Chapter 5

I didn't remember climbing the stairs. One moment I was standing in the living room, listening to Damon tell me our marriage was over. The next, I was walking through the long hallway toward our bedroom, my legs moving on instinct while my mind struggled to catch up.

Everything around me felt distant. The crystal chandelier above me blurred into a haze of light, and the polished marble floor beneath my feet seemed to sway with every step.

I reached for the banister. My fingers trembled so badly that I almost missed it. I tightened my grip and closed my eyes.

Don't cry yet. I had promised myself years ago that if Damon ever stopped loving me, I would leave with whatever dignity I had left. I just never imagined that day would come while another woman was carrying what everyone believed was his child.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Three years of blaming myself every single month. In the end, I wasn't even given the chance to say goodbye to my marriage.

Another wave of dizziness hit me. I pressed a hand against my forehead. "Pull yourself together," I whispered. "You only have to survive today."

I took another step. Then another. Suddenly, my vision darkened.

The hallway tilted. My knees buckled beneath me. The last thing I heard was the sound of a flower vase crashing onto the marble floor before everything went black.

---

Voices drifted in and out of the darkness. "Mrs. Damon!" "Madam!" "She's unconscious!"

Someone shook my shoulder gently, but I couldn't respond. The voices became louder. "What happened?"

It was my mother-in-law. She sounded more irritated than concerned. "I knew she would start another scene."

One of the maids spoke nervously. "Madam, she's not waking up."

"Nonsense." Mrs. Blackwood clicked her tongue. "She's pretending."

I wanted to tell her I wasn't. I wanted to open my eyes. My body refused to obey.

Another voice joined the commotion. Damon. "What happened?"

"We found her lying here," one of the maids explained. "I've been calling her, but she won't respond."

There was a brief silence. Then I felt someone kneel beside me. "Mara." It was Damon. His voice sounded farther away than I expected. "Mara, can you hear me?"

I couldn't. Not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't.

His hand rested lightly against my cheek. It was the first time he'd touched me all day, and the irony almost made me laugh.

"If she's pretending, she'll stop soon," Mrs. Blackwood said impatiently. One of the maids shook her head. "I don't think she's pretending."

Damon called my name again. Still nothing. His voice changed, the calm certainty disappearing, replaced by something I hadn't heard in a long time. He was worried.

"Call the driver." "We're taking her to the hospital."

---

When I opened my eyes again, everything smelled of antiseptic. For a few seconds, I couldn't remember where I was. Then everything came rushing back. Vanessa, the baby, and the divorce.

I slowly turned my head. The doctor noticed I was awake and smiled. "Mrs. Damon." "How are you feeling?"

"My head hurts."

"That's understandable." He checked my blood pressure before writing something in my file. "The stress you've been under has taken a toll on your body."

I looked toward the door. "Where's my husband?"

"He's outside with your family." The doctor hesitated. "Actually, I'd like to speak with you alone first."

My heart skipped a beat. "Is something wrong?"

He smiled reassuringly. "Quite the opposite." After making sure the door was closed, he pulled up a chair beside my bed. "Congratulations."

I frowned. "For what?"

"You're pregnant."

Everything inside me stopped. "I'm," I couldn't finish the sentence.

The doctor nodded. "The blood test confirmed it." "Based on your results, you're several weeks along."

I stared at him. The room became completely silent. "No." A tear slipped down my cheek. "Are you sure?"

He smiled kindly. "I'm very sure."

Without thinking, I placed both hands over my stomach. My baby. I was finally going to be a mother. There was finally a child growing inside me.

I should have been celebrating. Instead, I cried. Not because I wasn't happy. Because I was too late. The timing couldn't have been crueler.

The doctor handed me a tissue. "I know this is emotional." I nodded. "You have no idea."

A knock sounded on the door. "Come in," the doctor said.

Damon stepped into the room. The moment I saw him, my heart leapt. For one foolish second, I wanted to tell him that we were going to be parents together. The words sat on the tip of my tongue.

Then he spoke. "I've just finished speaking with my lawyer." My smile disappeared. "The papers will be ready tomorrow."

He stood at the foot of my bed, his expression calm. "I'll make sure the settlement is fair." "You won't have to worry about money."

I looked at him in silence. He continued. "Vanessa needs stability right now." "My future and that of my family depends on this pregnancy."

The words settled over my heart like ice. Slowly, I lowered my hand from my stomach. The joy I'd felt only moments ago disappeared beneath a wave of heartbreak.

I finally understood. If I told him about this baby now, he would never know whether to believe me or Vanessa, and it wouldn't change anything. He had already chosen.

I wiped away my tears before he could notice them. "When the papers are ready," my voice was quiet but steady, "I'll sign them."

Damon looked surprised. For the first time that day, I saw uncertainty flicker across his face. But it disappeared as quickly as it came. He nodded once. "Thank you."

He turned and walked toward the door. Just before he left, I looked down at my stomach.

I don't know what the future holds for us. But from this moment on, I will protect you. Even if I have to protect you from your own father, I said while rubbing my stomach.