Claire's POV
I curled up on the plush leather sofa, my fingers gently resting on my rounded belly. The television screen flickered with the glamorous scenes of the Annual National Arts Awards, but all I could focus on was the sight of my husband, Evander Kensington, stepping onto the red carpet. He looked as handsome as ever, in a midnight-blue tuxedo, his face was cold as usual and full of confidence. But my heart froze when I saw her— Susan Moreau, clinging to his arm as if she belonged there.
As reporters swarmed, one thrust a microphone forward in an eager voice. "Mr. Kensington, care to comment on tonight's nomination and your stunning companion?"
Evander's face stayed expressionless as he faced all the camera flashes and questions. "It's an honor to be here among such talented individuals. Susan has been an incredible support throughout this project of promoting our jewelry brand.
Susan leaned closer, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Support is what partners are for, no?" she purred, her French accent wrapping seductively around each word.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Before Evander could respond, Susan lifted her left hand, showcasing a dazzling diamond ring that caught the light spectacularly. The reporters erupted into a frenzy as Evander had the same on his ring finger.
"Is this an official announcement?"
"When did this happen?"
"Congratulations!"
Tears welled up in my eyes as my vision blurred slightly. "I am so sorry, little one," I whispered, my voice cracking. "Seems like it's just you and me now. But I promise, I will love you enough for both of us."
The room felt suffocating to me as I looked around for the remote and switched off the TV. I couldn't stay in this house, surrounded by memories of a man that no longer existed. I needed air, space, something—anything—to escape the suffocating pain.
I ran out of the house and entered the car standing on the porch. I couldn't stay there no matter what. I started the car and left the mansion.
As I drove through the rain-soaked streets, the city blurred past me, just like the images of our wedding day, the promises we had made, the dreams we had shared. How had it all come to this? What had I done to deserve such betrayal?
For two years, Evander had always been distant. He would only come to me when he wanted and leave when he was done using me for his pleasure. But this time, he had been away for over three months.
As I drove an uncontrolled truck appeared out of the blue. I didn't see the truck until it was too late. The headlights blinded me, and before I could react, the deafening crash of metal against metal sent me spiraling into darkness.
When I opened my eyes, the sterile scent of the hospital filled my senses. The beeping of monitors was the first sound I heard, pulling me back into a reality I desperately wished to escape. My body ached, and a deep, hollow pain throbbed in my chest.
"My baby," I whispered, barely able to form the words. "Is my baby okay?"
The nurse's expression told me everything before she even spoke. "I am so sorry. We did everything we could, but... the impact was too severe."
A guttural sob tore from my throat. It felt like my heart had been ripped out, leaving nothing but a gaping hole of emptiness. I turned away, tears streaming down my face as grief swallowed me whole.
"No! I… I can't lose the baby! I… I want my baby alive!" I shirked as I started to run amok in the ward. "How can my baby leave?
No. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real. My heart shattered into a million pieces as the truth sank in, the pain so intense I couldn't breathe. A scream tore from my throat, raw and filled with agony, but it wasn't enough to release the anguish that was devouring me from the inside. I turned my face away, tears streaming down as I curled in on myself, wishing I could just disappear, wishing I could follow my baby into the darkness.
They tried to reach Evander, but of course, he was "unreachable." I watched TV in the hospital, he was with her, with Susan, laughing, celebrating. They looked good so right with each other, making me feel an extra.
While I lay here, alone, broken, and bleeding. A bitter laugh escaped me, the sound hollow and lifeless. Evander had taken everything from me—the man I loved, the life we were supposed to have together, and now… our baby.
I was drowning in grief, in rage. I was being swallowed whole. The child I had longed for, the child that was supposed to be my hope, my future, was gone. And Evander… Evander had chosen her, and had flaunted their love, their betrayal, for the world to see.
I felt nothing but a cold, empty resolve as I reached for the phone. The pain had hollowed me out, leaving nothing but a burning need to cut Evander out of my life completely. I called the lawyer, my voice like ice as I demanded divorce papers. I scribbled a note to Evander, my hand trembled while writing it.
"Evander,
I once believed in our vows, in the promises we made. But it seems I have fallen in love with someone else, and that love is even greater than the vows of our marriage. Be happy with your loved ones.
Goodbye."
After a week, I was discharged but Evander was still nowhere to be found. I went home and packed my things. However, when looking around, there was nothing that belonged to me. I entered this house with a few thousand dollars and a bag full of ragged clothes.
I packed a few things which I really thought belonged to me. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes but my heart was cold. I had nothing left and I didn't wish to waste my tears for the people who had torn me down completely.
After packing my things, I went to the study of Evander and put the divorce paper and the letter on the table. I knew he would come and enter his study first before looking for me but as I turned to leave, a file fell on the floor and the papers scattered down, making my eyes bulged out of my socket!
I felt a shiver ran down my spine as soon as I noticed the words in the documents clearly after they fell. I spent a long period stuck there, unable to move!