Two

Ella placed a trembling hand over her belly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Did I… do something wrong?”

Richard sighed, his expression impassive. “You did nothing, Ella.” His voice was cold, distant. “I just don’t want to continue this marriage.”

He turned, ready to leave, but then hesitated. Without meeting her eyes, he asked, “You said you had something to tell me. What was it?”

Ella’s throat tightened. How could she possibly tell him about the baby now? The words clung to her tongue, refusing to leave.

She forced a weak smile, masking her heartbreak. “It’s nothing important anymore.”

Richard barely reacted. “If you say so.”

And with that, he walked away.

Ella watched as his figure disappeared down the hall. She tilted her head back, willing the tears to stay in, but they defied her, spilling down her cheeks. His words echoed in her mind, each syllable slicing through her like a blade.

Her gaze drifted to the beautifully arranged dinner table. The meal she had poured her heart into his favorite dishes, carefully prepared just for him.

Now, they meant nothing.

Tears blurred her vision as she stood, grabbing the plates one by one and dumping them into the trash. The rich aroma that once filled the room now made her nauseous.

She pressed a protective hand to her stomach, her voice a broken whisper. “Your daddy doesn’t want us anymore… but I’ll protect you. I promise.”

Her knees felt weak as the weight of her new reality sank in. Her mind drifted to the day she first met Richard at the orphanage, the place she once called home.

She had been raised there by her mother, who dedicated her life to caring for abandoned children. Richard had been a donor, a young billionaire with a generous heart or so she had believed. He was her first love, the man she had dreamed of spending forever with.

She had thought he loved her, too.

But love wasn’t enough. Not for Richard.

With a heavy heart, she picked up the divorce papers without even reading them. She flipped to the last page, gripped the pen with shaking fingers, and signed her name.

That night, Ella cried herself to sleep on the couch, the weight of her shattered dreams pressing down on her.

The Next Morning

The sound of hurried footsteps stirred Ella awake. Blinking groggily, she sat up, realizing she had spent the entire night curled up on the couch.

She rubbed her tired eyes and looked around. The mansion was bustling with activity. Maids were decorating the living room, setting up extravagant floral arrangements, and preparing an array of dishes in the dining area.

Confused, Ella called out to one of the maids. “What’s going on?”

The young woman hesitated before answering. “Young Master asked us to prepare for a guest.”

A guest?

Ella’s brows knitted together. “Okay… you can go.”

The maid nodded and quickly excused herself. Ella scanned the room, but Richard was nowhere in sight. Who was so important that the entire house was being prepared for them?

She sighed, shaking her head. None of this concerned her anymore.

Dragging herself upstairs, she stepped into the master bedroom and headed straight to the bathroom. As she scrubbed her face, last night’s events played in her mind like a cruel movie. Her chest tightened, and before she could stop them, hot tears slid down her cheeks again.

She inhaled deeply, trying to compose herself.

Undressing, she slipped into the bathtub, letting the cold water wash over her. She shut her eyes, sinking deeper, as if trying to drown the pain clinging to her heart.

Ten minutes passed before she finally emerged, drying herself off and slipping into a simple dress. Just as she was about to leave the room, the distant hum of a car pulling into the driveway caught her attention.

Curious, she moved to the window.

Her heart lifted slightly at the sight of Julianna Brown Richard’s mother stepping out of the sleek black car.

Julianna!

Ella had always admired her mother-in-law. She had been nothing but kind, always treating Ella warmly despite their difference in social status. Perhaps, if she told Julianna about the divorce, she would step in and defend her.

But then—

Another figure stepped out of the car.

A young woman, dressed in head-to-toe designer, walked gracefully behind Julianna. Her flawless features and confident posture radiated elegance.

Ella’s smile faltered.

Who was she?

Downstairs

By the time Ella descended the stairs, Richard was already standing in the living room. His expression was unreadable, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

A moment later, the doors swung open, and Julianna walked in.

Ella’s face lit up as she hurried forward. “Mom! It’s been so long I’ve missed you.”

Julianna barely reacted. Instead, she glanced around. “Can I at least have a seat before you start bombarding me?” Her tone was curt, almost distant.

Ella paused, taken aback, but quickly masked it with a smile. “Of course, Mom. Please, sit.”

Julianna took a seat on the couch, and the young woman beside her followed.

Ella hesitated before speaking. “I never expected you to be the guest we were preparing for! If I had known, I would’ve made special arrangements.”

Julianna scoffed. “Is that why you didn’t even offer me a drink? Not even water? How disappointing.” Her gaze was sharp, laced with something Ella couldn’t quite decipher.

Ella felt a pang of hurt but quickly turned to the maid. “Please bring some refreshments for Mom.” She forced a smile. “I was just so happy to see you.”

“Mm.” Julianna’s response was short, dismissive.

Ella swallowed the growing lump in her throat. “You really are the best, Mom.” She turned her gaze to the young woman, whose cold stare hadn’t wavered. “And you must be… Mom’s new secretary?”

Julianna’s lips curled into a smirk. “No. She’s not my secretary.”

Ella’s heart skipped a beat.

If she wasn’t a secretary… then who was she?

And why was Julianna looking at her like that?