Chapter 1

 Neriah’s POV

A throbbing pain split through my head, and my heels ached like crazy as I slumped onto my revolving chair, kicking away my stilettos. I just sealed a multi-billion dollar deal for my husband's company and I couldn't feel more proud of myself.

“Woohoo,” I squeaked and let out a tired yawn.

Just as I was about to reach for a bottle of water, a loud ringing noise split across my office.

“Mrs Chadwick on the line,” I yawned into the receiver immediately as I picked the call.

“Ma'am your attention is urgently needed in Baskville hospital, your sister is in labour,” the voice spoke with urgency and before I could say another word, the line went dead.

“Fuck!” I muttered as I began scrambling around for my shoes.

Fixing my dress, I ran out of the office and into my car, whilst ignoring the stare I got from passers by. My sister is my only family and right now she's my priority. I drove in a blur to Baskville hospital, my heartbeat thumping in my chest.

“I'm…I'm here to see Laura Stone,” I said breathlessly.

The nurses exchanged weird glances and turned back to me.

“There's no Laura Stone in our records, ma'am,” one of the nurses said.

“What do you mean?” I asked, furrowing my brows. “I just received a call from this hospital that my sister is in labour!”

“Well, ma'am, the only Laura admitted in the maternity ward goes by the name Laura Chadwick,” the nurse asserted. “And her husband just came in a few hours ago.”

I was taken aback. Why would Laura register her name with my husband's surname? My mind was too tired to fix the puzzle, so I asked the nurse, “Which ward is she in?”

“VIP ward 631 wing A.”

Another surprise. How did Laura afford a VIP ward in Baskville hospital? She'd told me that her pregnancy was the result of a one-night stand and she doesn't know the father of the child.

Shaking off the haunting questions, I stepped out of the elevator and walked into the hallway. Excitedly, I threw the door to the ward open, a wide smile spread across my face, but what I saw next caused blood to drain from my face. My husband, Liam, was cradling my sister's newborn baby in his arms, whilst staring at my sister in the most affectionate way.

“Li…Liam, what are you doing here?” I asked in surprise.

“What am I doing here?” Liam scoffed. “Your sister just put to bed and I'm here to support her. Is that so much of a big deal?”

The usual warmth in Liam's eyes has changed into something cold and distant.

“You said you were on a business trip in Mauritius. Why'd you lie to me, Liam?”

“Neriah, can you stop being dramatic? Stop causing a scene and let me have a father-and-son moment,” Liam snapped.

“What?” I gasped and turned to Laura's direction.

Laura had a defiant look on her face as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ears.

“Laura, why did you register your name with my husband's surname?” I asked, hoping to confirm that I heard Liam wrong.

“Well, because he is the father of my child,” Laura retorted.

“You…you said you had a one night stand with a stranger and you don't know who the father of the baby is,” I rambled on. I was being delusional, but I just didn't want to accept the truth staring me in the face.

Suddenly, it all began to make sense, the endless business trips that Liam talked about. He wasn't travelling, he was instead, having an affair with my younger sister and this child was the result of their sexual escapades.

My breath hitched in my throat. Tears stung at the back of my eyes and a searing pain slashed through my heart. I felt my knees give way as I stumbled backwards, holding the edge of the hospital bed for support.

“Liam, why…what did I do wrong?” I inquired as tears choked my words.

Liam heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes in disgust. “You still don't get it do you? Neriah you're barren and can't have children. I need a child to continue the Chadwick legacy and your sister offered to help, you should be grateful to your sister instead of throwing accusations in the air.”

“Offered to help?” I scoffed and turned to Laura. “So you seduced my husband, after all I've done for you, Laura.”

“Oh come on,” Laura fired back. “It’s not my fault that you can't have children. Quit playing saint and accept reality, Neriah. Who knows, you might even be the child's godmother.”

Liam let out a small laugh and patted Laura's head. “That's so thoughtful of you, Laura.”

“And you, Neriah, why don't you go home and prepare some chicken broth for Laura. She's tired from childbirth and would need some food,” Liam said.

Tears slipped from the side of my eyes as I staggered out of the ward, ignoring their excited giggles. Ten years of my life had been a lie and the two people I loved the most in the world, had been the hand behind the knife that stabbed me in the chest.