Chapter 2: Manipulated

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed beside me.

I went downstairs for breakfast. I forced myself to sit at the long dining table even though the smell of food made me feel sick.

The maids moved quietly and placed the food on the table. I saw them glancing at me. They looked hesitant, and I could even see how the blood seemed to slowly drain from their faces. I met their eyes and looked at them like I was waiting for them to say what they wanted to say.

Our chef arrived. I saw him looking at me apologetically.

When the maids slowly removed the covers from the food, I saw them bow in unison, not as a sign of respect, but more as a way of asking for forgiveness.

My eyes went to the table. I saw a walnut pancake.

I smiled, but it did not even reach my eyes.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Analia. Your husband told us to cook this for you and left to take a shower before we could tell him that you’re allergic to nuts,” the chef said, panicking and apologetic.

Instead of being annoyed, I smiled weakly.

“I wonder if he wants me dead,” I joked. The chef and maids looked at each other, panicking.

I had already told Arzhel thousands of times, but I wondered why he always forgot. This was not the first, second, or third time this had happened. He never bothered to pay attention. It made me smile bitterly.

“But don’t worry, Ms. Analia. We prepared your favorite mushroom soup for you,” the chef said while smiling.

He asked one of the maids to bring it in. As soon as I saw the plate, my lips started to form a smile.

Our chef’s mushroom soup was really one of my favorites. It was his special dish, so it really tasted good. I could not wait to try it.

My smile widened as the maid walked closer to me.

They were near me, and as soon as I smelled it, a weird scent entered my nose, and I immediately got dizzy and felt like I wanted to puke.

I instantly covered my mouth, but when I saw them all glance at me with worried and confused faces, I immediately removed it.

One of the maids was about to serve it to me, so I gathered all my strength to speak without puking.

“It’s okay, just leave it there… please.” As soon as I said that, they bowed and left.

How could I eat now when everything they served seemed to be inedible for me? Arzhel would surely wonder.

As if on cue, Arzhel arrived.

He sat quietly. He didn’t even glance in my direction.

There was something in his aura today. It felt heavy.

I watched him from across the table. His expression was calm, but his jaw was tight. He placed his phone beside his plate and sat down. He was sitting straight, like how he sat every time he was inside his office or bedroom.

His aura made me a little worried. He was probably stressed at work. Today was surely not the right timing to try to tell him I was pregnant.

“Good morning,” I said.

I didn’t get any response from him.

I waited, hoping he would at least nod like he sometimes did, but he didn’t.

I picked up my spoon, stirred my soup once, then put it back down. I couldn’t eat.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked again. I had fallen asleep last night waiting for him. He was still in his office, with my stepsister.

The chair scraped loudly when he stood up. I flinched.

“Lia.” He sounded like running out of patience.

I looked up at him. My heart was already racing.

“We need to talk.” His jawline was visible from too much clenching.

My fingers curled around the edge of the table.

“About what?” I tried to ask softly.

Instead of answering, he picked up his phone. I saw him scrolling and swiping something before he slid it in my direction.

“Look.”

I hesitated before picking it up. Something about his tone made my chest feel tight.

I saw his gallery open. I clicked the first photo.

The first photo showed me standing outside the hospital. I froze for a moment. This was yesterday.

I met his gaze, much colder this time. He signaled me to continue.

I swiped to the next photo. It was me again in the hospital. Adrian was beside me. From that angle, it looked like we were close. Too close. Anyone could mistake it for intimacy.

I swallowed and swiped again.

Another photo. Adrian handing me a bottle of water.

Another one. Him opening the car door for me. We were smiling at each other.

My hands started to shake. Those angles were cruelly perfect, as if someone took them to make us look like a real couple.

“That’s not what you think,” I said quickly. “I can explain.” My voice was almost trembling from begging.

He let out a short laugh.

“Explain? You think this needs explaining?!”

“Arzhel, please, I can ex-”

“How long?” he interrupted. He was gritting his teeth and slowly blinking as if he was trying to hold onto the little bit of patience he really had.

“How long what?” I asked, slightly tilting my head in confusion.

He looked at me. “How long have you been sleeping with him?”

I stood up so fast that my chair almost fell.

“No. I would never.” I repeatedly shook my head. “Arzhel, listen to me, please. He’s just a friend. He has a girlfriend. He just accompanied me. I wasn’t feeling well-”

“Save it,” he cut me off. “I’m not interested in your excuses!”

“I’m not making excuses, Arzhel.” I was almost pleading. I took a step closer. “I’ve been vomiting every morning. I get dizzy easily. I went there to get checked.” My voice became low because I was not yet sure if I was ready to tell him the truth.

“So you went with him instead of telling me?” His stare looked so cold.

I opened my mouth. I wanted to say I planned to tell him . I wanted to say I didn’t want to worry him. I wanted to say I was scared.

Before I could speak, he scoffed.

“Let me guess. You’re pregnant.” His lips curved into a sarcastic smirk.

His words echoed in my head.

My hand went to my stomach before I could stop myself.

Arzhel looked there. His jaw clenched. He met my gaze.

“And you were going to tell me it’s mine.” He laughed in disbelief.

I felt something crack inside my chest.

“I-it is y-yours,” I whispered.

He laughed, louder this time.

“You think I’m stupid?” He sounded so offended.

I felt the tears started to filled my eyes.

“I’m telling the truth. I never cheated on you. The baby-”

“Don’t say that again!” he snapped.

It made me flinch.

I heard footsteps echo from the hallway. I didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Veronica walked in, her heels clicking against the floor. She was wearing dark red lipstick, and like she always did, she walked like the woman who owned this house.

She stopped when she saw us standing.

“Arzhel,” she said gently, as if she were worried. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, but you asked me to bring the documents.”

She placed a folder in front of Arzhel.

My heart sank when I saw it. Divorce papers.

My knees weakened.

“I’ve already signed it,” he said. He didn’t look at me when he spoke. “You can have your lawyer review it if you want.”

I felt dizzy.

“You already prepared this? You didn’t even ask me first. You didn’t even hear me out,” I asked in disbelief. And suddenly, I was the one who felt betrayed.

I stared at him. He glanced at me with his cold expression.

“There’s nothing left to hear.”

I laughed bitterly, and painfully.

“So that’s it? After everything?”

“Everything?” Veronica said softly. “Lia, you should be grateful Arzhel is being this generous. He can kick you out instantly if he wanted to.”

I turned to her, furious.

“Stay out of this!”

Behind Arzhel, she smiled, calm and victorious. “I’m just trying to help,” she said, using her fake victim tone.

I looked back at Arzhel.

“Tell her to leave.”

He didn’t. And his silence told me more than any words could.

My chest felt tight.

“Arzhel, I swear on my life, I never cheated on you. The baby-”

“Stop!” he snapped.

My lips trembled. I clenched my fists. I didn’t do anything wrong. But why was I being accused like this?

I looked at him. I didn’t bother to hide the pain in my eyes.

“If you don’t want to be my husband anymore, fine. Just don’t humiliate me. Don’t make me into something I’m not.”

For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes. Doubt, maybe? Or maybe I imagined it because I needed to believe there was still something human left between us.

Veronica glanced at her watch. “Arzhel, your board meeting starts in an hour. You can’t be late.”

He exhaled, like he was already tired of this drama.

“Sign the papers, Lia. Don’t make this uglier than it already is.”

Ugly? This was what this marriage was for him.

I picked up the folder with shaking hands.

“You’re really doing this?” I asked, hoping he would at least change his mind.

“Sign it, Lia,” he answered with no emotion.

My vision blurred as I flipped through the pages. Everything was already arranged. He was not planning to leave me any wealth. Everything in these divorce papers looked like a business deal he was trying to end, like I had been nothing more than a failed investment to him.

Suddenly, my stomach twisted violently.

I turned and rushed to the sink. My body shook as I gripped the counter.

“Are you done?” I heard Arzhel say behind me.

I wiped my mouth and turned back to him. I matched his cold expression. Since this was over between us, I wouldn’t hide it anymore.

“You’re right. I’m pregnant. I don’t know how else to say it.”

He didn’t answer. He picked up his coat and walked toward the door.

“Don’t forget to sign the papers,” he said.

The door closed behind him.

Veronica stayed for a moment. She looked at me with her fake sweet smile.

“Take care of yourself, sister. Stress isn’t good for pregnant woman.”

Then she left too.

I was alone.

I sank into the chair, staring at the papers in front of me. My hands rested on my stomach again, shaking.

“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll protect you,” I whispered. “Your father has no idea that he’s making a big mistake.”