Sophia’s POV

I never imagined my life would begin to unravel inside a cold, overly white hospital room with the scent of antiseptic lingering in the air.

I sat on the examination table, legs swinging nervously, fingers clasped tightly in my lap. The doctor stepped in, her smile soft but unreadable. She held a folder I instinctively knew contained more than just routine results.

“Mrs. Cole,” she said gently, “You’re not unwell… you’re pregnant.”

My world stilled.

Pregnant.

It didn’t feel real. I blinked at her, waiting for her to laugh, for someone to pop out and tell me this was all a mistake. But the doctor’s smile didn’t falter.

“You’re already nine weeks along.”

I nodded slowly, murmuring thanks as she handed me the file and walked out, leaving me alone with the news.

I stared at the floor. Nine weeks. Two months. That meant the night I’d stumbled home crying after overhearing Ethan talk about how much he regretted our marriage the night he was drunk and angry, and for the first time in a long time, he reached for me like I still meant something that was the night everything changed.

I pressed a hand to my stomach. A baby. His baby.

But how could I tell a man who barely looked me in the eyes anymore?

***

My five-year marriage had been a silent war of sacrifices.

It wasn’t built on love, not from him anyway. I was the daughter of the Cole family’s housekeeper. My mother had served them for thirty years until age and illness finally caught up with her. I stepped in to help her when I was just seventeen—cooking, scrubbing, ironing Ethan’s shirts long before I even understood the weight of his name.

His parents loved me. Maybe more than they loved their own son. They saw me as loyal, responsible, grounded everything Ethan wasn’t at the time.

When his reckless lifestyle threatened the family’s reputation, his father laid out a condition in his will: Ethan would only inherit the company if he married me. The housekeeper’s daughter. Myself. The one who called him “sir” even after he grew into the man who now barely acknowledged my existence.

He was furious. He despised the idea. But money speaks louder than love, and I had neither to offer.

So he married me.

We stood before hundreds of guests, the press, the board, even his disapproving exes. I wore white and smiled. He wore a frown and didn’t look at me once during our vows.

That was five years ago.

Since then, I’ve lived in his mansion like a ghost in my own story. No kisses. No affection. Just cold glances, late nights, and silence.

I’d told myself I could earn his heart one day. That if I were kind enough, patient enough, he'd finally see me. But hope is a cruel thing. And now hope had given me a child I wasn’t sure he’d want.

***

When I got home, the mansion was quiet, as always.

I stepped into the dim living room, gripping the envelope from the hospital like it was a lifeline. I could do this. I would tell him. I had to.

His voice echoed from upstairs. He was on a call. I waited.

Ten minutes passed.

Then twenty.

Finally, he came down the stairs, adjusting his cufflinks, not even noticing I’d been standing there.

“Ethan,” I said, heart hammering. “Can we talk?”

“Make it quick,” he muttered, already scrolling through his phone.

“I went to the hospital today.”

That got his attention. His brows furrowed, but his tone was clipped. “What for?”

“I wasn’t feeling well. I’ve been dizzy. Tired. I thought it was just stress.”

He looked up from his phone, eyes briefly scanning mine.

“And?”

I opened my mouth to tell him. To say, I’m pregnant. You’re going to be a father.

But the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, the phone rang again. He glanced at the screen and cursed. “It’s the hospital.”

He answered immediately, voice shifting. “Yes? Is she okay? What happened now?”

Sarian.

His mistress.

The woman who somehow, despite everything, had slithered into our lives under the excuse of illness.

She had a rare blood disorder. And of all the people in the world, I was her match.

Ethan insisted I donate. The first time, I agreed. The second time, I hesitated. The third time, I nearly collapsed from the loss.

But he never noticed.

He was too busy hovering around her, tucking blankets around her fragile form, stroking her hair, whispering reassurances I’d never heard.

And now she was calling again.

“She’s not responding well,” he muttered after the call. “I have to go.”

“But Ethan ” I tried.

He was already grabbing his keys. “We’ll talk later.”

He left.

And I stood in the silence, still clutching the pregnancy results, wondering how long I could carry this secret before it crushed me too.

Hours passed, and I sat in silence, waiting for him to come back, waiting for a chance to finally share the news. But instead, my phone buzzed on the table. I reached for it, my heart sinking when I saw the message.

Ethan: Come to the hospital now!

There was an address, one I recognised all too well. My stomach churned as I imagined what awaited me. Sarian. It was always Sarian

I felt a sharp pain of dread settle in my stomach as I grabbed my coats and keys. I had hoped tonight would be different and that I’d finally be able to tell him about the baby. But instead, I was heading to the hospital again for her. The woman who had turned my life upside down the moment she came back from California. The woman who had taken Ethan's attention, affection, and now once again, his loyalty.

As I stepped into the hospital lobby, the cold white lights flickered above me, casting sharp shadows on the floor like they always did. The countless times I had been here. The sterile air, the distant beeping of machines, the murmurs of nurses it all brought back memories I wished I could forget.

The moment I turned the corner into the waiting area, I spotted Ethan.

He was pacing, jaw tight, hands shoved deep into his pockets. The moment his eyes met mine, his entire body eased but not in the way I once longed for. His shoulders dropped with relief, not because I had arrived but because Sarian’s savior had shown up.

Me.

Again.

“You need to donate your blood. Now,” Ethan said urgently, gripping my wrist and tugging me toward the nurse’s station.

“Ethan, wait,” I whispered, trying to keep up with his long strides, my free hand cradling my stomach protectively. “Please, just listen to me.”

“She’s crashing, Sophia. The doctor said her vitals are unstable. You’re the only match, the only one who can help her right now,” he said, his voice sharp, impatient, and desperate.

My heart clenched at his urgency, but I remembered the words of my own doctor echoing in my head: You need more rest, Sophia. Don't exert yourself too much, especially now.

“I’m not well, Ethan,” I said carefully, praying he’d actually hear me for once. “I—I can’t donate right now. It’s serious.”

He stopped, finally turning to my face, his brow furrowed in confusion. “ What are you talking about, Sophia? You can get treated after the donation. What reason could be more important than saving Sarian’s life?”

My throat tightened as I looked into Ethan’s eyes, aching to tell him the truth—our baby. But this wasn’t the moment. Not with chaos hanging in the air, not with Sarian’s name pulsing like a siren between us.

“Please, Ethan,” I said, voice trembling. “You have to understand. I can’t donate right now. It’s not just about me, it's dangerous for me and—”

“Dangerous?” he snapped, cutting me off. His tone was laced with disbelief, like I’d just told him I refused out of spite. “Sophia, what are you talking about? Do you need something? Is that it? Money? Name your price. A million? Five million? Just say the number I’ll transfer it now.”

Tears stung my eyes. Not because of the offer, never that. No, it was because he still didn't see me, like really see me. He didn't see the fear in my eyes, the life growing inside me, the risk I was taking. He saw me only as a solution. A vessel. A donor. Never a wife.

“Ethan…” my voice cracked as I whispered his name, hoping and praying that something in him would finally see me. But the silence that followed was louder than any scream. He didn’t understand. How could he, when all he cared about was Sarian?

A single tear traced down my cheek as I gave a shaky nod, the weight of heaviness pressing heavily on my chest. Once again, I was the sacrifice. For him. For her. And for the tiny life fluttering inside me that he didn’t even know existed.

Wordlessly, I let the nurse lead me into the donation room. I sat down, the sterile scent of antiseptic already choking me. As the needle slid into my arm, I shut my eyes, a fresh wave of tears slipping down my face. Not from the pain. But from the emptiness. I was giving away another piece of myself to a woman who had already stolen everything.

After the donation, I dragged my feet down the hallway, every step heavier than the last. My arm ached, my head spun, and my heart... my heart felt like it had shattered into a thousand quiet pieces. I reached Sarian’s room, barely able to stand straight. The door creaked open, and there she was—lying on the hospital bed, her face twisted into a weak but unmistakenly smirk the moment she saw me.

“Oh, Sophia, ” She said softly, her face dripping with fake sweetness. “ Thank you for donating again. But… too bad for you right ?” She laughed bitterly. “ Too bad Ethan still cares about me so much, even after all these years”.

Her words cut through me like a knife, but I swallowed the urge to scream. I had no energy left for this, not after everything I had just done. I wanted to tell her the truth, to tell her about the baby, about everything she didn't know, but I couldn't. Not here, not like this.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Sarian,” I whispered, voice trembling as I took a shaky step forward. “Ethan and I—”

But before I could finish. I saw the shift in her eyes. It was Subtle, but it was there, the glimmer of something devious. Then in a flash, before I could react Sarian threw herself out of the bed, tumoring to the floor with a dramatic scene.

The door burst open, and Ethan stormed in. His eyes went wide as he saw Sarian lying on the floor, clutching her arm as though she had been hurt. “ Sarian!” he shouted, rushing to her side.

“Ethan,” I gasped, holding out a trembling hand. “Wait, I—”

But he turned on me so fast I barely saw it coming. His face twisted in fury, his voice sharp with disgust. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t touch her—”

SLAP.

The sound cracked through the room louder than her fall. My face whipped to the side, the force leaving me stunned and shaking. My cheek burned. My heart shattered.

I stood there, frozen. Silenced.

“You’re unbelievable, Sophia,” Ethan growled, his voice low and cold. “I can’t believe you would do something like this to her. After everything Sarian’s been through… I thought you had some decency left.”

“Ethan, no… I didn’t touch her! She’s lying!” I choked out, my voice raw with desperation. But he wasn’t listening. He never listened.

Sarian let out a soft, pitiful whimper from the floor, clutching her side as she looked up at him with wide, shimmering eyes. “Ethan… I don’t know what I did to deserve this,” she whispered, her voice weak, broken, perfectly rehearsed. “I was just… trying to thank her… and she—”

“Enough, Sarian,” I snapped, the tremble in my voice laced with fury and betrayal. “You know exactly what you’re doing. You’ve always known.”

Ethan glanced between us, but the decision was already made. His mind was closed, his heart unreachable.

He crouched down and gently helped her up, his touch soft, tender the same tenderness I had once begged for. “Just rest, Sarian,” he murmured, brushing her hair from her face. “You’ve been through enough.”

And I stood there, invisible. Watching him choose her again.

"I’ve had enough, Ethan. It's time you got another donor. I want a divorce."

The words spilled out of me before I could even think. All the years of silent pain, the humiliations, the heartbreaks all surged to the surface and tore through my throat. I snapped. Whatever fear once kept me chained to him vanished the moment his hand struck my face. I was done. Done being quiet. Done being used. Done pretending.

Ethan’s eyes darkened as he stared at me, as though he couldn’t believe I dared to speak. “You don’t even know what you’re saying,” he said, his voice low, laced with warning. “A divorce? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?” I snapped, though my voice trembled from the storm of emotions. “The freedom to be with Sarian without hiding it? You chose her a long time ago, Ethan. I just refused to see it.”

He stepped forward slowly, his gaze sharp and cruel. “You really think you can survive without me?” he asked, his tone calm but deadly. “Without the Cole name? Without the Sterling fortune? You’re nothing without this marriage, Sophia. Without me.”

I didn’t flinch this time. I just stared right back at him, heart pounding, tears brimming.

“Then I’ll be nothing. But I’ll be free.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I stood my ground. I refused to cry in front of him, refused to let him see just how deeply his words wounded me. I didn’t say another word. I turned on my heel and walked out of the hospital, my heart pounding, my vision blurred not from tears, but from something deeper. The weight of everything, my crumbling marriage, the child he didn’t even know about, the betrayal pressed heavily on my chest. But for the first time in a long time… I felt free.

The air outside was cold and biting, but I welcomed it. It reminded me I was still alive, still breathing despite everything. As I stepped into the parking lot, my body swayed. The world tilted slightly, and a wave of dizziness rolled over me. My fingers trembled as I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts, passing name after name I couldn’t trust. Then I stopped on one, Luca . Ethan’s stepbrother. The only person in his entire world who had ever treated me like I mattered. He had always been quiet, observant, and kind. He never judged, but listened. Right now. I need that now.

The phone rang twice.“Sophia?” His voice was alert, warm. “Are you okay?”

“Luca…..” I breathe . “I’m at Central Hospital. I—I’m not feeling well. And I don't think I can go home by myself.”

“You don’t need to say another word,” he cut in gently. “I’ll be on my way now. Ten minutes, tops. Don’t move.”

Relief washed over me, and I let my back rest against a nearby car as I closed my eyes, willing the dizziness to pass.

True to his word, ten minutes later a sleek black car pulled up. Luca stepped out, his brow furrowed in concern. He didn’t say anything at first, he just rushed over, reaching out like he was afraid I might collapse.

“Sophia, what happened? You don’t look okay.”

I tried to steady my breathing, forcing a smile that trembled at the edges. “It’s nothing serious,” I murmured, waving a hand as if that could erase the truth. “Just came in for a routine checkup. I’ve been having some dizzy spells and headaches. The doctor said it’s stress .”

Luca’s brows drew together in a deep frown. “Sophia, you don’t look fine. When you called, you sounded like you were about to faint. Are you sure that’s all it is?”

I nodded a bit too quickly. “Yeah, I’m just… tired. I didn't want to risk going home by myself feeling this way.” I avoided his eyes, hoping he wouldn’t press further.

He stared at me for a long second, as if trying to read between the lines. But thankfully, he didn’t ask more. “Alright,” he said finally, though his voice carried concern. “But you know you can call me, day or night. You don’t have to handle everything alone.”

“I know,” I whispered. “Thank you for coming, Luca .”

He gave a small, reassuring smile as he unlocked the passenger door. “Come on. Let’s get you home. You need rest.”

I slid into the seat, leaning back as exhaustion swept over me again. Grateful as I was for the ride, my thoughts were far from calm. My heart pounded not just from the aftermath of Ethan’s slap or Sarian’s lies but from the secret I carried inside me. The truth I hadn’t told anyone.Not Luca . Not even Ethan. Not anyone.

***

When I got home after Luca dropped me off, the silence of the house swallowed me whole. I stood by the door for a moment, my body still, but my mind racing. The confrontation at the hospital, the way Ethan dismissed me, and the words I had spoken, all of it felt like a blur. A divorce. I had said it, I had demanded it, but now, standing in the dimly lit hallway, the weight of my decision settled heavily in my chest.

Did I really want this? Could I handle it? A divorce could mean raising this child on my own. Could I do that? Could I be enough for my baby when I felt so lost, so abandoned? The thought of being alone, with nowhere to go, with no one to rely on, sent a shiver down my spine. Ethan had been cruel, heartless even, but the idea of living with nothing, of facing an uncertain future with a child, terrified me.

I placed my hand on my stomach, a gesture of instinct more than thought. The baby. Our baby. I hadn't even told Ethan yet. Would he care? Would he even fight for me, or would he brush it off like everything else that wasn't Sarian?

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, the front door creaked open. I startled, my heart racing in my chest. His voice came from the hallway, sharp and cold, like it always was these days.

“Sophia.”

Ethan stood in the middle of the living room, leaning against the armrest of the couch like he hadn't just shattered what was left of our marriage hours ago. Like he hadn’t raised his hand against me. Like everything was still normal.

“You asked for a divorce, right?” His voice carried a mocking chill, like the very idea of me walking away was laughable. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, pulled out a thick file of papers, and tossed them onto the coffee table between us. The loud slap of the folder landing echoed in the silence, louder than it should’ve been.

“There,” he said coldly. “Legal. Simple. You wanted out, now you’ve got it.”

I stared at the papers, my eyes burning. I could feel my heart cracking again, not because I wanted to stay, but because after everything this was how he let me go.

He wasn’t done.

He pulled out a black card and flung it beside the folder.

“That’s for you,” he said with a sneer. “Use it to… take care of yourself. You know, since you’ll be out there in the big scary world alone now.”

I didn’t move. I didn’t speak. I couldn’t.

Then he reached into his wallet again and slapped down a second card.

“And that,” he said, smiling bitterly, “is for the blood you gave Sarian. Let’s call it compensation. Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

I blinked, stunned by the coldness in his voice. Before I could speak, Ethan turned and walked out, the front door slamming behind him like punctuation to a sentence I didn’t want to hear.

He was going back to her.

To Sarian.

The woman who had always come first.

I sank into the nearest chair, my legs too weak to hold me. The divorce papers lay on the table, his signature already there. No hesitation. No second thoughts. I was just an obligation he’d finally wiped clean.

I reached for the pen, my hand trembling. The tears stung, but I didn’t let them fall. Not yet.

All I could think about was everything I’d given my time, my dignity, my blood, the endless ways I had tried to be the wife he wanted, the woman he needed, and now… This.

I signed the papers, my hand shaking as I scrawled my name across the bottom. It felt like the final act of something I had been avoiding for far too long, the end of the chapter that had been filled with nothing but heartache.

The moment the pen left the page, a strange sense of relief washed over me. It is done. There's no going back now.

I stood, feeling the weight of my decision settle over me like a heavy blanket. I walked to the closest, grabbed my coat, and paused. I didn't need anything else. Not the clothes, not the memories, not the pieces of a life that had been broken beyond repair.

I slipped the coat on, the fabric feeling strange and unfamiliar against my skin, like I was wearing something that no longer fit the person I had become.

With one last glance around the house which had once been my home, I walked out the door, leaving everything behind, everything except for the life growing inside me.

As I stepped out into the night, the cold rain greeted me like a slap, stinging my skin and soaking through my coat in seconds. The sky wept for me, or maybe it wept with me. I couldn't tell the difference anymore. I didn’t run. I didn’t hide from the storm. I just kept walking.

Each step away from that house, his house felt heavier than the last, but also… freeing. I didn’t know where I was going. I had no map, no plan, just the unbearable ache in my chest and the quiet throb of life inside me.

I wrapped my arms around myself as the rain poured harder, blurring the city lights into trembling shadows. I had left everything behind the comfort, security, and even the illusion of love. But I had myself. And I had this child. That had to be enough now.

The tears came slowly, mixing with the rain on my cheeks. I didn’t try to stop them. I just wiped at them blindly, my breath catching in my throat. I didn’t want to fall apart on the street like this… but it was already happening.

Then, suddenly my phone buzzed.

Startled, I dug into my pocket with wet fingers, half-expecting Ethan's name to flash on the screen, another cruel remark waiting. But it wasn’t him.

It was Luca .

I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the green button. Then I answered.

“Hello,” I whispered, barely audible over the downpour.

“Sophia, how do you feel now?” Luca’s voice was soft, laced with concern.

I opened my mouth to speak but then, pain. A sharp, searing stab tore through my chest, and I staggered, gasping. My free hand clutched at my side as my vision tilted, the world spinning beneath my feet.

“Sophia ?” I heard him say again, alarmed.

But I couldn’t answer. The phone slipped from my grasp and crashed onto the wet pavement. I collapsed beside it, the rain pounding harder, soaking through everything, drowning out the world. Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, and I lay there helpless, the echo of Luca’s voice fading into the storm.