Shattered Vows

Chapter 3:standing strong

James appeared to have received a slap. "I never wanted to hurt you," he whispered, barely audible.

"But you did," I explained, tears welling up in my eyes. "You hurt me in the worst way possible."

Before he could react, the front door opened, and Margaret stepped in, her look chilly as she saw me. "What's going on here?" she questioned.

"Hannah is pregnant," I said, facing her. "James is the father."

Margaret's cheeks were flushed, but she soon composed herself. "That doesn't change anything even if she is already pregnant, and we just need to ensure the future of our family."

Her comments struck me like a physical blow. "You meant your family," I corrected. "Because clearly, I was never a part of it."

Margaret's eyes narrowed. "You were always a member of this family, Stella. But you have to understand: we need an heir."

"An heir?" I scoffed. "You're saying you need a pawn. Well, I will no longer participate in your twisted games."

With that, I turned and exited the room, leaving James and Margaret to their plans. I needed to keep myself safe from their machinations.

I couldn't sleep the entire night. I closed myself in my room, tears spilling uncontrollably. James persisted in pounding on my door, but I refused to let him inside. He eventually retreated to another area of the home.

The following morning was a maelstrom of emotions. I focused on self-care and resolved to put my well-being first.

Then I heard three voices from outside: Hannah's, her mother's, and Margaret's.

"I can't believe you told her about the baby!" James's voice was tinged with rage and resentment.

"When will she not find out, James? This affects me as well," Hannah responded forcefully.

"I'm ready to be a mother, James, and I will not terminate this pregnancy," Hannah said, her tone faltering.

Margaret's response was chilly. "You are not removing anything, sweetheart. This child is our heir, and you will give birth to him."

My heart crushed again, and tears streamed down my cheeks as I listened behind the door. I couldn't take it any longer and stormed out of my room to confront everyone.

"You are all so wicked and heartless! I can't believe I've been caught up in this web of deceit for more than 12 years. James, I trusted and believed in you."

"How could you do this to me?" I exclaimed, my voice quivering with pain and hatred.

His mother said harshly, "Just shut up, Stella. What have you done that no one has done before?"

Before I could say that I had given up my entire life and terminated pregnancies for James' sake.

James cut in, his tone harsh, "And what else? Are you the only woman who would stay loyal and endure anything for her husband? Just accept it, Stella. Let Hannah in. Maybe God will hear your prayers and make you pregnant as well."

“I will never accept Hannah as my rival!" I shouted, my emotions raw.

Victoria stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension: "Maybe you should move out for her. At least she is pregnant. What have you got to offer?"

Margaret chuckled dismissively and stated, "She accepts what Hannah's mother said."

I stood there, feeling absolutely dumb and misled. I really wanted this to be a bad dream that I could wake up from.

"Mom, I know you've never liked me since the day my father married you," I wailed, my voice raspy with anguish.

"However, I have never been nasty or disrespectful to you. Why would you and your daughter want to ruin my life?"

Victoria's gaze was as frigid as ice. "No one is ruining your life, Stella. Accept Hannah and allow her to stay with her husband."

"I won't accept that," I said, my voice cracking. "Hannah is just a mistress to my husband."

Hannah's face twisted in triumph. "Mistress? That was before. Now that I'm bearing his child, I'm the true wife."

I looked at James, my heart breaking all over again. "Are you simply going to stand there and let them abuse me? You deceived me; can't you at least defend me now?"

James appeared conflicted, but his words hurt deeper than a knife. "I would have defended you if you hadn't kept threatening me with our past."

I felt as if the ground beneath my feet was sliding away. "Isn't our past worth talking about?" I yelled, my rage and sadness combining into a flood of emotion.

"Either you choose me or you choose Hannah."

James' quiet was terrible. He looked down, reluctant to meet my eyes. Without saying anything further, I turned and walked out, leaving the room in startled stillness.

My heart hammered in my chest, and tears obscured my eyes as I departed the house, the weight of betrayal and grief pressing down on me.

I drove aimlessly, my head a blur of anguish and uncertainty. How did my life come to this? The guy I loved, and the family I believed I had, were all broken by deception and betrayal.

I finally pulled over to the side of the road, my body quivering with weeping. I held my tummy as the realization that I was not pregnant hit me like a tidal wave.

I wasn't pregnant, and yet I was left completely alone. In the middle of my sadness, a sense of determination grew within me. I refused to let them break me. I needed to be strong for myself.