Chapter 3

Cassandra

“Congratulations.” Dylan's voice was full of genuine happiness. “I’ll do it. You’ll divorce him.”

The phone call ended, and I immediately went to my room to pack my things. I know I need to leave this house and avoid meeting him...

But it’s a mistake because I should have never fallen in love with him.

Two weeks passed.

I met Dylan at a quiet café. 

“Everything’s ready, Sandra. And I’ll make sure you get the divorce assets you deserve,” Dylan said with confidence.

A successful lawyer, it seemed, I was sure he could do it.

“No need, Dylan. I won’t take anything from this divorce.”

He looked at me, frowning. “Are you sure?”

“Sure. Please, Dylan. Just make this process as quick as possible.”

He slowly nodded, understanding me. I felt relieved.

I watched him, then suddenly a wave of nausea hit me. I covered my mouth. I guess the divorce had a surprising effect on me.

“Sandra, are you okay?” Dylan moved. He panicked and quickly helped me to the hospital.

Luckily, it wasn’t too far. I had no strength left 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…?”

Pregnant. With Sebastian’s child. This child was a product of my pain. He only touched me for the first time a few days ago. 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.

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 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 kept glancing at my phone, but there was no reply. My heart sank a little each time.

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.

"Sebastian?" I called out, my voice thin.

He stopped, turning to face me with a flash of impatience in his eyes. "I came back for a file."

My heart sank, but I pushed on. "I made dinner. Stay and eat?" I gestured to the table, my voice laced with a faint hope.

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 wondered, 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 disappointment, so much that I couldn’t even move or call out his name.

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.

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

Today was the day of my follow-up appointment for the pregnancy. The warm sunlight brushed against my skin as I exhaled a long breath.  

As I waited for the results, my eyes wandered around as I waited after taking the test again.

Isabella was in the same hospital… and I just couldn’t stop myself from wanting to know. Had she really woken up?  This confusion, this uneasiness, was getting to me. It pushed me to walk toward 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 loved her.”

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