“Mommy, we Think We Found our Daddy!”

Elena My fingers are tightly intertwined in my lap as I sit nervously in the doctor’s office, my foot tapping against the cold floor. I try to calm myself. It’s probably nothing serious. Maybe it’s just exhaustion. Perhaps the dizziness and nausea are from stress. The doctor finally picks up the test results and looks at me with a smile. “Congratulations, Mrs. Sterling. You’re five weeks pregnant.” For a moment, I simply stare at her. “Pregnant?” The word barely leaves my lips. My hands tremble as I reach for the report. I scan the page again and again, desperately trying to convince myself that I’m reading it correctly. Five weeks. After three long years of hoping, praying, and waiting... I’m finally going to have a baby. A huge smile spreads across my face, and tears immediately fill my eyes. “We actually did it,” I whisper, resting a trembling hand over my stomach. The doctor smiles. “You’ll need plenty of rest, Mrs. Sterling. Take good care of yourself.” “I will. Thank you so much, Doctor.” I carefully place the report inside my handbag. Today is my third wedding anniversary with Adrian, my husband. And now, I have the most beautiful anniversary gift I could possibly give him. Our baby. I drive to a nearby gift shop and spend almost an hour searching for the perfect presents. A watch. A leather wallet. And a small box containing something special. I smile as I imagine Adrian’s reaction. He’ll be shocked. Maybe he’ll finally hold me close and tell me how happy he is. Maybe today will be the day everything changes between us. As I leave the shop, my hand instinctively moves to my stomach. “Your daddy is going to be so happy to meet you,” I whisper. Then I check my phone. My smile slowly disappears. Nothing. No missed calls. No message. Not even an anniversary greeting. I stare at the screen for several seconds. Maybe he’s busy. Adrian runs one of the biggest companies in the city. Perhaps he has an important meeting. I refuse to let myself become disappointed. Instead, I drive straight to his office. The moment I arrive, I hurry through the reception area, clutching my handbag tightly. I’m almost at his office when his secretary, Vivian, steps in front of me. “Mrs. Sterling.” I smile politely. “Hi, Vivian. Is Adrian inside?” She hesitates. “He doesn't want anyone disturbing him today.” I laugh softly. “Anyone?” She nods. “He specifically said he doesn't want visitors.” “I’m his wife, Vivian. Surely that doesn't include me.” I try to walk past her, but she immediately blocks my path. “I’m sorry, ma’am. He said he doesn't want you coming in either.” My smile disappears. “What?” Before she can answer, the office door opens. Adrian steps out. He looks at me. But there is no smile. No warmth. Nothing. “Let her in,” he says coldly. Vivian immediately moves aside. I walk into his office, still holding onto the hope that the man I love is simply having a bad day. “Adrian,” I say brightly. “I have something wonderful to tell you.” He doesn't respond. Instead, he walks to his desk and sits down. Then he looks at me. “We need to talk.” Something about his voice makes my stomach twist. “About what?” He reaches for a thick envelope. Then he throws it onto the desk. “Sign these.” I stare at the papers. “What are they?” “Divorce documents.” My entire body freezes. I slowly pick up the papers. Divorce. The word swims before my eyes. “No…” I look at him, waiting for him to laugh. To tell me this is some terrible joke. He doesn't. “Why?” His jaw tightens. “Because she's back.” My heart sinks. “Who?” He gives me a look as though the answer should be obvious. “Isabella.” My stepsister. The woman who had been engaged to Adrian three years ago. The woman who disappeared the night before their wedding. The woman I thought he had finally forgotten. “She came back,” Adrian says quietly. “And I'm going back to her.” My lips tremble. “Adrian, please…” “There’s nothing to discuss.” “But today is our anniversary.” His expression doesn't change. “I know.” “We were going to celebrate.” “I don't care.” My heart cracks. I slowly shake my head. “After everything we've been through?” His eyes harden. “I never wanted this marriage, Elena.” Those words hurt more than anything else. Three years. Three years of loving him. Three years of believing that maybe, eventually, he would love me too. When Isabella disappeared, our families pressured me into marrying Adrian. It was supposed to be temporary. A marriage designed to protect both families from embarrassment. Adrian also needed a wife because his grandfather had made marriage one of the conditions for him to inherit the family business. So I agreed. At first, I told myself I could handle it. But somewhere along the way, I fell hopelessly in love with him. There were moments when I thought he felt something too. The way he'd sometimes stare at me. The way he'd hold my hand. The rare moments when his cold expression softened whenever our eyes met. I had mistaken those moments for love. Apparently, they meant nothing. “I love you,” I whisper. He looks away. “I never asked you to.” Tears spill down my cheeks. “I know. But I thought…” “You thought what?” “That someday you'd choose me.” Silence. Then he says the words that completely destroy me. “Isabella has always been the woman I wanted.” I close my eyes. Maybe I should have known. Maybe I had simply been foolish. Then Adrian's voice changes. “There’s something else.” I open my eyes. “I’ve heard things.” “What things?” He leans back in his chair. “People believe you had something to do with Isabella disappearing.” My heart stops. “What?” “You benefited from her disappearance.” I stare at him in disbelief. “You actually believe that?” “I don't know what to believe anymore.” “I didn't hurt Isabella! She left because she wanted to!” “You became her replacement immediately.” “I was forced into this marriage!” He says nothing. I wipe my tears. “I never wanted her life. I never wanted her fiancé. I only wanted to help my family.” His expression remains cold. “And yet you ended up with everything.” My voice breaks. “I didn't want anything except you.” He looks away. “Just sign the papers.” I stare at the divorce documents. My hands shake as I pick up the pen. There is no point begging anymore. If his heart belongs to someone else, I can't force him to love me. So I sign. One page. Then another. Until there is nothing left for me to sign. I put the pen down. Adrian looks at me. For the first time, something resembling surprise crosses his face. “You're leaving?” I pick up my handbag. “Yes.” I walk toward the door. Then his voice stops me. “You said you had good news earlier. What was it?” My fingers tighten around my handbag. I touch the pregnancy report hidden inside. For one brief second, I consider telling him. You're going to be a father. But then I remember his words. I don't care. I swallow the pain in my throat. “It doesn't matter anymore.” I walk out. I don't look back. Once I'm inside my car, I close the door and finally allow myself to cry. Three years of love. Three years of hope. Gone in a single afternoon. I place one trembling hand over my stomach. “I’m sorry, baby.” My tears fall onto my lap. “I wanted your father to love us.” Suddenly, my phone vibrates. I look down. A message. My heart skips. The sender's name makes my entire body go cold. ISABELLA. My fingers tremble as I open it. I read the message once. Then again. And again. “No…” My breathing becomes shallow. “This can't be real.” Because the message contains a secret that could change everything... And it has nothing to do with the divorce.