~ Isabella ~

....

"Who would have thought that a saint Mary like you would get pregnant before marriage?" Emily snickered as she made her way into my room, if I could call it that.

It could as well be called a storage unit, locked in the fartherest part of the mansion.

"And would you like to tell me how that got to do with you?" I wasn't stupid enough to believe that all that happened was purely coincidental and Emily had nothing to do with it.

"Smart, as expected." She began pacing in front of me. "Turns out, the number of hours you spent studying your godforsaken course didn't go to waste."

"Don't you dare... I'm a graduate!" I say, hoping to turn her expression grim, and it did. But she wasted no time in coming up with a comeback.

"A graduate who wouldn't be attending her own graduation ceremony." Her words hit home, as she hoped they would. Call it my trickiest luck, but the marriage was fixed on my graduation day. Not like I could attend it if it were fixed before or after anyway.

Junie had tried talking me into letting her attend my wedding. So we could both miss the graduation ceremony. But I wouldn't bend.

Partly because she deserved to wear her graduation gown and walk down the aisle to receive the degree she'd labored long and hard for. But also because I didn't want her within Mom's line of sight.

Though I was sure Beatrice wouldn't go back on her word. But I couldn't be too careful.

"At least I am getting married into a powerful family, and you are not!"

"Oh... you think you are?" She smirked. "It's high time you snapped out of your fantasy and embraced the reality that Emmerson Winters will never love nor accept you as his wife!"

"And yes, you really don't have to worry about me..." She flaunted her diamond-ringed finger in front of me. "Zach proposed, and not only will I be becoming Mrs. Rogers in three months, but I will also be the only heir to Mom's empire."

"And you? You will have nothing to show but a love-less marriage of convenience." She snickered, leaving me alone to my misery.

....

I've imagined my wedding day in so many ways, but none of them involved me having to wear a pink wedding dress and walk down the aisle alone. And most importantly... have to say "I do." To what? A stranger?

I had found it weird when I was asked to go first and almost feared I'd be dumped right at the altar.

But that didn't happen, as Emmerson's silent mutter of 'I do' saved the day.

The priest, who probably knew this was arranged, saved us the embarrassment of mentioning the bride should be kissed. He simply declared us man and wife, and Emmerson walked out right after.

Not like I had been expecting him to stay and pretend any of this was planned anyway.

....

The master bedroom felt like a royal king's room, and I couldn't help but marvel at its decor as I was led in.

Surprisingly, the maids that had been assigned to me by Rebecca Winters, his grandma, had been quite nice.

Though Rebecca was obviously not nice and made sure to remind me of the sole reason why I was here. Which, well... was to provide an heir for the family. What I found interesting was how unspecific they were about the gender of the heir.

Or maybe they weren't really as archaic as I was deeming them to be.

I sat on the bed, with my veil covering my face, whilst I waited for the said groom.

To me, it all felt unnecessary since I was already carrying a child... but the maids insisted that some traditions had to be followed and I was no exception.

Had I been expecting Emmerson to be gentle with me when he came in? No.

But what I hadn't expected was how rough and harsh he'd be.

And by the time he finally left me alone... I couldn't hold back the tears I'd been holding ever since my life turned upside down.

I always thought I had my life all figured out before now. Graduate uni, get married to Zach, apply for a master's, then a PhD before we start planning to be parents.

It wasn't just a plan I had in my head, but rather something that had been premeditated and frequently visited by Zach and me.

But well... as it turns out, it was all in my head.

....

I'd just finished a retching session when my hair was suddenly yanked from behind, and before I could react... my face was being struck twice in succession.

My skin stung and I suddenly felt more nauseous than it previously did.

But before I could give in to the tiredness that followed, Sally's harsh voice followed.

Who would have thought that the very first encounter I would have with her would be in the bathroom where she'd abused me, a pregnant woman?

"You slut! How dare you come into our lives and try to ruin it?" She grabbed my now fragile body and shook me violently.

I saw stars as I tried to keep myself from falling.

Though it's been barely a month since I found out I was pregnant... The pregnancy had not only taken a toll on my mental health but mostly on my physical health.

My energy levels were dangerously low and ninety-nine percent out of the time. I felt like a complete mess.

"I didn't–" Even though I knew my words wouldn't matter at this point. I still tried to defend myself. Though I was cut off before I could continue even further.

"Listen well, and listen good, Slut. I plan to make your already hellish life full of darkness and pain." I winced as her long nails dug into my skin. This should be illegal in every way. But who was to decide that anyways?

"If you know what's good for you... you'll pack your bags and disappear from my sight before I can even catch you." That was impossible. There was no way I could escape Gabriel's tight security, and she knew that.

"Just the thought that Emmerson had laid a finger on you... makes me want to disfigure your face." And she did; at least she tried when she pushed me to the floor with such force... that I felt like I'd have a concussion, but I ended up with more than that when I passed out.

But just before then... I felt a sticky liquid gush out of my body and for a moment there... I prayed that I'd miscarry. That way, my pain would cease.

~ Isabella ~

"Ma'am... the fall you had was great, and you'd lost a lot of blood as a result. We'll have to perform an operation on you to bring the baby out." I nodded, feeling a tidbit of gratitude at being told what would be done to my body.

My consciousness soon began floating after I was shot with the anesthesia, and I couldn't help but reflect on the last eight months of my life.

Apparently, Emmerson and Hayden hadn't been joking when they'd said... they'll make my life a living hell.

Not only had I been made to move into the servants' quarters and eat less nutritious meals than was required for my pregnancy. But I also had to watch them make out every time I bumped into them.

Emmerson chased away all the servants in his house and made me do all the chores, excluding cooking... despite my condition.

So many times, I'd regretted even stepping into the bar that night.

Would things have been different if I had gone somewhere else that night? I could have had a good cry at the beach and, better still, just gone and sobbed in Junie's comforting arms.

But no, I had ended up at a bar and ended up having a one-night stand with the ruthless Emmerson.

While Emmerson didn't physically assault me as long as I stayed out of his way. He never stopped Sally from doing so.

I'd lost count of the number of times, I had been struck by Sally in front of him.

It was almost like, he didn't care that I was carrying his child.

Or maybe he saw her as a mistake and a burden, like I was to him.

Sally had pushed me down the stairs after she'd caught me conversing with Junie Via on a phone call while I was vacuuming the stairs.

She hadn't spared me even when I began bleeding and rather kept slapping me and hurling hurtful words at me.

She didn't stop until I passed out and only woke up now... right before the operation.

.....

"Hurry, get the incubator ready; her life is in danger!" I heard panicked voices after I felt something being lifted out of my cut-out stomach.

'Is she okay?' was the first thought that passed through my mind at the reminder of my child.

Though her pregnancy was unplanned, it didn't mean I hated her.

She was my child, and I wanted her.

More than I can imagine.

"I just hope I get the chance to hold her." Those were my last thoughts as the ECG machine began to beep loudly, as my vision slowly went black.

....

The next time I awoke, I was in a different room, and my body felt lighter than usual, reminding me of something I'd forgotten: my baby.

I sat up with little to no effort and looked around the hospital room in search of her but found no glimpse of her.

I looked down at myself through the hospital gown and realized that my wound had started healing... How long had it been, actually?

And where was my daughter?

I hadn't expected a dramatic congratulations message after giving birth... But I had expected to have my daughter in my arms when I awoke. So where was she?

"Looking for someone?" Sally floated into the room in a body-hug red jumpsuit, and my mouth suddenly felt dry at the sight of her.

"Where's my daughter?" Though I hadn't been told the gender. I had a hunch that she was a she and not a he.

"Your daughter? Which of them?" She stared at me, like I was going crazy. But how could I be?

"Tell me what you've done to my daughter!"

"Nothing...." She said, before her smile turned evil. "Nobody knew you were pregnant to begin with... and just a tiny piece of information.... She is my daughter." Her words didn't make sense at first until the tiny pieces I hadn't taken note of previously began to come together.

During the course of my pregnancy, I hadn't been allowed to step a foot out of the house, nor was I allowed to use any social media without supervision.

And so many times, I'd caught Sally walking around the house with a fake belly, which I would have fallen for... if I hadn't seen her without it multiple times.

She and Emmerson acted all lovey-dovey while she showed off her fake pregnancy on livestreams.

I never thought much of it, but what if...?

My heart ached at the thought of it.

"But she's my-"

"She's my daughter, and if you know what's good for you. You'd take that money and get out of our lives." She said, dropping a wad of cash on the bedside table.

I was surprised, as I hadn't expected her to be least generous. But apparently, she wasn't done.

"And... listen, if I catch you anywhere near this city. I'd make your daughter's life more hellish than I made yours." Her tone was filled with malice, and I had no doubt she'd do so.

But the realization that I was being threatened twice made my heart ache.

First it was by Mom.

And now by Sally.

It sucked.

....

The hospital discharged me two hours later, and I managed to walk out of the hospital under the pity gazes of the nurses who had refused to say a word more than necessary to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sally had ordered them to.

I moved aimlessly around the unfamiliar neighborhood while feeling like I was going to pass out any second.

I'd just stepped into the middle of the road when I was rammed into by a fast moving vehicle.

My body collapsed as my head hit the ground with a full bang, and I felt my features would never be the same again.

But just before the entire world went blank, I heard a familiar yet unfamiliar masculine voice calling out to me.

~ Emmerson. ~

Seven years later,

"Supermodel Salma Hayen and bodybuilder Patrick Augustus were caught kissing at a movie theater while streaming the movie Wuthering Heights." The headlines on my daily entertainment newspaper glowed in front of me.

I wasn't the least bit surprised by this... My sources had informed me months ago about her relationship with the bodybuilder, but what I hadn't expected was for her to be caught kissing in public.

Was she trying to infuriate me or what?

I brought my gaze back to my laptop to go through the list of houses my assistant had assigned to me but sadly couldn't focus.

Ever since Grandfather's demise five years ago. I'd not only been in charge of my own real estate company but also Grandpa's billion-dollar textile industry. Though I didn't study anything related to textile in college. Grandpa had made sure I'd gotten first hand experience with managing one and now? I simply had to work closely with his assistant to keep everything functioning properly.

As it turned out, Grandpa hadn't just wanted me to get married and secure an heir because he felt like it. But rather because he'd got a ticking clock over his head.

It was only after Lily was born that I finally realized the truth that he had been fighting with stage IV Prostrate cancer, which eventually took his life.

Grandpa was eighty-five when he died. But that fact didn't curb the numbness I felt at his funeral... because honestly, I felt so alone.

Grandma had begun showing symptoms of Alzheimer's before his death, and by the time he died... she relapsed into the deadly disease and couldn't recognize any of us.

Salma had been ever supportive during those periods, and I was immensely grateful for that. But what I hadn't expected for her to suddenly change after winning the best middle-aged supermodel award of the year.

Because as it turned out, she was fit and super sexy even at thirty, unlike her counterparts who either had to quit after childbirth or were aging.

She remained ever flawless, at least in public.

My cellphone went off with an incoming call, interrupting my thoughts, and my heart skipped a bit when I saw the caller's ID.

Though we'd grown distant over the years... my love for her hadn't dwindled, not even a bit.

She wasn't just my childhood sweetheart but my savior, and now? My wife.

"Hey, ma cherie." I greeted, intentionally, since she was currently in France and was exposed to a number of French speakers. Though the hidden reality was that I was trying to impress her with my French-speaking skills.

"Hello to you too, Husband." I blushed, given how nostalgic her words felt. She hadn't called me that in a while, and I honestly missed it so very much. Not just that... but I missed her addictive presence too.

"Or should I say, soon-to-be ex-husband?" Her sarcastic voice got me all serious all of a sudden.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying my best to mask my surprise.

"You saw the news."

"And?"

"I will be going public with my relationship with Patrick soon... and I want you to be aware of that firsthand."

"You can't do that... you are married to me." My heart was starting to ache at the thought of her with someone else.

"Not for too long. I'd signed the divorce papers. My lawyer will be dropping it in your email before the day ends."

"You are leaving me?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She was leaving? Like how? We'd been together for almost two decades, and now?

"Yes, along with fifty percent of your networth." The reminder of my naivety was like a slap to my face. Grandpa had asked me to make her sign a prenup before our wedding. But I had disagreed, saying... it would never come to that. After all, she loved me as much as I loved her.

"You can't do that."

"Oh... honey. I can." The confidence in her voice made me uncomfortable.

"Why are you doing this? We were so in love..." I said the last part in a whisper, hoping to change her mind. Though I had a feeling... it was almost impossible to undo the damage that had been done.

"Like you said, 'were.' You were my past, Emmerson Winters, and Patrick Augustus is my present."

"Is that why you'd refused to take my lastname?"

"Now that you mention it... I believe that's one of my reasons. I knew I'd get tired of you eventually, so why the hassle?"

"You can't do this, love."

"Oh... yes, I can, Honey. And I will."

"I won't sign the divorce papers."

"Oh... honey, you will." I didn't like how confident she sounded.

"You do know the shares of R&H textiles are only dependent on your good public image."

"What do you mean?"

"Simple..." She paused, as if to make me more tense than I was already becoming. "What do you think the public would do when they found out how badly you treated your late wife?" Isabella Yang. The reminder of her left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"We both know I didn't do anything. You did most of the work."

"And you, what did you do?" I stood back and watched her being bullied and finally pushed down those stairs, which caused her to go into early labor.

"You'd also abandoned her in the hospital after she'd given birth... which led to her heading out on her own and being hit by a car."

"Stop!" I couldn't hear any of this... not anymore. Though it'd been so long... the memory of what I had done still haunted me.

"Oh... why should I when I haven't reminded you of how you arranged for her body to be cremated secretly."

"Please stop...." I'd never forget the horror in Grandma's face when she'd found out. Though she'd never liked Isabella. It didn't mean she'd wanted her dead and cremated.

"I will... if you sign the divorce papers quietly."

"I will."

"Good... and yes..." She paused. "My eyes are on Lily."

"You dare not lay a finger on her." I could lose everything, but not my daughter, Lily, who was the only reason I was holding so badly to my sanity.

"I will not. If you behave properly, au revoir" She hung up before I could respond.

I placed my phone back on the phone stand and leaned back on my chair... desperately trying to calm my beating heart.

What have I gotten myself into?