Chapter 2 The Child He Hid

• My entire body went cold.
• Vivian is pregnant with my child.
• The words echoed inside my head again and again. For a moment, I couldn't hear anything else, couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't move. I just stood there staring at Adrian. Waiting for him to take it back, waiting for somebody to laugh and tell me this was all some horrible joke. Nobody did. Beside him, Vivian lowered her eyes and rested a hand on her stomach. That single movement shattered whatever remained inside me.
• A sharp pain spread through my chest. I felt sick, actually sick. I laughed suddenly. The sound shocked even me because it wasn't laughter. It was heartbreak. Raw, ugly and humiliating.
• "You got another woman pregnant?"
• My voice shook. Neither of them answered immediately. That silence said enough. I nodded slowly.
• "Oh my God."
• Fresh tears filled my eyes.
• "You really did it."
• "Elena."
• "No."
• I raised a hand.
• "Don't."
• Adrian's jaw tightened.
• "Listen to me."
• "Why?"
• My voice rose.
• "Why should I listen now?"
• The pain became unbearable.
• "I spent three years loving you."
• Tears rolled freely down my face.
• "I defended you."
• I pointed at myself.
• "I blamed myself every single time you treated me like I wasn't enough."
• My chest rose sharply.
• "And this is what you were doing behind my back?"
• Vivian looked uncomfortable. Good. For the first time tonight, I wanted somebody else to feel uncomfortable. Adrian stepped forward.
• "It isn't what you think."
• A bitter laugh escaped me.
• "You got her pregnant."
• I pointed toward Vivian.
• "What exactly am I supposed to think?"
• His face hardened.
• "You aren't being rational."
• The words hit harder than they should have. Of course. I was irrational, I was emotional, I was dramatic. Meanwhile my husband was divorcing me and introducing another family. I looked away before I completely lost control. The hospital report inside my purse suddenly felt heavier than ever. My baby, our baby. A child Adrian didn't know existed and suddenly I was glad because he didn't deserve to know. Not tonight, maybe not ever. Vivian finally spoke.
• "Elena, I never wanted this."
• I turned toward her so fast she took a step backward.
• "Stop."
• Her lips parted.
• "I mean it."
• "No."
• Anger burned through me.
• "You don't get to stand in my house and pretend you're innocent."
• She looked hurt. I didn't care. Not anymore.
• "I spent years watching people connect your name with his."
• My voice trembled.
• "I ignored every rumor."
• I laughed bitterly.
• "I even defended you."
• Vivian lowered her gaze. The guilt on her face only made everything worse because guilty people looked exactly like that. Adrian stepped between us.
• "Enough."
• I stared at him then smiled. A sad smile, a broken smile. The kind people wear when something important dies inside them.
• "You're protecting her."
• His expression changed slightly. That tiny reaction told me everything. I nodded.
• "Thank you."
• Both of them looked confused.
• "Thank you for finally showing me exactly where I stand."
• Pain flashed across Adrian's face. Only for a second then it disappeared. Too late, far too late. I turned towards the stairs again. This time nobody stopped me. I reached the bedroom and locked the door immediately. The second the lock clicked, my legs gave out. I slid onto the floor. The tears came harder. My entire body shook. Everything hurt. My heart, my pride, my future. I pressed a trembling hand against my stomach.
• "I'm sorry."
• The whisper escaped before I could stop it.
• "I'm so sorry."
• This wasn't the life I imagined for my child. I wanted a family, I wanted happiness, I wanted love. Instead I got betrayed. A knock interrupted my thoughts. My entire body stiffened.
• "Elena."
• Adrian. Of course. I wiped my face angrily.
• "Go away."
• Silence followed then another knock.
• "Open the door."
• I laughed bitterly.
• "You lost the right to give me orders."
• Another pause then his voice came again. Lower this time, almost tired.
• "We need to talk."
• I stood and walked toward the door. My hands trembled. Not from fear but from anger. I unlocked it. The moment Adrian entered, tension filled the room. Neither of us spoke, neither of us knew where to begin. Finally I broke the silence.
• "What do you want?"
• His gaze moved across my face. Probably noticing I had been crying. Good. Let him see what he had done.
• "You shouldn't leave tonight."
• I stared at him then I laughed. Actually I laughed
• "You divorce me and now you're worried about where I sleep?"
• His jaw tightened.
• "That's not what I meant."
• "Then what did you mean?"
• No answer. I folded my arms.
• "Exactly."
• His eyes remained on me. For a second something strange flashed across his face. Regret, maybe guilt possibly. Neither mattered anymore.
• "I know you're hurt."
• The words nearly made me scream.
• "Hurt?"
• I stepped closer.
• "Hurt?"
• My voice cracked.
• "You destroyed my marriage."
• Another step.
• "You replaced me."
• Another.
• "You got another woman pregnant."
• My breathing became uneven.
• "And you think hurt is the right word?"
• Silence. Again. Always silent. I was beginning to hate silence then his phone suddenly rang. Both of us looked down. Vivian. The name flashed across the screen. Something inside me broke all over again. Adrian immediately declined the call. But it was too late. The damage was done. I smiled sadly.
• "You should answer."
• "It can wait."
• "She's carrying your child."
• His eyes lifted. I looked away because seeing his face suddenly hurt. Everything about him hurts. His voice softened.
• "Elena."
• I closed my eyes then opened them again.
• "No."
• The word came out steady, calm, final. Something had changed. Maybe I had finally reached my limit, maybe there was nothing left to break. I walked toward the wardrobe and pulled out a suitcase. Adrian frowned.
• "What are you doing?"
• "I'm leaving."
• His expression darkened.
• "Not tonight."
• I looked directly at him. For the first time all evening, my tears stopped, my voice stopped shaking, my heart stopped begging.
• "You wanted a divorce."
• I grabbed the suitcase.
• "You got it."
• Then I reached into my purse slowly, carefully. Adrian watched me confused. I pulled out the folded hospital report. His eyes narrowed before he could ask what it was, i ripped the straight down the middle then again tiny pieces fell to the floor between us. Adrian stared.
• "What was that?"
• My chest tightened painfully but I forced myself to smile. A heartbreaking smile.
• "The last reason I had to stay."
• His face changed instantly. For the first time that night, real fear appeared in his eyes and suddenly I realized something. He didn't know what I had just destroyed but somehow, part of him already knew it mattered.