Unwanted

“Congratulations, Sophie…you’re pregnant.”

Sophie stared at her doctor and best friend, Lara, her expression blank as the words sank in. For a second, she wondered if she had misheard. But, Lara’s smile only deepened as she reached out and touched her arm.

“You’re pregnant, Sophie.”

Slowly, something shifted in her expression. Relief. Disbelief…then a soft smile formed as her hands moved to rest over her stomach.

She hadn’t been expecting a child, not with how her marriage was…but maybe this was what she needed to make Julian finally look at her. His family had always wanted an heir so maybe…just maybe he would love her for this.

She knew she wasn’t meant to wish for a happy marriage. Not with Julian. Not after everything that had happened…after being accused of stealing her sister’s life.

She had been the one who saved his life back then…but he believed it was Serena, and from that moment, his heart had belonged to her.

There had been many times she wanted to tell him the truth…but she couldn’t bring herself to ruin her sister’s happiness.

So she watched him love Serena…while she loved him in silence.

But, after the accident that left Serena paralyzed and eventually drove her away, Julian forced a marriage on her, swearing she would pay for the rest of her life.

Just like everyone else, he blamed her for the accident. And for that, her punishment was a loveless marriage that felt like a life sentence.

Still, a part of Sophie held on to hope. She believed that if she loved him enough, if she endured long enough, he might one day choose her.

She had been so wrong.

Three years later, he was still as cold as ever.

Yet, that hope still existed and now, with the arrival of a child...his child, maybe things would change.

“I-I should go,” Sophie said, already standing on her feet. Her smile lingered, almost too wide.

Lara laughed and nodded. “Oh.” She gasped suddenly as if she had just remembered something.

“I’m sorry about what happened to your mother.” She suddenly said.

Sophie froze mid-step and turned. “Mom? What happened to her?”

Lara’s brows furrowed. “Wait…you don’t know? Your mother had an accident. She has been hospitalized in this hospital.”

Sophie’s heart clenched. Not just because she was worried for her mother but because something like this had happened and no one thought to inform her.

“What room?” She managed to ask, masking her disappointment.

“VIP ward. Room 32.” Lara answered immediately, pity written all over her face.

Sophie nodded and rushed out, heading for her mother’s room.

By the time she arrived, guards were stationed in front but the moment they saw her, they stepped aside.

When the doors opened, her heart dropped. Her father and her husband, Julian stood beside her conscious mother.

Julian was the first to notice her and as soon as he did, his expression darkened.  

“What are you doing here?” He asked in his usual cold tone. His voice made her parents turn to see who it was and the disdain in their eyes was worse than Julian’s.

Already used to their harsh treatment, she cleared her throat quietly. “I-I heard about Mom’s accident. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Her mother, Jada Monroe scoffed, rolling her eyes. “If no one told you about it, doesn’t that tell you we don’t want you here? We don’t need more bad luck around when I just had an accident.”

Sophie winced, biting her lips hard to keep herself from crying. “I’m not bad luck.” She said, her lips trembling.

Before her mother could respond, Julian shook his head and grabbed her arm. “You should leave. No one wants you here.”

She lifted her head, searching his face, wondering if he felt nothing saying those words.

“I’m your daughter too.” She whispered.

'Adopted daughter.' a voice whispered back but she pushed it to the side.

They had adopted her a year before realizing they were expecting a child so she had never experienced real love from them. They had always favored Serena more.

She was their blood after all.

“What was that?” Jada asked, her face twisted in anger.

Sophie took a deep breath, pushed Julian’s hand away, and walked toward the bed. “How long are you going to keep treating me like this?!” She raised her voice slightly.

“Soph—”

“I didn’t ask to be adopted by you but you chose to bring me into this family! Why do it if you were just going to treat me like this?! What did I ever do to deserve this treatment from all of you!” The tears he had been holding back finally spilled down her cheeks.

Jada’s eyes reddened. She stood slowly and walked to her. “How dare you say that?” She said in a low tone.

“After ruining my daughter’s life. How dare you utter such nonsense?”

Sophie sighed, shaking her head. “I didn’t do anything. I’ve told you countless times!” She cried.

“Shut up! We all saw what happened that day. Don’t try to deny it. We saw you push her down the stairs.” Jada said, hate written all over her face.

“I know you’ve always wanted Serena’s life but you didn’t have to go that far!” Her lips twisted in disgust. “You should be happy now. You are married to the man she loved and get to live the life she wanted. My daughter is gone because of you!” She jabbed a finger into her shoulder.

“And what? You still want to be a part of this family?” Jada scoffed. “In your dreams, Sophie. You’ll never get that happiness you’re so desperate for. Not after hurting my daughter.” She broke down in tears, leaning on her husband for support.

“Serena is gone and no one knows when she’ll return. If she returns. You ruined everything.” She said, looking at her with red eyes.

Sophie couldn’t take it anymore. She turned around and ran out of the room as if she were being chased, but before she could get far, her hand was pulled by someone.

“What were you even thinking, coming here?” Julian said as soon as she met his gaze. “What? You thought if you played the caring daughter they’d forgive you?” He mocked.

“Julian— please.” She said, her voice exhausted. Her head throbbed and the room felt like it was starting to spin from all the shouting.

He tightened his grip on her wrist, not caring that he was hurting her. “You should be satisfied just being my wife. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? Isn’t that why you pushed Serena? What more do you want?!”  

Sophie cried, trying to wiggle out of his grip. “You’re hurting me. Please, Julian.”

His smirk deepened as the realization dawned on him. “Don’t tell me you want this to be real?” He said and she shut her eyes before looking away.

She knew it was pathetic to still want him like this…but she couldn’t stop herself.

He scoffed. “You want me to love you…how pathetic.”

‘Now is the time. You must tell him now.’ A voice screamed in her head.

‘If he knows about the child, he might change his mind.’

She grabbed his hand with her other free hand just as he was about to leave.

“W-wait. T-there’s something I need to tell you.” She said in a quiet voice but just as the words were about to leave her lips, she heard the voice of the one person she least expected.

“J-Julian?”

He turned immediately at the sound of the soft, familiar voice. In that moment, she felt her world tilt.

‘No. Not now. Not when I finally have the chance to make him love me.’