CHAPTER 1

Camilla's POV.

I sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the pregnancy test in my trembling hands, I couldn't help but smile at the two bright lines staring back at me. This little stick held the promise of a future I had only ever dreamed of, a future with Lawrence, my contract husband, the man I had grown to love beyond the bounds of our temporary marriage.

Imagining the joy on his face when I would share this news with him filled me with warmth and excitement.

It made me think of how it all started.

We met through Jane, my best friend. Lawrence was her friend from high school, and she thought we’d be a good match. Our first meeting was in a quiet restaurant in LA. I was nervous, but he was calm and collected. His eyes held something unreadable like he had lived too many lives in one. By the end of the night, he offered me a contract marriage.

I thought it was crazy, but something in him looked lonely. Like he just needed someone to be there. So I said yes. And somewhere along the line, I fell for him—for real.

It was like I was dragged out of that memory and slammed into the present when the door suddenly burst open.

It was like I was dragged out of my memory to the present as the door burst open revealing Lawrence who stormed into the room with an expression twisted with rage. He tossed an envelope in my direction, and as it landed at my feet, several photos spilled out, scattering across the floor.

My heart plummeted as I took in the images.

It was me and Clinton, my ex, captured in moments that could easily be misconstrued as something they weren't.

I saw myself on the bed with Clinton, and though our position was not grievous, still it was not bearable at Lawrence's sight.

I looked at Lawrence and his face wore an accusation that could cut through the air, and I felt it piercing through my soul.

"It's not what it looks like Lawrence, I didn't cheat on you. "I protested even though my voice trembled with a mixture of fear and desperation. But he wouldn't listen, his anger fueling his disbelief.

"Don't lie to me, Camilla. You said you were with your sister that night," he countered.

"Is this your sister with you on the bed?"

I closed my eyes, willing myself to calm down as I recounted the events of that fateful evening. I was supposed to meet my sister at a club and get to spend the night with her but she didn't show up. When I was about to leave, Clinton showed up and I couldn't turn him down when he begged for a bottle of drink since our relationship never ended on bad terms.

"We had a drink, and then... I don't remember much after that. But I swear nothing happened between us." I explained, my words tumbling out in a rush.

Lawrence's expression softened momentarily, but the doubt still lingered in his eyes as he handed me a pile of papers.

"I wanted to make you my forever wife, Camilla. But you've shattered that dream with your betrayal, this is a stain on my image and reputation. The pictures are already everywhere on the media and internet," he revealed bitterly.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I reached out to take the papers. My heart fell as I realized it was a divorce paper canceling our contract marriage which is yet to come to an end.

"Please, Lawrence, you have to believe me," I pleaded, but he refused to even look at me.

“Before I return, I want you to leave my house,” he said coldly and turned to walk out, leaving me shattered and alone.

How was I supposed to know Clinton had set me up? I honestly thought everything that happened that night was behind me. I didn’t expect it to come back and ruin everything.

We were just having a drink, and I was trying to be polite because things between us had ended on good terms. But then, out of nowhere, I started feeling dizzy and passed out, and the next thing I remember was waking up alone in a hotel room.

At the time, I thought he had helped me, maybe taken me somewhere safe after I passed out. That’s what made sense to me. I never imagined he had planned something so terrible. I never thought he’d go as far as setting me up like that.

I sank to the floor, completely overwhelmed, letting the weight of his accusations crush me from the inside out. I didn’t try to hold back the tears—they came freely, without warning.

And right then, the truth of it all hit me. Our marriage hadn’t just gone through a rough patch. It had fallen apart right in front of me. At that moment, I realized I had probably lost the one person I had ever truly loved.

Everything was happening so fast, I didn’t even get the chance to tell him about my pregnancy. The one thing that could’ve changed everything. But now it didn’t feel like something I could mention, not in the middle of all that. Not when he looked at me like I was someone he could never trust again. If I told him now, what if he said the baby wasn’t his? What if he believed Clinton was the father?

Hours passed without any sign of him coming back home. I tried to contact him but all to no avail. Pain, confusion, and silence filled the space as I pushed myself to start packing my things slowly. I had already called Jane. She didn’t understand much from the call and had promised to show up at the house as soon as possible.

A few minutes later, she walked in, and the moment I saw her, I felt this small bit of hope rise in my chest. I didn’t waste time—I started explaining everything to her, from the beginning.

I told her what had happened, how I felt, how confused and overwhelmed I was. I guess… I was hoping for a little comfort. Maybe some understanding. She was close to Lawrence, sure, but she was my best friend too. I thought maybe, just maybe, she could talk to him. Help him understand and help me fix things.

But before I could even finish talking, she just exploded.

“I can’t believe you did that to him,” she said in an irritated tone, her eyes wide with anger. “You betrayed Lawrence. After everything he’s done for you, this is what you do?”

It hit me so hard that I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there, staring at her. My mouth opened, but nothing came out. My heart was pounding. Her words didn’t even feel real at first.

“Jane… no,” I finally managed, barely above a whisper. “That’s not what happened. I didn’t betray him. I didn’t mean for any of this—”

But she wasn’t listening. She was already shaking her head, already backing away like she didn’t even want to hear it.

And at that moment, something broke. I couldn’t believe it. My best friend—someone I trusted, someone I thought would stand by me, especially now—thought the absolute worst of me and that hurt me more than anything else.

Tears ran down my cheeks as I struggled to find the right words to defend myself.

"Jane, please, you have to believe me," I pleaded.

"I would never do anything to hurt Lawrence. He means everything to me."

But Jane's expression remained cold and unforgiving and without another word, she walked out, leaving me with so many questions.

I wondered why she couldn't believe me.

With a heavy heart, I gathered my belongings and prepared to leave the house until I would get the chance to have everything resolved.

About thirty minutes later, I was already at the bus station, just about to board when something suddenly hit me—I had left an important document back at Lawrence’s house. It wasn’t just any paper. It was something I couldn’t afford to lose, no matter what.

My heart sank. I stood there for a moment, torn between going back and letting it go. Then I sighed and turned back, deciding I couldn't leave it behind. I flagged down a cab and gave the driver the address, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach the whole ride there.

When I got to the house, I didn’t waste time. I went straight to the bedroom, Lawrence and I used to share. The moment I stepped inside, I froze. What I saw made my heart stop.