"I need your help," Nolan said in a straightforward manner. He appeared out of nowhere in my boutique.

"What do you want?"

"I've been asked to a party by a big perfume company. They want Valerie and me as the couple in their ad campaign. I hope you can make us an amazing exclusive collection for us. One set. A couple's outfit.".

I stared at him for a long while. I suppose it was more amusing for Nolan to waste all his time with Valerie than to do anything for me.

I nodded my head to his sentences like a trained robot.

"All right. I'll make it."

He breathed easier with a huge sigh, as if the world had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Scarlett, you're a sweet woman. I'm sorry that my promise to wed you has been put on hold because of my job. But I assure you, marrying you is my wish."

I could muster a pale smile and nodded. Trying to accept his promise, which I knew would eventually be broken.

Nolan squeezed my hand for a moment. "Thanks for being understanding."

I just sat there staring at my fingers as he left. Still warm, but no longer whole.

****

I've been weird the last few days. I've been dizzy, nauseous, and vomiting every morning. My appetite's gone, and I can barely tolerate the scent of the perfume I usually wear.

My head was heavy rolling out of bed. And then my phone buzzed like a flurry of messages arriving.

And it was a full dozen messages. All photo and video from a quantity that hadn't registered.

Heavier in my chest, I opened the first video.

And there they were. Valerie and Nolan.

Dark room. Satin sheets draped over nothing. Bodies all wrapped in each other on the bed.

I tried to conclude the video, but another video replaced it instead. And this one was worse. It was longer.

Then a clear voice full of moans.

"Look at me, Valerie. Only you can make me feel this way and lose control."

"You still like it, don't you? When I touch you like that…"

Valerie moaned gently, then spoke in labored breaths, "I love it, every touch by you, darling."

"Say what you want tonight," Nolan whispered in a kiss.

"You… only you… Nolan. No one else," Valerie panted, stifling a moan.

Nolan inched closer, kissing her neck gradually, before he spoke softly.

"Show me, now! Let's fight to let this passion go."

I gagged.

My body blazed at once. My hands trembled and I nearly dropped my phone.

I ran to the sink. Nausea I had stifled burst in a single wild spasm.

I vomited the putrid liquid from my stomach.

Teardrops accompanied the revulsion that flowed into my mouth.

Because my health had been failing, I at last had myself tested.

I was stunned when the doctor told me the test results which I had just undergone.

"Congratulations, you are four weeks pregnant," the doctor spoke with a smile.

I was dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.

Do I need to be happy or be in tatters?

That moment was there when Nolan was intoxicated, and I could not hold him back. In a mistake, we had ended up in that night.

I looked down at the small ultrasound report in my hand. Part of me wanted to be thrilled, hoping for nothing more than that this child's life would soften Nolan's heart and cause him to love me. But the image of that hot video nagged in my mind for the umpteenth time.

With hope, I clutched the test results to me and left the room. I would speak with Nolan, at least let him know. Maybe there still was a path through it all.

But I procrastinated. When I met Valerie on my way to go down to the main floor.

She folded her arms over her chest with a satisfied smirk. Her bright scarlet lips curled in disdain.

"Hello, Scarlett! Did you see the video I sent? You know who captured Nolan's heart, don't you?"

I was taken aback by what she said. So Valerie was the number that did not reveal my name. I could not hold back my fury and slapped her on the face.

"So it's been you all this while trying to get at me? You bitch!"

Valerie gasped, but only for a moment. Her face was fierce.

"You've got some nerve!"

She shoved me hard. I hadn't seen it coming. My heel had slipped on the steps.

I fell, thumping several stairs, then rolled until my body came to rest against the ground below.

My leg hurt with pain, and a burning, searing pain flashed through my abdomen. When I placed my hand on my thigh, blood began trickling down my skirt.

"No! My baby…" I whispered softly, my lips quivering.

Valerie shrieked suddenly.

She collapsed onto the ground, shrieking hysterically.

"Nolan! Help me!"

Down from the topmost floor came Nolan, frantic. His eyes were locked on Valerie, sobbing theatrically. He fell to his knees immediately to check Valerie's leg.

"What happened?" Nolan exclaimed anxiously.

"It looks like Scarlett was jealous of me. she shoved me on purpose down the stairs. And now my leg really aches," Valerie gasped dramatically.

Nolan's face turned cold. He scowled at me. He walked over and grasped my arm in a tight hold.

"What the deuce, Scarlett?! What did you do to her?"

I couldn't talk. Stomach cramps worsened along with leg aches.

All I could do is look at the blood still flowing beneath my thigh.

Nolan pulled his hand back harshly. Then turned, taking Valerie instantly and leaving me behind.

I was all shattering at once my body, heart, and last tiny hope.

In my mind, I was counting once more.

"This is the twelfth time, Nolan. Wear one more! And never see me again!”

I saw the look on my father’s face tighten. His eyes swept across my body lying on the hospital bed, then nervously looked at the doctor.

“How is my daughter’s condition, Doctor?” he asked softly, almost in a whisper.

The doctor took a breath. His eyes briefly looked at me before shifting back to my father.

“Her condition is stable now. But I’m sorry she had a miscarriage because the fall was too hard. The pregnancy was only four weeks. The internal bleeding was quite serious earlier, but we’ve handled it.”

I froze. My breath caught. My eyes burned as I stared at the white hospital ceiling. My hand trembled, gripping the blanket.

I had just heard the news of my child growing inside me, and on the same day, they disappeared from me forever. It was suffocating.

“You were pregnant, Scarlett?” my father’s voice broke the silence again. He moved closer toward me.

I slowly turned my head. Unable to hold back my tears. Then I nodded.

“I just found out today. I was just about to tell Nolan.” My voice was faint, trembling. I swallowed a sob.

“But… I ended up meeting Valerie at this hospital. We argued then. Suddenly, she pushed me down the stairs.”

Father let out a heavy sigh. His breath sounded like an angry hiss.

“Oh God!” he muttered, bowing his head while rubbing his forehead.

“How did it come to this, Scarlett? I think Nolan is the root of all your problems now.” He looked at me deeply.

I closed my eyes. There was truth in his words. But my heart was too shattered to either deny or agree.

“Maybe… this is a sign. The Moretti family has accepted you. This could be a new beginning.”

I looked at him with a blank stare. My memory seemed to be pulled back.

Three years ago. I ran away from home, still in a party dress, ignoring my father’s call to meet the Moretti family that night. At the time, I hated arranged marriages. I wanted love, not a family transaction.

But that very night, I chose to run away.

And my father scolded me harshly afterward. But now, the Moretti family still accepted me. Even though I had once humiliated them.

This time, I don’t want to disappoint them again.

****

Four days have passed since the incident at the hospital. Since then, I’ve been trapped in silence without Nolan. He hasn’t even asked about my condition.

My leg is still bandaged. Every step feels like walking on nails. But I still forced myself to return to the apartment today.

I dragged my feet up the stairs. My breath was heavy. When I reached the apartment hallway, I saw Nolan.

He was standing in front of the door, about to leave, wearing his favorite black jacket.

His gaze faded when he saw me. There was a brief pause between us.

“Scarlett, you’re back? Where have you been?”

I looked down, avoiding his eyes. My legs could barely hold me, but I stayed standing.

“How are you?” he asked again, stepping slightly closer.

“I’m fine, Nolan. I can handle it. On my own,” I answered flatly, slightly gritting my teeth.

Then fast footsteps broke the moment. Valerie appeared from the end of the hallway, wearing a flashy dress, her hair loose, and a sly smile plastered on her face.

“Nolan, why are you taking so long?” she shouted while running and, without warning, slammed into my shoulder from behind.

My body swayed. My balance faltered. My injured leg tried to hold me up, but... a sharp jolt struck.

I whimpered. My hand braced against the wall as my body trembled from the pain.

“Arrggh...” I winced, holding my breath while trying to stand straight.

Nolan looked at me. But he didn’t help. Just stood still like he didn’t know what to do.

Valerie smiled in satisfaction, then clung sweetly to his arm.

“I got tired waiting for you in the car. Let’s go,” she said coyly, as if trying to provoke me.

Nolan looked at me once more.

“Come on! let’s go,” Valerie said again while pulling Nolan’s hand. And he followed without protest.

My steps were staggering again as I entered the apartment. My leg was still bandaged, but the pain was nothing compared to the wounds etched in my heart.

I opened my bedroom door. Something felt different inside.

I walked over to the vanity, where my photo with Nolan used to stand side by side in a glass frame. But I found nothing. A new photo had taken its place. A photo of Valerie and Nolan.

My bedroom wall was filled with many pictures of them, as if a cruel reminder that I didn’t belong there. I walked toward the kitchen, and that’s where I found the remnants of those memories. My photo with Nolan was still beautifully framed, lying in the trash.

“That’s enough. I call this the 13st betrayal,” I said softly, with a bitter smile. This number is far too many for patience.

1 hour later. Social media was in an uproar over the news of my engagement to the Moretti family.

Now, I’m sitting on the living room chair in an elegant black dress with a small suitcase beside me. Not long after, the apartment door was knocked on.

Several men dressed in all black entered, bringing with them an aura of power and dignity. One of them bowed politely.

“Miss Scarlett, it’s time to leave.”

I nodded calmly. They took my suitcase, then another man tried to support my body to help me walk.

As I was about to get into the car, Nolan came running after me, breathless.

“Scarlett, wait! What are you doing?!”

I only glanced briefly, then the door of the luxury car was opened for me and I chose to enter quickly without facing Nolan.

One of the men raised his hand, pushing Nolan back with a single strong movement. His body fell, sitting on the ground as he tried to approach me.

The car began to move slowly.

From the slightly opened window, I reached into my small bag. I took out a small folded sheet I had carefully kept.

An ultrasound photo. A tiny proof of life that had once grown in my womb. I threw it out the window. The paper floated gently, landing right in front of Nolan who was now crawling on the road.

His hand grabbed the photo. His face turned pale. His gaze was blank.

“No! Were you pregnant, Scarlett?” His voice was hoarse as tears streamed down his face.

Nolan tried to stand while attempting to run after the car.

“Scarlett! Explain this, and don’t leave me. I’m begging you!”

He shouted, breaking the silence. But it was all too late. The car drove off, leaving him in deep regret.

Moments later, the car that carried me stopped in a private airfield. There, a private jet was already waiting, luxurious and heavily guarded.

I got out, greeted by an elderly man in a neat suit. I just gave a slight smile. My feet climbed the jet’s stairs. As the airplane door closed, I now convinced myself to start a new chapter in my life.