Chapter 1: Pregnant

The night I found out I was pregnant was supposed to be the happiest night of my life.

The fluorescent lights of the private hospital corridor hummed softly as I stepped out of the doctor’s office, my fingers trembling around the crisp ultrasound report. Positive. I pressed a hand to my still-flat stomach, a disbelieving laugh bubbling up from my throat.

After three years of this cold, loveless marriage to Ethan, fate had finally given us a miracle.

A baby. Our baby.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Knight,” Dr. Lang had said with a warm smile, sliding the report across his mahogany desk. “You’re about six weeks along and everything looks perfect.”

Perfect.

The word echoed in my mind as I walked toward the elevator, heels clicking against the marble floor. For the first time in years, I let myself believe it. Ethan had been distant lately—buried in board meetings, late nights at the office, that perpetual shadow in his eyes whenever he looked at me.

But this? This would change everything. A child would bridge the gap the billion-dollar merger between Hart Group and Knight Holdings had created. He would see how much I loved him, how I’d sacrificed my own dreams to stand by his side. He’d finally love me back.

I pulled out my phone in the parking garage, dialing his number with eager fingers. It rang once, twice, then went to voicemail. “Hi, you’ve reached Ethan Knight. Leave a message.” His voice was clipped, professional. I smiled anyway, hanging up without speaking. He was probably in a meeting. I’d surprise him instead. Tonight will be unforgettable, I’ll make sure of it.

The drive back toward the city blurred in a haze of golden afternoon light. I stopped at a quaint boutique in the upscale shopping district as my eyes landed on a tiny pair of baby shoes—soft white leather with delicate stitching, no bigger than my palm. I bought them without hesitation, tucking the little box into my designer bag like a secret treasure.

“They’re for our future,” I whispered to myself in the rearview mirror, imagining Ethan’s rare, genuine smile. The one that had made me fall for him during our arranged engagement three years ago. Back then, I’d been twenty-one, full of naive hope that love would bloom in the soil of business alliances.

I’d cooked his favorite meals on nights he came home early, stayed up learning about Knight International’s latest projects so I could discuss them intelligently, even turned down my own ambitions at Hart Group to support him.

There had been moments. Small ones, like the charity gala where we’d first danced, his hand warm on my waist as he whispered that I looked beautiful. Or the time after my father’s harsh criticism of my leadership ideas, when Ethan had pulled me into his arms and said, “You’re stronger than they know, Seraphina.”

Those memories kept me going through the silences, the canceled dinners, the way his eyes sometimes lingered on my twin sister Selena instead of me.

By the time I reached our sprawling mansion on the outskirts of the city, the sun was already dipping low, painting the sky in hues of rose and amber.

I’d spent the afternoon drive planning every detail: it’ll be a private candlelit dinner on the terrace, his favorite steak prepared medium-rare by our chef, soft music playing in the background.

I’d wear the new silk dress I got last week for the dinner I planned for next week. It accentuated my figure and it would be perfect for the occasion. The baby shoes would be the reveal—placed beside his plate with a handwritten note: Our little miracle is on the way. I love you, always. —S

My heart fluttered as the wrought-iron gates of our home swung open. But the moment the car rolled up the long driveway, something felt… off. The mansion, usually bustling with staff even at this hour, was strangely quiet. No gardeners trimming the hedges, no distant chatter from the kitchen. The grand entrance lights glowed softly, but the air carried an unnatural stillness.

I stepped out of the car, smoothing my cream blouse. “Thank you, Marcus,” I said to the driver, offering him a polite smile as he took the key from me. He nodded but didn’t meet my eyes, hurrying away a little too quickly. Odd.

Inside, the foyer echoed with my footsteps. Crystal chandeliers cast long shadows across the marble floors, and the scent of fresh lilies from the vases did nothing to ease the prickling unease at the back of my neck. Where was everyone? Usually, at least one maid would greet me, asking if I needed tea or to draw a bath.

“Anna?” I called softly for our head housekeeper, the one loyal servant who’d been with me since my wedding day. She emerged from the side hallway, her face pale, eyes darting nervously toward the grand staircase.

“Miss Seraphina,” she murmured, wringing her hands. “You’re… home early.”

“Is everything alright?” I asked, tilting my head. Anna had always been kind to me, more like a confidante than staff. Today, she looked like she wanted to say more but swallowed it down.

“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Knight is… upstairs. In the master suite.” Her voice wavered on the last words. She glanced away again, as if the wallpaper held urgent secrets. “I should… check on dinner.”

Before I could press her, she slipped back into the shadows. My stomach twisted, but I pushed the feeling aside. Nerves from the pregnancy, I told myself. Or maybe Ethan had a surprise of his own planned. Hope was a stubborn thing—it clung tighter the more reality tried to pry it loose.

Clutching the ultrasound report and the little shoebox like talismans, I climbed the sweeping staircase. The carpet muffled my steps, but my pulse thundered in my ears. Each riser brought me closer to the life I’d dreamed of. I imagined bursting into the room, throwing my arms around him, watching his cold mask crack into joy. We’re going to be a full family, Ethan. Finally.

Halfway up, I heard it. Laughter. Soft, melodic and feminine. It drifted down from the upper hallway like an unwelcome breeze. Selena’s laughter.

My twin sister has been staying with us more often lately, helping with family business matters, according to her. Her voice always carried that bright, confident lilt—the one that turned heads at every society event. But why was she here now, laughing like that?

I paused on the landing, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the oddity. Maybe they were sharing a light moment before I arrived. Planning something for my benefit. The thought warmed me as I continued forward, the master bedroom door coming into view at the end of the long corridor. It was half-open, golden light spilling out onto the Persian runner.

Another laugh—deeper this time. Ethan’s. Rich, amused, the way he rarely sounded with me anymore. My steps slowed instinctively. The baby shoes felt heavier in my bag. I should call out, announce myself. But my feet carried me closer, silent and drawn by a morbid curiosity I couldn’t name.

I stopped just outside the door, hidden by the ornate frame. Through the narrow gap, I could see fragments: the rumpled silk sheets on our king-sized bed, a discarded tie on the floor that looked suspiciously like Ethan’s favorite charcoal one. Shadows moved within.

“…can’t believe she still doesn’t suspect a thing,” Selena’s voice purred, laced with wicked delight. “Poor, devoted Seraphina. Always so eager to please.”

Ethan chuckled, low and intimate. The sound twisted in my gut like a knife. “She’s useful for the merger, but that’s all. Tomorrow, I’ll finally be free of her. The divorce papers are ready. Once Hart Group transfers the final shares, we can end this charade.”

My breath caught in my throat. The ultrasound report crinkled in my tightening grip. Free of her? Divorce? This had to be a misunderstanding. A cruel joke. My free hand flew to my stomach, protecting the tiny life inside as if it could shield us both.

Selena’s voice dropped to a sultry whisper. “And then you’ll be mine completely. No more pretending. I’ve waited long enough, Ethan.”

“God, yes,” he groaned. The sound of movement—bodies shifting, lips meeting—filtered through the crack. “Seraphina was never the one I wanted. You understand me. You challenge me. She’s just… convenient. Weak.”

The world tilted beneath my feet. The hallway spun in a dizzying blur of crystal and gold. Years of sacrifices flashed through my mind: the lonely nights, the forced smiles at galas, the way I’d defended him to my father even when his coldness cut deep. The baby shoes in my bag suddenly felt like a mockery. Our supposed miracle, his child.

Tears burned my eyes, but I couldn’t move. Not yet. My legs were rooted, heart shattering into pieces too small to ever reassemble. This wasn’t happening. Not on the night that was supposed to change everything.

“Tomorrow,” Ethan repeated, his voice thick with satisfaction. “Tomorrow I’ll finally be free of her.”

The report slipped from my fingers, fluttering silently to the floor like a fallen dream and in that moment, my world ended.