My Substitute Husband Regrets Letting Me Go

EMMA'S POV

Two pink lines staring back at me from the test bar.  

The doctor’s words kept playing over and over in my head. "Congratulations, you're pregnant. About three weeks along."

Oh. My. God. For someone with PCOS, this was HUGE. I mean, HUGE. It felt like I’d won the lottery... but instead of cash, I got a baby.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked out of the clinic. I was already painting pictures of our future in my mind. 

Sebastian was holding our baby, his usually grave face softening as he held our child. A family of three. My family. What I'd always wanted.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the woman in front of me until it was too late. My shoulder bumped into hers making her nearly fall, and I turned quickly, startled, to see a heavily pregnant woman glaring at me.  

“I’m so sorry,” I said immediately, panic rising in my chest. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you or…”  

The woman’s pretty face hardened. She rubbed her belly protectively, her expression shifting to disdain. 

“Bitch, watch where you’re going! If anything happened to my baby, I’d make sure you paid for it. My boyfriend? He’s not just some random guy. He’s powerful, rich, and connected. If you scratch me so much, he’ll make sure your life is ruined.”

Okay then. Rude. I held up my hands, trying to calm her down. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you should get checked out, just to be safe?” I understood her worry; she would be a mother, too, and mothers could be very protective of their children. I hoped her baby was okay.

She looked at me like she was deciding whether or not to take me up on the offer. Finally, she huffed and muttered, “Fine. I’ll get checked. But you better hope everything’s fine.”  

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. What if something happened to her child? Would I get arrested? “Of course. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”  I rushed out.

She didn’t respond. Instead, she turned and walked back toward the hospital while I stood there, my heart racing. I hadn’t meant to bump into her, but her coldness caught me off guard.  

“Are you coming or not?” She asked coldly. I looked up to see her staring at me angrily. I was supposed to go with her. “If anything happens to me, I want to be able to get you arrested. Let's go.” 

I knew I’d bumped into the wrong woman. But honestly, considering how intense the mama bear energy was coming off her, I totally got it. I mean, protectiveness levels go way up when you’re carrying a little human inside you, right?

I rushed up to her, and a doctor was there to attend to us. We both sat in his office for a while as he touched a few parts of her body, mainly her stomach and used his stethoscope on her round, bulging belly.

“Everything is fine.” He said once he was done. I let out a breath immediately after. Thank God.

“Are you sure?” She asked, and the doctor nodded. What else did she want?

“I'm leaving.” I began as I stood up, “Sorry again for bumping into you. I hope you have a safe delivery.” I said and walked out without waiting for a response.

I stepped onto the curb to hail a cab. As the car pulled up, I climbed in, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My hand instinctively went to my belly, resting there as if to feel the life growing inside of me.

“Where to?” The cab driver asked, and I quickly answered, not wanting to waste his time.

The city blurred outside the window as we moved, but my mind drifted entirely somewhere else, back three years ago.  

Matthew.  

His name hurt just thinking about it. I could still see his smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed. It had been three years since he died, three years since the accident that had taken him away from me—and three years since his heart had been given to Sebastian.  

Sebastian. My husband.  

I married him for Matthew’s heart. At least, that’s how it started. I told myself I needed to be close to Sebastian because of Matthew's heart to have something of his. But somewhere along the way, things changed. I changed.  

I fell in love with Sebastian.  

The thought made me smile softly, the butterflies in my stomach fluttering. It didn’t erase the memories of Matthew, but now I felt better thinking about him; I didn't feel like crying.

My phone buzzed in my bag, pulling me out of my thoughts. I fished it out and saw Sebastian’s name on the screen. A huge smile came on my face as I answered.  

“Hello?” I answered, my voice lighter than usual.  

“Emma,” he said, his tone soft, though there was something in it that I couldn’t quite place. “Are you on your way home? I want to talk to you about something.”  

“I am,” I said, my excitement returning. “I have something to tell you, too. Good news.”  

“What's that?” He asked, but I quickly shook my head; I couldn't tell him over the phone.

“I'll tell you at home,” I answered with a little giggle, my cheeks stretching into a wide smile.

“Okay,” he said after a pause. “I’ll see you at home.”  

He ended the call, and I stared at the screen momentarily, my heart racing again. I couldn’t wait to tell him. I couldn’t wait to see his face when I told him we would have a baby.  

When the cab pulled up to our house, I stepped out and walked up the driveway, my fingers brushing against my stomach with a tiny smile. The lights were on inside, and I could see Sebastian sitting on the couch through the open window.  

I turned the doorknob and pushed it open, and he looked up immediately, his eyes meeting mine. Something was hesitant in his eyes, something I hadn’t seen before. Sebastian was never hesitant or scared of anything.

“What’s going on?” I asked, stepping closer. Did something happen to him? I looked him up and down, but he looked fine.

Sebastian stood, his hands slipping into his pockets. “Emma, there’s something I need to tell you.”  

I tilted my head, confused by his tone. “Okay… what is it?”  

He hesitated, and the room fell into a very uncomfortable silence. This had never happened between us before, even when we weren't saying anything. Finally, he said, “Ava’s back. She’s… here.”  

The words hit me harshly. My mind reeled, trying to process what he’d just said. Ava. His ex-girlfriend. The one who left him years ago. The one he never talked about. Why was she back? What was she doing here? How did she even find this place? I had so many questions in my head, but I couldn't ask them with how confused I was.

“She’s here?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Where is she?” I asked, looking around the quiet living room.

Before Sebastian could answer, the sound of footsteps drew my attention. A woman stepped out from the hallway, her scent filling the room—a familiar scent.

It was her.  

THE pregnant woman I had bumped into at the hospital.