When Anna Gray awoke in a spotless, white room, the harsh odor of antiseptic pressed against her nostrils. The room was filled with the sound of beeping machinery, which overpowered the silence. It was as if they were mocking her pain, a frightening reminder of her previous life.
Her senses were overwhelmed by the anguish that radiated throughout her body. Shockwaves ripped through her limbs at every movement. Even though the accident, blood, and terror were all in the past, the grief was real.
She closed her eyes, seeking to clear the cloud in her mind, but it just made matters worse. The smell of iron, the bitter taste of blood, remained, making her stomach twist.
A dampness beneath her caused her to tighten. Her hand reflexively moved down to touch the sheets, but she froze. Blood. The bright red stains on the white fabric made her stomach flip, the harsh truth of the situation falling on her like a heavy blanket. Panic rushed through her chest, strangling her.
The door creaked open, interrupting her whirling thoughts, and she immediately wiped the tears that had welled up in her eyes. A doctor entered, his face unreadable, his actions efficient yet slow. There was something in his eyes—a spark of something she couldn't identify. Sympathy, perhaps.
"Mrs. Blackwood," the doctor said, his voice almost too calm. "How are you feeling?"
The question seemed empty. Anna's voice was scratchy when she responded, her words wavering. "My baby... is my baby okay?"
The doctor remained silent for a minute, his gaze shifting to the floor before returning to her. Anna's chest constricted with terror as he remained silent.
"I'm sorry," he finally murmured, his voice quiet yet forceful. "We did everything we could, but the shock from the disaster was too much. "You've lost the baby."
Anna couldn't believe it. She shook her head slowly and whispered, "No," her throat tightened from the words she couldn't force herself to say. "It cannot be true..." "No, that is not possible."
The doctor maintained a serious look, his eyes filled with compassion and calm acceptance of the situation. "I'm truly sorry," he said, his voice nearly a whisper as if to soften the impact of his words.
Anna's hands shook furiously as the reality of the words set in. Her baby is gone. The life she had carried within her, the only thing that had given her strength, was gone. The grief of loss was so strong and deep that she felt as if the ground underneath her had fallen away.
A sob ripped through her, racking her body. She held the bloodstained blankets to her chest as if they could restore the life she had just lost. The anguish overtook her. Her breath came out in weak, ragged gasps.
Her whole world had shattered in an instant, and there was no one to blame but the man she had loved, Soren. The thought of his name twisted her insides. How had he done this to her? How had he done this to their baby?
The doctor lingered for a moment, watching her, but when he saw no sign of her being able to calm down, he sighed and gently stepped out.
She was now alone. Alone with her grief, wrath, and the crushing sense of betrayal that gnawed at her heart. But it did not end there.
Anna's pulse skipped a beat as she shifted her sight to the open door. She could sense their presence before they ever entered. It's Soren Blackwood and Leona Blake.
The air in the room grew thick with tension, and Anna's pulse quickened. Her emotions, raw and fragile, flared up again. The sight of them together was enough to push her to the brink.
Leona, ever the polished woman, clung to Soren's arm, a smug smile on her lips. Soren, standing tall and cold as always, looked at her with a detached, almost bored expression. It was as if none of this, none of her pain, mattered to him.
Anna's heart fell. She couldn't keep herself from snapping.
"How dare you come here!" She spat, her voice faltering under the weight of her rage and anguish. The words felt strange to her tongue, yet they were true.
Soren's lips curved up into a wicked sneer, and his icy gaze never left her face. "You're pathetic, Anna," he remarked, his voice low and full of disgust. "Clumsy enough to get into an accident and fat enough to let it ruin you."
Anna's chest clenched with his words. Every insult, every slight, felt like a physical blow. But she wouldn't show him how much it hurt. She'd already given him too much of herself. She was not going to give him the pleasure of watching her fall apart any further.
Leona giggled, leaning against Soren, her voice sickly sweet. "Oh, poor Anna," she crooned. "The accident must have been quite hard for you, huh? "I am sure Soren was devastated." Her words were filled with hatred, each syllable like a lash.
Anna's hands tightened into fists. "You think you've won, don't you?" she asked hoarsely, her heart pounding.
Soren shifted his focus to Leona, and Anna noticed the familiar glitter in his eyes. His fingers brushed against Leona's in a wordless act of possession. It was nauseating, but it conveyed a strong message. He'd moved on.
And Anna… she was nothing.
Before she could finish speaking, one of Soren's servants appeared at the door with a file. Anna's breath caught in her throat.
"Sign it," Soren said coldly, his gaze unblinking. "Here are the divorce papers. I am done with you, Anna."
Anna blinked, her vision hazy with fresh tears. She stared at the papers, unwilling to accept what had occurred. Her thoughts swirled, unable to grasp how Soren—her husband—could so easily end everything between them.
"Just like that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Soren didn't flinch. "Yes, just like that." His voice was empty, devoid of any emotion, as though their marriage had never meant anything at all. "I've found someone better. Leona."
Leona smirked, her gaze never leaving Anna's face. "You should have known better than to think he would stay with you, Anna. You're nothing but a broken woman who got in the way."
Anna's throat closed, the sting of their words sinking in like daggers. She had given everything to Soren. And this? This was how he repaid her.
But no more.
"No," Anna murmured with clinched teeth, her voice low and steady. "I do not want your money. "I do not want anything from you."
Soren curved his lips into a mocking smirk. "You'll regret this," he continued, his voice full of condescension. "But fine, I'll let you have your pride." He dug into his pocket and took out a check. "Here's ten million dollars, plus two of my estates. Take it. Consider that compensation for all of the agony you've given me.
Anna's gaze locked with his, a fire igniting within her. "I said, no."
Leona raised an eyebrow, her voice full of disbelief. "Do you want to starve, Anna?" Is this what you want?
Anna rose, her legs unsteady yet sturdy. "I don't want your money," she said, her eyes blazing with wrath. "I want you to leave."
Soren's face twisted with frustration, but he simply turned to Leona, his arm wrapping around her waist. "Let's go, Leona," he muttered, his voice full of disdain.
"Goodbye, Anna," Leona called over her shoulder. "Don't choke on your pride."
Anna watched them go, her heart pounding in her chest. The door clicked shut, and she collapsed back onto the bed, her body trembling. The weight of the divorce, the loss of the baby, the betrayals—it was all too much.
But through the pain, through the tears, something within her stirred. A promise. A vow.
This wasn't the end of her story. It was only the beginning.