Chapter 3: Thrown Away Like Nothing

Chandria’s POV

"Ahh!" A sharp cry escaped my lips as unbearable pain shot through me. Tears streamed down my face as I gasped for breath, my entire body trembling. My vision blurred from the agony, and when I glanced up, my eyes locked onto Daniel.

For a brief moment, I saw his expression falter. His gaze fell to the crimson stain seeping between my thighs. He looked like he wanted to step forward, to come closer… but before he could, Catherine grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Oh, she's just acting!" Catherine sneered, rolling her eyes. "This is just one of her tricks. She loves attention, Daniel. You should know that by now."

I wanted to scream at her, to tell her she was wrong, that this pain was real. But my body was giving up on me. My head spun, my vision darkened, and the world around me began to fade. I felt myself slipping away, my strength draining fast.

"Daniel… please…" My voice was weak, barely a whisper. I couldn’t stand, couldn’t even lift myself off the cold floor. I saw Daniel hesitate again. His hand lifted slightly, as if reaching for me. For a second, I thought he would help me, that he would prove me wrong—that he wasn’t the cruel man he was pretending to be.

But I was wrong.

To my utter horror, he turned to his security guards and spoke in a cold, detached voice.

"Throw her outside."

My heart shattered into a million pieces.

"No! Daniel, please!" I begged, my voice desperate and raw. I reached out for him, but rough hands grabbed me before I could. The guards lifted me effortlessly, my weak body unable to resist them.

I sobbed, struggling, but I was too weak. "Please… don’t do this…!"

But my pleas fell on deaf ears.

As I was dragged away, I saw Catherine move closer to Daniel. Her lips curled into a victorious smirk before she pressed a kiss against his lips—right in front of me. My heart clenched painfully as Daniel stood still, his eyes locked on mine even as Catherine kissed him.

When she finally pulled away, she placed a hand on his chest, her voice dripping with fake concern.

"Don't worry about her," she cooed, trailing her fingers down his shirt. "She's nothing. Just a pathetic liar trying to get your sympathy. That blood? Probably staged. She’d do anything for attention, Daniel. Just forget about her."

Daniel said nothing.

Then, to my utter devastation, he let Catherine pull him away. He turned his back on me. I watched helplessly as his hand slid down to Catherine’s waist, holding her possessively.

And just like that, they disappeared from my sight.

The guards carried me outside like I was nothing more than trash. When they finally let go, my body crashed onto the hard ground. My face hit the cold pavement, sending a sharp sting through my cheek.

Pain consumed me.

I lay there, sobbing, my heart and body broken beyond repair.

I turned my head, my gaze falling on the mansion I once called home. Memories flooded my mind—laughter, whispers of love, stolen kisses, and warm embraces. All the moments I had shared with Daniel, all the love I had given him… it all meant nothing to him now.

"Daniel…" I whispered, my fingers twitching as I weakly reached out toward the mansion. As if somehow, if I just reached far enough, I could bring back what we had lost.

But before I could stretch my fingers any further, darkness swallowed me whole.

—

The sound of soft beeping pulled me from the abyss of unconsciousness. My eyelids fluttered open, my head pounding as I slowly registered my surroundings.

A hospital.

How did I even get here?

I tried to recall the last thing I remembered, but the moment I did, a sharp pain stabbed through my skull. I winced, my fingers instinctively clutching my forehead.

With a shaky breath, I forced myself to sit up. Every muscle in my body ached, but I needed answers.

Just as I managed to pull myself upright, a voice startled me.

"You’re finally awake, Ma’am Chandria."

My heart leaped in my chest. I turned my head toward the source of the voice, my breath catching when I recognized the man standing beside me.

It was Daniel’s butler.

"You…" My voice came out hoarse and weak. "Did you bring me here?"

The butler gave a small nod. "Yes, ma’am.”

A surge of memories flooded my mind—Daniel’s cold eyes, his betrayal, Catherine’s mocking smirk, and the unbearable pain that tore through my body. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, each beat sending a wave of agony through me. I felt like I couldn't breathe, as if the walls were closing in.

I buried my face in my hands, my sobs breaking free.

How could Daniel do this to me?

My fingers instinctively reached for the delicate bracelet around my wrist—the one Daniel had given me, a symbol of his so-called love. I had cherished it, believing it meant something. But now, it felt like a cruel joke.

If his love was never real… then why? Why lead me on? Why make me believe in something that never existed?

"Ma'am Chandria."

The butler's voice pulled me from my despair. I slowly lifted my head, my tear-streaked face contorted with pain. His expression was hesitant, but there was something else in his eyes—guilt.

"Sir Daniel has been cheating on you because you can't get pregnant," he said, his voice low but firm.

A sharp chill ran down my spine.

"What…?" My voice trembled. "No… that’s not true. It can’t be…"

I shook my head in disbelief. My entire world was crumbling, and I desperately clung to the hope that this was all some horrible misunderstanding.

"How?" My voice cracked. "Why… why are you only telling me this now?"

The butler exhaled heavily, looking away as if ashamed. "I wanted to tell you before, Ma’am Chandria. I really did. But I was afraid… afraid of what Sir—" He hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line before correcting himself. "Afraid of what Lord Daniel would do."

His words sent a new wave of unease through me.

Lord Daniel?

The title felt… foreign. Wrong.

A shiver ran through me. "What do you mean?"

The butler clenched his fists. "Ma’am… he’s not who you think he is. And for your own safety, you must leave. If Lord Daniel finds out that you’re pregnant with his child…"

I froze.

My breath hitched.

"P-Pregnant?" The word barely escaped my lips. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, my fingers trembling.

A child… Daniel’s child?

That’s why I had been bleeding. That’s why I had collapsed.

My heart pounded violently against my ribs, shock crashing into me like a tidal wave. I was carrying his baby.

"Yes, Ma’am," the butler confirmed, his voice grave. "And you don’t truly know who Lord Daniel is."

I stared at him, my body paralyzed. "W-What are you saying?"

The butler took a deep breath before finally revealing the truth.

"Daniel is not just a businessman. He is a mafia lord. A criminal. Ruthless and merciless." His words sent ice through my veins. "He has done terrible things, Ma’am. Things you cannot even imagine."

No…

No, this couldn't be true.

I shook my head furiously, refusing to believe it. "No… you're lying! Daniel isn’t like that! He needs to know. He needs to know about the baby. Maybe—maybe he’ll change. Maybe he’ll see me differently if he knows we have a child together!"

Desperation clawed at my chest. I couldn’t give up. Daniel had to know. Maybe there was still hope…

I tried to push myself out of bed, but the butler quickly stepped forward, gently but firmly holding me back.

"It’s too risky, Ma’am Chandria," he said urgently. "And even if you tell him, he will not claim the child. He will not take responsibility. He already has Catherine living with him in the mansion. His future has already been decided."

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my chest.

It hurt.

It hurt more than anything.

Daniel had chosen her.

Daniel had abandoned me.

I was alone.

My lips parted, but no words came out—only silent, broken sobs.

The butler sighed, his expression heavy with sorrow. "This is the least I could do for you, Ma’am. Getting you to the hospital… giving you this warning. After this, I can do no more. I hope you find a way to move forward."

I watched as he walked to the door, his back straight, his movements steady. And then he left, closing the door behind him.

Alone with my shattered heart… and the life growing inside me.