Chapter1

Orlena’s POV

I had just six months left until the end of my six year contract marriage with Brent Caldwell, the billionaire I agreed to marry under the condition that there would be no love or pregnancy.

“Congratulations Mrs Caldwell,” the doctor’s gentle voice echoed in her warm office.

“You’re 7 weeks pregnant.” She said, handing me the white envelope that contained the words that had just crashed my world.

I blinked at her, confused. Pregnant?

That was not possible.

“So, for something like this, couples usually prefer to get the news together,” she added, pushing the results closer.

My fingers felt cold as I picked it up. My eyes moved over the words, and my chest tightened.

Positive. The word boldly mocking me.

“Wh…what?” I swallowed, my throat dry. “How can I be pregnant? My tubes are blocked.” I blurted out, panic twisting my guts.

I looked up at her, hoping she would say it was a mistake, but she only watched me calmly. I felt hopeless even before she could say anything.

“That does not make it completely impossible, Mrs Caldwell,” she said. “Your results are clear, and your symptoms match. You are pregnant.”

I couldn’t even argue.

I knew how good she was at her job. She had taken care of my father before we moved him, and she had never been wrong.

So it was real. The reality slowly settled in, creeping up my spine.

I slowly stood up, my legs trembling, my fingers tightening around the paper that suddenly felt heavier than it should.

What was I supposed to do now?

I… I would lose everything promised to me at the end of the six years of marriage. 

I had worked so hard and endured everything from Brent’s family who hated that he had chosen a peasant like me as his wife.

Everything I endured would mean nothing.

My father… how was I supposed to take care of him? My father still needed me, and even after six years of treatment, nothing had really changed.

The day he was diagnosed with lung cancer still felt fresh in my head. 

I remembered how everything fell apart so quickly, how I couldn’t think straight anymore.

Then Brent showed up, looking for a wife. It sounded ridiculous but I was too desperate and depressed to care.

He had lost his sister three months earlier during childbirth, and with his family out of the question, he needed someone to care for the baby. 

So he offered me a contract marriage. I didn’t hesitate. I said yes. He needed someone to raise his nephew, and I needed the money for my father’s surgery.

He made one thing clear, no children.

I agreed easily because I believed it would never be a problem. My fallopian tubes were blocked, and after the ectopic pregnancy I had as a teenager, I had been told getting pregnant again would be almost impossible.

So everything worked out.

At least I thought it did. But now… just at the end of that marriage, I was pregnant?

A shaky breath left my lips as panic made my body tremble.

Brent.

He was going to be furious.

I told him it was impossible. I promised him there was no way this could happen.

And now…

I had already broken one rule by falling for him, even if I kept it to myself. Now I had broken the most important one.

I pressed my lips together, my mind racing. How was I supposed to hide something like this?

How was I supposed to act normal when everything was about to fall apart?

I walked out of the office barely hearing the nurse call after me. The hallway felt longer than usual, my steps unsteady as I held onto my bag tightly. By the time I got outside, the air hit my face but it did nothing to calm me down.

I finally made it to my car and got in, my head dropping against the steering wheel as my grip on it tightened. I stayed like that for a few seconds, just breathing, trying to think, but nothing made sense.

“Think, Orlena… just think,” I muttered to myself, my voice barely above a whisper.

Should I tell him?

My chest tightened immediately at the thought. I could already picture the cold, distant, and disappointed look on his face.

No…

I shut my eyes tightly. I couldn’t tell him.

But what other choice did I have?

I let out a frustrated breath and finally started the car, pulling out of the hospital parking lot. 

The drive home felt like a blur, my thoughts running over each other, my fingers tightening around the wheel every few seconds.

By the time I got home, my head was already pounding again.

I stepped out of the car and walked inside, not expecting to see anyone in the living room at that time of the day, but the moment I stepped in, I froze slightly.

My mother in law was seated comfortably, filing her nails like she didn’t have a care in the world, and Cassandra Brent's younger sister was standing nearby.

Of course.

I should have known I wouldn’t get any peace.

The moment Cassandra saw me, she walked straight to the door, blocking my way before I could even take another step inside.

“Where are you coming from?” she asked, folding her arms.

I didn’t respond. I didn’t have the energy for this. All I wanted was to go upstairs and lock myself in my room.

“I asked you something,” she said again, her voice sharper this time. “I asked you for Brent’s black card and you dared to ignore me?”

I closed my eyes for a second, taking a slow breath.

“I wasn’t feeling well,” I said, my voice low. “If you need anything, call your brother.”

She let out a short laugh, looking me up and down. “Look at you, acting all proud in this house when your marriage to my brother is just a contract.”

My head snapped up at that.

For a second, I just stared at her.

What did she just say?

My chest tightened as a cold feeling settled in toes.

How did she know?

My fingers curled slightly at my side. Did Brent tell them?

Was that why they were acting like this?

Was it because the marriage was almost over and he didn’t see any reason to keep it a secret anymore?

If that was the case… then what did that make me now?

I swallowed hard, forcing my expression to stay neutral even though my thoughts were running wild.

Before I could say anything, my mother in law spoke up without even looking at me.

“It’s better you start preparing yourself to leave soon,” she said calmly, still focused on her nails. “Joan is back.”

My heart skipped.

Joan?

My eyes widened slightly as I looked at her.

Joan…

The woman Brent loved.

The one who left six years ago to pursue her career. The one he never stopped talking to, not even after our marriage.

So it was finally happening.

Even though I had always known this day would come, I prepared for it all this time…yet, hearing it like that still made my chest tighten painfully.

I had no right to feel this way. I knew that. I agreed to everything from the beginning.

But I still fell for him anyway.

Hopelessly.

Brent was everything I had ever wanted in a man, even with how distant he could be. The few moments we spent together, the rare times he actually spoke to me without that cold tone, I held onto all of it.

It meant more to me than it ever should have.

I forced myself to move past Cassandra and headed upstairs, not trusting myself to say anything without giving away how I felt.

I had barely taken a few steps when I heard the front door open again.

My heart jumped before I could stop it.

And then I heard his voice.

“Mom.”

I froze.

Slowly, I turned around.

Brent stood at the entrance, looking exactly the same as always, his neatly styled dark hair in place, broad shoulders filling out his suit, his calm face and steady eyes giving nothing away, like nothing ever touched him.

And beside him…

My breath caught in my throat.

Joan.

She stood next to him like she belonged there, her hand lightly holding his arm, her smile soft as she looked around the house.

They looked… perfect together.

My chest tightened painfully as I stood there, unable to move, my fingers gripping the railing.

This was his world.

And I had never really been a part of it, I was never meant to from the onset.