Chapter 2

Nora's POV

I never got the chance to finish because Dennis grabbed my wrist in mid-air, his fingers tightening around it with brutal force before he struck me across the face.

The slap landed with such force that my head snapped to the side, and I stumbled backward before losing my balance and crashing onto the floor.

For a few seconds, I couldn't breathe, my cheek burning from the impact while the shock of what had just happened seemed even more painful than the slap itself.

I slowly looked up at him, tears already filling my eyes.

“Dennis...” My voice broke as I stared at him in disbelief. “You slapped me.”

He stood over me without a trace of regret, his expression as cold as ever.

“How dare you?” he asked. “You think you can touch her?”

I stared at him, completely stunned by the way he was defending Nadia after everything she had done to me.

“I'd do it again,” he said flatly.

Then he tilted his head slightly toward Nadia, and the expression on his face softened in a way I hadn't seen in years.

“At least something good came out of all of this,” he said. “She's carrying my child, something you can never do.”

My heart stopped.

Nadia slowly raised her hand, allowing the diamond ring on her finger to catch the light.

“Aww,” she said sweetly, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “You look so shocked.”

I stared at the ring, unable to take my eyes away from it as a thousand questions rushed through my mind.

When had Dennis given her that ring? How long had they been planning all of this behind my back?

Nadia placed one hand over her stomach, and her smile widened as she watched me struggle to process what was happening.

“Well, you heard him right.”

She moved closer to Dennis and leaned against him as though she belonged there.

“I'm pregnant.”

My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes again.

Pregnant?

The word echoed inside my head while I stared at her stomach, remembering every painful IVF procedure, every injection, every doctor's appointment and every night I had cried myself to sleep because I couldn't give Dennis the child he wanted.

And now my best friend was carrying his baby.

Nadia looked directly into my eyes, clearly enjoying the devastation written all over my face.

“And I'm soon to be Mrs. Adams.”

The words hit me harder than the slap.

For five years, I had believed I was building a life with the man I loved.

I had sacrificed my body, my time, my happiness and almost everything I had to keep our marriage alive, only to discover that while I was fighting to save us, Dennis had already chosen someone else.

As I sat there on the floor staring at my husband and the woman who had once been my best friend, I realized something that broke me more than anything else.

I had been the only person fighting for our marriage.

“No,” I said, wiping at my tears with trembling fingers. “No... this is insane.”

An hysterical laugh burst out of me as tears continued rolling down my cheeks, and I shook my head desperately, refusing to believe that any of this could actually be happening.

“This is a prank, right?”

I looked from Dennis to Nadia, desperately searching their faces for some sign that this was all a sick joke.

I swallowed hard, my chest rising painfully as I tried to hold myself together.

“Tell me this is some sick joke!” I screamed. “Both of you... say something! Tell me you're lying!”

Dennis let out a slow breath, as though he were exhausted by my reaction, before looking at me with cold finality.

“You need to accept reality, Nora.”

The laughter died in my throat.

Dennis's jaw tightened as he pulled Nadia closer to him.

“The truth is, I was always too good for this marriage,” he said. “Nadia is the kind of woman fit to carry my heir and stand beside me while I build my empire. She's everything an Adams woman should be.”

His eyes dragged over me with open contempt.

“You were never that woman.”

My knees buckled beneath me as I tried to push myself up from the floor, but my body felt heavy and painfully unsteady.

My hand slipped against the polished marble as I struggled to get myself upright.

Nadia threw her head back first, laughing openly.

“Just look at her,” she mocked. “She's so fat that she can't even lift herself off the floor.”

I clenched my teeth and forced myself up, breathing hard as my whole body trembled.

Once I was finally standing, I looked Dennis dead in the eye.

“Let me get this straight,” I said, my voice shaking. “After everything I've done for you... after five years of toiling and sacrificing for this family... you can stand there, look me in the eye and betray me like this?”

Dennis's expression darkened instantly.

“What exactly did you do for me, Nora?” he asked coldly.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“If anything,” he continued cruelly, “you made my life worse.”

My mouth fell open.

“Dennis, you're a billionaire today because of me,” I shot back, my voice rising. “My ideas are the reason Adams Tech is where it is today. You know how much I sacrificed for that company, so how can you stand there and ask what I ever did for you?”

“Please,” he cut in sharply, holding up a hand. “Shut that big mouth of yours and stop making noise.”

His eyes narrowed with disgust.

“Let it be known that I had millions of women lined up for me,” he said arrogantly. “I chose to pity you because you were pathetic, needy and desperate for a husband.”

Then his gaze dragged over me slowly, viciously.

“Now look at you,” he said with a bitter laugh. “An old bitch living off my name and money.”

Dennis let out a harsh breath and dragged a hand down his face like he had finally run out of patience.

“You know what?” he said coldly. “I don't have the energy to keep trading words with you.”

He turned away from me, walked to his dresser and pulled open the top drawer before bringing out a file and flinging it at me.

The papers scattered at my feet.

I stared down at them, my heart beginning to pound.

“Start packing your things,” he said flatly. “I don't want you in this house anymore. Nadia is moving her things tomorrow.”

My heart stopped.

No, this couldn't be happening.

“Those are divorce papers,” he continued. “Already signed from the first day I married you. My lawyer will contact you soon. Sign them and leave quietly.”

“You lie!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the room.

Both of them looked at me, and for a moment, they looked shocked by the force of my reaction.

I shook my head violently as tears poured down my face.

“I'm not leaving my matrimonial home!” I shouted. “And I'm not signing any stupid divorce papers!”

I pointed at him with trembling fingers.

“You stood before God and swore for better or worse, Dennis. You made vows to me, and you're going to stick to them!”

My chest rose sharply as I fought to catch my breath.

“I'm Nora Adams,” I said, my voice cracking but fierce. “And nothing is going to change that. Do you hear me? Nothing!”

Dennis slowly turned toward me, his jaw clenched so hard that the muscle ticked.

“Are you daring me?” he asked.

Something inside me snapped.

I stepped forward and jabbed my finger hard into his chest.

“Yes,” I spat through my tears. “I'm daring you, Dennis. Do your worst!”

My whole body shook violently as I stared at him.

“I'm not leaving!” I screamed. “What exactly do you take me for? Trash?”

I pressed my finger harder against his chest.

“You think you can use me for five years and then throw me away like I meant nothing?”

My voice cracked on the last word, and fresh tears streamed down my face.

“I'm almost forty, Dennis,” I choked out, my chest heaving painfully. “Do you even understand what it means for a woman to start all over again?”

My lips trembled uncontrollably as I looked at him.

“My only crime is being fat,” I whispered brokenly. “And I'm willing to change for you.”

I grabbed his arm desperately, completely forgetting about my pride as I begged the man I loved not to destroy the only life I had known for the past five years.

“I'm willing to do anything,” I pleaded. “Anything... just for you to love me again. Please, Dennis, don't ruin this marriage. I love you, Dennis. Please, don't do this to me. Please.”

Immediately, Nadia let out a sharp scream.

“Ahh... my stomach!”

Her hand flew to her belly as her face twisted in sudden panic.

“Dennis...” she whimpered weakly. “I think something is wrong with the baby...”

Everything changed in an instant.

Dennis shoved me aside so fast that I nearly lost my footing.

“Baby!”

He panicked and rushed to her side so carelessly that he almost slipped headfirst on the tiled floor.

His arms were around her immediately, his face pale with fear as he held her against his chest.

“What's wrong?” he asked frantically. “Talk to me. Do you want me to take you to the hospital right now?”

Nadia leaned weakly against his chest, breathing heavily as though she were in pain.

“No...” she said softly, her voice trembling.

Dennis looked at her anxiously.

“Then what's wrong? Tell me.”

“I think I just need a hot water massage,” she whispered. “My body feels sore...”

Dennis continued holding her, his concern written all over his face.

Then Nadia's eyes lifted to mine, and for the briefest moment, a cruel smile flickered across her lips before disappearing.

“I want Nora to do it.”

Dennis's head snapped toward me.

I stared at Nadia in disbelief.

She held her stomach protectively and let fresh tears gather in her eyes before looking at Dennis again.

“If she refuses,” she whispered, her voice shaking dramatically, “I'll leave this house tonight... and you'll never see your child again.”