Chapter 1

NORA

“Welcome, Mrs. Nora,” the maid greeted me with a forced smile, her eyes darting nervously toward the floor, clearly startled by my sudden return.

I didn’t miss the hesitation in her voice, nor the way her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the tray of food in her hands. It was as if she wasn’t expecting me to be home so soon.

“Where is my husband?” I asked, trying to sound casual, though the tension in my chest was anything but.

She stiffened, her face blanching just a little. “He… he’s in his office,” she muttered, a quick glance flicking toward the hallway.

“No.” I raised a brow, an amused smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Where is Thomas?”

Her eyes darted toward the door to the left, and I knew immediately that she wasn’t telling me everything.

“Mira.” I addressed her more directly, keeping my voice light but firm. “Where’s Thomas? I have good news for him,” I added, waving the papers in my hand—papers that were about to change everything.

Her gaze flickered, and she swallowed hard. “He’s… in the bedroom, Mrs. Nora.”

I couldn’t hide the small surge of triumph that flickered within me. He would never expect this. No, none of them would.

I smiled brightly at Mira before turning on my heel. “Thank you, Mira. I’ll just—” still trying to keep the cheer in my voice as I walked toward the room, each step feeling heavier than the last. The door to our bedroom was slightly ajar, and as I pushed it open, I froze.

There they were.

Thomas—my husband—was in bed, tangled in the sheets with Vivian, my stepsister. His eyes met mine for a split second before he turned back to her, as if he didn’t even care that I was standing there.

“Thomas?” I said, my voice cracking as I tried to get his attention. My stomach twisted, nausea surging up as I stepped into the room. “What is this? What the hell is going on?”

He didn’t even flinch, lighting a cigarette with a slow, deliberate motion. He glanced at me, barely registering my presence. “You didn’t even knock,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I figured you’d at least have the decency to announce yourself.”

“Oh, so you’ve seen it for yourself now,” she said to me, a wicked smile curling on her lips and then she turned her gaze back to Thomas. “I guess we can finally make this public, my love.”

I felt a sickening jolt in my chest. I clutched the papers tighter in my hand, but the excitement I had once felt, the hope, was now shattered. The room felt like it was spinning. I tried to hold back the tears, tried to stay composed, but it was like everything inside me was being torn apart.

“Thomas, I… I’m pregnant, and this is what you are doing?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of the truth. I wanted him to care. I wanted him to react, to show some sign that this meant something to him. But he didn’t. Instead, he exhaled a cloud of smoke and gave me a cold, apathetic look.

“Pregnant?” He scoffed, leaning back on the bed, exhaling the smoke slowly. “Well, that’s just good for you. I don’t have time to father any child that comes out of your womb. We’re done, Nora.”

“Why?” I asked with tears on my face.

“I never wanted you, Nora. You were just the safest option when I needed someone to settle for and now I am done.” He said without hesitation.

“What?” My voice caught in my throat. The papers I was holding fell to the floor, forgotten.

“Done,” he repeated, his eyes now fixed on Vivian. “I’ve had enough of you. Of this marriage. Of all of it.”

His words hit me like a slap to the face. “You’re just going to throw me out?” I whispered, the tears threatening to fall now, but I refused to let them.

Vivian laughed, her voice mocking. “What did you expect, Nora? You really think a man like Thomas would settle for someone like you? It was only a matter of time before he got tired of you.”

Thomas didn’t even bother to respond to her. He just looked at me with the same cold, emotionless gaze.

I felt a burning shame in my chest, the humiliation sweeping through me. I stood there for a long moment, trying to process what was happening, trying to convince myself that this wasn’t real.

But it was.

“You’re nothing but a burden,” Thomas added, his tone colder now. “You were never fit to be my wife. You’ve always been too much of a mess. I also don’t love you,I never did. And it was a mistake to pretend I did. Just get out, Nora. The divorce papers are on the desk. Sign them and I don’t want to see you anymore.”

I looked at the desk across the room, where the divorce papers sat, staring back at me like a cruel joke. They were there. Waiting for me.

“Thomas,” I choked out, my voice breaking. “Please, don’t do this. I’m carrying your child. Don’t—”

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be, don’t make me hit you” he interrupted coldly. “You’ve already lost everything, you are getting nothing from me. Just sign the papers and go.”

Vivian smirked at me, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Goodbye, Nora. It’s better this way sister.”

I stared at her, my heart thudding in my chest like it was trying to break free. “I took you in,” I said, my voice shaking. “When our parents died, I gave you everything I had left. A home. A sister. A chance.”

Vivian laughed coldly, tilting her head with mock pity. “The biggest mistake you made was helping me,” she said, stepping closer. “We aren’t even related, Nora. You should’ve left me where you found me.”

I watched Thomas walk upstairs, I followed him to apologize to him, But before I could make it to the stairs, Vivian’s hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

“Vivian, don’t touch me,” I said, trying to pull away, but she shoved me—hard.

My feet slipped against the polished wood. My back slammed into the wall. Pain exploded in my shoulder. I gasped.

Then she opened the front door wide.

The rain slashed through the entrance like icy needles, wind roaring in, tossing my hair into my face. Thunder cracked overhead, and lightning lit up the sky.

“OUT!” Vivian screamed, her eyes wild now, her face twisted in triumph. “You don’t belong here!”

“No,” I cried, shaking my head. “I need to—please—”

I didn’t get to finish.

Vivian shoved me again, and this time, I stumbled straight out into the storm.

The cold hit me like a slap. My bare feet splashed into a puddle as I stumbled down the steps. I turned back, rain blurring my vision—and then the door slammed shut.

She locked it.

I pounded on it once. Twice. “Vivian! Please! Please!”

No answer.

My body trembled.

I stumbled on the floor as pain tore through me, sharp and sudden.

A raw scream escaped my lips.

Warmth spread between my thighs, fast, relentless.

Blood.

It soaked through my clothes, mixed with the rain, pooled beneath me.

My knees hit the ground hard. 

Something inside me broke.

I had just lost my child.