Chapter 1

Brooke stood on the sidelines of the busy soccer field, holding a mic and smiling as she reported live. “And in today’s exciting match, Carlos Lopez of the Phoenix local team has scored a brace at the start, giving them the lead in an exciting first half,” Brooke announced, her voice full of energy as she covered the game live. 

Right as she was finishing up, a soccer ball hit the side of her head. Everything started spinning, and she struggled to stay on her feet. She blinked fast, trying to focus, but everything around her started to blur, and not long after, she collapsed. Some people in the crowd laughed; others looked worried, which only made her feel more confused. Before she could make sense of it, she felt herself being guided off the field by the concerned production crew, who quickly ushered her into an ambulance.

A few hours later, Brooke lay in the sterile hospital bed. The white walls and antiseptic smell made her feel uneasy. Her head hurt but she tried to shake it off, her mind focused elsewhere. All through her time in the ER, she kept looking at the door, waiting for River to arrive. She knew the hospital staff had called him several times.

“Where is River?” she thought as she watched the staff looking at her with pity, and as time passed without him appearing, her disappointment grew, overshadowing the pain.

“River !”, she exclaimed as the door creaked open. 

“I am sorry, Brooke but it’s Doctor Stanley,” the doctor responded as he entered the room with a reassuring smile, clipboard in hand. 

“Brooke, I have some good news for you,” he said gently.

She looked at him, bracing herself. “Yes Doc?”

“Congratulations, Mrs Gray. You’re pregnant”, he announced with a wide smile on his face.

Brooke didn’t respond at first. She just stared wide-eyed, motionless, like she was buffering.

Pregnant? That couldn’t be right. That shouldn’t be right. She had stared at the doctor, waiting for her to correct herself, to add “Just kidding” or “Oops, wrong chart.”

But nothing came.

Just that warm, professional smile.

She remembered his words the night we got married after my sister left him in the altar and I had to step in to save the reputation of both families and strengthen the alliance.

“One condition. Don’t get pregnant.”

She pressed her hand on her stomach. Knowing this baby could be the end or beginning for them. 

When Brooke arrived home later that evening, ready to share the news, she prepared her announcement in her head.

She could almost feel the words trembling on the tip of her tongue. River you’re going to be a dad, she rehearsed in her head. I’m pregnant, River. I’m carrying your child. Her heart pounded faster at the thought. She was still shocked and wondered how she would break the news to him. 

But as she stepped into the living room, ready to share the news. River didn’t even look up from his phone. He had a smile on his face, his eyes never meeting hers. He didn’t even notice the way her face lit up with the excitement of the moment or how her hands were trembling, also worried to share something life-changing.

“Nice performance today, Brooke”, he said dismissively, his smile widening. “Saw you embarrass yourself live on TV. That was a real showstopper.”

His words hurt her deeply. It was cold and harsh; it made hearts sink. She’d been hit in the head by a soccer ball and was still recovering, but that wasn't the worst part; it was the fact that River hadn’t even botherd to be there for her. Her heart tightened as she stood there, unable to hide the hurt in her eyes. How could he do this? She thought bitterly. These things can happen due to the nature of my job, I have just found out I’m pregnant, and all he can do is mock me.

She tried to hold onto the joy, but it faded with every word he spoke. Her mind raced, desperate for a way to make him see her, to understand that this was about more than just a small issue he was upset about. “I should have told him about the baby sooner”, she thought, as she began to doubt. “But how could I know he’d respond like this?

“What if telling him about the baby make things worse?”, she thought.

“River, I—” she opened her mouth to speak, but before she couled finish, he cut her off, getting up to his feet as he looked at the notification with a worried glance.

“Not now, Brooke”, he said already moving toward the door. “I’m heading to the hospital to check on Harper. Her health hasn’t been good all day and she needs me to be with her.”

He paused for a brief moment, frowning slightly as though something flickered through his mind. Earlier that day, the maid had approached him with an observation. “Sir, don’t you think Mrs. Gray might be pregnant? the maid asked reluctantly, concern shown on her face.

“She’s been feeling faint and has looked a bit off lately.”

River had waved her off immediately, barely giving her words a second thought. “She’s probably just tired or coming down with something,” he’d said dismissively, brushing aside the thought instantly. The idea seemed far-fetched at the time, nothing worth considering, especially with Harper on his mind. 

But now, as he stood in the doorway, the maid’s words came back to him with a strange weight. He looked over his shoulder at Brooke, who stood there quietly with a look in her eyes he couldn't quite read. It felt like she was holding something back, something important. For a split second, doubt flickered in his heart. Was it possible?

He shook the thought away. It didn’t matter right now. Harper needed him, and he couldn’t waste time dwelling on idle speculations. Whatever was going on with Brooke could wait.

He didn’t say a word and just shut the door behind him without giving Brooke a single glance. 

Brooke stood her chest tightened as tears welled up in her eyes but she pushed it back. The sudden rush of emotions was almost too much to bear. She just watched her husband leave her again for her sister. The words echoed in her mind, hurting her deeply.

 Brooke couldn’t help but remember the history between River and Harper, the way they’d once been engaged, how River showered Harper with all the affection she could ever want, but her sister decided to leave him for a wealthier man, who ended up betraying her.

And now despite everything, he was still running to her side at the drop of a hat, especially after she confided in him about her abusive ex-husband and the lies she must have told him regarding how she got married to the man. That revelation seemed to pull them closer, a bond she knew she couldn’t get. She clenched her fists, trying to hold herself together, but it was impossible.