CHAPTER 1 

-Sarah’s Pov-

I never thought marriage would feel so empty. Three years with Xavier, yet it was as if I was invisible to him. We were supposed to be a fated mate, a bond that the Moon Goddess had destined, yet fate seemed to have played a cruel trick on us.

When Xavier proposed to me, it was a beautiful thing despite the compulsion. I knew he couldn't refuse because, after all, we were meant to be together. He was my mate and so was I for him.

"I have to accept you as my partner, but don't ever expect anything more from me because you know exactly why."

Those were his words when he accepted me back then when he knew that I was his mate. In fact, I still remember his cold voice, piercing into my heart that was too warm for him. Or, was I too kind to him?

It was just that it was painful to be in a marriage where my mate didn’t love me. I guess I had gotten used to it because it happened anyway.

Xavier ... That husband of mine only loved my twin sister,Mariya. And of course, marrying me was because I was just a shadow of my completely identical twin sister. Maybe he thought, it didn’t matter if people were different as long as they had the same face. 

If not me, who was the woman who could accept such reasoning?

Xavier rarely even spoke to me since we got married. It was really like I was something that wasn't considered. Existing and visible, but he clearly chose not to look at me.

His attention was always elsewhere, his mind preoccupied with things I didn't know about. At first, I tried to engage him in conversation, to bridge the gap between us. However, my attempts were only met with disinterest or subtle rejection and he left me all alone, bus with his stuff.

At first, I often wondered why she chose me. Was it really because of our similarities, a superficial connection? Or was there something deeper, a hidden reason that escaped my understanding? Until I found the answer, that broke my heart.

My heart longed for the intimacy we should have shared like any other couple, the bond that should have bound us together in joy and sorrow. Instead, I felt like an outsider in my own marriage, a silent observer in a life that felt increasingly strange.

This time I sighed as I was in the car after I got home from shopping. Earlier, I had stopped by the pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test and since I had been feeling something strange in my body for the past few days, I had bought one.

Yeah ... how could I have guessed that I was pregnant? Because I had read quite a few books about pregnancy signs which I apparently experienced too.

The result … I had a smile on my lips when I found out that I was pregnant.

However, of course, I was happy about this news. I was finally pregnant, with an offspring that I could give to Xavier, my husband.

"He'll be happy," I said as I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel.

He might hate me, but we did have sex this past month because, to him, I wasMariya. I thought I was fine as long as me and him stayed together even if my heart was broken.

"You'll be loved by your father, I'm sure of it," I said as I rubbed my stomach, to my baby-to-be.

"Let's get back home and meet your father."

I started the car and started driving at a moderate speed towards home. Not only was I impatient to see Xavier because I missed him despite his cold behavior towards me, but also because he had to hear this news.

My heart was pounding as the car approached the house. I was so impatient that as soon as I reached the courtyard, I turned off the engine.

I started walking towards the porch of the house and once I reached the front, opened the door. I was shocked.

Yeah ... I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart racing as I tried to take in the scene in front of me. There they were—Xavier and my twin sister, cuddled together on the couch, oblivious to my presence. They were even kissing, making my heart feel broken, aching but not bleeding.

What was heartbreaking was that he kissed her full of love.

I really wanted to surprise him with my pregnancy today. Which I thought, Xavier would be happy with this news and might change his behavior towards me. He could at least be nice to me, right? It didn't matter without love, but at least there was a feeling of respect for me after knowing about this pregnancy. And this … failed my plan.

But I felt so tongue-tied when I saw them, even speaking was difficult as if I had run out of words in my mind.

But I struggled to open my lips and they looked at me as if they felt no guilt. 

"What are you guys doing?" I asked shakily. 

My heart, which had been pounding to give them a surprise and see their reaction, was now replaced with a body trembling with shock and pain.

My hands trembled at my sides, a lump forming in my throat. How could this have happened? We were supposed to be a fated couple, destined for each other. But it was all a lie. He never cared about me; he always thought ofMariya, my twin sister, because we looked alike. The pain pierced deeper than I could ever imagine.

"Why are you here,Mariya?" I asked, looking at my twin sister. 

My voice did sound a little loud to her because I was so hurt that even she probably couldn't feel it.

I was the one married to Xavier, but they were the ones making out like it was not a bad thing to do.

Was there anything more painful than this? Or ... could anyone take my place like this? 

Shit! My happiness had been replaced by an overwhelming sadness that I couldn't forget. They were evil! Xavier was evil and so was my twin sister. They showed themselves to have no heart for someone like me at all.

"Shouldn't you be abroad,Mariya?" I asked, trembling.