CHAPTER 3: UNEXPECTED SURPRISE

Lila's POV

Maybe I didn't hear right. But the smile still plastered on Chloe's lips told me that I just did. My heart just shattered and my world crumbled before me in minutes into thousands of irreplaceable pieces.

This wasn't happening.

I refuse to believe it.

I could have wanted anything, would want them to get married to each other if they wished but this, this was cruel, this was betrayal.

Chloe was pregnant with Seth's child, it was hard for me to understand. What have I ever done to her? I had loved her as a sister ever since we were little, a knot tightened in my stomach and breathing was difficult.

I shouldn't stand here and listen to them mock me.

As I left that restaurant away from him, my hands were shaking and my legs were trembling.

Leaving the man I thought would be my forever . But should i say i was stupid or blind and didn't see it all?

And he broke everything I thought to be true about happiness, love and trust.

 I quickly hailed a cab and the drive home felt like a blur, the pain and betrayal all in one night was difficult for me.

The clink of glass and the whispers of the waiters vanished behind me as my heart began to race.

Everything I had imagined tonight to be the joy , the laughter and telling him that I was pregnant was now a mirage.

The image was still there, I saw him standing there in my cousin's arms, her lips on his hands encircling him as if she had every right to be there. The image was mocking me, allowing the tears to flow down freely.

I went to my room after the cab left and packed everything I owned. There was no need begging him, he had made his choice.

Although it felt like miles away, my car was only few blocks away. The more I moved, the more my chest hurts as I dragged my luggage to the car.

And with a sharp sound in the still night, I slammed the door behind me when I eventually got into my car.

I put my foot on the pedal and sped out of the parking lot as the engine roared to life. I was leaving the memories and the promises behind. Forever.

Tears rolled down my face and I couldn't stop crying.

The pain was deep and I felt so cold.

 I didn't know where to go but I just wanted to leave.

I was heading towards the train station to lodge in a motel when I got to where I thought was safe.

I wondered how I would survive with my unborn child. I had nothing but this old rickety car.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as my mind whispered that everything would be fine but I didn't want to believe it.

How could my cousin marry him? How could he do this? She was the one who had always admired everything about me.

Even though my heart hurt and my wounds were deep and raw, I didn't want to slow down.

For a brief moment, the burden of everything was lifted when I eventually turned to the road that led outside the city.

 But I didn't notice the other car approaching me with speed until it was too late .

I tried to gain control of my car but it was useless, I hit the brake and tried moving to the other side of the road. The other car came for me as it swerved uncontrollably, everything happened so quickly that it barely registered on my mind. It hit my car so hard that my face slammed on the dashboard

 I was thrown forward by my car's abrupt jerk and the impact of the other car and then—nothing.

My car somersaulted and for a moment I really wished to die, to end this suffering.

I heard nothing but the scrape of metal on the pavement as the world shook.

For what seemed like an eternity, my body was weightless and suspended in mid-air.

 And then everything came to a sickening crunch. The vehicle suddenly stopped at the bridge's edge.

It had began to rain or maybe it didn't but I was too focused on problems to know if it had.

It was so cold and freezing in the car and I felt blood dripping by the side of my head

I blinked rapidly trying to push out the mental haze.

 I realized that my seat belt had kept me locked in place when I reached for it.

My body felt heavy from exhaustion and my legs were stuck under the dashboard. I had trouble moving and I saw my life flashed before me.

I thought of everything I had endured, the love I and Seth had shared, the memories and his promises of forever.

At that moment I didn't know what to think or feel, maybe I should forgive them both, as this was the end of the road for me.

But I was human, still me and the thought of death scared me. Maybe I should give life a chance and change myself, maybe I should just stay here this way and let fate decide

I didn't want to die.

Then my attention was drawn to a sudden movement . A car .

Someone was approaching my car but I couldn't make out who it was because everywhere was hazy.

I shakily exhaled, wishing for anything or anyone to save me from this gloom.

 The world seemed to spin as the footsteps approached but my vision became blur  

 I just wanted to scream, to let whoever was approaching me know that I needed help. But I didn't make a sound.

I tried to speak and more blood flooded out, my cracked lips became painful.

“Hold on.” the voice said to me.

“I have got you. You're going to be alright.”

But I couldn't say anything.

Not with the bewilderment, the pain and the overwhelming hurt that made me feel like a rock and remain stuck in place.

I was beginning to feel so dizzy, the world spinning around me and I was crying.

“Please.” I finally managed to croak. “ Please, help me.”

At first I thought it was all a dream, that I was still at home, that everything happening was a bad dream but then the door was forcefully opened and I felt someone pulling me, talking softly to me but my mind was far away and I couldn't hear him.

Then he lifted me, pulled off the seat belt and took me out like he had done this a thousand times before , he gently but firmly pulled me from the wreckage.

And I almost allowed myself to think I might be safe for a single fleeting moment.