The TWO RED LINES that CHANGED EVERYTHING

CHAPTER 1... SHARON'S POV I sat helplessly on the cold bathroom floor, staring at the plastic pregnancy test strip lying between my feet. Tears rolled down my cheeks, hot and unstoppable. What the hell did I just do? How could I have made such a ruinous mistake just weeks before my wedding? My mind raced, forcefully dragging me back to the night of the party I had attended with my friends. FLASHBACK... We were sitting in my car, parked just outside the neon-lit clubhouse. I turned to my friends, an anxious, hesitant smile spreading across my face. "Sharon, don't you dare chicken out now," Lili, my best friend, nudged me with a mischievous grin. "You said you wanted to do this. You said you didn't want to get married to Gary as a clueless virgin who doesn't even know how to please a guy. Sweetie, this is your chance to break down that wall you've been holding up for years. You're not married yet. Go find a guy in there, have some fun, and act like nothing happened tomorrow." "L

CHAPTER 3...SHARON’S POVThe wedding was finally over, and the guests had dispersed back to their respective lives. Now, I was left to deal with the aftermath: my father and my best friends."And just like that, you bring a stranger home?" Dad fired angrily, his glare so piercing I felt like I’d murdered someone and hidden the body in his bedroom. "I thought you loved Gary. I thought that was why you insisted on this marriage. How could you do this to me, Sharon? Claire always reminds me of how irresponsible you are, but I never truly believed her until now. Are you finally showing your true colors now that you have my approval?""Claire, Claire... she’s your wife, Dad, and I really wish you’d keep her out of my business," I shot back, refusing to back down. "I’m an adult. I can do what I want. I chose to marry Russell instead of Gary. Why do you have such a problem with that when I’m the one who has to live with him? Don’t you like Russell? Or are you just threw off because I didn't

CHAPTER 5...SHARON'S POVI blinked hard, trying to process his questions."I don't have a choice but to keep it. The doctor advised me to," I said, my voice dropping to a low murmur as the specialist's words flashed vividly in my mind: “Your egg count is nearly depleted. By the time you are ready to try again in a year or two, your ovaries will have stopped releasing eggs completely. If you abort this pregnancy, you will face complete infertility.”I still couldn't believe I was experiencing early menopause. Life truly couldn't get any worse, I thought, exhaling a deep, heavy breath.Looking up from my plate, I caught him staring at me with an unreadable expression. Was that pity? What was the meaning behind that look? I stared right back, trying to read him.Russell picked up his fork, poked at his food, and took a mouthful of fried eggs. I kept watching, waiting for him to say something, but he chose silence instead.This dude is weird. He’s like a light switch—on and off, I though

CHAPTER 7...SHARON’S POVI woke up feeling lighter, less burdened by the guilt that had been weighing me down over the past few weeks. It was a new day. Think positive, act positive, I reminded myself.Speaking of positive, I was desperately hoping Russell had woken up in a better mood too. It would be incredibly awkward if he kept giving me the cold shoulder, especially after I apologized yesterday. I brushed the anxious thoughts aside and rushed into the bathroom.After freshening up and changing into a simple, casual outfit, I stepped out into the living room. Immediately, the mouth-watering aroma wafting from the kitchen hit me.Once again, trying to show off his master-chef talents, I thought, a smile already tugging at my lips.I walked toward the dining table and stopped dead in my tracks. To my absolute shock, the table was overflowing with a massive variety of dishes. It looked like a full-blown feast was taking place in Russell’s home, and I hadn’t received the memo."Good

CHAPTER 9Minutes Later...RUSSELL'S POVWe arrived at the Walker estate. It was a modest, charming property, surrounded by beautiful antique decor and lush gardens that gave off a serene vibe. It was exactly the kind of place I imagined Sharon growing up in, though the atmosphere felt a bit too cold for someone with her vibrant personality.Guided by one of the household staff, we walked out toward the poolside, where a beautifully set dinner table awaited. Mr. Walker, his wife, and his son were already seated."Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Walker," I greeted politely as we approached."Hey, Dad!" Sharon chimed in quickly, clearly trying to keep the atmosphere from turning awkward.Mr. Walker stood up and walked over to us, extending his hand toward me. "Welcome to the family, Russell," he said, his tone entirely unreadable, his hand suspended in the air.I immediately gripped his hand, offering a polite smile. "The pleasure is all mine."He gestured toward the table, signaling for us