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.

Sophia’s POV

The world around me was dark, heavy, as if I were submerged under water. A sharp, distant beeping cut through the fog, pulling me up from the depths of unconsciousness. I groaned softly, my chest aching with every shallow breath I took.

Where am I?

The sterile scent of disinfectant hit me first, followed by the soft hum of machines. Slowly, my eyes forced open, the harsh fluorescent lights above me blurring into focus. The white walls, the medical equipment, the stiff sheets under my fingers—it all came rushing back. I was in a hospital. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my chest made me weak .

A man in a white coat stood at the foot of the bed, flipping through my chart. His dark hair was neatly styled, and though his posture was firm, his eyes softened the moment he noticed I was awake. “You’re awake,” he said in a calm, professional tone, his voice low and steady, laced with concern.

“I’m Dr. Seth. How are you feeling Ms….?”

I swallowed my throat dry. “ Sophia, tired….what happened?”

“ You collapsed on the street,” Dr Seth explained gently, placing the clipboard on the edge of the body. “ A man saw you and called for help. You’ve been under significant stress, and it seems your body can't take it anymore.” I closed my eyes and flashes of the argument I had with Ethan, the overwhelming pressure of everything I’d been dealing with lately flooding back to me. The collapse on the street….the phone call. My breath hitched at the memory, but before I could dwell on it further, the doctor’s voice pulled me back.

“The man who found you, Jacob stayed with you until the ambulance arrived,” the doctor said, his voice calm and even. “He’s been waiting outside ever since you were brought in.”

“Jacob?” I echoed, the name unfamiliar on my tongue. My brows knitted in confusion. I didn't know anyone named Jacob. Before I could ask more, the door creaked open, and a man stepped inside.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with slightly tousled dark hair that framed a face both rugged and kind. His clothes were simple jeans, a wrinkled t-shirt, and a jacket that looked like it had seen better days. But it was his eyes that held me. Steady. Quiet. As if he had already seen too much, and somehow still cared.

“That’s me,” he said with a small, almost hesitant smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He stepped closer but didn’t rush, hands tucked deep in his pockets like he wasn’t sure if he was welcome.

“You’re the one who… helped me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jacob nodded, looking away briefly before meeting my gaze again. “Yeah. I was passing by when I saw you lying there in the rain. You were unconscious. I called the ambulance and waited until they got there.”

The gratitude in my chest was overwhelming. I didn’t know this man, yet he had stopped everything to help me—a stranger, lying unconscious in the rain. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, thick with emotion.

Jacob shook his head gently, brushing it off, though I saw something sincere flicker behind his tired eyes. “Don’t mention it,” he said. “I just did what anyone should do.”

“Not everyone would’ve,” Dr. Seth interjected softly, offering Jacob a respectful nod before glancing back at me. “You’re lucky he found you when he did. You were severely dehydrated, and your body was under intense stress. We’re keeping you overnight for observation. You need rest.”

I swallowed, the truth of it landing hard. I had collapsed. My body had finally given out—under the pressure, the pain, the heartbreak. The weight of everything I had buried inside me.

Jacob shifted slightly where he stood, his hand brushing the back of his neck. He looked like he wasn’t sure whether to stay or slip out now that I was awake. “I didn’t mean to intrude,” he said, his voice quieter now, more uncertain. “I just… wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“No,” I said quickly, my voice hoarse. “It’s fine. Really. I’m grateful. I don’t even know how to start thanking you.”

He gave a small shrug, the corner of his mouth lifting in a tired but kind smile. “You don’t have to. Just focus on getting better, okay?”

There was a quiet pause between us, and I found myself watching him more closely. There was this calmness about Jacob and unspoken steadiness in the way he sat there, like he wasn’t in a rush to leave. It felt oddly comforting, even though we barely knew each other.

Dr. Seth gave me a small nod. “Ms. Sophia, I’ll let you rest now. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to press the call button.” With that, he exited the room, leaving just the two of us.

Jacob glanced at me, his voice soft as he asked, “Do you have anyone you can call? Family, a friend?”

I hesitated, then lowered my eyes to my hands. “No.” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “I don’t have anyone.”

His expression shifted gentle concern flickering in his eyes as he leaned slightly forward, resting his forearms on his knees. For a second, he didn’t say anything. He just looked at me, as if reading between the lines I couldn’t speak aloud.

“No one?” he asked again, softly, but without any judgment.

I shook my head slowly, feeling a heavy ache press against my chest. “Not really… It’s complicated.”

He nodded, not pressing further. I silently thanked him for that. I didn’t have the strength to open those wounds.

Then, after a beat, he said, “Then I’ll stay. At least until they discharge you.”

I blinked, caught off guard by the quiet conviction in his voice. “You don’t have to. You’ve already done enough.”

Jacob shrugged lightly. “It’s no trouble. It just doesn’t feel right leaving you alone here.”

His calm, steady gaze met mine, and for a moment, I felt seen , really seen. I hesitated, my voice low. “Why are you being so kind to me? You don’t even know me.”

He was quiet, then offered a faint smile. “Because I know what it’s like to be alone when you need someone. I don’t want you to feel that way.”

His words hit something deep inside me. I didn’t respond, just nodded slowly, my chest tightening with quiet gratitude.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He gave a small nod. “Rest. I’m right here if you need anything.”

As I lay there, the hum of the machines filling the silence, my mind started racing with everything that had happened in the last few months. The weight of it all settled heavily on my chest, making it hard to breathe again. Jacob had no idea.

He didn't know about the pregnancy. How could he? No one knew. I had barely come to terms with it myself. I hadn't told Ethan before we divorced. I couldn't. Everything between us had crumbled quickly, one argument after another until there was nothing left but coldness and resentment.

Ethan didn't know I was pregnant when we signed the divorce papers. And now, here I was, alone with a baby growing inside me. The baby he'd never known about.

I glanced at Jacob, still sitting in the chair beside me, his eyes now fixed on the floor, deep in thought. Only if he knew the full story, he might have walked away instead of staying.

The guilt clawed at me as if I bit my lip, trying to push the thoughts away. How much longer could I keep pretending I had things under control when I didn't? How long could I hide this pregnancy from everyone, including myself?

I closed my eyes, desperate for rest, but sleep refused to come. The events of the past months churned in my chest. Ethan's cold betrayal, the lies that piled up like bricks, the sting of that final slap, the silence that followed the divorce... and now, the secret nestled inside me.

It was all too much.

Just as I hovered on the edge of a restless doze, Jacob’s voice broke through the stillness, low and gentle.

“Sophia… are you sure you’re okay?”

His voice carried quiet concern, and I could feel his eyes on me, watching, waiting. It was like he knew maybe not the details, but enough to sense I was unraveling.

I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I kept my eyes shut and whispered, “I’m fine.” It was a lie we both heard, but I needed to believe it for just a little longer.

Then it hit me.

A sharp, searing pain tore through my lower abdomen. My eyes snapped open, my breath catching in my throat as I instinctively clutched my stomach.

Jacob was out of his chair in an instant, panic replacing the calm in his expression. “Sophia? What’s wrong?”