4

Samantha’s POV

The first thing I felt as consciousness started to creep back was a bone-chilling cold, followed by the sharp smell of antiseptic and a rhythmic beeping next to my ear. I tried to move my fingers, but my body felt incredibly heavy.

A sharp, pulsing pain in my lower abdomen reminded me of the deep crimson stain I had seen on the airport bathroom floor. My heart started racing wildly. Using whatever strength I had left, I tried to feel my stomach beneath the stiff white blanket.

"My baby... Please... don’t..."

Hot tears began to stream down the corners of my eyes. My thoughts immediately flew to David. I swore I would return to Beverly Hills only to watch David crumble with my own hands.

The door to the room opened softly. A middle-aged nurse came in with a clipboard in her hand. The moment she saw my eyes open, she gave a reassuring smile.

"Relax, Mrs. Miller. You are in a small clinic in Vermont. You passed out due to extreme exhaustion and dehydration."

"The baby... my baby?" I gripped the edge of the blanket, staring at her demandingly.

The nurse nodded gently, stepping closer to check my IV. "She’s a strong fighter, just like her mother. Her heartbeat is stable, but you experienced an 'abortion imminens' due to extreme stress. That bleeding was a warning. You must be on absolute bedrest, Miss. Otherwise, we could lose her."

I closed my eyes, letting the suppressed sobs finally break out in silence. Gratitude and hatred surged simultaneously in my chest. My baby survived. But the fact that her existence was threatened because of David's betrayal made every breath I took painful.

"Thank you, God," I whispered, though my heart still felt frozen.

"There is someone who wants to meet you. He is the one who brought you here last night," the nurse said before stepping out.

The door opened again, and this time a tall figure in a flannel shirt walked in. I immediately tensed up. My survival instinct screamed. I tried to sit up straight, despite my stomach protesting.

"Who are you? Did David send you?" my voice sharpened, my eyes eyeing him suspiciously.

The man stopped at the foot of the bed, putting his hands in his pockets. He stared at me with an unreadable expression, which suddenly made me realize that I knew him.

"Brian?!" I asked.

"David? I would rather rot in these woods than become your husband's lackey, Sam. It's nice that you still recognize the guy you dumped at prom for your 'perfect prince,'" Brian retorted with a dry laugh.

I slowly lowered my defenses. Brian was the only person who hated David as much as I did since school days. He always considered David as a thief who took everything away from him.

"Why are you here? In Vermont? And by the way, thank you for saving me and I apologize for what I said just now."

Brian pulled a wooden chair and sat down beside my bed. "Anytime, Sam. I'm glad to meet you again, it feels like a dream. My fiancee preferred to have an affair with my own business partner. I came here looking for peace. And what happened to you and David? Something bad and horrible, surely right?"

I remained silent, staring at the dull ceiling of the clinic. Realizing that Brian was also a victim of betrayal made the ice wall around me crack a little. My mouth just opened, telling him what happened.

The words poured out, and Brian's expression was filled with pity.

"Shit! David is indeed an asshole, but I didn't expect him to be so desperate to sleep with your half-sister," Brian growled, his fist clenched.

"Don't say his name again," I interrupted coldly. "Even hearing his name feels sickening."

I stared at Brian, trying to change the subject. "Then you? How did you survive? I mean, how long have you been here?"

Brian gave a faint smile. "I've only been here for one week, the initial plan was for me to move here, but I realized that I couldn't really leave my world, Sam. I manage a modeling agency from here remotely. My agency, Prime Vision, is quite large in New York and LA. Have you heard of it?"

I was surprised to see the Brian now. He was no longer a high school basketball athlete, but the owner of a well-known agency.

"Sure! I didn't expect that to be yours, Brian! I follow one of the supermodels from your agency quite often. I'm glad to hear about how you have progressed!"

Brian chuckled softly. "Well, that's life, good fortune is on my side. By the way, where will you live here? I have a pretty large house, Sam. You can stay there until you give birth."

"No," I replied quickly. "I'm going to my grandfather's cabin. That's the only place I have left now."

"Your grandfather has a cabin here? Wow, it turns out there are a lot of things I don't know about you yet. As I recall, during our one-year relationship back then, you had often told stories about your life and family, I thought everything was completely revealed by you."

I could only raise both hands while shaking my head gently.

"Thank you for your offer, Brian, but I'm fine."

Brian breathed a long sigh. "Alright. I trust you, but I will continue to keep an eye on you. I think I'll stay here until you give birth, because I can't just leave you alone."

That sentence felt suffocating. It should have been David who would be my companion when I would give birth later. The attention that came now actually from someone I hadn't met in a long time. It hurts so much.

"Well, the doctor said you have to rest. In that case, please rest and clear your mind, I have to work on something, I'll be back here later," Brian said.

He stood up smiling warmly, then he waved his hand and stepped toward the front door.

But just a few steps away, I called out to Brian again.

"Yes, what is it?" he asked.

"Can you please get me the television remote? I want to watch something so it won't be too lonely."

"Sure!" Brian said, he picked up the television remote and handed it to me. "Calm yourself, Samantha. You don't need to think about anything, I'm here, I'll help you. And also, for the medical treatment matters, I will be the one paying for it."

I could only crack a smile, so confused with my current situation.

After Brian left, I quickly turned on the television. As soon as the screen came on, my heart felt like it was hit by a hammer because of what was being shown on the screen now.

An official press conference from the Miller family residence.

David stood there, wearing a neat black suit. Beside him, Erica stood in a black dress that was so elegant. Erica wrapped her arm around David's arm, her face appearing radiant with victory.

"My first marriage is over, Samantha is no longer my wife..." David's voice sounded cold, very far from the man begging at the stairs yesterday. "We decided not to hide any longer. For the sake of the baby's future that Erica is carrying, I, David Miller, announce our engagement today. The wedding will be held in the near future."

The television screen showed Erica leaning her head on David's shoulder. The woman stared at the camera, as if staring directly into my eyes, smiling with the most disgusting victory in the world.

My hand trembled until the remote in my grip fell to the floor and shattered. The wavering that once appeared when I imagined David sad, now evaporated without a trace. Replaced by embers burning every inch of my body's cells.

Yesterday he pleaded. Today he announces a wedding to the woman who destroyed my life.

"So that's how it is..." I whispered, my voice sounding like a snake's hiss. "You really are a monster, David. Go ahead and celebrate your wedding."