Chapter 003

PICKING UP THE BROKEN PIECES

BRIDGET

With trembling hands, I pushed myself up from the table, the weight of Derrick’s words still ringing in my ears. My legs felt like lead as I walked toward the bedroom, each step heavier than the last. The room that had once been our sanctuary now felt foreign, contaminated by the betrayal that had unfolded just moments ago.

I stood in the doorway for a moment, staring at the bed where we’d shared so many nights, so many dreams. The sheets were still rumpled from this morning, when I’d woken up thinking today would be like any other. How wrong I had been.

My hands shook as I pulled open the closet, grabbing my suitcase from the top shelf. The sound of the zipper cutting through the silence felt like a knife slicing through the life I’d built. I began packing my belongings, my movements mechanical, my mind racing with questions and regrets.

*How had I not seen this coming? How had I been so blind to the signs?*

The signs had been there, hadn’t they? The late nights at work, the sudden interest in his appearance, the mysterious smell of lavender on his work clothes, he’d been distant lately. I’d brushed it all off, convinced myself it was just stress, just the pressure of his new job. But now, the truth was undeniable. He’d been lying to me. They both had.

Tears streamed down my face as I zipped up the suitcase, the weight of my heartbreak pressing down on my chest. I had lost not only the man I loved but also my best friend. The two people I had trusted most in the world had betrayed me in the worst possible way.

And now, I was left to face the future alone, carrying a child whose father had just denied its existence.

I paused, my hand resting on my stomach. The baby. *Our* baby. Derrick’s words echoed in my mind, sharp and cruel. *“It’s not mine. It can’t be.”* The pain of his denial cut deeper than anything else. How could he dismiss this life, this piece of us, so easily?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. I couldn’t fall apart. Not here, not now. Not when I had so much to figure out.

As I stepped out of the apartment, I took one last look at the life I was leaving behind. The memories, the dreams, the promises—all of it was gone, shattered by the betrayal of the two people I had trusted the most. The framed photos on the wall, the cozy throw blanket on the couch, the coffee mugs we’d picked out together—they all felt like relics of a life that no longer existed.

But as I walked away, a spark of determination ignited within me. I would survive this. I would rebuild my life, for myself and for my child. And one day, I would find the happiness I deserved, without Derrick, without Vera, and without the shadows of their betrayal.

The door clicked shut behind me, the sound echoing in the empty hallway of the apartment building I had once called home. I stood there for a moment, my hand gripping the handle of my suitcase so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The weight of the past hour pressed down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I didn’t look back. I couldn’t. If I did, I wasn’t sure I’d have the strength to keep walking.

The cold morning air hit my face as I stepped outside, drying the last of my tears. The streets were quiet, the city still waking up, but I felt as though the world had already moved on without me. I had nowhere to go, no plan in place, but one thing was certain: I would not beg. Not for Derrick, not for Vera, and certainly not for the love I had so freely given. I had given them everything, and they had thrown it all away. Now, it was time to pick up the pieces of my shattered life.

With a deep breath, I hailed a cab. The driver gave me a curious glance as I slid into the backseat, my eyes red and swollen, my suitcase clutched tightly beside me.

“Beverly Hills” I said, giving the address of the only person I knew would take me in without question—my older sister, Davis.

The ride felt endless, the city blurring past the window as I tried to steady my breathing. My mind raced with thoughts of what came next. Where would I live? How would I support myself and the baby? The questions were overwhelming, but I forced myself to push them aside. One step at a time.

When the cab finally pulled up to Davis’s apartment building, I felt a small flicker of relief. Davis had always been my rock, the one person I could count on no matter what. She’d been there for me through every heartbreak, every failure, every moment of doubt. And now, I needed her more than ever.

I barely had time to raise my fist to knock before the door swung open. Davis stood there, her sharp eyes scanning my tear-streaked face, then dropping to the suitcase at my side. Her expression shifted instantly from surprise to concern.

“Bridget?” Her voice was soft but urgent. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The weight of everything—the betrayal, the heartbreak, the sheer exhaustion—pressed down on me all at once. Without thinking, I stepped forward and collapsed into her arms. The dam broke. Sobs wracked my body, shaking me to my core.

Davis held me tightly, one hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. Just breathe.”

I tried. Inhale. Exhale. But my chest felt hollow, my world shattered beyond recognition. When I finally pulled away, I could barely meet her gaze. My voice was barely above a whisper.

“Derrick,” I choked out, my throat raw. “He left me. He’s… he’s marrying Vera.”

Davis’s eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. “Vera? Your best friend, Vera?”

I nodded. Fresh tears spilled over, hot and relentless. “I walked in on the news this morning. They’ve been… seeing each other behind my back. For who knows how long.”

Her jaw clenched, her hands curling into fists at her sides. “That bastard,” she hissed. “I always knew there was something off about him. But Vera? How could she do this to you? She was supposed to be your best friend.”

A hollow laugh escaped my lips, the sound bitter, broken. “And that’s not even the worst part.” I placed a trembling hand on my stomach, my voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m pregnant, Davie.”

Davis’s expression softened instantly. The fire in her eyes dulled, replaced by something deeper—concern, heartbreak, love. She reached out, taking my hand in hers and squeezing gently.

“Oh, Brie… I’m so sorry.”

I shook my head, my voice breaking. “I don’t know what to do. I was planning a wedding, a life with him. Now I have nothing. No Derrick, no wedding, no future. Just… this.” I gestured toward my stomach, my entire body trembling.

Davis stepped closer, her grip on my hand firm, steady. “No, Bridget. You have me. And you have that baby. You’re not alone, okay? Not now, not ever. We’ll figure this out together.”

I exhaled shakily, the crushing weight on my chest lifting just slightly at her words. For the first time since I had walked out of that apartment, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe I wasn’t as lost as I thought.

Davis pulled me into another hug, her arms warm and reassuring. “Come on,” she said softly. “Let’s get you inside. We’ll talk, we’ll cry, we’ll scream if we need to. But we’ll get through this. Together.”

As I followed her into the apartment, I felt a small spark of determination flicker to life. This wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of something new. And no matter how hard it was, I would find a way to rebuild my life—for myself, for my baby, and for the future I still believed in.