Chapter 1

'Is this how it feels to be happy again?'

As Rosie pulled up to Moore mansion, her smile faltered, and a sense of foreboding settled in. The excitement that had been building inside her gave way to a growing unease; her heart racing with a bad feeling about what awaited her inside.

Distracting herself from the growing unease, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out the pregnancy test result. She unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the familiar words until they landed on her name, boldly printed in black ink. 

A smile spread across her face; one that hadn't surfaced in years. For a moment, her worries receded, and all that mattered was the life growing within her.

"Finally!" She screamed silently, her eyes still lingering on the test result, clouding how the pregnancy would overshadow the harsh realities of her life in the Moore mansion.

To the world, she was the envy of many; the wife of young billionaire Moore Archie, living a life of opulence and privilege. Yet, the truth was far from it. Three years of marriage had yielded nothing but emptiness and confinement. The mansion, with all its grandeur, felt like a tiny, airless cage, and she'd long given up hope of ever breaking free.

Her husband's transformation after their wedding was like night and day; the loving fiancé vanished, replaced by a cold, detached husband. Her mother-in-law, Clementine, relentlessly pressured her about producing an heir. While Arabella, her sister-in-law, spewed venom, her cruelty and resentment toward Rosie were palpable, making every interaction a minefield.

Well… three years of torment were finally about to meet their match. Her journey to freedom began with a life-changing revelation; she was three months pregnant. 

The pregnancy test result clutched in her hand was more than just a piece of paper; it was her ticket to liberation, a concrete proof that would silence her tormentors once and for all. With a soft rustle, she folded the test result and tucked it back into her bag before stepping out of the car. 

As she entered the house, her heels clicked against the floor, the sound echoing through the silence. She sank onto the sofa, her exhaustion palpable. "I'm so tired…" she breathed, slipping off her shoes and letting out a gentle sigh. 

As she leaned back against the plush headrest, her gaze drifted to her stomach. A tender smile spread across her face as she rubbed her belly, feeling the warmth of the tiny life growing within her.

One part of her mind was screaming to call Phoebe, her best friend, and spill the news the moment she got home. But another, more tantalizing part of her wanted to savor the moment, to see the look on Archie's face when she finally shared the secret. 

The anticipation won out, and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Yet, with every passing second, her nerves grew tighter, like strings about to snap.

Impatience got the better of her, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that she needed to hear his voice, even if it meant breaking the silence before their midnight meeting.

'Maybe I should call Archie…' she thought, her fingers instinctively reaching for her phone. Her eyes scanned the contact list, and she smiled wryly as she saw his number pinned at the top; 'Cynosure.' 

She dialed, her heart skipping a beat as the call connected; only to go straight to voicemail. Undeterred, she tried again. This time, the phone rang, but Archie didn't answer.

"Please, pick up," she whispered, her fingers crossed in a silent plea. When the call went unanswered again, she opted for a text message instead. Her thumbs flew across the screen as she typed out a message. 

"Sweetheart, come home early today. Good news awaits you." 

Just as she was about to hit send, Archie's voice drifted down the stairs, catching her off guard, and she hastily backed away from her phone.

"Is he home already?" She placed her phone on the table and slowly stood up. "Why is he home early?"

Her husband's unexpected early return was unprecedented; he usually cited work as an excuse to stay out late, often disappearing for the night without so much as a call or text. But now, as she stood frozen, a single thought dominated her mind.

"Could Victor have already told him?" Her curiosity and excitement propelled her toward the stairs, and she climbed them with a sense of anticipation. 

She burst into the bedroom, her heart racing with fantasies of Archie's warm smile and welcoming arms. But the scene that greeted her was anything but what she'd imagined. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the unexpected sight.

"Hum!"

In her front, on her matrimonial bed, was her husband copulating with her best friend.

The manner she opened the door shocked them, and they stopped to have a one-time glance at her before they continued their sexual match.

Time seemed to freeze as her world shattered. Her eyes locked onto the horrific scene, and her body trembled with anguish. 

The truth stared her right in the face, but her mind refused to accept it. Yet, the pain searing through her heart told a different story; one of betrayal by the two people she loved and trusted most. Phoebe, her closest friend and confidante, had stabbed her in the back in the most unforgiving way.

No, this couldn't be real. 

The weight of Phoebe's betrayal was crushing. How could someone who knew her so intimately, who had shared her deepest secrets and soothed her pain, turn against her like this? 

Rosie felt like she'd been living a lie, her trust shattered into a million pieces. The thought of Phoebe's deceit was suffocating, making that moment feel like a dark, twisted nightmare she was desperately clawing her way out of.

Reality snapped her back into action. She couldn't just stand there, frozen in shock. She needed to confront them; to break the spell of shame that seemed to hold them captive. Her finger trembled as she pointed at them, her voice cracking with anguish. "A-Phoebe…" she stammered, the sound of her friend's name a painful whisper on her lips.

"Archie…"

"How can you do this to me?" She questioned in a low voice.

Archie fell beside Phoebe on the bed and moaned, rubbing his cock under the duvet.

"What's all these, Archie?!" Rosie queried. Her voice rose out of frustration and anger.

Archie stopped rubbing his cock and looked up at her. "Why didn't you knock?" He asked, his voice laced with defiance rather than remorse. "This is what happens when you barge in uninvited."

His flippant remark hit her like a slap, leaving her breathless. "Hun?" The sound torn from her lips in disbelief. His words felt like a fresh wound, searing her heart with pain.

Though numbness threatened to consume her, she found the strength to push back. "This is my room," she declared, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I can enter whenever I want, however I please."

Her eyes blazed with fury as she gritted her teeth. "I did nothing wrong; you did!" She spat. "You should be ashamed, both of you! Hide your faces in shame!" 

Archie's expression shifted to a mock incredulity. "Ashamed of ourselves?" He echoed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. As he stood up from the bed, he snatched his trousers from the floor and yanked them on. "Watch your mouth, woman." 

Her anger boiled over at his audacity. "Watch myself?" She repeated, her voice rising in indignation. Before she could add another word, he turned to the cabinet and picked up a paper, stretching it to her.

"Take."

She collected it, her eyes scanning the paper with growing confusion. "What's this?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

"A divorce paper. Sign it, and we can end this marriage right here, right now." His response was like a punch to her gut. His words echoed in her mind, each syllable a fresh blow to her heart.

A dull ache throbbed in her head, threatening to send her spiraling to the floor, but she steeled herself against showing any weakness, knowing Archie and Phoebe would relish in her pain.  

She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her break, instead summoning every last bit of strength to stand tall and defiant in the face of their betrayal.

"Divorce papers?" She repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. 

Archie's confirmation was curt. "Yes, a divorce letter."

Phoebe chimed in, her tone venomous. "Rosie, are you waiting for an apology? It's a divorce paper; sign it." 

The slur hung in the air, earning Phoebe a withering glare from Rosie. For a moment, Rosie's hands itched to grab Phoebe's hair and drag her across the room, to expose her true nature to the world. But she restrained herself, aware that reacting would only enrage Archie further and destroy her slim chance of salvaging the situation.

Would she stand by and watch the marriage she'd fought so hard to preserve crumble in an instant? The same marriage that had weathered three grueling years of hardship? No, she'd do anything to salvage it. 

With desperation clawing at her heart, she dropped to her knees and grasped Archie's feet, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm sorry, Archie. Please forgive me. I know I'm not the wife you deserve," she begged, the words tearing from her lips like a plea for mercy.

Tears streamed down her face, defying her attempts to hold them back. "Archie, give me another chance," she implored, her voice shaking. "I promise this will stay between us. Just don't sign those papers."

Archie shoved her away, but she clung to his feet, desperate to keep him from slipping away. He pushed her again, harder this time, and she landed on the floor with a thud. Undeterred, Archie snatched his phone from the nightstand and strode toward her, his eyes flashing with accusation.

"Recognize him?" He demanded, thrusting the screen in her face. 

Rosie's eyes widened as she took in the image, her mind reeling. "Thomas?" She breathed, shock etched on her face.

"You had a relationship with another guy before me," he stated, the words laced with accusation. He nodded to himself as if confirming a painful truth. "Fine, he might be your first love. But once you're with me, you should've let him go!" 

His voice rose to a yell. "You chose me, didn't you?"

The anguish in his eyes seared into hers as Rosie met his gaze, the weight of his pain and betrayal palpable.

"I can explain–" she tried to defend herself, but Archie was beyond reason. 

"You think I want to hear your excuses? What could you possibly say?" He cut her off, his voice dripping with disdain. He scrolled through his phone, his eyes flashing with anger as he revealed another picture.

"Deny this," he demanded, his voice cold.

As soon as Rosie saw the last image, the pieces fell into place, and a wave of regret washed over her. She realized with chilling clarity that Phoebe, the one person she'd confided in, was behind Archie's accusations. 

Phoebe was the only one who knew about Thomas, and it dawned on Rosie that she'd likely manipulated Archie; feeding him just enough information to destroy their marriage.

The betrayal stung, and Rosie's mind reeled with the implications. She'd let her guard down around Phoebe; and now she was paying the price.

Rosie shot Phoebe a venomous glance, but Phoebe avoided her gaze, leaning against the wall with an air of innocence. "Archie, it's not what you think; " Rosie tried to explain, but Archie cut her off, uninterested. 

"Just sign the papers, Rosie," he repeated, his voice firm. 

"If she's unwilling to sign, why don't you two settle it in court?" Phoebe intervened, her voice dripping with malice.  

Rosie's anger boiled over, and she clenched her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury. She rose to her feet, her gaze locked on Phoebe with a deadly intensity. "You; " she snarled, lunging toward Phoebe with a violent intent. But Archie grabbed her, holding her back. 

"Don't you dare touch her! Are you trying to blame her now? You're the one who's been deceiving me!" He yelled. 

Rosie's eyes locked onto Archie's. "Can't you just believe me once?" She begged, her voice cracking with desperation.

Archie's laughter was laced with scorn. "Believe you? After all this evidence?" He shook his head, his expression unyielding. "Sign the papers and get out of my life. You're done." 

The finality of his words cut deep, and Rosie's anger surged. She'd had enough of being blamed and manipulated. With a newfound determination, she wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. Using the bed for support, she stood up, her eyes blazing with defiance. 

"How dare you throw me out because of Phoebe?" Rosie's voice trembled with emotion. "I've sacrificed my happiness for yours, and now you're ending our marriage on the one day that was supposed to be special."

Archie's eyebrow arched in curiosity. "What's so special about today?" 

Rosie's gaze drifted to her stomach before snapping back to Archie's face. "I'm–" the words hovered on her lips. But something about Archie's expression made her bite them back. He didn't deserve to know; not now.

With a steely determination, Rosie met Archie's gaze, her eyes flashing with a mix of pain and resolve. "I'll sign the papers." She declared, her voice firm and detached. The words hung in the air, a stark acknowledgment that their marriage was beyond repair. 

In that moment, she seemed to be saying, "If you don't want me, I won't fight to stay."