Isabella’s POV

The day I buried my father, my husband didn’t show up for the funeral.

My phone buzzed. It was a message from Bianca — my stepsister, who also hadn’t come.

I opened it. The screen showed a photo of Marcus, my husband, kissing her stomach tenderly. It was tagged: Guess who’s finally going to be a father.

My hands shook. No. It couldn’t be real.

My vision blurred with tears as I stared hard at the picture, praying with everything in me that it was fake, that it was some sort of sick joke.

But it wasn't. The next picture she sent was enough to shatter my world.

It was a picture of Bianca taking a mirror selfie in the master's bedroom I shared with Marcus. She was wearing my robe, while Marcus was asleep in the background on the master's bed.

I couldn’t breathe. So it was true.

My husband had impregnated my stepsister.

Tears ran down my face as I sobbed. My chest hurt from the pain of the betrayal. My husband. My stepsister.

My knees gave out, and I collapsed in front of my father’s grave.

The dirt was still fresh. My tears soaked into it as I broke down completely.

It felt like my heart was being torn from my chest as I sobbed hard.

I should have known, I had seen how close they had been getting, the secret glances and conversations, but I had refused to believe that I could ever be betrayed by the two people I trusted the most.

I felt so betrayed and humiliated.

Then my phone buzzed again. It was Marcus this time

-I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the funeral. A very important issue came up. We need to talk.-

I stared at the screen, the tears flowing freely now. I already knew what he wanted.

That night, Marcus arrived with Bianca and her bags.

“Bianca needs a place to stay,” he said softly, as if gentleness could erase what he had done. “With her pregnancy, it’s not safe for her to be alone.”

Bianca smiled a saccharine, mocking smile. “I’m sorry, Isabella. I begged Marcus to wait… but the baby’s health comes first. I hope you understand, I’m sorry for intruding on the day of our father’s funeral”

I didn't say anything, I just stared blankly at the floor as I listened to the both of them.

Marcus pressed on, “Bianca is your sister, Isabella, your own flesh and blood. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to her, would you?”

I ignored him, fighting back my tears. I wanted to scream, to throw something, to make him hurt the way I was hurting. But I just stared at the floor, numb and broken.

He sighed. “Look, I’m sorry for what happened between us. But I love you. Only you.”

His words cut deeper than any knife.

“What happened with Bianca was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

I stared. “She’s pregnant. And you say this is a mistake?”

He nodded. “Yes. And the best part is that we made an agreement. When she gives birth, the baby will be yours. Since you can’t have children, Bella.”

Those words stabbed me: You can’t have children.

“You always wanted a baby,” he said, trying to soften it. “This is the universe fixing things for us.”

I glared at him with disbelief as fury burned with me. “Are you serious? You slept with my step sister and you expect me to just accept this?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t be dramatic. I know it was wrong. But now, we can finally have a child. I can be a father.”

Bianca began to fake sob, “Oh no, Marcus. Look at what I’ve done. I’m causing trouble between you two.”

“Oh, stop your act!” I snapped.

She flinched, sobbing harder. “I should go.”

Marcus turned to me, his eyes flashed with anger. “Look at what you’re causing. I don’t want Bianca stressed during her pregnancy. Why do you have to be so bitter? No wonder you’re barren!”

His cruel words hit me hard. I could barely breathe.

He caught the hurt on my face and tried to soften it, “I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t want the baby to be harmed.”

I rose slowly, my voice shook, but it was firm. “Marcus, I want a divorce.”

His face turned pale. “What?”

Bianca smirked behind him, but I didn’t care.

“I said, I want a divorce.”

“Isabella, no. We’re family,” Bianca said, voice dripping with fake sympathy.

Marcus stared at me, disbelief clear. “You don’t mean it.”

“I do.”

He scoffed. “Because of this? Because I made a mistake?”

“A mistake?” I laughed bitterly. “You call cheating on me with my step sister a mistake?”

He stepped closer, cold now. “You always overreact. That’s why I stopped talking to you. Everything turns into drama.”

I clenched my fists, rage burning. “You got her pregnant, moved her into our house on the day my father died, and I’m overreacting?”

Marcus scoffed at me. “You’re lucky anyone would want you, considering you’re barren.”

Bianca sobbed fake tears. “Please, Marcus. Don’t fight because of me.”

“Then leave,” I snapped at her.

Marcus growled, pointing at me. “Watch your mouth. She’s pregnant. You have no right to stress her.”

“She has no right to be here,” I said coldly.

His eyes narrowed, venom sharp. “I see why you can’t have a child. Your heart’s dark and evil.”

My heart shattered, but I refused to break.

“I’m done with you, Marcus. Goodbye.”

“Oh, please,” he sneered. “You think you can walk away? You have nothing. No money, no children, no one.”

His words stabbed, but I kept moving toward the stairs.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he barked.

“To pack.”

“You’re not leaving. You’re still my wife.”

“Not for long. I’ll send divorce papers.”

He stepped forward, voice calm but deadly. “I am Marcus Pierce. The day you signed those papers, you belonged to me. If you walk out, I’ll find you. I’ll drag you back. I’ll burn your precious orphanage to the ground.”

My lips trembled. The orphanage was the last tie to my father. It was everything I had left.

“Why are you doing this?” I whispered through tears.

“You brought this on yourself,” Marcus said, jaw clenched.

I broke down again. “You won’t even let me grieve for my father. You humiliate me, bring her here, and now you won’t let me go? What more do you want?”

His eyes softened, voice almost gentle. “Isabella, Bianca’s baby will be ours. Why can’t you be happy?”

Something inside me shifted. I wiped my tears. Bianca’s eyes gleamed with triumph. That was the nail that sealed the coffin shut.

Marcus wanted to ruin me, but I would ruin him first.

“I overreacted,” I said quietly. “I’ll stay… for now. Give me time.”

He smiled and kissed my forehead.

That night, I cried my heart out. I lay curled on the cold floor of the guest room sobbing quietly, while Marcus tended to my stepsister in the master bedroom.

My chest ached. The tears kept falling. I grieved for my father, I grieved for my ruined marriage, and I grieved for myself.

And when there were no more tears left to cry, I picked up the phone, and I called the one person who hated Marcus more than I did.

The one person that Marcus feared the most. His older brother, Alexander Pierce.

Isabella’s POV

Alexander picked almost immediately. “Bella,” he drawled coldly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

A chill ran down my spine at the intensity in that voice, and I tightened my grip on the phone slightly. “I want to ruin Marcus, and I need your help.”

There was a pause, then he released a low, dark chuckle. “Finally. I thought you would never ask.”

Alexander didn’t waste time. “Tell me everything.”

I spilled the truth, from Marcus’s betrayal, to Bianca moving in, to his cruel threats.

He listened silently, and when I was done, he asked. “When do you want him to fall?” he asked.

“Yesterday.” I replied seriously.

He laughed. “Perfect. Marcus won’t know what hit him.”

Hope rose up within me for the first time since the funeral.

“We’ll keep in touch, and I’ll let you know when things are in order,” Alexander promised, then he paused.

“But I have one condition.” He said.

My heart pounded in my chest. I was already dreading whatever it was. “What is it?” I asked.

“Marry me,” he replied

My heart skipped a beat.

~

I didn’t sleep that night. Alexander’s proposal echoed in my head over and over. He had asked me to think about it, and get back with a response. He swore that immediately I gave him a response, he would come for me. I wasn’t ready to answer him, because I was so confused.

Alexander was offering protection from Marcus, and lots of power, but what was the cost?

And then, this morning, suddenly everything changed.

My hands shook as I stared at the pregnancy report before me. It was positive.

I was pregnant.

I laughed bitterly as tears welled up in my eyes. I had given up hope a long time ago, and I had accepted the insults thrown to me—that I was barren, useless, unworthy.

And now, I was pregnant. And it was too late because Marcus had already cheated on me and had shown me who he really was.

My heart pounded as I clutched the report tighter.

My phone buzzed. It was a message from Alexander: “Everything is set. You have three days to decide.”

My heart raced as I stared at the message. I couldn't bring a child into a callous world of lies, betrayal and bitterness. It would be cruel of me.

Tears blurred my vision as I shakily picked up my phone. My fingers trembled as I dialed the number of the hospital.

The line clicked, and a calm voice answered, “Good afternoon, Preston Hospital. How may I assist you?”

“I... I need to schedule an abortion,” I said, my voice shook as I spoke.

There was a pause, then the voice replied calmly, “Can you make it to the clinic tomorrow?”

My heart clenched. The sooner the better.

“Yes, I can.” I whispered, my voice broke as the tears ran down my face.

As I hung up, a cold numbness settled within me. I was going to get rid of a part of myself, a part that I had prayed and begged for.

My mind flashed back to the accident that had rendered me barren six years ago.

Marcus had been upset about a business deal that didn't go well.

He was drunk, and he insisted on driving, no matter how much I begged him.

I remembered the way the second car had come out of nowhere. The screeching tires. The loud crash, lots of blood, and then darkness.

I woke up two days later in a hospital bed in severe pain to receive the news that the damage from the accident was too much, so I wouldn't be able to conceive again.

I cried for days until my throat and eyes hurt. Through it all, Marcus had been there, stroking my hair, kissing my forehead, whispering, “I’m so sorry, baby. I swear, I’ll make this right. I’ll never leave you.”

He had held me like I was a fragile gem, like I was the most precious thing in his world.

And I had believed him, I had forgiven him, because love made me stupid.

A bitter smile crossed my lips. Now, I was paying the price.

“Well, well. Look who it is!” an annoyingly familiar voice drawled.

I clenched my jaw. “I’m not in the mood, Bianca.”

Bianca walked into the living room like she owned the place.

She looked at me, wrinkling her nose.

“Ugh. You look like hell,” she said with a mocking smirk as she sat on the chair opposite me. “Rough day?”

I said nothing, but my fingers gripped the edge of the table tightly.

“You look like someone going through a lot of shit right now.” She continued, her eyes shone with mockery.

I forced myself to stay calm, breathing deeply. “Is there a reason you’re here, Bianca?”

She smirked, “What? Can't I cheer my sister up?”

My heart pounded in my chest, and I glared at her. “After sleeping with your sister’s husband, no, you cannot.”

“Oh, please,” Bianca giggled, waving her hand. “You were always too boring for Marcus. He needed someone who could keep up. You should see the kind of things I did to him in the room.”

I gritted my teeth as rage burned within me, but I didn't let it show. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of giving her a reaction.

Her smirk faltered slightly when she didn't get a reaction from me.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway let me know that Marcus was home.

I didn't want to talk or see him, so I stood up to leave.

“No, no, where are you going? Won't you welcome your husband, sister?” Bianca taunted.

I ignored her, making my way to the guest room to lock myself there.

My hands trembled, my chest ached, and my eyes burned from holding in the tears.

I laid down releasing a shaky breath as I closed my eyes. I just needed to bear all these for three days more, and I would be free.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud crash. My eyes flew open, and I jumped to my feet in shock.

Marcus stormed into the room with his eyes blazing in fury.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. “What the hell are you—?”

Before I could say a word, he slapped me hard across the face.

Isabella's POV

The force of his slap threw me to the floor, and I released a cry of pain and shock as my vision turned black for a moment.

Pain exploded through my face as I hit the floor. I lay there frozen, too shocked to even move.

What just happened? Why?

My mind scrambled for answers, but nothing made sense. Why had Marcus hit me? He had never done that before.

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the dizziness. My hands trembled as I pushed myself up from the floor. I noticed Bianca standing behind the furious Marcus, with her arms folded across her chest, and tears running down her face.

“What the hell is going on?” I croaked, my voice shook as tears welled up in my eyes.

Marcus towered over me, breathing heavily in anger. “You hit her, Isabella? You hit the woman carrying my child? Is that how bitter you have become?”

“What?” I whispered, still struggling to process his words. “I—what are you talking about?”

“She came to talk to you, and you attacked her? Your infertility is causing you to become deranged!” he yelled, his eyes blazed with fury.

Bianca sobbed as she stepped forward. “I... I just wanted to check on her. I brought her some tea,” she said softly. “She started screaming. I tried to calm her down, but she... she started hitting me. She said I was ruining her life, that I deserved to die.”

Her voice broke, then she continued while I gaped at her. “I didn’t want to tell you, Marcus, but she really scared me. I thought she would kill me.”

My heart nearly stopped. She was lying boldly and shamelessly.

I shook my head slowly, still on the floor. “You lying snake,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I never touched you.”

Bianca’s lips shook, and she looked away, looking like the perfect victim.

Marcus didn’t even hesitate.

“Get out,” he growled at me. “Get out of my sight before I do something worse to you.”

I stared up at him with tears burning in my eyes, not just from pain, but from disbelief that he had really done this because of her.

“You believe her?” I whispered. “Do you think I would ever do such a thing?”

His eyes wavered for a moment, before they hardened. “You’re unstable, Isabella. I don’t even know who you are anymore. Jealousy is turning you into something else.”

A bitter laugh escaped my mouth. “I have nothing to be jealous of.” I spat.

I could taste blood on my lips. The force of his slap had split my lip. I wiped it with the back of my hand, ignoring the sting.

For a brief second, Marcus’s gaze dropped to my bleeding lip, and he clenched his jaw. His expression softened, and he stepped forward.

“Isa—”

But before he could finish, Bianca whimpered from behind him. “My head hurts, Marcus,” she said, her voice soft and fragile. “She hit me so hard. I just… I didn’t expect her to snap like that.”

Marcus turned to her instantly, forgetting all about me, like I never existed. He wrapped a protective arm around Bianca, who leaned into him like she was a fragile glass doll.

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them drop. I was done shedding tears because of them.

Bianca glanced back at me with a mocking smirk on her lips, and triumph gleaming in her eyes, but I brushed it off.

Three more days.

Just three more days, and I would be gone.

~

The next morning, I left the house early to go to the clinic for the abortion. My chest tightened, and my heart ached as I waited to be attended to.

My hands shook as I slowly placed a hand on my stomach. It was flat. There were no changes, but something precious was within. Something I had once thought I could never have.

A baby.

Tears welled in my eyes again, but I blinked them away. I had made a logical decision. It was a necessary one.

A nurse called my name, and I rose to my feet slowly as my heart pounded in my chest. I was led into a private room where the doctor turned to face me.

The moment he saw me, his brows lifted in surprise.

“Mrs. Pierce?” he said in obvious surprise. He had been the doctor who had declared me barren after the accident six years ago.

I gave him a weak smile.

He glanced down at the file in his hand, then back up at me. “Are you… sure about this?”

I didn’t respond. My throat had closed up.

He sighed softly and walked over, his voice gentle. “Mrs. Pierce, I need you to understand how rare, and miraculous this pregnancy is.” he paused. “If you go through with this, you will never get another chance. Ever.”