Chapter 1 — The Night Everything Ended
Olivia Bennett stood in the quiet hallway of the Kingsley mansion, her heart pounding so loudly she felt it echo through her chest.
In her trembling hand was a thin piece of paper from the hospital.
She had read the words on it at least ten times already, but every time she looked at it, her heart still fluttered with disbelief.
Pregnancy Test Result: Positive.
Olivia slowly placed her other hand over her stomach, as if she could already protect the tiny life growing inside her.
“I’m… going to be a mother,” she whispered softly.
Her voice trembled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
For two years she had been married to Adrian Kingsley, the powerful and untouchable CEO of Kingsley Group. Their marriage had never been built on love. It was arranged by their families for business alliances.
Still, Olivia had always hoped things might change.
She had loved Adrian quietly for two years.
Even if he rarely spoke to her.
Even if he came home late almost every night.
Even if he treated their marriage like a cold obligation.
Olivia believed that one day he would notice her sincerity.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
This baby would finally soften his heart.
A small smile slowly appeared on her lips.
“Adrian will be surprised,” she murmured to herself.
She imagined his usual cold expression slowly changing when he heard the news.
Maybe he would finally smile.
Maybe he would finally look at her the way a husband should look at his wife.
Olivia took a deep breath and walked toward the master bedroom.
The mansion was enormous, yet it always felt strangely empty.
Her soft footsteps echoed against the marble floor as she approached the tall wooden door.
Light spilled from the crack beneath it.
So Adrian was home tonight.
Her heart beat even faster.
She raised her hand and hesitated before knocking.
For some reason, a strange uneasiness crept into her chest.
But she quickly shook the thought away.
“Don’t be nervous,” she whispered to herself.
Then she gently pushed the door open.
The moment the door opened, a woman’s laughter floated into the air.
Olivia froze.
Her fingers tightened around the hospital paper.
A woman’s voice?
Inside Adrian’s bedroom?
Her mind refused to process what she was hearing.
But when she stepped into the room, the scene before her shattered every fragile hope she had been holding.
On the large king-sized bed in the center of the room sat Adrian Kingsley.
His white shirt was slightly unbuttoned, his dark hair messy as if someone had been running their fingers through it.
And sitting intimately beside him…
was a woman.
A beautiful woman in a red dress leaned against his chest as if she belonged there.
Her long fingers traced slowly along Adrian’s collar as she laughed softly.
Olivia felt her entire body turn cold.
The hospital paper slipped from her hand and drifted to the floor.
The faint sound caught Adrian’s attention.
His head turned toward the door.
His gray eyes met Olivia’s.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The air inside the room felt suffocating.
The woman beside him noticed Olivia standing there and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?” she said casually. “Looks like we have an audience.”
Olivia’s voice barely came out.
“A… Adrian?”
Adrian stared at her for a few seconds before slowly straightening.
There was no panic on his face.
No guilt.
Only cold indifference.
“Why didn’t you knock?” he asked calmly.
Olivia felt as if someone had stabbed her heart.
“Why… didn’t I knock?”
Her voice trembled.
“This is our bedroom…”
The woman chuckled softly.
“Our bedroom?” she repeated mockingly.
She leaned closer to Adrian, resting her head against his shoulder.
“How cute.”
Olivia’s breathing became uneven.
Her eyes slowly moved from the woman back to Adrian.
“Who… is she?”
The woman answered before Adrian could speak.
“Victoria Hale.”
Her lips curved into a confident smile.
“I’m Adrian’s girlfriend.”
Olivia felt the world spin.
Victoria Hale.
The name she had heard so many times before.
Adrian’s first love.
The woman he was supposed to have broken up with years ago.
Olivia turned to Adrian in disbelief.
“Adrian… is this some kind of joke?”
Adrian sighed quietly, as if the situation was mildly annoying.
“It’s not a joke.”
Olivia’s fingers slowly clenched.
“But… we’re married.”
Victoria laughed again.
“That marriage was always temporary.”
Olivia looked back at Adrian.
“Say something.”
Adrian finally stood up from the bed.
He walked past Olivia toward the desk near the window.
Without looking at her, he opened a drawer and took out a thin document folder.
Olivia’s heart sank.
Something about the situation felt terribly wrong.
Adrian walked back and placed the folder in her hands.
“Read it.”
Her fingers trembled as she opened it.
The bold title on the first page instantly blurred her vision.
DIVORCE AGREEMENT
Olivia felt her knees weaken.
She looked up at him in shock.
“Divorce…?”
Adrian’s voice was calm and emotionless.
“Yes.”
Victoria crossed her arms and leaned against the bed, watching the scene with amusement.
“It’s about time,” she said lightly.
Olivia’s chest tightened painfully.
“Adrian… why?”
Adrian looked at her as if the answer was obvious.
“This marriage has served its purpose.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Served its purpose…?”
He spoke like he was discussing a business deal.
“My grandfather forced me to marry you two years ago,” Adrian said coldly. “Now he’s gone.”
Victoria smiled.
“And now Adrian can finally be with the woman he actually loves.”
Olivia’s hands trembled so badly the papers shook.
“I came here tonight to tell you something important.”
Adrian glanced at her impatiently.
“Whatever it is, it can wait.”
“No, it can’t,” Olivia said quickly.
Her voice cracked.
“Adrian… I…”
For a moment, she almost told him.
Almost told him that he was going to be a father.
But Adrian interrupted her.
“Sign the papers.”
Olivia stared at him.
“You didn’t even ask what I wanted to say.”
“I’m not interested.”
Victoria smirked.
“You should stop embarrassing yourself.”
Olivia’s eyes slowly filled with tears.
“Two years…” she whispered.
“For two years I tried to be a good wife.”
Adrian remained silent.
“I waited for you every night,” Olivia continued. “I cooked for you. I attended your family events alone. I—”
“Olivia.”
His cold voice cut her off.
“I never asked you to do any of that.”
The words hit her like a slap.
Her voice shook.
“Did those two years mean nothing to you?”
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
“Nothing.”
The room fell silent.
Olivia felt something inside her break.
She slowly lowered her head.
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
The tiny life growing inside her.
He didn’t know.
The man standing in front of her had no idea he was about to abandon his own child.
Tears slid quietly down her cheeks.
Victoria walked closer and wrapped her arm around Adrian’s.
“Stop wasting time,” she said. “Just sign it.”
Olivia wiped her tears slowly.
Her voice became strangely calm.
“If I sign this… you’ll never look for me again?”
Adrian’s expression remained cold.
“That would be ideal.”
Olivia gave a small, broken laugh.
“So that’s what I am to you.”
She picked up the pen on the desk.
Her fingers trembled violently as she signed her name.
Olivia Bennett.
The sound of the pen scratching against the paper echoed in the silent room.
When she finished, she placed the pen down.
“There.”
Adrian took the papers without emotion.
“Good.”
Olivia turned toward the door.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Behind her, Victoria’s voice sounded smug.
“Don’t forget to take your things.”
Olivia stopped at the doorway.
But she didn’t turn around.
Instead, she gently placed her hand over her stomach.
Her voice was so quiet it was almost a whisper.
“You don’t have to worry.”
Then she walked out of the room.
Behind her, Adrian had no idea that the woman he had just divorced…
was carrying his child.
But just as Olivia reached the end of the hallway—
a sudden wave of dizziness hit her.
Her vision blurred.
Her body swayed.
She grabbed the wall for support.
Then a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen.
Olivia gasped softly.
“No… not now…”
Her legs trembled as another wave of pain spread through her body.
Slowly, she looked down.
And her heart stopped.
A small drop of blood fell onto the marble floor.
Olivia’s eyes widened in terror.
“Baby…?”
The world around her began to spin.
And the last thing she heard before everything went dark—
was the sound of Adrian’s bedroom door opening behind her.
