Chapter 2

Raina’s fingers hovered around the elevator button for a moment before she pressed it. Stepping in, she squared her shoulders and took in a deep breath. “You’re in charge, Raina Weston.” She reminded herself. “You’ve worked too hard to let this break you.”

The elevator doors slid open, revealing the open workspace of her fashion house, RainWoven. The familiar hum of sewing machines and soft chatter greeted her, but as she stepped out, something felt off.

Plastering a smile on her face, she greeted her staff with her usual cheerful smile. “Good morning, everyone!” But the room’s response was muted.

The staff exchanged glances. A few whispered to each other, while other avoided her gaze entirely. The pity in their expression hit her like a physical blow. “They know.” Her smile faltered as the words rang in her head.

Quickly, she regained composure, smiling once again as she walked towards her office. “We’ve got a busy day ahead, let’s keep things moving.”

The whispers grew quiet, but didn’t stop. She could feel their eyes on her as she pushed open the door to her office, like they were waiting in anticipation for something to happen. As she entered the office, her breath caught at the sight in front of her. A cleaner was carefully packing up her things into a box, while Jamie sat in her chair swiveling back and forth with a mocking grin on her face.

“Morning Raina,” Jamie drawled spinning lazily, “you’re an hour late to work.”

Raina? She thought, Jamie never had the audacity to say her first name.

The door shut behind her with a small thud as she took a step forward, her gazed locked on Jamie. “What’s the meaning of this?” She demanded, her tone sharp.

“What it looks like?” Jamie leaned forward in the chair, “didn’t Kai tell you? RainWoven belongs to him now. And he put me in charge.” she grinned.

Raina blinked and scoffed, her mind racing. “In charge? I built this brand from scratch. I’ve poured my blood, my sweat and tears into it. Kai has nothing to do with it!” She gritted her teeth.

“Of course you did.” Jamie sneered, “But legally, it’s his and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Raina stepped closer, her hands trembling. This traitor had stolen her so-called husband, and now her company? She wasn’t going to sit back and watch like a fool. “Get out of my chair, Jamie. Right now!” She snapped, her eyes blazing with fury.

Just then, the door swung opened, and Kai strode in, holding a folder while two security guards followed behind him.

Raina immediately turned to him. “What is this Kai? What sick game are you playing?! Was cheating on me not enough for you?”

Kai didn’t respond immediately, instead he placed the folder on the desk revealing a set of documents. Quietly, he slid them over to her. “Recognize this?” he calmly asked.

Her eyes scanned the papers, her stomach dropping as she saw her own signature at the bottom of the agreement.

“N-No…This can’t be.” She whispered, shaking her head. “I didn’t sign this. I would never—” Her words faltered as memories came flooding back. A night few months ago, Kai insisted they celebrate a business milestone. The wine, the laughter... the stack of papers he had casually handed her to sign, claiming they were routine financial documents.

Realization suddenly dawned on her. “You tricked me!” She snapped her voice shaking with anger. “You got me drunk and made me sign this over to you!”

Kai’s lips curved into a small, cold smile. “You should’ve read what you were signing, Raina. Business is business.” He shrugged.

Her knees felt weak, but she gritted her teeth, holding the scream that threatened to let loose. “This isn’t business. This is theft and betrayal!”

Kai’s expression didn’t falter as he leaned back against the desk, arms crossed. “I suggest you leave quietly, Raina. This scene isn’t good for either of us.”

Raina’s jaw tightened, “I’m not walking away from this, you bastard!” She spat.

He didn’t reply. Instead, he gestured to the men behind him, “Security? Please escort Miss Weston off the premises immediately. Ensure she understands that she’s never to set foot here again.”

Raina’s glare could have burned holes through him, but she didn’t flinch as the men approached her.“Miss Weston, we’ll have to ask you to leave,” one of them said, his tone firm but respectful.

She turned slowly, squaring her shoulders, her head held high as though she hadn’t just had her life ripped out from under her. “Don’t touch me,” she said calmly, quietly stepping forward.

Pausing at the doorway, she glanced over her shoulder, sparing a glance at Jamie before her eyes locked with Kai’s. “Enjoy this moment while it lasts. Because when I come back, I’ll take everything you’ve stolen—and more.”

Without waiting for a response, she stormed out, her head held high as she walked past her curious looking staff, reminding herself that she’d be back.

--

Raina stared at the ceiling lost in thought. Her mind reeling from the thought that she had spent three years convincing herself that Kai’s emotional distance was because of his work. ​When she hadn’t gotten pregnant, she had blamed their hectic lives. But now, as realization dawned on her, she saw how wrong she had been.

Kai hadn’t agreed to the artificial insemination out of love or a desire to start a family with her, he had done it to stop her endless pleading. He had never been invested in their marriage, and now, three weeks later as she laid on the doctor’s table, having her first ultrasound, she realized it was now too late.

“Mrs. Ashborne?” The doctor voice pierced through her thoughts, calling her name three times before she finally answered.  The woman then asked to see her in her office.

As Raina passed the nurses’ station, she heard the soft murmurs of whispers and noticed the nurses exchanging nervous glances. Something suddenly didn’t feel right.

Once inside, Raina  sat across from her, her anxiety growing. “Is there something wrong with my baby?” She asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

The doctor hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the papers on her desk. “No, she finally said, her voice quiet. “The baby is healthy, Mrs. Ashborne.”

Raina let out a relieved smile that didn’t last. The doctor’s shifted nervously. “There’s something else.”

Raina frowned. “What do you mean?”

The doctor cleared her throat, her tone apologetic. “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Ashborne…but there’s been a mix-up.” She paused, looking uncomfortable. “The child you’re carrying…it’s not your husband’s. It belongs to someone else…Someone who simply needed a surrogate.”

Raina’s heart stopped for a moment as she stared blankly at the woman. Her world felt like it was coming to an end all over again. She didn’t know whether to scream, cry or collapse in disbelief.