After Divorce, She Became a Tycoon

Chapter 2: "The Heartbreak"

Sophia Lin sat on the edge of the bathtub, staring at the small plastic stick in her trembling hands. Two pink lines stared back at her, the symbols of a reality she wasn’t prepared for. Pregnant. The word echoed in her mind, bringing with it a cascade of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

The bathroom was silent except for the soft hum of the fan overhead, but inside Sophia’s head, a storm was raging. She had been meticulous—Nathan had always ensured that she took precautions, that no mistakes were made. But one night had changed everything. That night, when Nathan had stumbled in drunk, his usual cold demeanor replaced by something raw and unguarded. For once, he had reached for her, not out of obligation or routine, but with an unfamiliar passion. And for a brief moment, Sophia had allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could change.

But now, the reality of that night stared up at her from the pregnancy test in her hand. She placed a trembling hand over her still-flat stomach, feeling the flutter of new life within her. It should have been a moment of joy, but instead, it was laced with fear and uncertainty.

She thought of Nathan—how would he react to the news? Sophia knew in her heart that Nathan had never wanted children, not with her. He had made it clear from the beginning that their marriage was one of convenience, a way to fulfill his grandfather’s dying wish. His heart had always belonged to Emily Zhang, the woman he had loved long before Sophia had entered his life. And now, with Emily back in Avalon City, Sophia was more certain than ever that Nathan would see this pregnancy as nothing more than a complication.

Her thoughts spiraled as she stood up from the bathtub, her legs feeling weak beneath her. She needed to talk to him, to tell him the truth. But how? How could she tell the man she loved that she was carrying his child, knowing that he would never want it?

Sophia spent the rest of the day pacing the halls of the Hayes mansion, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what to do. She had loved Nathan for so long, despite his indifference, despite the coldness that had always lingered between them. She had hoped, even in the darkest moments, that one day he would come to love her back. But now, that hope seemed more distant than ever.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city, Sophia finally made up her mind. She would tell him. She couldn’t keep this secret, not from him. No matter what his reaction, he deserved to know the truth.

That evening, Nathan arrived home later than usual. Sophia had prepared dinner, setting the table with the finest china and lighting candles to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. She wore a white silk dress, one of his favorites, and her hair was styled in loose waves that framed her delicate features. She had taken extra care with her appearance, hoping that it might soften the blow of the news she was about to deliver.

When Nathan walked into the dining room, his eyes flickered briefly over the scene before him—a table set for two, a meal carefully prepared, and Sophia standing at the head of the table, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. But instead of the warmth she had longed for, his expression remained cold, distant.

"Sophia," he said, his voice low and measured. "What is all this?"

"I... I wanted to talk to you," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. She gestured to the table. "I thought we could have dinner together. Just the two of us."

Nathan’s gaze hardened. "I told you, Sophia, I don’t need you to make dinner for me. We have staff for that."

Sophia’s heart sank, but she forced herself to remain calm. "It’s not just about dinner, Nathan. I have something important to tell you."

Nathan sighed, loosening his tie as he walked over to her. "What is it? I’ve had a long day, and I’m not in the mood for games."

Sophia swallowed hard, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. "Nathan... I’m pregnant."

For a moment, there was silence. Nathan’s expression didn’t change, and Sophia’s heart raced as she waited for his response. She had expected shock, maybe even anger. But what she hadn’t expected was the cold, calculated response that followed.

"Get rid of it," Nathan said, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Sophia felt as though the ground had been ripped out from beneath her. "What? Nathan, this is our child. You can’t just—"

"I told you, Sophia," he interrupted, his tone sharp. "I don’t want a child. This marriage is over. I’m not going to let a baby tie us together any longer than necessary."

Tears welled up in Sophia’s eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. "How can you say that? This is your child, Nathan. Our child."

Nathan’s gaze was icy as he looked down at her. "You should have taken your pills like I told you to. This was a mistake, Sophia. Don’t make it worse."

Sophia’s world crumbled around her as the weight of his words sank in. She had known that Nathan didn’t love her, but she had never imagined that he could be so heartless. How had she fallen so deeply in love with someone who cared so little for her?

That night, after Nathan had retreated to his study without another word, Sophia lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as tears silently streamed down her cheeks. She had loved him for so long, had sacrificed so much for him. But now, she realized that she couldn’t keep living this way. She couldn’t bring a child into a world where its father didn’t want it, where she was nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game.

The next morning, Sophia made a decision. She would keep the baby, but she would do it on her own. She couldn’t rely on Nathan to be the father her child deserved. She would be strong—for herself and for the life growing inside her. And if that meant walking away from the only man she had ever loved, then so be it.

But fate had other plans.

Later that day, Sophia was descending the grand staircase when she heard voices coming from the living room. She recognized Emily’s voice immediately, soft and saccharine, followed by Nathan’s deep, measured tones. They were talking about something, laughing softly, and the sound sent a pang of hurt through Sophia’s chest.

As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she saw them—Emily, standing close to Nathan, her hand resting lightly on his arm as they spoke in hushed tones. For a moment, Sophia hesitated, unsure of whether she should interrupt. But then Emily glanced up and saw her, and the smile that had been on her lips faded into something colder, more calculating.

Before Sophia could react, Emily stepped forward, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she approached the staircase. "Sophia," she said sweetly, though there was an edge to her voice. "I didn’t realize you were still here. I thought you’d left already."

Sophia’s hand instinctively went to the railing as she tried to maintain her composure. "I’m not going anywhere, Emily," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Emily’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "We’ll see about that."

And then, in one swift motion, Emily reached out and gave Sophia a sharp push. The world tilted around her as Sophia lost her balance, her hands flying out to grab hold of something—anything—but there was nothing to stop her fall. She tumbled down the stairs, her body hitting each step with a sickening thud, and pain shot through her abdomen as she landed in a crumpled heap at the bottom.

Sophia gasped for breath, her vision swimming with tears and pain. She could feel something warm and wet spreading between her legs, and terror seized her as she realized what was happening.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Not the baby... please, not the baby..."

Through the haze of pain, she heard Emily’s voice again, this time filled with false concern. "Oh no, Sophia! I didn’t mean to... I’m so sorry, I just... I didn’t see you there!"

But before she could finish, Nathan rushed into the room, his eyes wide with panic. Sophia’s heart lifted for a brief moment, thinking that he had come for her, that he might finally show some sign of caring. But his panic wasn’t for her—it was for Emily.

He immediately went to Emily’s side, helping her to her feet, his hands trembling as he checked her for injuries. "Emily, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

Sophia watched in disbelief as Nathan fussed over Emily, completely ignoring the fact that she was lying on the floor, bleeding and in pain. When he finally turned to her, his expression was cold and indifferent.

"Sophia," he said tersely, "you shouldn’t be so careless. Look what you’ve done."

Sophia’s breath hitched in her throat, her chest tight with anguish. He was blaming her for the fall? For losing their child? How could he be so blind, so cruel?

But before she could say anything, the pain became too much, and everything went black.