REKINDLING HER LOVE

I stood at the altar, my heart racing, each beat like a drum echoing in my ears. The soft strains of music filled the air, mingling with the hushed whispers of the guests. Dressed in an elegant white gown, I blinked through my swollen, red-rimmed eyes, locking onto Dominic’s gaze. His cold, blue eyes seemed to pierce right through me, sending a shiver down my spine. "I now pronounce you husband and wife; you may kiss the bride," the officiator announced, his words drowned by the sudden eruption of claps from the audience. I felt a chill run down my spine as Dominic leaned closer, pulling my head in as if he wanted to kiss me. His fingers brushed my skin, and a tremor ran through my body; I couldn't stop my hands from trembling. The audience thought it was a tender moment as Dominic's lips hovered near my ear. "I will make you regret ruining my relationship with Georgia, you wicked woman! I will make your life so miserable that you will beg for a divorce," Dominic hissed harshly into my ear. Tears welled up and spilled over, and a tightness gripped my chest, making it hard to breathe under the weight of his threat. I used to enjoy my simple life, bringing room service to guests at the hotel. But that was before I woke up next to Dominic, the cold-hearted billionaire whose ruthless reputation echoed throughout Silver City. When he woke up, he couldn't remember what happened last night and accused me of drugging him and seducing him. In reality, I had been diligently tending to my duties when he stumbled into the room, clearly under the influence. Despite my protests and attempts to resist, he overpowered me and forcefully took advantage of me. To shield his family’s reputation from scandal, Dominic’s formidable grandmother orchestrated our hasty marriage. Dominic was furious at the idea of getting married to a stranger, especially one who drugged and seduced him. He wanted to marry the woman he was in love with—Georgia. Every time I looked at Dominic, his contemptuous gaze made my stomach churn. I couldn’t fathom sharing a life with the man who had shattered my innocence and forced me into this cold, loveless marriage. Dominic's threats echoed in my mind, making my chest tighten painfully. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stood there at the altar, feeling utterly trapped. As days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, an unexpected transformation took place within me as I began to fall in love with Dominic, despite the circumstance of our marriage. It was not his immense wealth that drew me closer but I had developed genuine feelings for him, and a part of me felt that he felt the same way towards me and that perhaps someday Dominic would acknowledge my efforts and reciprocate the love I had begun to feel for him. I felt my dreams were about to come true as I held a pregnancy test in my trembling hands. Joy surged through me as I stared at the two clear strips on the test. A new life was growing inside me, a piece of Dominic and me. Dominic would definitely have no other choice than to choose me over his mistress, I could not wait to share the good news with Dominic. The tears of joy still fresh on my cheeks when I heard the door open behind me. My heart leaped into my throat as I turned to see Georgia, the woman I despised more than anything; she was the obstacle between me and Dominic's relationship. Georgia’s eyes widened in surprise before narrowing suspiciously, her gaze locking onto me. Immediately, I hid the pregnancy test behind my back; I did not want her to be the first person to know about my child. The thought of what she could do if she discovered I was pregnant for Dominic made me clutch the pregnancy test tightly behind my back, but Georgia's gaze narrowed as she looked at me with raised eyebrows. "What are you hiding?" Georgia's voice was sharp, filled with accusation and confusion. "I... I'm not hiding anything," I stammered, my voice betraying my nervousness. I attempted to sidestep Georgia, but she moved closer, her eyes fixed intently on my hand at my back. "Let me see," Georgia demanded, and in a swift motion, she reached out and grabbed my wrist, forcing my hand open. The pregnancy test fell to the floor with a soft clatter, the two clear strips still visible. A mixture of emotions flashed across Georgia's face—shock and anger, especially anger. "You're pregnant? With Dominic's child?" Her voice trembled with fury. "You useless slut! How dare you? What makes you think you are worthy of carrying Dominic's child?" Georgia's words pierced through me like a knife, but I was not going to let this woman boss me around anymore. I was Dominic's wife, and she was the mistress; it's time I let her know her place. I straightened my posture, meeting Georgia's enraged gaze with an unwavering stare. "You are the slut here, shamelessly clinging to a man who you know very well is married. This child is as much mine as it is Dominic's," I declared, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "And I won't let you or anyone else diminish that." Georgia's face twisted with rage at my defiant words. Without warning, she snatched a pair of scissors from the nearby table and pointed them at me. My eyes widened in fear, and my heart pounded even faster as Georgia brandished the scissors, a gigantic grin spreading across her face as she maliciously stared at me. "Why did you have to get pregnant? You can't divorce Dominic like this..." Georgia said as her grin widened even more. She took a step closer to me, making me tremble in fear of what she was about to do. Georgia was about to stab me when she heard Dominic approaching. She then turned the scissors around and lunged towards me, grabbing my hands and forcing the sharp blades into her stomach. This crazy b***h stabbed herself! Dominic burst through the door just as the horrifying scene unfolded. I stood there trembling, my palms sweating; I did not know what to do in that moment. "Georgia!" he shouted, rushing to her side. "What happened?" Dominic's face was a mix of fury and concern for Georgia; he did not even give me a chance to explain. He rushed her to the hospital, and I followed along. As much as I disliked Georgia, I didn't want her to die. As Georgia was taken into the operating theatre on a stretcher, Dominic turned around, his eyes blazing with fury. "Why did you hurt Georgia?!" His voice sent shivers down my spine. I shook my head vigorously, my breath hitched, my body trembling as I tried to explain. "I didn't... She..." Before I could complete my sentence, a huge slap from Dominic's hand landed across my face. The force of the slap sent me staggering backward, my cheek stinging with pain. I clutched my face, tears blurring my vision. A doctor rushed over, his face pale and grave. "Sir, she’s lost a lot of blood. She needs a transfusion immediately, but her blood type is extremely rare. We need a donor now." Dominic's gaze snapped to me, his eyes hard and calculating. "Take her," he barked at the doctor. "See if she's a match." Nurses quickly surrounded me, their grip firm as they drew my blood. Minutes felt like hours before the doctor reappeared, holding the results. Dominic didn't wait for him to speak. "Well? Is she a match?" he demanded. The doctor hesitated, his eyes flicking between Dominic and me. I held my breath, the weight of the moment pressing down on my chest, as I waited for what the doctor was about to say next.