Chapter 1 The End

• Lila sits on the edge of the examination table, clutching the edges with her trembling fingers. The faint hum of the ultrasound machine fills the quiet room. Her gaze fixes on the monitor, her heart pounding in anticipation.
• “Congratulations, Mrs. Hale,” the doctor says, turning the screen slightly. “You’re carrying twins. Both are healthy and developing well.”
• Lila’s eyes widened. Twins. She presses a hand against her chest, where her heart races. “Twins?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.
• The doctor nods, offering a warm smile. “Yes. You’re about twelve weeks along. It’s early, but everything looks great.”
• She can hardly believe it. A laugh bubbles up, light and breathless. Twins. Adrian will be so happy. The thought brings a rush of warmth to her chest.
• After gathering the ultrasound photos and instructions, Lila steps out of the hospital. The evening air is crisp, but she hardly notices. Her mind is already racing ahead, imagining Adrian’s reaction. He’s been distant lately, but this—this will change everything.
• At home, the clock ticks steadily. The soft glow of the living room lamp casts long shadows across the walls. Lila sets the ultrasound photos neatly on the coffee table, arranging them just so. She glances at her phone for the tenth time in as many minutes.
• No messages. No calls.
• The hours drag on. Dinner sits untouched on the dining table, and the warmth in the room fades with the night. Lila wraps a blanket around herself and sits on the sofa, her head resting against the cushion. Her excitement dulls into worry. Where is he?
• Eventually, exhaustion takes over, and she drifts into a restless sleep.
• The low rumble of an engine outside stirs her awake. She sits up abruptly, the blanket sliding to the floor. The headlights sweep across the windows before the car comes to a stop. Lila hurries to the door, a smile breaking across her face.
• The front door opens, and Adrian steps inside. His tailored suit is immaculate, his hair neatly combed. There’s no sign of the exhaustion she feels.
• “You’re back,” she says, her voice filled with relief.
• Adrian pauses, his sharp gaze sweeping over her. His expression is unreadable, his lips pressed into a thin line. He sets his briefcase on the floor, his movements deliberate.
• “We need to talk,” he says. His tone is clipped, devoid of warmth.
• Lila’s smile falters. “Talk? Is everything okay?”
• Adrian exhales sharply, as if her question irritates him. “I want a divorce.”
• The words hit her like a blow. She blinks, unable to process them. “A… divorce?”
• “Yes.” He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t look away. “I’ll have my lawyer draft the papers. You can sign them whenever you’re ready.”
• Her fingers grip the edge of the doorframe to steady herself. “Adrian, what are you saying? Why?”
• His jaw tightens. “I don’t love you, Lila. This isn’t working.”
• Her throat tightens, and she struggles to find her voice. “We can work through this. We’re married—”
• “This isn’t up for debate,” he interrupts, his tone cold. “I’ve made my decision.”
• Lila stares at him, the words she planned to say—the news she was so eager to share—trapped in her throat. The ultrasound photos sit on the coffee table behind her, unseen and forgotten.
• Adrian picks up his briefcase and walks past her without another glance. The door clicks shut behind him, and the house falls into silence.
• Lila sinks to the floor, her hands trembling. The joy she felt only hours ago is gone, replaced by a hollow ache that threatens to swallow her whole. Nonetheless, she still tries to fool herself.
• ‘Maybe Adrian is just stressed,’ she thinks. ‘Work has been relentless for him lately. The idea of a divorce has to be impulsive, born from fatigue or frustration.’
• Her gaze flickers to the ultrasound photos still lying on the coffee table. A pang of hope flutters in her chest.
• “Once he knows about the babies, everything will change. He’s always talked about wanting children—he’ll see this as a new beginning,” she mutters to herself.
• Lila gets up slowly, her body heavy with exhaustion. She picks up the photos and carries them to their bedroom. She places them carefully on her nightstand, as if their presence will anchor her determination. Tomorrow, she’ll tell him. Tomorrow, everything will be better.
• Lila sits on the cold floor for what feels like an eternity, staring at the door as if willing it to open again. Maybe Adrian is just stressed, she thinks. Work has been relentless for him lately. The idea of a divorce has to be impulsive, born from fatigue or frustration.
• Her gaze flickers to the ultrasound photos still lying on the coffee table. A pang of hope flutters in her chest. Once he knows about the babies, everything will change. He’s always talked about wanting children—he’ll see this as a new beginning.
• Lila gets up slowly, her body heavy with exhaustion. She picks up the photos and carries them to the bedroom. She places them carefully on her nightstand, as if their presence will anchor her determination. Tomorrow, she’ll tell him. Tomorrow, everything will be better.
• The next day, Lila stirs, her hand instinctively reaching for the other side of the bed. It’s cold, empty. She blinks, sitting up quickly.
• “Adrian?” she calls out, her voice echoing in the silence.
• No answer. The house is eerily still. She checks the bathroom, the kitchen, even his home office. He’s gone.
• Her chest tightens, but she forces herself to stay calm. He must have gone to work early. That’s all. She pulls out her phone, her thumb hovering over his name in her contacts. Just as she’s about to type a message, a notification pops up.
• A message from Lyra Montgomery, her mother.
• Her stomach twists as she opens it. The text is brief, but it feels like a punch to the gut.
• “I told you long before that you were digging your own grave forcing him to marry you.”
• Beneath the message is a link. Lila hesitates, her thumb trembling as it hovers over the screen. With a deep breath, she taps it.
• The page loads, revealing a tabloid article with a glaring headline:
• “Kristina Black is Back! Spotted with Adrian Hale at Exclusive Dinner.”
• The article is accompanied by a photo. Lila’s breath catches in her throat as she stares at it. Adrian is seated at an elegant table, leaning slightly toward the stunning woman across from him. Kristina.
• Her glossy black hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders, her lips curved in a knowing smile. The kind of smile that says she belongs there—next to Adrian.
• Lila’s grip tightens on her phone. The date stamp on the article is fresh. Last night.
• Her mind races, piecing together the fragments of the evening. While she had waited for him, falling asleep on the sofa with dreams of sharing their news, he had been with her.
• She scrolls down, her vision blurring as the words blur together. The article speculates about their reunion, hinting at a rekindled romance.
• Lila drops the phone onto the kitchen counter as if it burns her. Her mother’s words echo in her mind: “Digging your own grave.”
• Forcing him to marry her… She swallows hard, her chest tightening. No, that isn’t how it was. Adrian had agreed. He’d said he’d give her a chance.
• Had that all been a lie?