Chapter 4

Elina

They both stood in front of me, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. They stopped their work.

“Today, I will be introducing someone,” he said in a monotone voice. “Lora Moreau, who will be the new manager.”

I suddenly lost focus, my eyes trembling at Jonathan’s statement.

How could this happen…?

Then Lora spoke. “Nice to meet you all. I’m Lora Moreau, and I will be your manager.” Her voice was soft. She deliberately looked at Jonathan and smiled.

“Thank you for introducing me to them, Jonny.”

I saw her still hooking her arm around Jonathan’s. Coupled with the way she called his name so intimately, it left a bitter feeling.

They were far too close. During this time, I thought they didn’t even look like step-siblings.

“Sir Jonathan himself introduced her. What do you think?”

“I’m sure that woman isn’t just an ordinary woman.”

The conversation beside me made me immediately look over. Two women were eagerly watching the interaction between Jonathan and Lora.

One of them touched her chin. “I’m sure she’s Sir Jonathan’s girlfriend.”

My heart ached violently. How could I hear another woman being considered Jonathan’s girlfriend?

All this time, our marriage was hidden; no one knew I was his wife. Jonathan and I always kept our distance at the office.

While I kept my composure, respecting his decisions, he stayed by another woman’s side so that everyone assumed she was his girlfriend.

Lora… she was getting everything I had never received.

The work I had painstakingly handled would now be her credit, and she was right beside Jonathan.

It should have been mine.

In this situation, my blood boiled, and I desperately wanted to push them apart immediately.

After that announcement, I didn’t waste any time and immediately went to Jonathan’s office.

“Jonathan, what did you mean just now?” My voice was hoarse as I struggled to hold back the explosive emotions in my chest.

I saw him still standing there, relaxed, as if nothing had happened. It felt like my feelings were being ignored.

Now, my patience was gone.

“You walked in with her. Introducing Lora to everyone,” I emphasized my words.

“I’m the CEO here,  introducing her to the others is normal,” he said.

His words were suffocating, and I clenched my fists tightly.

If he said something like that, he should treat me the same every time I did my work exceptionally well.

I never received a welcoming word or a thank you.

“You never do that for me…” my voice was barely a whisper as I looked down.

I took a deep breath, letting myself say it all.

“You want me to hand over my work to her… I won’t do that, Jonathan.”

Finally, Jonathan reacted more clearly when I brought this up. He no longer looked relaxed.

He glared at me. “Don’t act like a child, Elina. You have to give it to her.”

I ground my teeth at his nonsense.

I had worked on that project for months, often staying up past midnight just to make sure everything was perfect. But now, someone else would think it was Lora who did it.

“No. I completed it.”

What the hell was wrong with him? He still looked so agitated when he heard what I said.

A moment later, he lowered his head and let out a long breath.

“Elina, don’t make everything harder than it has to be.” He looked at me. “Lora is part of our family. We have to help her.”

For some reason, my anger flared even more deep inside. How could he say something like that?

“Yes, she’s part of the family. But this company isn’t hers; she works here and is just a project manager.” I let the words flow out firmly.

“She can’t just take credit for someone else’s work.”

It drained me. The intense emotions gave me a headache, and my chest pounded with anger.

“I can’t just give away my work. You have to give me a stake.”

“I will give it to you,” he replied.

This was shocking. He said it rather quickly.

“I will give you shares, for you and for our child in the future. Doesn’t that mean there’s nothing left to worry about?”

I never expected him to bring up a child. It turns out Jonathan is thinking about a future together.

I knew I had just been overwhelmed with anger. But I thought now was the right time to talk about my pregnancy.

“Jonny, Elina, please, don’t fight just because of me.”

Before I could speak, Lora entered the office and positioned herself between us.

She held my hand. “Elina, I’m sorry… Jonny only did that because he wants to help me.”

Her voice was gentle, but it carried all the discomfort straight to me. Seeing her touch my hand, I immediately pulled it away in disgust.

“Jonny always knows how to help me, Elina. Please, don’t be mad at him.” She touched the corner of her eye, as if she were crying.

Hearing her words and seeing Lora’s behavior, I felt no relief at all.

She let herself cling to Jonathan again.

Damn it. The tightness in my chest grew stronger. I felt like this situation could get even worse, especially since our argument could be overheard, she hadn’t closed the door properly.

I decided to leave and talk about my pregnancy later at home.

This isn’t over; I couldn’t calm down because Lora was following me.

Behind me, she spoke again, her soft voice cutting through me.

“Jonny always treats me well. He can never get mad at me and will give me everything I want.”

“Even that project.”

She said it deliberately.

“Yes. It’s fine, he gave me company shares.” I responded seriously.

Look at her distorted expression.

She really seemed unable to let go of me, even as I entered the elevator.

“My advice, better go to work than keep following me, Lora. You might mess up things.”

“You still think that—”

BAM!

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded along with the elevator shaking. The lights flickered at that moment.

“What’s happening…?” Lora asked, her eyes wide with fear.

Another jolt hit before the elevator finally plummeted.

“AAAAA!”

We both screamed as the elevator slammed hard.

A sharp, unbearable pain shot through my stomach, so intense I had to clutch it.

“Please…”

I couldn’t move; my body went limp.

“Lora! Are you in there?!”

Suddenly, I heard a scream. I was sure it was Jonathan, but he kept calling for Lora.

Lora continued crying beside me. Finally, the elevator doors opened, and Jonathan immediately carried her.

“Please… save me first…” my voice was so weak, even with all the strength I had left.

I saw his back. He was about to disappear from my sight.

“Jonathan… please…”

I managed to get his attention. He stopped and finally looked at me.

“Elina!”

His eyes shifted between me and Lora in his arms. When he heard Lora’s whimpering, he finally seemed more certain.

His gaze turned away from me.

“Wait for me.”

With that, he left me while carrying Lora.

I watched through blurry vision as several people approached me.

My hands trembled as I pressed against my stomach.

“My baby…”

It truly hurt. As the people held me, I finally lost consciousness.