Chapter 2

Nova's POV

I groaned as I slowly tried to open my eyes, I had to squint them just to concentrate on the bright light shining above me. I looked round to see I was in a room, a hospital room to be exact. I was surrounded by beeping machines and sterile white walls. A faint smell of antiseptic hung in the air.

A gentle voice spoke beside me. "Welcome back. I am Dr Smith. You've been out since last night."

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my stomach made me gasp. Dr Smith quickly pressed a button, and a nurse rushed in to adjust my bed.

"What...what happened?" I stammered.

Dr Smith lowered his gaze and spoke softly, "You were brought in last night, bleeding heavily. We had to perform emergency surgery to save your life."

My mind was foggy, but memories began to resurface. The engagement, the argument with Jace, the slap, the fall...and lastly the blood. Everything that happened was real.

But Dr. Smith's next words shook me to my core. "Unfortunately, we were unable to save the baby."

Baby? What baby?

“I wasn't pregnant sir. You must have been mistaken.”

“You were. 4 weeks pregnant actually.” Dr Smith argued.

I lay there, stunned, as the news echoed in my head. I couldn't believe it. Pregnant? How? When? I thought back to my last period, but my mind was a blur. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I realized that I had lost my child... a child I didn't even know I had.

Dr. Smith's voice brought me back to reality. "Aside from the extremely high level of aspirin we detected in your system, the miscarriage was also caused by physical trauma. You need to have proper rest, no sudden movement or any form of strenuous activity."

I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around everything.

The door opened, and an older nurse came in with a gentle smile. "I  have some paperwork for you to fill out. And I'll need to take some information from you."

I nodded, taking the clipboard from her. As I began to fill out the forms, I noticed something that made my heart skip a beat. A question about my emergency contact.

Who could I put down? Jace? After what he'd done to me? I didn't think so, he wouldn't even care. My parents were dead, and I had no other family.

Just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, the door swung open and a lady walked in, smirking as she eyed my form on the bed. I immediately recognized her as the lady Jace proposed to last night.

But what was she doing here?

"Nova, darling," she chirped. "I heard you……almost died. I just had to come and see for myself. I never got the chance to introduce myself so I'll do it now. I'm Naomi Quinn, Jace’s assistant.”

And then it dawned on me, that all those late-night calls and excuses of scolding the rude assistant were just pretense. And to think it was the same Naomi I had been calling to have little talks with and also help with work to ease Jace's stress made me realize the level of stupidity I had shown them.

Naomi sauntered over to my bedside. "Oh, don't be sad. I just wanted to share the good news with you. Even though you tried to sabotage my surprise engagement, Jace and I are getting married in a few months and we'll be soo thrilled to have you as our chief bridesmaid."

I felt a pang of pain at her words, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry again. "Please leave,” I muttered.

"Here, I brought these," she said, pulling out a sheaf of papers from her purse. "Divorce papers. Jace wants you to sign them."

I stared at her, incredulous. "You expect me to sign these now?" I should have expected it but a part of me still wished that this was all a terrible nightmare.

Naomi shrugged. "Why not? It's not like you have anything to gain by holding out. Jace has already moved on, and you're just...well, holding on to nothing."

I took the papers from her, my eyes scanning the pages in my hand, my eyes blurring as I scanned the legal jargon. But I knew what it meant. This was the end of my marriage. The end of my life with Jace.

I picked up the pen and signed the papers. It was over.

Naomi's smile returned as she took the papers back from me. "Excellent. Thank you, sister-in-law," she grinned. "I'll make sure Jace gets these and maybe you'll find someone else on our wedding day.”

And with that, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving me feeling empty and alone.

I looked up at the old nurse who had been waiting for me to write down a contact person. "I-I don't have anyone to put down," I croaked.

The nurse's expression softened. "That's okay, dear. We'll figure something out.”

I scribbled my signature on the form, my hand shaking slightly. "I'll just take a cab home," I told the nurse.

The nurse nodded sympathetically. "Okay, dear. I'll call one for you."

As I waited for the cab, I felt a sense of numbness wash over me. What was I going to do now? The cab arrived, and I got in, giving the driver my address. I sat in the back surrounded by the ruins of my life. I had lost everything: my life's work, my marriage and my unborn child.

I didn't want to go home, knowing I might face Sarabi and Jace. And probably, Naomi. The same people responsible for the death of my child!

I didn't want to stay in the same house the murderers of my child stayed in, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. But knowing how Jace hated living in the past, he wouldn't want to stay in that house either.

But it seemed Jace was one step ahead of me.

The cab stopped in front of my apartment and I could see my belongings were scattered all over the sidewalk, soaked and ruined. Some people were even rummaging through my stuff, stealing what they could.

My heart sank. Jace must have thrown me out, literally.

But how could he? I still have some ownership of the house, even with the divorce I shouldn't be sent away like this, standing under the drizzle rain, staring at the wreckage of my life, I wasn't even bothered, I just hoped the water would wash away all my pain.

My knees grew weak and they finally gave out. I slumped to the floor with heaviness in my heart and wailed like a baby.

What was I supposed to do now? Where am I supposed to go?

I knew no one around here to sleep over. The drizzle had already turned into a heavy downpour and I couldn't even see the road properly. Plus I was already in soo much pain to move, my limbs only grew weaker by the second and I struggled to stand under the cold.

Even though he moved my things, it didn't seem like he was around. The outside light was off and luckily I had spare keys with me.

But as I reached the apartment building and inserted my key the door suddenly opened. I saw a man standing in the doorway, staring at me.

Jace had not only sent me out, he had sold the house.