Chapter 1
“Emm today onward, Istart anew!
Ast wanted for many
a picture
that the hospital, I scrolled through my husband Gavin Gould’sex, Mandy Green’s, social media post. She had proudly shared a
jadeclaration of newfound freedom.
hen the doctric’s cheerful voice broke my themeĥats.
“congratulations, Orare Summers! You’re pregnanalo.
I looked up sharply, stomped, unable to believe I had just brand. A fond af jy verdiened me.
era year of tiving. I was finally pregnant with rusin’schild!
sty hands instinctively moved to my lower abdomen, a misture of happiness and subtle melancholy swirling within for. Who would have thought that the moment I had been longing for – having a baby–would coincide with Mamily’s announcement of a fresh start?
who had grown familiar with me during my countless visits to the hospital, beamed with genuine excitement. “Yus fume to tell your husband the good neses right away! He’ll be thalled!”
Sendling. I nodded, gently stroking my stomach. “Yes, he’s been waiting for this moment for so long too.”
same he comes, with you for the prenatal checkups from now on,” she teased, “You’re the family’s VIP now! No matter how busy he is, nothing’s more
ing all the visits to the hospital alone. Their was
Tsmiled at her warmth, though her words stined a bittersweet feeling. Over the past year, I had been the one making nothing wri ime physically, yet there had been no sign of pregnancy.
doctor had even hinted it might be Gavin’s issue, suggesting a low sperm count, and recommended he undergo a checkup. But I couldn’t bring myself to risk
sat, I begond the doctor for ovulation–stimulating medication, which had been taking for months without success.
(full year, it had finally happened.
well to the doctor and nurse and hurried out, clutching my test results. I couldn’t wait to share the news with Gavin at his
my phone buzzed, I was my mom, Elizabeth Wells calling.
stuled deeply, and answered cheerfully, “Hi, Mom!”
weren’t you planning to visit the hospital with Gavin today? When will you two get bere? Lasked Alex to meet you at the entrance,” she said, her voice weak
liver cancer diagnosis, my mother had been longing to see me and Gavin have a proper wedding. She couldn’t let go of me, her only worry
11 werpe legally married, we had delayed the ceremony, because his grandfather, Walter Gould had fallen seriously ill. I had told my mother the
- beld mose legal weight than a wedding.
idding meant everything.
ally events, Guevin rately brought me along to social gatherings, and my mother knew her time was running out. Her greatest wish was to see us
meisteted my routage and asked Gavin to prioritize the wedding Thankfully, he agreed, and we had been busy planning it ever since.
ach We’ll call him when we arrive.“ Treasured her.
(with work, don’t push him too hard. You can come alone to see me
she said, het commemmevident
be’d come to see you withone te won’t let you down. “
he dialat i liker man showing up at work manangured
wannyphour cang. it was hum
dial tone echoed in my ears as my chest tightened, welched down by an invisible stone. My heart raced, and my mind unwillingly replayed Mandy’s earlier pour nouncing her fresh start.
da new update.
As it possessed, Treopened Mandy’s profile and found a new
“A special visit.”
The post was accompanied by a photo of a man standing by a massive four–to–ceiling window, phone in hand.
Eventhough it was just a silhouette, Lrecognized him immediately.
It was my husband–Gavin Gould
He was with Mandy
The Gould Group towered over the bustling commercial district of Furvine,
As we approached the company building, I couldn’t help but notice the massive LED screen outside the Gould Group headquarters displaying the strikingly beautiful face of Mandy Green.
She wasn’t just a famous actress but also my husband’s childhood sweetheart–his first love and now the spokesperson for the Gould Group’s products.
Stepping out of the car, I felt abitter smile tueping at my lips.
Gavin disliked my coming to his office unannounced, so in our two years of marriage, my visits to the company were rare. Naturally, I didn’t know about this, and no one had ever bothered to tell me..
Perhaps it was because no one felt the need to tellane
“Mrs. Gould, what brings you here?”
As soon as I entered the building, Caleb Reed, Gavin’s assistant, approached with a subtle hint of nervousness on his face. “Mr. Gould is in a meeting. Shall I take you to the lounge to wait for him?
“There’s no need. I’ll wait for him in his office.”
When I opened the door to Gavin’s office, the face I had just seen on the LED screen greeted me in person
Mandy Deerwas here!
“You C
She looked at me with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
She must have come straight from work, her makeup flawless and her high–end designer dress accentuating her figure perfectly.
I glanced around the room but didn’t see Gavin.
“You’re Gracie, aren’t you?” Mandy seemed to recognize me finally, smiling brightly. She carried herself with the composure of someone who felt right at home.” You’re here to see Gavin? He’s in a meeting.”
Ignoring her, I tumed to Caleb, who was standing by the door. “When will Gavin be baci
Caleb was momentarily taken aback, as if surprised by my calm demeanor. “Around ten. In about half an hour,”
I nodded, then walked straight to Gavin’s desk. “I’ll wait for him here.”
Mandy seemed undazed by my complete disregard for her. She casually crossed her legs and resumed playing a game onder phone, her posture relaxed and
Not long after, the other door swung open, and Gavin walked in, fresh from his meeting:
He was dressed in a tailored charcoal gray suit that highlighted his sophisticated and emmanding presence. But when his gaze landed on me, his brows furrowed diglatly. “What are you doing larre?”
Suppressing my emotions, I didn’t want to show wrakiarus in front of Mandly, I stood up, hooked my
y ann around his in an intimate gesture, and said with a smile,
ravin glanced down at my hand but didn’t say anything further.
Instinctively, I looked toward Marly. Her gaze was fixed my hand wrapped around thavin’s arm, herexpression Beeting andumcalable. It was so brief that i
Intewing dey attention back, I took a deep breath and mustered a smile, ready ta slate the news of my porgny while asserting any position.
But befror Frondd say the word “jarguid,” Maudy let out a suddent exclamation.
aslipped from læra hand and shattered on the font.
(it properly,” Mandy apologized quah kdy, bending downsta pickup the brokenshands.
“port – Majdy suddenly d
“Hold you not to touch 111 – Gevin scolded her, his true laced with Inestration as he grabbed her hand to linspect the cat. “Why are you always so careless? Why did
“Gerz, why are pui no hard?” Manly replied, her voice mix of defiance and playful irmocence, though her eyes glimaneres with amusement. “I didn’t do it on
pupose”
we approached the company building. Trouldn’t help bui metieni
She wasn’t just a famous actress but also my husband:
the massive LED side the GoldGroup headquarters displaying the strikingly beautiful face of Mandy Green
hibhood sweethear—his first love and now the spokesperson for the Gould Group’s products.
of the car, I felt a bitej smile tapping
Stepping
Gavin disliked my coming to hit attice unannoonend, so in our two years of marriage, my visits to the company weer rate. Naturally, I didn’t know about this, and no one hatever bothered to
Perhaps in was becirese navoro telt the needip tell me
As soon as entered the building, Caleb Reed, Gavin’s assistant, apponached with a subtle hint of encuousnesson his face. “Mr. Gould is in a meeting, Shall I take you to the lungs to wait for
There’s no need I wan for him in his office.
nd opened the door to Govin ́s efT
Mandy Green was her
The looked at me with a mix of surple andouity
She must have come straight from work, het makeup flawless and her high–end después des accenting be
I glanced at mind the rooit bus didn‘ see Gavin
Mandy perined to Lecognize me Emally, smiling brightly. She carriell
h the composure of someone who felt right an me. “You’re here to see Gartn
Caleh was momentarily taken aback, an in surprised by me calm demeanor. “Around ten. In about half an hour.”
Insdied, then walked straight to gwm’s desk 11 wait for him here”
Munch, seemed undaned by my complete daregardðar her. She casually closed her legs and resumed playing a game on her phone, her posture relaxed and unbothered.
Not long after, the action door swung open, and Gavin walked in, fresh from a meeting.
I was dressed in a tailed churcoal–pay suit that highlighted his sophisticated and commanding presence. But when his gaze landed on me, his brows furrowed slightly, “What are you
appresing my armarione. I didn’t want to show we sines in front of Mandy. I od up, hecked my arm
weakness i
carsund his in an intimate gesture, and said with a smile, “I missed you and wanted to
Gerili planted oven al my hand but didn’t say anything leather.
They looked toward Mandy. Her gaze was on my handwrapped around Gavin’s arm, her expression fleeting
tradable. It was so beled that gather fo
mention back, I took a deep breath and mustered a smile, ready to shathe of my prepancy alerting my position
Durbedoce I could the word “pergant, Mandy let out a sudden exclamation………
was a loud crach as a glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
olding it properly,” Mandy apologized quickly, bending down to pick up the broken shardi.
Megindo Ained instantly, and bette I knew it, he released my arm and rushed towardhes. “Don’t move.”
“ Mandy suddenly down back her fund, her brows furrowing as the held hat tinger, now bleeding.
To takt your ham tu tourli il tarin scolded her, his tone laced with frustration as he grabbed her hand to inspect the cut. “Why are you always so careless? Why did you even pick up the glass?”
* Mandy replet, ter volor a mix of delunce and playtul innocence, though her eyes glissmered with anusement. “I didn’t do it on purpose”
| wreck still deed the residual weinith of Gava’s haradan mine, but now dat hand was holding someone elsets.
jiderarladı feeling like an unwelcome outsider in my own briskand unifice
and love and two years of marriage–Thad always thoright Gadicansetand
die de would eventually warmup.
dejatly defore letting good bushy’s hand “Torkeaprown woman. How can you still be sadamış?
china’s playful book “You’re alwa
band with ererber mud bat tinged with boyish charm: “Grace, dar’i Mane Gavin. He’s just always born liber thin
jou nan kavaldadi akar som. “Marly call grabbing her bagħtiam the couch and walking out wifional locking back.
The daind went of makeup İmenendani kam, and it
Chapter 1
Tdidn’t care about the chuming in my stomach. My gaze Instinctively lifted to meet him.
“No, that’s not right”
Before configure out how to respond, Gavin frowned slightly, shaking his head as if rejecting his own thoughts. “It’s impossible for you to be pregnant.”
thad no idea how heathed at such a conclusion, but strangely, Helt a fleetingsense of relief.
Just half an hour ago, thathen rager to share the joyous news of my pregnancy, but now…
Loerted my head, ribed a glass with water, and rinsed my mouths willine saying a wond.
Gwin handelt me a towel, his braw furrowed. “I know how much you want a child, but you om Theep pushing your body like this, Medicine always has side effects.”
The bright light from above cast sharp angles across his handsome face. His deep set eyes and
browcreated shadows that only accepted the intensity of his gaze.
This was Gavin Gould, the man that society led for ten years. My tragedies were filled with his every move, every wool.
In the past, this kind of concern would have thoilled me beyond words.
“Grace, don’t keep things ime. Youcan’t keep exhausting younsell likethis,” he said suddenly, his voice low and serious.
trought ett guard. “What er you talking about?
“The prescription you asked me to pick up this moming–Mandyhappened to see i
That familiar, intimate tone trom Gadn’s lips pierced my ears like shards of
He continued, his tone steady, as though stating tits. “She said it’s medication to stimulate ovulation, something only taken by people struggling with fertility But when asked
about it before, you told me it was just vitamins and supplements.”
hd Mandy tell you that? Tinterophed, my voice hoarse and heavy
Gin browned, hearty displeased by my traction “she saw by chance; it wasn’intentional
Tcouldn’t believe Even now, Gavin’s priocity was to defend Mindy
A wave of emuition surged within me, threatening to drown mETIYKON
No wonder was so can I couldn’t be pregnant
Because Mandy had told him that only infertile people took such medication–and he believed her without question.
Imet his gaze directly. “Do you think I can’t get pregnant too?!
Gurin raised an eyebrow, surprised by my unusually assertive tone.
in front of him, I had always been gentle and accommodating. Even when toccasionally played coy, it was only to add a touch of playfulness.
This blunt, confrontational side of me was a first
case?” Gavin’s brose furrowed deeper, his patience waning. “You’ve been going to the hospital avery other day, popping pils like they’re candy. Did you really think
“Isn’t that the cas
Istood there, stunned.
All the effort and critics had made the past year suddenly felt absurd and laughable
Knowing Gavin’s prideful and cold nature, I had done everything I could to shield him from any speculation about his fertility.
Lendured countless rounds of medication, swallowing pill after pill on top of that, thad to bear my father–in–law’s cruel tants, calling me abaten hen who wasn’t worthy of
Yet through it all, I tried my best to protect Gavin’s dignity and his pride as a man.
And now, was the one Labeled as interble
My blurred, and my chest tightened as it an invisible hand was squeezing my bret
“You want to know why I was taking the me cation? Let me tell you-
Before I could finish, aknock Interrupted me. The door swung open.
Mandy stepped into the room, poging with her words but showing note of remore on her face.
“Gundo, my carla oke down. Can you give me a ride home?” she asked, firs tone casual.
Tittard to look at Ganvis, my heart still simmering with anger bat holling a sliver of hope…
Twininder what he wouldcboove.
might be his onlechik.
Talso wanted to grem myself a wayest
This child growing inside me women had wrede og years for Considering Garin’s possible law sperm count, this mig
But if Gavin chose Mandy, then I would finally lose allliope.
Gand seemed momentarily taken aback by Manly’s. He frowned and said, “I’m busy Galeh can take you honte,
