Chapter 3

Cassandra

Luckily, it wasn’t too far. I was helpless and had to be carried by Dylan.

But something even more surprising was the doctor’s gentle gaze, the smile that seemed so pleased, making a terrible feeling rise within me.

“Mrs. Monclaire, congratulations.”

Ah, I was even more confused and tense hearing those words from him.

“You’re pregnant.”

I sat on the bed without moving, frozen in place, and my heartbeat was completely erratic.

“I’m… pregnant…?”

I swear, I never thought this would happen. My relationship with Sebastian was never good—even though we were husband and wife, he’s always cold to me, treating me like I never existed—as if it was only yesterday that he touched me. Something I had longed for, yet now it only hurts.

he was always cold toward me, and called out Isabella’s name while we were having sex, which instantly hurt me.

Sebastian’s words and actions drove me to the brink of insanity, and in the end, I had decided I wanted to divorce him. I’ve done so much. It’s been exhausting.

But now… I’m pregnant…

A mixture of bitterness, confusion and helplessness swirled inside me. 

But beneath all that, there was an unreasonable flicker of hope. 

What would Sebastian think of this child? Would he care? Would it change anything?

I hated myself for even hoping.

What am I supposed to do? Just thinking about it made me forget about Dylan sitting beside me.

“Sandra.” He called my name.

As I looked at him, my hands trembled. He held my hand tightly, trying to comfort me, and it took time.

After a long silence, I made my decision and spoke to Dylan. “I’m going to call him.”

I knew Dylan was worried about me, but he didn’t stop me. In the end, I called Sebastian.

I held the phone tightly and stared straight ahead. This could be a new beginning for us—maybe things would get better now that I’m pregnant. The timing of this pregnancy, right when I was planning a divorce, perhaps… it’s a sign from God.

Over and over again, I managed to calm myself down despite the tension I felt.

Sebastian didn’t pick up my calls, again and again, but I didn’t stop. It felt like I shouldn’t let this moment pass. I needed to tell him about the pregnancy. Maybe our relationship would finally improve. Or maybe, at the very least, I’d feel some relief after telling him.

“He’s not answering?” Dylan asked, his voice full of concern.

I nodded, admitting what he said was true.

My soul felt empty, but my fingers kept typing a message to Sebastian. I hoped he would read it soon.

"I want to talk to you. Something important. I hope you can come for dinner tonight."

I sent the message with a heavy heart. I held my breath for a moment.

Everything felt slow. Even after I got home, I still hadn’t received any reply from Sebastian.

I was grateful to Dylan, who still seemed reluctant to leave me, but in the end, he did.

Just like I told him, I started preparing dinner for the two of us. I tried to cook his favorite dishes and set the table with a warm, calm ambiance. This conversation needed to happen with a clear head.

I stared at the dinner I had prepared for him.

But even though everything was ready, he still hadn’t replied to my message. I knew, deep down, I was probably never a priority to him. Maybe he was still with Isabella.

Amazing... how I kept exhausting myself like this.

That’s when I didn’t expect Sebastian to suddenly appear in the dining room.

He was here.

He actually came to the dinner I invited him to. He looked at me with those blue eyes, wearing his usual crisp white shirt.

He sighed as he stared at me.

With his arrival, dinner began. He ate quietly, a stark contrast to usual, where he'd often remind me he never asked me to act like his maid.

But this time, he ate calmly.

I wonderer, was he truly hungry this time, or was this a good sign for me?

"Is it to your liking, Sebastian?" I asked, trying to keep my tone steady.

He nodded, still eating. A few seconds later, he actually said something about the food I had prepared.

"You cook well."

Just one compliment from him made my eyes widen in shock.

Throughout our marriage, he had never complimented me. I had to try hard not to cry right then and there.

"Isabella's condition is getting better. Soon she will probably wake up."

I listened to his words, but there was a slight sense of discomfort that I couldn't ignore. Making me look at him without being able to say anything.

Now I know the reason why he looks calmer. It was all because of Isabella.

"Then why did you call me?"

I calmed myself down and glanced at the small bag beside me. Inside was the doctor's report confirming my pregnancy, something I was ready to show him.

For an entire week, he hadn’t returned a single call or message from me. I told myself he was just busy with work. But now, at the sound of a call about Isabella, he dropped everything to answer.

"What? Isabella is showing signs of waking up?"

Sebastian stood up from his chair, grabbed the coat that had been hanging nearby, and without even looking at me, walked straight out of the dining room.

Ignoring my presence, just like always... he left the room feeling suddenly cold and empty.

I don’t know… maybe it was the way my hope so quickly turned into disappointmen, so much that I couldn’t even move or call out his name.

He left me, as if taking everything with him.

Since he left that night, I kept waiting. There was still time for us to talk, for me to tell him about the pregnancy.

My phone vibrated and startled me. A message from Sebastian’s close friend—Andrian.

A message that made my hands tremble when I opened it. It was such a sweet and gentle gaze. Sebastian was with Isabella, holding her hand.

Another message came in.

Look, there’s no place for you at all. They’re the perfect couple.

I stared at the phone screen with a blank expression. I knew how much Andrian disliked me and always told me to step back from being Sebastian’s wife. Saying that Isabella was perfect in every way.

In the past, I thought that wasn’t true. I always believed I had a chance to be loved by Sebastian. But now, I know the truth.

So, I replied to the message:

I will.

I’m still waiting for Sebastian to talk about this.

I tried to stay focused. After a night full of disappointment, I decided to go out.

The warm sunlight brushed against my skin as I exhaled a long breath. I hadn’t even realized how far I had walked, until I found myself at the hospital where Isabella was being treated.

"Why am I here?" I whispered to myself.

Suddenly, I made the decision to take another pregnancy test. My emotions were still a mess, floating all over the place, making me feel strange and unsettled.

My eyes wandered around as I waited after taking the test again. This confusion, this uneasiness, was getting to me. It pushed me to walk toward Isabella’s room.

She was in the same hospital… and I just couldn’t stop myself from wanting to know. Had she really woken up?

Slowly, my steps grew quieter as I neared Isabella’s room. Just before I could open the door, I heard his voice... clear as day.

Did he really need to say it with that much strength and certainty?

Because the words I heard… felt like a hammer pounding on my heart again and again.

"I never loved her. It was just an arranged marriage, Isabella."

Sebastian… the man I love.

“I never love her.”

But words… words can hurt more than a knife slicing into skin.