Chapter 1

Elara's POV 

I sat quietly in the doctor's office, the pungent smell of antiseptic filling my nostrils as I cradled my trembling hands in my lap. The world felt unsteady beneath me. My mind replayed the doctor's grim word on a loop: 

"If you carry the baby to term, you won't survive and if you terminate the pregnancy there is a chance we can treat cancer."

A chance. Not even a guarantee.

I wanted to scream, cry — anything to expel the confusion and despair suffocating me. 

How could I choose between the fragile life growing inside me and my own survival? How could I? Just last week, my husband, Damian and I had hoped that the test results would come out positive. We have laughed, dreamed and planned a whole lot ahead for our future and that of the baby. But this? I have never imagined it would come to this.

My trembling hands hovered around my phone as I debated calling Damian . When the call connected, I froze. How could I tell him that the baby we've hoped for, waited for —or myself— might not have a future. It's catastrophic, and it will definitely tear him apart.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and finally said. "Can you meet me at the hospital?"

"I'm in a meeting. I'll come as soon as I can," Damian replied curtly..

The call ended, leaving me sitting in stunned silence. I rubbed my stomach gently, as if trying to shield the fragile life within from the weight of my anguish. I tried to find comfort in Damian's promise, whispering to myself: He'll be here soon. He'll definitely understand. He'll be by my side.

The door creaked open and the doctor entered. "Mrs. Darkmoor," she called, handing me a prescription. "Take these medications regularly to reduce the risk of a miscarriage." Couldn't find my voice, I nodded mechanically, tucking my paper into my bag before stepping out of the office.

As I sat in the hospital's waiting area, my thoughts between fear and hope. What if none of us made it? It was then I saw a familiar face —my best friend, Lyra, emerging from another doctor's office.

Lyra's face glowed with joy, her protective hands resting over her belly. The doctor beside her smiled warmly. "Your baby is healthy, Lyra. Congratulations! Just remember to come in for regular check-ups."

"Thank you, Doctor," Lyra replied, beaming with a smile. "My husband and I have been waiting for this baby for so long. He is on his way now — I can't wait to share the news with him."

My heart twisted. I hadn't known Lyra was married, let alone pregnant. The happiness on Lyra's face was radiant, but it was a bittersweet sight. A wave of bitterness and envy surged through me, but it was quickly replaced by guilt. Lyra deserved her joy, and I wish her nothing but happiness and health.

I was still grappling with my emotions, when I caught sight of Damian by the door. Relief washed down on me, and tears brimmed in my eyes. But the smile I had prepared faded away when he didn't look at me. Instead, he walked straight into Lyra's arms.

I froze, my breath caught in my throat as I watched Damian and Lyra greeted each other with a hug. Lyra's face lit up as she linked her arms with him and they walked towards the parking lot.

What's happening? No, this can't be. These two that I trusted and gave everything to, can't betray me like this. I shook my head vigorously as if that would somehow erase the reality happening before me.

With my trembling body and pounding heart, I followed at a distance. The dim lighting of the nearly empty parking lot cast long shadows as I trailed them. I stayed hidden, my back pressed against a cold concrete pillar listening to their conversation.

"Wasn't Elara supposed to meet you here?" Lyra asked. "You don't have to see me off. Go and meet her."

"How can she compare to you? I told her I was in a meeting. Let her wait." Came Damian 's reply. 

"I noticed Elara's been looking off lately," Lyra pressed. "She's always going to the hospital. What if something is wrong with her?"

"If something happens to her, that will be great," he replied coldly. "I'd love for it to be cancer."

Lyra laughed, the sound cruel and mocking. "Do you have time to stay with me tonight?"

"Of course," Damian replied, his voice was disgustingly sweet. "I've been so busy dealing with Elara's ridiculous family that I have been neglecting you. Let me make it up to you."

My body felt like it had turned to ice as I stood frozen, yet beneath the paralyzing cold, a nauseating heat crept up my spine, beads of sweat forming on my forehead. My hands clenched into fists, the nail digging into my palm. Hot tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision as my thoughts spiraled into chaos. Why didn't I see this coming? How can I let this happen?

I watched their figures draw closer, entwined in an affectionate embrace.

Summoning every ounce of the strength within me, I stepped forward. "Damian ."

Both Damian and Lyra turned towards me, shock plastered on their faces, but Damian's shock morphed into amusement.

"Are you following me?" His voice was dripping with mockery, and a smirk playing on his lips.

What? I couldn't believe my ears. No guilt. No remorse. "Don't you have anything to say?" My voice cracked as I demanded.

Damian shrugged nonchalantly. "It's exactly what you saw."

The casual cruelty of his words hit me like a slap. My expression darkened as I spat the words, "It's over between us, bastard. I, Elara Cadman, reject you, Damian Darkmoor, as my husband and mate."

I stood there, trembling, waiting for me to be consumed either by rage or heartbreak from the rejection pain, but instead I felt hollow.

The silence hung between us. Damian’s smirk didn’t waver, and the mocking light in his eyes didn’t fade..

The more I looked at him, the more the man I had loved, trusted and married in the past three years lost all familiarity. Was he the same Damian? This man right here felt like a stranger.

Then the chilling realization hit me. "Was Damian even your name?”