Chapter One: A Heartbreaking Discovery
Silvia’s POV
I stared at the doctor as if I didn't hear what he told me. The news came as a surprise, overwhelming me in ways I couldn't imagine.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Bradley," the doctor offered me a brilliant smile. “The test results confirm you are pregnant.”
It seemed like a dream to me, one which I didn't want to wake up from. I'd been married to Winston for five years now, yet I couldn't get pregnant.
The closest thing to pregnancy happened last year, and it ended in a miscarriage. So, it was only right for me to be skeptical.
“Doctor, are you sure about this?” I asked him, leaning forward in my chair. The news wasn't something one could handle by sitting completely still.
Although I was skeptical, I still hoped that it was true. My pulse quickened as I awaited the doctor's response. I didn't avert my gaze for once, afraid that it'd somehow affect his response.
But the doctor laughed, either amused by my skepticism or genuinely happy for me. After all, he was the primary witness to my ordeal all those years.
“You heard well, Mrs. Bradley.” The doctor’s voice was like a melodic chime to my ears. “You are pregnant.”
My knees nearly gave way when I heard the news the second time. Tears blurred my vision before I even realized I was crying. I stood up abruptly, erupting into laughter as I wiped my tears. The emotions buried deep in my heart resurfaced.
Finally, Winston would get some good news! All these years, he'd been putting up with me despite his family asking him to get a new wife. I couldn't help but imagine his expression after hearing this great news.
I hurried out of the hospital, driving like a total maniac. No word could describe the happiness brimming in my heart. At long last, I was going to become a mother…
I arrived at the Bradley family mansion thirty minutes later, zooming my Mercedes-Benz C 400 AMG Line into the garage. I ran out of the car, forgetting to close the door.
Winston will be so happy! I thought, unable to contain my excitement. No, he'd be overjoyed!
I entered the mansion and rushed to the master bedroom. “I'm pregnant!” I yelled, hoping that everyone in the house would hear.
Sadly, Winston was the only one around. I thought my sister, Jasmine, and my mom had gone shopping in the morning… They'd only come back in the afternoon.
That was when I heard the voices and thumping sounds, causing my brows to crease. I halted, my heart thumping in my chest, as I stared at the bedroom door. Strangely, it was open.
It wouldn't have been strange if Winston usually left the bedroom door open. But he didn't. He always talked to me about how he loved his personal space… As if opening the door would take that away.
“I can't believe you're this good in bed,” Winston's voice broke into my ears.
I gasped, my eyes widening as I wondered what he was talking about. Was he referring to someone, or talking to himself? Winston habitually talked to himself, so that could be the case.
“I'm better than Silvia, am I not?” Another voice replied, teasing Winston.
I edged closer and looked into the room. Perhaps I misheard, so I had to see for myself. My eyes wouldn't lie to me, would they?
It was at this point that I lost all the strength in my body and collapsed to the ground. To my greatest fear, Winston was having s*x with a young woman on our matrimonial bed… And that person was my younger sister, Jasmine.
They were drenched in sweat and breathless, completely oblivious to my presence.
“Jasmine…” I muttered, doubting my own sanity. “This can't be…”
“Why don't you marry me and divorce her, Winston?” Jasmine said, catching her breath. “You've been married for five years, yet she can't even give you a child. If not for the abortions all these years, I would have given you many children.”
My breath hitched as Jasmine's words replayed in my mind. Abortions? Does this mean Winston had been cheating on me for five years? Has Jasmine been getting pregnant for him all this time?
“It's not that simple,” Winston pulled back, an apprehensive look on his face. “I mean, my family won't have an issue with it… It's just that your mother—”
Jasmine interrupted him. “What about her? You think she'll oppose the divorce?”
“Yes,” Winston replied.
“Don't worry about that,” Jasmine said. “I'll make sure everything goes well…”
“Are you sure about that?” Winston asked, uncertainty written in his voice. “Because I don't want anything going wrong… I've always loved you, Jasmine.”
“Right?” Jasmine purred. “I can't help but imagine why you married her in the first place?”
“Isn't it obvious?” Winston smiled. “Because it was necessary.”
He paused, his expression turning serious. “I wanted her to help me grow my company,” he finally said.
I picked myself up from the ground, tears streaming down my face. I should have confronted them for the betrayal, but I didn't. There was no reason to do so, as it was already a lost cause.
Winston never loved me from the beginning. He'd only used me to get to his current position. I was a fool for trusting and believing that someone like him would truly love me.
“Divorce…” I muttered to myself as I walked out of the house. “Yes… I have to divorce him.”
It seemed like an easy decision at the moment, considering the revelation that Winston and Jasmine just made.
But when I got into my car, I slumped into the seat and cried bitterly. Five years of marriage was going down the drain like that… And the most painful thing is that none of it was real.
“There's no use crying over spilled milk,” I told myself, even though it was a lie. “I have to pick myself up and do the right thing.”
I took my phone from my handbag and dialed my lawyer's contact. I'd be getting the divorce papers tomorrow… It wouldn't be the end of my life, would it?
I took a deep breath, remembering something very important… My pregnancy.
I'd rushed here to give Winston the good news, only to be greeted by an ugly one.
Since he never loved me, nothing would change even if I told him about the pregnancy. Instead, he'd try to take my child away from me.
I gritted my teeth with a strong resolve. "It's my child... I have to keep the truth away from him till I successfully divorce him.”