Vienna finally walked out of her late ex’s shadow. She met Warren, fell in love, and married him in a flash. Until his “no-blood-relation” stepsister moved in, stirring drama, planting doubts, making Vienna question if there was something forbidden between them. Dealing with the stepsister already drained her. Then came the twist—The heart beating in Warren’s chest belonged to her ex. The misunderstanding ran deep. They both thought they were just each other’s "replacement."Divorce. Separation. Until the truth surfaced. And so did a surprise pregnancy test. Warren stared at the report, tears falling. This time—he’s not letting Vienna go again.
view moreVienna’s POV
"You are becoming a mother," The doctor winked at me as she handed me the paper. "Congratulations."
I excitedly covered my mouth, then took the report over with my trembling hands, "Oh my! Thank you! thank you so much, doc!" I strode fast out of the exam room after hugging her. All I could think about was getting home, throwing my arms around my husband Warren’s neck, and blurting out, "You’re going to be a dad!"
It felt almost unreal. Warren is the light of my life. When I was at my most desperate, he gave me a home. And now we have our own child. I can't imagine anything more wonderful than this.
I was ecstatic on my way home that I barely noticed when I bumped into someone in the hallway.
"Oops, sorry!" I exclaimed, looking up into a familiar face.
"Miss Vienna," his voice barked, surprised and slightly annoyed.
"Dr. Smith!"
He frowned. "Not again. I thought you’d let this go. I’ve told you before, we can’t disclose anything about our organ recipients. It’s confidential."
My lips parted, stunned. He thought I was here for the same thing again.
I raised my hand, flashing the ring with a proper smile, "I think you misunderstood, Dr. Smith. I’m not here for information about Daniel. I’m married now… and pregnant. I came for a check-up."
His face softened immediately, his frown melting into awkwardness. "Ah. I didn't expect... I thought you would always… I guess I owe you an apology. Anyway, congratulations."
I nodded politely. "It was about time I moved on," I said with a small smile.
"I’m glad," Dr. Smith smiled back.
The person we talked about was Daniel. He is my ex boyfriend; he had been everything to me.
We grew up together as orphans, finding in each other the kind of family we’d both yearned for.
But after that accident, his heart donated to someone in need.
I couldn't let it go. At that moment, my mind was twisted, and all I wanted to know was in what stranger's chest Daniel's heart was beating?
Therefore, I pestered Dr. Smith for over a year, hoping he would tell me something about Daniel's recipient.
That was the darkest moment of my life, and Dr. Smith also suffered a lot because of my irrational behavior.
It wasn't until Warren, my current husband came along that he guided me out of that endless darkness with his tenderness and love.
My background was nothing like Warren’s. I had no parents, no family to turn to.
Warren, on the other hand, came from a wealthy family as his father ran one of the top hotel chains in the city.
Warren once mentioned that every time he saw me, his heart would race, a feeling that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Now, with his child growing inside me, everything felt like a movie, as if life had wrapped itself up in the most perfect, cinematic way. Becoming Warren's wife and having a family with him, I am lucky.
But just as I was lost in my thoughts about the future, a sharp cry pulled me back to reality.
"Help! I need help here!"
I turned toward the ER and froze.
Warren?
He came barreling through the entrance, carrying a woman in his arms. Her pants were soaked in blood. My stomach turned.
What was he doing here? He’d had an important investor meeting this morning—he was supposed to be across town. And now he was here, carrying a woman bleeding from her lower body into the emergency room.
I stepped closer, as if in slow-motion, heart hammering. Then, I heard the whispers float through the nurses’ station:
"Miscarriage. The bleeding won’t stop."
"She didn’t even know she was pregnant."
"Too rough… probably sex."
My breath caught.
"It can’t be," I whispered. My mind started racing.
Warren had been coming home late for months now. Long calls after dinner, sometimes disappearing to "work" late into the night.
Last month, that sudden week-long trip to Switzerland—he said his stepsister Desiree had planned a ski getaway without asking, and he couldn’t say no. She was willful. Spoiled. She always seemed to get her way with Warren.
My mind struggled to process what I’d just seen.
Who was that woman in his arms? Had he been using work and Desiree as excuses? Was he… cheating on me?
"No, no, no," I whimpered, dread pooling in my stomach.
I waited for hours, trying to stay calm, asking the secretary again and again what room they were in. "That’s confidential, Miss," was her only reply.
Eventually, an observant nurse pitied me and finally gave me the room number. My legs felt stiff as I walked down the sterile corridor and pushed the door open.
It was Desiree. Lying in the bed, IV in her arm, face pale and turned toward the wall.
Relief bloomed in me for a moment. It was just his stepsister, not some other woman. But suspicion crept in just as quickly. Something still didn’t sit right.
"Desiree? What happened?" I asked quietly.
She turned to me slowly, eyes rimmed red. "Vienna? What are you doing here?" she snapped. "Get out. This is none of your business."
I stepped back, startled. Before I could say anything else, Warren walked in.
"Vienna?" He looked at me, eyebrows raised in surprise.
I plastered on a calm expression. "Hey Warren, I was here for a GI exam," I lied smoothly—this wasn’t the time to reveal my pregnancy. "I saw you rushing in. Thought I’d check on you."
"Oh," he frowned. "Now’s not a good time."
"What happened, Warren? Why are you here with her? I thought you—"
"Shh, be quiet, Vienna," he interrupted me bluntly. "You’re stressing her out."
He walked over to Desiree, brushing her hair back from her forehead. "Get some rest, okay?" he murmured.
Something about that gentle gesture made my skin crawl. They weren’t related by blood. What if…?
Warren turned back, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me out of the room. Once the door was shut behind us, he spoke low.
"She had a miscarriage," he said. "Graduation party. Got drunk, hooked up with someone. She didn’t know she was pregnant."
I stared at him. "Who was the guy? Why didn’t he bring her in?"
He shook his head. "No idea. She’s not ready to talk about it."
"She clings to you, Warren. Always has. I’ve never even heard her mention a boyfriend. And now she’s miscarried and you can’t even name the father?"
His jaw tightened. "Are you seriously suggesting—"
"I don’t know what I’m suggesting," I cut in. "But lately, things haven’t felt right. You’re distant. That trip to Switzerland—those photos she posted—"
Warren’s expression darkened. "Stop. You’re being paranoid."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Just tell me the truth. Are you sure the baby had nothing to do with you?"
His eyes burned into mine. He stepped back. "I’m not doing this here. Not in a hospital. Go home, Vienna. We’ll talk later."
But he didn’t come home that night.
Around 11 PM, I got a text: Staying with Desiree. She needs me.
I didn’t reply. I just opened my drawer, stuffed the pregnancy report inside, and shut it hard.
Vienna’s POVDesiree giggled, eyes bright as she scrolled through her phone. “It’s your ex—Lauren!” she squealed, practically bouncing on the couch. “Wow, she hasn’t changed a thing. Still stunning.”I halted just inside the living room. I remembered the ex Desiree had once eagerly shown me. The one who looked disturbingly similar to me.Warren barely glanced over, eyes fixed on the TV. “Mm-hmm,” he grunted, disinterested.I tilted my head slightly, watching him carefully. Was that lack of reaction genuine indifference? Or was he trying not to stir up trouble, pretending not to care?“When did you two even connect?” Warren asked lazily, eyes still on the screen as he stretched an arm over the back of the couch.“Oh, just today,” Desiree chirped. “I saw she’d followed me on Instagram, so I peeked at her profile. She’s killing it in Europe, you know—huge career, so sophisticated. Really impressive, right?” She emphasized the words with a sly edge, her tone dancing just shy of smug. My f
Vienna’s POVI woke up early the next morning, as the sunlight crept through the curtains. When I stepped out into the hallway, I heard soft voices and the clink of dishes.Bella and James were sitting together at the dining table, quietly eating breakfast. I tried to slip past unnoticed, but Bella’s sharp eyes caught me immediately."V!" she called, pushing back her chair. She quickly followed me into the kitchen, her cheeks flushed. "I’m so sorry about last night," she began, lowering her voice. "We… uh… we kind of lost track of time, and…""It’s okay, Bell," I interrupted softly, offering her a small smile.But Bella frowned. "Wait… you’re not mad, are you?""No," I shook my head. "But… I do think it’s time I move out soon."Bella’s eyes widened. "What? No, V! Please don’t feel pressured because of us. If I’d known it would affect you like this—""It’s not just that," I cut in gently, brushing a hand over her arm. "I’ve been thinking… After everything he’s done for me, I think it’s
Vienna’s POVI took a slow breath, glancing at Desiree, who was slumped weakly against the arm of the sofa. Her pale face was turned slightly away, as if she didn’t have the strength to even meet my eyes.The truth was—I shouldn’t even care. I wasn’t living with Warren anymore. Technically, this decision wasn’t mine. But as I sat there, every part of me, every instinct, screamed no.But what could I do? How could I be the villain here—the cold wife who denied her sick sister-in-law comfort?Even if part of me suspected she was exaggerating, I couldn’t deny what was right in front of me.Her skin was pale, almost translucent under the soft lights. And those dark circles under her eyes? They weren’t from a few missed hours of sleep—they looked like they’d been carved there over days, maybe weeks, of restless nights.Maybe, I thought reluctantly, some of this wasn’t an act. Maybe the depression was real. Maybe she really was struggling.I forced myself to sit straighter. "If… if it will h
Vienna’s POVI cleared my throat gently. "I, uh—I honestly didn’t realize that asking Desiree to move out would lead to… all of this," I said, choosing my words carefully. I glanced at Desiree’s pale, tearful face.Before I could go on, Elliot raised a firm hand. "Vienna, this is not your fault—not at all," he said, his tone sharp and authoritative. His eyes shifted to Warren, hardening. "This is Warren’s failure, through and through."I blinked, startled, as I looked at Warren. He looked just as shocked.Elliot didn’t stop. "As a husband, you failed to set proper boundaries and mediate the relationship between your wife and your sister. And as a brother, you’ve clearly failed to look after Desiree’s emotional well-being."I saw Warren stiffen beside me, his jaw tightening. I could tell Elliot’s words were cutting deep—especially with our looming divorce his father was still blissfully unaware of.Warren sat up straighter, his voice measured but defensive. "Father, you know how much p
Vienna’s POVMonica’s eyes flashed for a second. But she quickly pasted on a look of wounded dignity, clutching her pearl necklace."How dare you, Warren? After all I’ve done for you, you speak to your poor stepmother like this?" Her voice trembled just enough to make her look like the victim.I watched her carefully—and in that moment, it hit me. This was where Desiree got her flair for drama. The same practiced self-pity, the same crocodile tears, the same knack for twisting a scene.I drew in a slow breath, stepping forward, my voice cutting clean through the tension."Monica," I said smoothly, my eyes locking onto hers, "if you don’t want the consequences, don’t accuse others of sins you’re guilty of yourself."Her mouth opened slightly, as if to retort—but nothing came out. For a brief moment, she simply gaped, clearly stunned that I’d dare stand my ground and fire back at her like that.I tilted my head just slightly, adding with a razor-sharp smile, "Pointing fingers at others w
Vienna’s POVI’d just wrapped up my prenatal checkup. The morning sickness had become unbearable lately—persistent enough to disrupt work. Even the scent of caramelized sugar sent me running to the bathrooms.The gynecologist assured me it was normal, though annoying. She handed me a small box of natural herbal pills."Nothing to worry about," she’d said kindly, patting my hand. "This will help ease the nausea without affecting the baby. Take it with each meal."I nodded, thanked her, and headed out. Once in the parking lot, I slid into the driver’s seat of my Fiat. I shut the door with a sigh, and rested my forehead against the steering wheel for a moment.Then my phone buzzed.Warren.I stared at the screen. My first instinct was to ignore it—avoid whatever awkward conversation he had planned. But my hand moved almost on its own, instinctively touching the pendant around my neck.I’d promised not to shut him out entirely. To at least stay in touch.Exhaling slowly, I hit Answer and h
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Mga Comments