CHAPTER 1

Her Decision

 Ximena reaches a point of no return; Her husband is making advances on her. Something that hasn't happened in a long time.

 Completely oblivious to the trouble she was about to walk into, she let Miguel have his way with her. They had a long night, brewing Ximena's memories with unforgettable scenes.

 Things would take a dark turn when Miguel whispers a name, Not just any name, Her sister's name.

 It dawned on Ximena that she wasn't really the one Miguel loved; it was her sister. She was filled with pain and regret.

 Early the next morning, Miguel was awakened by the glaring sunlight from the windows. He rubbed his eyebrows.

 As soon as he flung his eyes open, he saw Ximena sitting before the dressing table with her back to him.

 Suddenly, the absurd events from the night before flashed across his mind. Understanding dawned upon him, and his ebony eyes constricted while the temperature around him slowly plummeted.

 The frown on his face was evident as he glared at her back.

 “How dare you?” His firm authoritative voice sounded from behind Ximena, almost making her flinch.

 She turned to stare at him, his cold gaze had almost bored a hole into her delicate skin.

 Ximena held his gaze and asked, “What have I done wrong at such an early hour of the morning?”

 “Oh really? Are you trying to play the saint game now? Are you trying to be oblivious to what you had done last night?” He asked with his brows clenched in anger.

 Ximena had almost rolled her eyes at him when the last words rolled out of his mouth.

 “You had me drugged so you could have your way with me, Ximena! I never thought you could be that cheap!” Miguel threw it at her.

 Ximena’s mouth opened in awe, tears found its way to her eyes and she tried not to let it drop.

 This was her husband, who she’d been married to for the past three years,, and he had never touched her.

 And when he finally did, he felt she had drugged him.

 Was her sister so perfect that Miguel didn’t see the good in her? Rather, he had called her her sister’s name after having his way with her the previous night and that’s when Ximena knew Miguel had mistaken her to be her sister whom Miguel had always loved.

 Ximena’s world crumbled around her. Miguel’s words were like daggers, slicing through the thin veneer of her dignity, her self-esteem.

 How could he think she would stoop so low, that she would be capable of such deception?

 Ximena’s expression hardened, her jaw clenching with newfound defiance. She met Miguel’s gaze with a steely determination, the tears clouding her eyes dried up in an instant.

 “Believe what you will, Miguel,” she said, her voice firm and steady.

  “But know this; I’ve spent years bending over backwards for you, trying to be the perfect wife, the perfect daughter-in-law. And this is the thanks I get? Accusations and mistrust? I’m done.”

 Miguel was taken aback by the sudden shift in Ximena’s demeanour. He had grown accustomed to her meekness, her willingness to cater to his every whim. This newfound strength was both intimidating and infuriating.

 “What are you saying?” he demanded, his voice edged with anger. “What do you mean by you’re done? You should know you can’t just leave. We’re married!!”

 Ximena laughed bitterly, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and pain.

  “Married?” she scoffed. “Is that what we are? Because it certainly doesn’t seem like it, Miguel.”

 “It certainly doesn’t feel that way,” Ximena continued, her voice growing in strength and volume.

 “You’ve never loved me, Miguel. You’ve never even tried. You’ve treated me like a servant, like a shadow of your former love. Well, I’m done being a shadow.”

 Miguel stared at her, speechless. He couldn’t believe the transformation in front of him. This was not the Ximena he knew, the Ximena he had grown accustomed to ignoring and dismissing.

 Miguel scoffed, his eyes flashing with anger and disgust.

 “Do you really think you could survive without me? You and I know my money is what you’ve been squandering. You don’t even have a job. Do you really think you could survive without my money, huh?” Miguel asked in a mockery voice.

 Ximena had almost chuckled.

 “Your money? Were you really thinking I was with you all these years because of your money? Well, I guess all of this is going to be over soon. You can shove your money down your throat for all I care, Miguel, because I don’t need it!” Ximena snapped at him.

 “You are going to regret it, Ximena!” Miguel said with a smirk plastered on his face.

 “No, Miguel. You are the one who is going to regret it. The divorce papers will be sent to you in a few days. I just can’t wait to be far away from you.” Ximena uttered, stood up and made her way out of the room.

 She needed to be alone and far away from that man she had loved and cared for all these years, but never got the love she had wanted from him.

 Ximena knew this was for the best.

 Miguel stood at the same spot, glaring at the door Ximena had walked through with his hands tightly clenched beside him.

 If he was told that Ximena would become this fierce or would want to divorce him, he would never have imagined it.

 This was a huge blow to his face.

 “Ximena doesn’t know what she is doing. No woman can cope without money, and for someone like Xime,na, who isn’t from a wealthy home, she would definitely come running back into my arms!” Miguel thought inwardly and smirked at his thoughts.

 They eventually delay the divorce process, and Ximena discovers she's pregnant.

 Ximena was so happy when she found out she was pregnant. She had dreamed of this moment for so long, and now it was real.

  She was careful with everything, what she ate, how she walked, and even how much stress she allowed herself to feel. She wanted to protect her baby at all costs.

 But life was cruel.

 Tania had always hated Ximena. It was no secret. Her jealousy dripped from every word and glare she gave Ximena.

 . There was bitterness in her smile, and something darker beneath her eyes, something Ximena had always been wary of but never took seriously. Until now.

 Now, Tania had crossed a line that could never be undone. Tania wanted more. She wanted to break her.

 She wanted to take away the only thing that made Ximena truly happy.

 That morning had started like any other. Ximena woke up feeling light, cradling her small baby bump with both hands. It still felt like a dream, this tiny life growing inside her.

 She had plans, hopes, and names scribbled in the pages of a notebook.

  Trevor had been distant lately, but she didn’t let herself dwell on it. The baby gave her strength and purpose.

 She was halfway down the staircase, humming quietly to herself, when she felt a sudden, sharp shove at her back.

 Time slowed.

 She reached out, but there was nothing to hold onto. Her body twisted, her foot missed the step, and then she fell.

 Ximena's scream echoed through the hallway as her body crashed against the cold, hard steps. Pain exploded in her belly. She cried out again, desperate and afraid.

 Then everything faded.

 By the time she was rushed to the hospital, her vision blurred, and her hands were stained with her own blood.

 The doctor’s voice was low, careful. But nothing could soften the blow.

 “I’m sorry,” he said gently. “We couldn’t save the baby.”

 Those words gutted her.

 The world around her dimmed, it felt void. She didn’t hear Trevor’s voice or the nurses trying to comfort her. Everything was distant, like she was trapped beneath ice. Her hands instinctively moved to her stomach, now flatter than it was, aching. She felt the emptiness.

 In the days that followed, Ximena barely moved. She lay curled beneath the covers, staring at the ceiling like it held answers to what happened.

 She didn’t cry. Not at first. The grief was too heavy. It pressed against her chest, wrapped around her throat.

  Ximena thinks she knows the truth. She had felt the presence behind her before the fall. Heard the faint click of heels on wood. She had turned too late, but she knew. Whether it was deliberate or not didn’t matter. The result was the same. The culprit was no other than Tania.

 But there was no proof. And that made it worse.

 One day, she would make her pay. Not today. Not while her body still ached and her soul felt shattered. But someday, Justice would be served.

  As she stared into the darkness, her hand resting on the emptiness where her child had been, she made herself a promise.

 She would never forget what staying with Trevor had cost her.

 And she would never forgive the woman who took it all away.