elara it felt like years.

Before she could even process the pain, the call suddenly ended. She stared at her phone, listening to the lifeless dial tone.

“Fuck… shit.”

She pressed her fingers to her forehead, fighting back tears.

What was I thinking? That he actually cared about me?

A bitter laugh slipped from her lips. She looked up at the ceiling and shook her head.

“You’re so stupid, Elara. Look at the mess you’ve gotten yourself into.”

A few people in the hospital glanced at her, but she didn’t care. She straightened her posture. She had to be strong.

When she left the hospital, she went straight to her car. She tried to calm herself, but she could feel the weight of the secret she was carrying.

Should I tell him? Or should I keep this to myself?

Uncertainty was eating her alive.

She didn’t realize how long she had stayed inside the car before finally driving to Nathaniel’s office.

When she arrived, Nathaniel wasn’t there. Instead, his secretary greeted her with a thick stack of papers.

“Ma’am, these are the documents Sir Nathaniel needs you to sign. He said they have to be completed immediately.”

Something tightened in her throat. She took the papers without looking up, afraid someone might see the tears gathering in her eyes.

Of course. He must be with Shaira. He didn’t even bother to wait for me.

When she returned to her desk, she let out a heavy sigh.

Her chest felt tight. The pressure was starting to become unbearable.

She glanced at the documents Nathaniel wanted her to sign. With everything running through her mind, she couldn’t bring herself to go back to their house that night. She didn’t know if she could face Nathaniel’s cold presence—especially now that she knew another woman was beside him.

In the end, she decided to go to the apartment Nathaniel had given her when they got married. She didn’t stay there often, but tonight, she needed to be alone.

But when she arrived, reality hit her even harder.

As she opened the door, she saw Nathaniel and Shaira sitting together on the sofa—eating, laughing.

Like they didn’t have a single care in the world.

Like they were the married couple.

Like she didn’t belong.

“What’s going on?” Elara asked, trying to steady her shaking voice. “What is she doing here? No—scratch that. What are you two doing here?”

Nathaniel stood up, clearly surprised by her sudden arrival. Elara almost laughed at the look on his face.

What? Didn’t he expect me to come to my own apartment?

Or was this not the first time he brought Shaira here?

Her blood boiled at the thought.

“Oh, Elara. I thought you’d be home late,” he said casually, though there was a hint of tension in his voice. “I didn’t expect you to come here. I thought you’d go back to our house.”

She briefly locked eyes with Shaira before looking back at Nathaniel.

“Why is she here, Nathan?”

This was her place. Her safe space. And she wasn’t willing to share it—especially not with Shaira.

The apartment was a gift from Nathan, but the moment he gave it to her, it became hers.

Not his.

And definitely not Shaira’s.

Yet here they were.

Her chest tightened again.

It hurt.

And she knew that in the next few moments, she wouldn’t be able to hide that pain anymore.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TRUTH

Nathaniel let out a heavy sigh. “We need to talk about something, and I decided it’d be easier to discuss it here.”

Elara wanted to raise an eyebrow at that. She was tired. And honestly, everything that had happened to her today was more than enough to deal with this kind of nonsense.

She had never spoken about how often they were together, but taking over her apartment—the only place she truly felt safe—was too much. She didn’t know how much more of this she could endure.

They were pushing things way too far.

Her hands balled into fists. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay in control.

“Can’t you talk somewhere else? I need some peace too,” she said, keeping her voice calm even though she wanted to explode.

“Stop being so dramatic, Elara,” Nathaniel responded coldly. “And she’s here because she needed a place to stay for the night. She had trouble with her housing, and I wasn’t going to let her go somewhere unsafe.”

Elara felt her anger rising, slow but undeniable. Still, she didn’t want to make a scene in front of Shaira. She had already been through so much today, and she couldn’t deal with arguing—especially with this woman present.

“You could’ve booked her a place, not this apartment! This is my safe space. Why would you make a decision like that without telling me?!” she said, each word sharp and deliberate.

Nathaniel frowned, clearly confused as to why this mattered so much to her. To him, it was just a small favor for Shaira—hardly worth arguing about.

“She needed a place. Why would I book one if we have an extra apartment? And I thought you were going back to our house. You didn’t even tell me you’d stay here,” Elara shot back, a mix of irritation and accusation in her voice.

She wanted to laugh at how ridiculous this sounded. She wanted to cry, but she forced herself to stop. Nathaniel had already crushed her heart, and now he was grinding whatever remained into dust.

“Fine,” she muttered, teeth clenched in anger. “I’ll just go to my room.”

As she walked away, a whirlwind of emotions hit her—anger, hurt, confusion. She didn’t even know what was happening with her marriage to Nathaniel anymore. It was like she was a stranger in her own life.

The next morning, Elara woke up early and stepped out of her room to get a glass of water. As she came down, she noticed Shaira sitting in the living room. She wasn’t watching anything—just scrolling on her phone.

Elara studied her for a moment, wondering where Nathaniel was. But in the end, she decided to ignore Shaira and headed straight to the kitchen to prepare for work.

She didn’t want to add any more weight to her already heavy heart. For now, the only thing that mattered was keeping her composure and figuring out how to handle her situation—especially now that she was carrying someone whose life was about to change along with hers.

She let out a deep sigh.

She needed to be strong.

She didn’t want to be around Shaira and ruin her day. It was better to leave before she lost her patience.

But just as she reached the door, Shaira spoke, clearly taking this as the perfect moment to show her true colors. A mischievous smile spread across her lips as she said, “So, when are you leaving his life? You know you don’t matter, right? Why don’t you just stop pretending and leave?”

Elara froze at the words. Slowly, she turned and looked at Shaira, raising an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?” she asked, feeling her blood begin to boil.

Shaira had always seemed sweet and kind in front of Nathaniel. She had never shown this side before. But now, finally, Elara could see the real Shaira—a woman full of malice and deceit.

“You’re the obstacle to Nathaniel and my happiness,” Shaira continued, her voice dripping with mockery. “You need to let go. The sooner, the better.”

Elara smirked, almost laughing at the audacity. Just last night, she had been the one looking pitiful, hoping for Nathaniel’s attention. And now, here she was, throwing hurtful words, pretending to have some sort of authority.

“I’m Nathaniel’s wife,” she said firmly, refusing to give in to the anger boiling inside her. “We’re married, and I will remain his wife.”

Shaira blinked before responding. “It’s not just you, Elara. Nathaniel and I have a history long before you came along. I know how your marriage started, and I know you mean nothing to him. Did you think you were special? Did you think you could replace me?”

Elara couldn’t hide her slight shock.

“You’re living in an illusion,” Shaira added, confidence in her voice. “You have papers saying you’re his wife, but you never had his heart! He still loves me. And you? You’re just in the way.”

Elara wanted to laugh rather than cry at those words. In one sense, she shouldn’t have been surprised—she knew Shaira still mattered to Nathaniel. But in another, she still had some trust in her husband—or maybe she hoped he wouldn’t be so cruel to deceive her.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, calm but firm.

Shaira looked at her, an expression of pity mixed with pretense. “I’m just saying… soon, Nathaniel will push you out. You know he doesn’t want you. Haven’t you thought that maybe it’s better to step aside yourself?”

Elara’s ears burned at her words. She didn’t know how to respond, but she wouldn’t let Shaira dictate her. Instead of backing down, she slowly pulled down the neckline of her blouse, just enough to reveal the red marks on her skin—marks that Nathaniel couldn’t deny.

“Are you sure he doesn’t want me?” she said coldly, looking directly at Shaira. “Because if that’s true… why does he moan while touching me?”

Shaira’s jaw tensed slightly—a clear sign that, no matter what she said, she still felt the sting of the truth: Elara still had a claim on Nathaniel

But deep down, Elara knew she shouldn’t be proud of those marks. She knew it had been a mistake that night—a night when Nathaniel was drunk, not thinking clearly. And most importantly, the night she had become pregnant with their child.

At that point, she knew that no matter what she said, the truth could no longer be hidden.

“You’re ridiculous! Nathaniel would never do that! He’d never touch someone like you!”

Elara laughed. “Oh really? Why don’t you ask him yourself? Maybe he’ll even tell you how hot our nights are, how his skin burns at every touch of mine, how he hugs me tight every night…” she teased, for some unknown reason wanting to hurt Shaira.

Shaira’s anger flared even more. She stepped toward Elara, clearly intending to slap her. But Elara moved quickly, causing Shaira to lose her balance. She hit a chair and fell to the floor.

Elara was stunned. Everything had happened so fast.

Shaira screamed loudly, eyes like daggers.

“What’s happening?!”

And that was the scene Nathaniel walked into. He had just returned from his morning jog when he heard Shaira’s scream.

He rushed over to help Shaira to her feet. Then his gaze fell on Elara, cold and full of anger. “What did you do? Why did you push her?”

“I didn’t push her!” Elara protested. She was taken aback by the situation, especially when she noticed Shaira clutching her stomach.

But what hurt more was the fact that Nathaniel immediately blamed her. “She tried to slap me, and I dodged. She lost her balance and fell.”

Shaira grabbed her stomach and groaned in pain. “Nathan, the baby… the baby…” she said desperately, holding onto Nathan like a child deprived of candy.

Elara froze where she stood, shocked at the way Shaira was holding her stomach.

“It’s okay, Shaira, it’s okay,” Nathaniel said soothingly, hugging her. “I’ll take care of you. Let’s go to the hospital.”

He shot a sharp glance at Elara before leaving with Shaira.

Elara stood there silently, watching them go. She was left alone with her thoughts, trying to process everything.

Baby… Shaira is pregnant?

Her whole body went cold. She couldn’t believe it.

Nathaniel had deceived her. And now, he and Shaira had a child.

Her knees shook, and tears began to blur her vision.

“How could you do this to me?” she whispered, almost devoid of hope.

She felt a mix of anger, sadness, and deep betrayal. She had given everything to Nathaniel, only for him to throw it all away for another woman. She wondered how long it had been going on—and who else knew.

Shaira was pregnant.

And the cruelest irony? So was she.

But instead of feeling happy, she felt like she was drowning in pain. She hadn’t even processed everything from yesterday, and now—another blow.

Elara paced her living room, restless. Her mind was on fire with questions.

What are the chances we’re pregnant at the same time?

She knew Shaira. Yes, she loved him—she admitted it—but she never imagined Shaira would coincide with her, and she certainly didn’t expect Nathaniel to stoop this low to deceive her.

The scene from earlier kept replaying in her mind—Shaira screaming, holding her stomach, fear in her eyes, and Nathaniel’s cold stare. She couldn’t shake the feeling that it was her fault. But the truth was—she hadn’t done anything wrong. She didn’t push Shaira.

She needed to distract herself.

She decided to go back to work to keep busy.

But only a few minutes passed when her phone rang.

Nathan.

She hesitated before answering. She wasn’t sure she was ready to hear what he had to say.

“H–hi, Callum,” she greeted, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Why didn’t you go to the hospital?” he asked, cold and blunt.

Elara blinked. He hadn’t asked how she was. He hadn’t even checked if she was okay.

“Why would I go to the hospital?” she replied, her voice trembling slightly.

“What do you mean?” Nathan’s voice was filled with anger. “She miscarried because of you. You pushed her!”

It felt like someone had tightened a fist around her heart.

She couldn’t believe it.

“Why would I push her? You know me, Nathan. I would never do that.”

But Nathan shook his head, his gaze still cold. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know is Shaira lost her child—and it’s your fault.”

Tears streamed down Elara’s face. She couldn’t bear his accusations.

“I told you, I didn’t push her! How many times do I have to repeat that?”

But Nathan didn’t listen. Instead, he smirked—a bitter, mocking smile.

“You expect me to believe you? You, Elara? Always cold-blooded, thinking only of yourself?”

She gasped.

She couldn’t believe Nathan had just said those words. It was as if he no longer knew her

“How dare you…” she whispered, full of pain.

But she couldn’t say anything more.

“Save your lies for someone who will believe them,” Nathaniel said coldly, cutting her off. And before she could respond, he hung up.

She stood there, staring at her phone, unable to speak.

It was too much.

It hurt too much.

IN THE FINAL MOMENT

Elara was completely shattered. She knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, yet Nathaniel’s words pierced her heart like daggers. She felt utterly alone, with no one to turn to for support. She sank onto the sofa and sobbed, weighed down by the gravity of the situation.

But then she remembered something—she was pregnant too. She had to set aside her own pain and go to the hospital to make sure her child was safe. Wiping away her tears, she forced herself to stand and left the house.

When she arrived at the hospital, she overheard Nathaniel and Brando talking in the hallway. She froze, her heart pounding as she tried to catch every word.

“Stop worrying about my problems,” Nathaniel’s voice carried a hint of irritation. It was clear Brando was concerned and kept pressing him, which only seemed to annoy Nathaniel more.

“Why don’t you just leave Elara?” Brando asked. “If it’s going to be like this, wouldn’t it be better to just separate?”

Nathaniel sighed. “I can’t do that… not yet.”

Elara’s heart sank. What did he mean by not yet?

Nathaniel hesitated, but Brando’s persistent questioning forced him to answer. “I have plans. Ever since I married her, what’s mine is hers too. If we divorce, everything I have will be split. I stand to lose more if she’s gone.”

Elara was stunned, filled with deep shame and betrayal. Now she understood— their marriage had only ever been a deal, a transaction. She couldn’t believe how blind she had been to all of this.

A surge of anger boiled up from her chest. Was their union really worth so little? Money? She couldn’t believe it. She had thought there was still some value in their bond, something money could never replace.

Maybe it was time. Maybe it was time to truly end this.

Instead of confronting Nathaniel and Brando, she decided to go straight to Shaira. She had no intention of arguing with her husband.

As she walked toward Shaira’s room, her mind was still in turmoil. But when she saw Shaira, for a moment, she forgot her own pain. Shaira was enraged, throwing objects at anyone nearby.

“Elara!” Shaira screamed upon seeing her. “You did this! You killed my child!”

Startled, Elara immediately crossed her arms over her stomach in defense. At the same time, a hard object flew toward her. A glass shattered against her head, sending sharp pain throughout her body.

Elara felt the ache in her heart as she watched Shaira’s extreme grief. She knew she hadn’t caused the loss of the baby, but she didn’t know how to make Shaira understand. She tried to calm her, but Shaira refused to listen.

“What are you doing?!” Elara shouted as she saw Shaira grab a vase, ready to throw it.

Just then, Brando arrived and stepped between them, shielding Elara from Shaira’s rage.

“Calm down, Shaira,” Brando said firmly but gently. “It’s not her fault.”

Soon after, Nathaniel arrived and hugged Shaira, putting himself between her and Elara, showing clearly where his loyalties lay.

Elara’s heart broke even further. To anyone watching, it seemed as if Shaira was Nathaniel’s wife—not her.

A bitter smile appeared on her lips.

“What did you do?! I told you to apologize, not make her angrier!” Nathaniel shouted, full of anger.

Tears welled in Elara’s eyes.

“I already told you, I didn’t push her! She tried to hurt me, forcing me to break up with you and leave. She came at me first, so I avoided her!” she shouted, unable to contain her emotions any longer.

At the same time, the earlier conversation she had overheard between Nathaniel and Brando—the one about divorce—returned to her mind, fueling her anger even more.

“Be quiet! You killed my child! You did it out of spite! You didn’t want me here!” Shaira laughed loudly, almost deranged. “You’re always angry at me when Nathan isn’t around!”

Nathaniel’s expression darkened at her words, but instead of being angry at Shaira, Elara felt as if he was blaming her.

Elara could only laugh—she couldn’t believe how absurd this situation had become.

She couldn’t believe how deceitful Shaira was.

“That’s enough! Get out of this room if you can’t admit your mistakes, Elara! I’m so disappointed in you!”

Elara’s breathing faltered, the pain wrapping around her like a vise. She was left alone with her thoughts, feeling numb, as if her connection to the world had been severed.

It all felt like a nightmare. She couldn’t fathom that the man she loved—the man she had built a company and dreams with—could betray her in this way. She replayed every time she had defended him, every sacrifice she had made, and her stomach tightened with resentment.

She had given everything for Nathaniel.

“No matter what I say, you still won’t believe me, will you?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Nathaniel was taken aback by the tone. He could feel the hurt in her voice, yet there seemed to be a fire igniting within her.

Their eyes met, and he saw the deep disappointment in her gaze.

“All this time you made me out to have a cold heart, so it was easy for you to believe I could hurt someone else. You didn’t even ask my side. You just took her side,” Elara said, every word heavy with meaning.

“Because she’s a liar!” Shaira shouted. “Don’t listen to her, Nathan! Look what she did to me! She killed my child!”

Shaira cried again, clinging tightly to Nathaniel’s arm, refusing to let go. Nathaniel was briefly confused by her actions, but Elara didn’t miss a single moment.

It fueled her anger even more.

Everything had become too much for Elara. She was carrying a child too, yet the father of her child chose to protect another woman.

She didn’t know what had come over her, but for the first time, she wanted to claim what was rightfully hers.

The entire room was tense. The air felt heavy. Elara stood there, fists tightly clenched, struggling to restrain her emotions. Nathaniel was beside Shaira, his full attention fixed only on the other woman.

Elara’s fingers trembled slightly as she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say.

“Let go of him,” Elara said suddenly, her voice cold.

Nathaniel and Shaira both turned to look at her.

Meanwhile, Brando—longtime friend of Nathaniel—had always seen Elara as someone strong. He knew why they were married, and if he were honest, he admired her for staying by Nathaniel. Despite everything, he knew Elara loved his friend, though Nathaniel had never truly noticed.

But now, Brando saw a different Elara.

“Let go of him and come with me. I need you,” she said firmly, never breaking eye contact with Nathaniel, hoping he would understand how serious she was.

“Stop this madness, Elara. Just leave if you’re not going to apologize. I have to stay with Shaira.”

“I need to talk to you,” Elara insisted.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, annoyance visible on his face. “Can’t it wait? Shaira needs me right now.”

The world seemed to collapse around Elara at his words. The way he dismissed her, the way he valued Shaira over her—it reminded her where she stood in Nathaniel’s life: far from his heart. But she needed to tell him about her pregnancy before the pain and loneliness consumed her completely.

“This can’t wait, Nathan. Please,” her voice nearly pleading.

And in an instant, he responded coldly. “I said we’re not discussing this now. Just leave. You’re not helping the situation.”

Elara clenched her jaw, holding back her emotions. It was too much.

“I thought we were a team, Nathan. I thought we’d face everything together,” her voice weak but full of pain.

Nathaniel’s expression hardened, his face like stone. “Shaira is my priority right now. I can’t ignore her for this.”

Her world crumbled at his words. Her fears were confirmed—she had given everything, yet she could never hold Nathaniel’s heart. His connection with Shaira was stronger than anything they had.

Her heart filled with pain and anger. She had avoided facing this truth for so long, but now, she had no choice.

“Then let’s end this. I can’t take it anymore, Nathan,” her voice trembling with a mix of pain and determination. “I gave everything, but it was never enough. There’s nothing left for us.”

Nathaniel’s eyes widened, the cold mask momentarily slipping.

“We’re done, Nathan,” Elara’s voice was firmer now. “I’ll file for divorce, and you don’t have to worry about your money. Not a single cent will I take. You don’t have to worry about the company either. It’s all yours.”

Nathaniel’s expression shifted—from shock to awe and deep realization. He realized there were more secrets he had kept than she had imagined. Every conversation he had with Brando came rushing back to her memory.

She didn’t look back.

As she walked alone down the hospital corridor, tears streamed down her cheeks. She picked up her phone and called her older sibling.

“Elara?” her sibling’s voice sounded surprised on the other end.

Alone, heartbroken, Elara sat in a corner of the hospital, sobbing over the illusions that had crumbled completely.

“Can you come get me?” she asked quietly.

And her sibling, even without knowing what had happened, immediately left an important meeting, ready to drop everything for her.