Chapter 1

Author's POV

Elaine was never this nervous in her life as she paced in the living room. She was waiting for her husband, Cannon to reach home.

It had been three months for their marriage. Though Elaine was forced to take the place of her cousin sister for she ran away from the wedding, she did nothing but being a devoted wife to Cannon.

Cannon did not reciprocate her efforts anyway and only kept using her as a pawn to get his revenge from the people who betrayed him.

Elaine also let him use her. She thought Cannon would see her sincerity at some point, only he didn’t.

Elaine was tired now and things were worsening with every passing day now. So, she thought of getting it straight today but a bad feeling had already settled in her guts making her nervous.

The doctor said she was pregnant and she had to confess it to her husband.

Later at night when finally Cannon arrived, he looked pissed off. Seeing Elaine on his way did nothing but piss Cannon off even more.

"I am in no mood to talk to you now. So, get out of my face." Cannon said coldly. He had enough of a shitty day today.

Without bothering his cold words thrown at her way, Elaine tried to muster up all her courage as she uttered to herself. It is now or never.

"I am pregnant." Elaine said in a breath, wishing even as she said the words that she could call them back when she saw a muscle in his jaw clenched.

"And what has this to do with me? Am I meant to offer you congratulations?" Cannon uttered in a cold voice as he thought after all she was ought to leave at some point but like this!

"No, I do not need your congratulations. I just wanted to let you know that.." Elaine paused for a moment considering again whether she was doing the right thing.

She could literally read Cannon's thoughts about her and she knew he was never going to believe her whatever she said but still she would not hold back this time, "You are the father."

Cannon paused for a moment. His green emerald eyes hardened, "You and I both know that this cannot be possible."

He went on as his eyes remained dark, "You may not keep a record of your lovers Ms. Marshall but I don't forget mine. And there is no one on the list for me."

A bitter laugh crept on her lips as well as a tear slipped out of her right eye that Elaine did not even bother to wipe off as she stared at Cannon.

When he left after giving her a disgusted look, Elaine stood there staring at his retreating figure with teary eyes until he vanished behind the door of his room and then turned to the entrance of the apartment.

Standing still for a while and then wiping the tear off her eyes, she walked to her room. The room where she had been living for almost three months now but still, it looked quite unfamiliar to her today.

Sleepless nights were nothing new for Elaine but it seemed to be the longest night of her entire twenty-three years of life. Even after trying whatever she could think of to get some sleep, she failed. It was like sleep had also chosen to stay far away from her eyes.

Thinking of uncertainties and confused about what to do, Elaine imagined every possible scenario that would happen as per her action now.

By the end of the night and after a good amount of thought, she decided what to do with the three matters that were demanding settlement no matter what.

About one thing she was still confused though..

Cannon.

In their three months of relationship all he was in her mind, all his grief and pain she thought of shielding, funny enough, he thought of the same.

To get everything, to take revenge using her was all he did. Still, she could not blame him as it was her. She let him use her. She got used with a passion, so she should not blame him. She thought. Their paths were meant to be separated after all it was an ill-fated encounter.

Still, she could not hate him. She was just hurt that even after trying so hard, she could not get him to believe her.

She felt like she was used and betrayed and after the words, he threw at her about her character, she ended up losing every emotion she had in her for him.

Though she did not hate him, she did not feel the need to try to associate herself or say anything to him anymore.

She had told herself once that Cannon would be the only one, she would ever love.

But he made her realize that she never really was his nor she would be.

Their story had come down to a page and now she had chosen to leave that BLANK.

He would not be the face anymore that she would search for in crowds. He wouldn't be the goal, she would strive to conquer amidst ashes anymore.

As she was thinking all this, her hand effortlessly got settled on her flat tummy..

~~

Elaine did not get to know when the dawn had already broken like this. When the bright rays of sun flickered through the curtains, she turned in that direction.

Still sitting like that for a while, she got up and walked to the washroom taking her clothes. Taking a long shower, she dried herself and got ready. It was time to take care of things.

Let's start with the first one. She thought as she got downstairs.

When Bella saw Elaine, she asked her to take her breakfast but she politely refused saying she was not hungry.

Having all these pressurizing things in mind, having breakfast all casually was the last thing she wanted to do now.

Seeing her coming out of the building, her driver got rushing to the car as he uttered, "Ma'am, just one minute. I am bringing the car here."

Elaine got uttering, "Jack?"

The driver stopped in his track and turned to Elaine. It was not rare that Elaine called him by his name but something was there in her voice that compelled him to stop.

"No need. I will manage." Elaine spoke up.

Jack stood there as he stared at Elaine. She did not look like the girl who had always talked to him smilingly. Today, she looked pale and cold.

Before he could come up with a reaction, Elaine was already on her way. She walked out of the building. Seeing a taxi coming, she stopped it.

She got in and gave the address of her destination.

Marshall Mansion..

When she reached there, it was late in the morning and the first person who greeted her there was Evana. She was shocked and as well as enraged seeing Elaine there.

"How dare you come here after ruining my life? How dare you.." Evana came yelling at Elaine but she did not get the chance to complete her outburst as Elaine uttered coldly, "Shut up."

Though Evana was startled, she did not want to get intimidated by Elaine.

"Mind your tongue. It is my place where you are standing right now. If we did not give you shelter, you would have.."

Elaine again interrupted her saying, "I also thought so."

Hearing her, Evana narrowed her brows, "What do you mean?"

But Elaine seemed to be in no mood to keep talking to her, "I am not here to entertain you. Where is your father? Call him, I want to talk to him."

Elaine had always feared to face James Marshall, Evana's father as he was always nothing but rude and ruthless to Elaine.

Evana was not getting what was happening there and right then Stella, Evana’s mother got there. Seeing Elaine, she approached her, "You, shameless girl, after doing this to your sister how dare you to come here!"

Elaine was enraged now. She was not intending to create a scene here or shout at them but when they themselves were asking for it what she could do.

Living her all life here, bearing their accusations and ill-treatment encouraged her to do that also.

As Stella was about to slap her, Elaine held her hand, "Don’t you even dare approach me or I will not hold back." and jerked her hand away harshly.

Stella stumbled once. Evana got right beside her to hold as both of them stared at Elaine eyes widened.

Elaine faced Evana straight, "I said I want to talk to your father. Call him."

Evana replied to her coldly, "My father does not run a filthy shop that he would have time to roam around. He is in his office and he has an important meeting to attend now."

"Call him and relay the message to him that Elaine is here to talk about the company." Elaine said and took a glance at Stella.

Though Evana was still clueless, Stella got the hint about what was going on and what gave Elaine so confidence to stand her ground in front of them.

And as Elaine was one month older than Evana, she already had been of twenty three years old and that meant Elaine was the owner of all of her wealth and she obviously got to know it.

As the thought crossed Stella's mind, she got worried.

Evana was about to say something again but Stella stopped her, "Go, call your father."

"What? Mom, you.." Evana tried to protest but Stella cast her a glaring look as well as her words, "I said, go."

Giving Elaine a disgusted look, Evana made her way to the intercom. Stella turned to Elaine to say something but found her walking towards the living room and then sitting on the couch comfortably.

Too much for Evana’s utter surprise, James not just agreed to come but really made his appearance there in half an hour. Evana got staring at her parents' faces by turns.

It was for the first time, she was finding them not enraged but this much bewildered and worried that even in front of Elaine.

The situation should have been the opposite if not worse. Evana thought.

Unable to take it anymore, she was about to say something but James beat her to it who seemed to be more desperate to put an end to this frightening moment.

If Elaine wished, there was a high possibility he would end up with nothing. And Elaine did not look like she was there to settle with other things.

This thought was enough to compel him to utter, "Look, Elaine, you cannot do this to us."

"What did I even do?" Elaine shot back in a sarcastic tone........