Chapter 0001

Rachel sat on the examination bed with her fingers twisting the edge of her purse, trying to ignore the sound of her heartbeat thudding inside her ears.

Across from her, Dr. Halden flipped through her medical file, his brow slowly creasing the deeper he read.

“Mrs. Voss,” he began with a sigh that already felt like bad news.

Rachel lifted her eyes, forcing a smile that barely reached her eyes. “It's okay, you can tell me.”

The doctor hesitated. That alone made her stomach twist in an unusual way. She had been coming for tests for months, chasing the answer to the nagging pain in her lower abdomen, the bleeding.

“You've been coming here for months,” he said gently. “We've run multiple scans, blood tests, tissue samples. I wanted to be absolutely sure before speaking to you.”

Her throat tightened, “Doctor…please.”

He nodded slowly, “The abnormal cells we observed earlier have progressed. You have early stage cervical cancer.”

Rachel blinked, her fingers tightening around her purse. “You mean cancer?”

Dr. Halden nodded slowly, adjusting his glasses to the bridge of his nose. “Yes, it's in its early stage, that's the good news.”

“Is…is that why I can't conceive?” Rachel asked softly.

“Yes,” He confirmed, setting her file aside, “your infertility was not a simple hormonal imbalance. The cancer has been developing for some time. As I said earlier the treatment is still time sensitive.”

Those words stung. The word ‘Infertile’ had already shattered the joy in her blissful marriage but she held onto one thing which was hope. But it turns out that hope wasn't there for her anymore.

Bryce, her beloved husband had already become so distant and disappointed, and Evangeline—his mother, was even worse. She despised Rachel from the very first day the doctor announced the complications in her womb.

“Will I still be able to have children?” She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“No,” Dr. Halden said gently, “I am afraid not. Even with the treatment, it might still be impossible. Unless there is a miracle.”

A quiet, strangled breath escaped her. She covered her mouth, afraid it would break into sobs.

Dr. Halden watched her carefully, sympathetic but professional. “We will begin treatment immediately, You will survive this.” He assured.

Rachel nodded, though she wasn't sure she would ever survive this. Not after almost three years of marriage, destroyed with the news of infertility.

She stood up slowly, “please, don't send anything to my husband's office,” she said quietly. “I'll handle it.”

Halden frowned. “You can't face this alone.”

“I have been facing it alone,”she murmured before she could stop herself. “Please,”

He let out a tender smile, “I won't let anyone know, but please, try not to overwork yourself.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Rachel's mind reeled as she walked out of the clinic. ‘Cancer’, the word felt heavy. She climbed into the black limousine that waited for her at the curb.

“You okay, Mrs. Voss?” Alton, her driver asked.

“Yes,” she forced a smile, “just tired.”

As the car pulled away, Rachel leaned her head against the window. She pressed her hands to her abdomen, tears threatening to spill out.

Would Bryce care? Of course not. He would act polite— maybe concerned as a husband should be, but there will be no warmth.

Evangeline had already manipulated his mind towards Rachel and he was so loyal and complied to every of her words. They had not even slept in the same room for almost a year.

Right now, all she wanted was Bryce's arm around her, cuddling her and making her forget the cruelty of life, just this once. Only if it could be possible.

On reaching the mansion gate, Rachel immediately composed herself, blinking away the tears that clouded her eyes and sitting upright.

She got down from the car and walked inside the mansion slowly, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She could hear voices— Bryce's voice and another feminine voice coming from the living room.

Bryce was standing in his tall composed manner with his fingers dipped inside his pocket. But standing next to him was a woman— young, beautiful and heavily pregnant. Her hands rested on her round belly.

Bryce held the lady with warmth and stared into her eyes, then lowered his head and gave her a peck on the forehead.

Rachel gasped.

Bryce's head snapped up immediately. “Rachel? What are you doing home so early?”

Rachel stared at the woman, then at Bryce and then round the stomach.

“Who…Who is she?” Rachel whispered.

The woman immediately clung to Bryce's arm with intimate familiarity. Her beauty was impeccable, dark curls spilling over her shoulders and cascading down her back.

The woman rubbed her belly proudly, “it's so good to finally see the mansion,” she said sharply, “it would be a very perfect place to raise our son. Right dear?”

The words pierced through Rachel like a blade. Son? Who's son? Bryce would never impregnate any woman out of wedlock. It was a rule the Voss family followed. So why would this lady claim to be pregnant for Bryce— her own husband.

Bryce stood besides the woman,as though it were normal. His hands now wrapped against the lady's wrist. Rachel felt her lungs tighten, her heart pounding painfully against her ribcage.

“Rachel,” Bryce finally said, “We need to talk.”

Before Rachel could say a word, another voice boomed from the top of the grand staircase.

“Bryce, if you claim Marissa is pregnant with your child, I demand you end this farce immediately. Right now!” Evangeline descended from the stairs.

Rachel swallowed hard, “Bryce? Is this child yours?”

“Rachel,” Bryce said, “Look—”

Rachel clenched her fist, “please Bryce— Just tell me.”

“What? Tell you what?” Evangeline cut in sharply, “After everything he has been through? After years of marriage without a child? No heir! No progress!”

Rachel closed her eyes tightly, trying to process what was going on. “Bryce, what have you done?” She whispered.

Evangeline stirred. “Bryce, I demand you divorce her tonight!”