"You owe me, Isabel. I married you just for revenge." Emerson's cold voice cut through me. The man I loved betrayed me in the most ruthless way imaginable. In his heart, I was never more than a shadow of his first love, Lilith—the woman who destroyed my life. After the heartbreak of losing my baby, the diagnosis of a malignant tumor was another cruel blow. But Emerson wasn't done. He delivered one final, devastating strike: my father, now in a vegetative state, might have committed an unforgivable crime. The weight of it all nearly crushed my will to live. Yet when I finally walked away, Emerson became desperate to win me back. But why? Wasn’t this exactly what he wanted all along?

- His First Love

Isabel’s POV

My husband Emerson hadn't come home for a whole week. I stayed in our huge villa all alone, waiting. The grand mansion with marble floors and chandeliers felt empty and cold without him.

I placed a hand on my big belly and hoped he'd come back soon. I’ve been having strange, severe headaches lately. At 7 months pregnant, that wasn’t normal. We had to go for a pregnancy check-up.

Where was he? My heart ached with worry and fear. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

Our life together had always seemed perfect. Emerson, a successful businessman, had swept me off my feet. We had everything—wealth, status, a beautiful home and a baby on the way.

But recently, things changed. He seemed distant. I tried to ignore the signs. But the longer he stayed away, the harder it became to believe everything was fine.

I tried to keep myself busy. I rearranged the nursery, folding tiny clothes and organizing baby toys. Each little onesie and stuffed animal made me dream about the future with our little one. But my mind kept drifting back to Emerson. Where was he? What was he doing?

When Emerson finally returned, he wasn't alone. His first love, Lilith, was with him. She was visibly pregnant, just like me. Emerson was holding her hand.

What was happening? Was this why he was gone for a week? Did he cheat on me, with Lilith?!

My heart dropped at the sight of them together. "Emerson?! What is going on? Why is Lilith here?!" I cried, my voice trembling with despair.

Emerson’s expression was filled with defiance. "Lilith is having my baby. You finally get the revenge you deserve," he said in a cold voice. Lilith stood next to him, looking proud. She gave me a mean, icy smile when Emerson wasn’t looking.

His words hit me like a sledgehammer. “Your baby?! What do you mean, revenge?! What have I ever done to deserve this?!” I cried.

He didn’t answer my questions. Instead, he said in a cold, hard voice. “We should get divorced, Isabel. This loveless marriage has dragged on long enough.”

Loveless? What did he mean? Did he never love me at all?!

Lilith looked like she had about the same gestation period as I did. That means… Emerson cheated on me months ago. The ground seemed to shift beneath me. I clutched my belly, feeling the life inside me. How could he do this to us? How could he betray our family?

In my vulnerable state, I couldn't handle the pain and fear this news brought up. My vision blurred, and I felt the world spinning around me. I couldn't breathe. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a sharp pain in my head. The next thing I knew, I lost consciousness.

In my half unconscious state, I heard faint voices…

“No, you shouldn’t stay, Lil, you need to rest,” Emerson said softly. “Oh but Emerson, I have to help take care of her. This is all my fault. The poor girl is pregnant, just like me.” Lilith responded in a sweet voice.

I woke up in the hospital. The room was quiet and I felt weak. I reached for the call button. But before I could press it, the door opened. It was Lilith.

"Emerson had to leave for an emergency at his company. I offered to stay behind to help you," she said with a cunning smile. I couldn't stand to see her. She was the reason for my pain.

I felt claustrophobic. Being alone with the woman who destroyed my relationship was the last thing I needed right now. Her presence felt threatening. There was something terrifying about her cold, dark eyes. I still felt weak, but I had to get out of here.

"I have to go," I said, trying to get up. Lilith looked at me with false pity.

“Aww, you poor thing…” she said with an exaggerated tone. “Don’t you know, running away won't change anything.”

"Why are you bothering me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "Haven't you done enough?"

Lilith's eyes narrowed. "You never deserved Emerson. He was always mine."

"Please, Lilith, I don't want to fight," I said, trying to maintain my composure.

She laughed bitterly. "You think you're so perfect, don't you? Playing the victim."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "I'm just trying to hold my family together."

Lilith took a step closer to me. "Emerson doesn't love you. He never did."

Her words cut deep, twisting the knife in my already shattered heart. But I stood my ground. "I know you were his first love, but that doesn't mean we can't all find a way to move forward."

"Move forward?" Lilith sneered. "With you in the picture? Never."

I felt a sudden surge of anger. "Lilith, this isn't just about you and me. There are babies involved. Innocent lives."

Lilith's expression hardened. "Only one baby matters now."

I felt my heart break even more. "How can you be so cruel? We can find a way to make this work for everyone."

Lilith's laugh was cold and mocking. "You’re so naive, Isabel. Emerson never stopped loving me. He only settled for you because I wasn't available. He'll come running back to me. You'll see."

"That's not true," I whispered, trying to believe my own words. "He chose me. We built a life together."

Lilith took another step closer, her eyes filled with malice. "Your life with him is over, Isabel. He's mine."

She was standing too close and towering over me. I felt claustrophobic. This woman seemed dangerous. I had to get away.

I scrambled up to my feet, still feeling unsteady. “I have to go now. Please leave me alone.” I pleaded. I grabbed my belongings and walked out of the room.

I was waiting for the elevator when Lilith slowly walked up behind me. The elevator was too slow. Anxiety gnawed at me. I glanced over my shoulder and found Lilith’s eyes fixed upon me with an intense, dark stare.

My heart skipped a beat. Something about her gaze sent chills down my spine. My instinct told me to leave immediately.

Deciding not to wait for the slow elevator, I turned and headed for the stairs. My footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell. As I descended, I vaguely heard another pair of footsteps behind me, quick and determined. I didn't dare look back. My gut told me to keep moving.

Suddenly, a pair of hands shoved me hard from behind. I turned just in time to see Lilith’s malicious smile. In a split second, I grabbed onto her arm to break my fall. We both lost our balance and fell down the staircase.

We tumbled down the stairs, hard edges hitting me at every turn. Lilith held onto me and used me as a shield from the hardest hits. When I hit the floor with her on top of me, the heavy shock pushed all the air out of my lungs. I was in severe pain. My vision blurred. Then, everything went black.

- The Breaking Point

Isabel’s POV

When I woke up, the room was dimly lit. The low hum of medical machines noticed that I was in the hospital bed again. The difference was that I had a throbbing headache and intense stomach cramps that were worse than the last time. Where was I? What had happened?

The soft hum of medical machines surrounded me. I had a throbbing headache and intense stomach cramps. Where was I? What happened?

I suddenly remembered Lilith’s evil smile and hard push, then the painful fall down the staircase. I had ended up on the floor, flat on my belly with Lilith’s weight on top of me.

Oh no… I gasped and jolted upright, causing another contraction in my womb. “My baby!”

The doctor noticed I was awake and walked over to me. He stood by my bedside, his expression somber. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Williams," he said gently. "Your baby didn't survive the fall."

His words pierced my heart like a dagger. I felt an overwhelming wave of grief wash over me. My hand instinctively moved to my now empty belly. Tears streamed down my cheeks. My baby, the little life I had been so excited to welcome, was gone.

“My little girl… It can’t be!” I sobbed. The doctor placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, ma’am. There was nothing we could do.”

“You may experience some after-pains and bleeding over the next few days,” He continued. “We will keep you here so you can rest and we can monitor your recovery.”

I looked around the room, hoping to see Emerson. He should be here, comforting me, sharing in this pain. But he wasn't.

“My husband… W-Where’s my husband?” I mumbled in shock.

“I believe I saw him in the maternity ward, ma'am,” The doctor replied. I was confused. What was he doing there?

“That other lady who fell down the stairs with you?” The doctor continued. “She went into early labor after the accident.”

Accident? Her push had been very intentional. I nodded and the doctor left the room. My entire body was sore and weak, but I had to find my husband.

After a while, I gathered enough strength to leave the room. I needed to find Emerson. As I walked down the hospital corridors, I felt like a ghost, hollow and broken. I finally found the maternity ward. I looked into a few rooms through the glass windows. Suddenly, my heart stopped.

I saw Emerson sitting beside Lilith's hospital bed. He was cradling a tiny baby in his arms. Lilith lay in bed, looking tired but triumphant.

My heart shattered anew at the sight. Emerson was doting on Lilith and her baby. Meanwhile our child was lifeless, because of her.

I had every right to storm in and demand answers. As his legal wife, I deserved an explanation for this betrayal. But as I stood outside the door, my courage faltered. I pressed my forehead against the cold glass and watched them. My heart ached with a profound sense of loss and rejection.

Why did he choose her? What did I do wrong? My mind raced with questions, but deep down, I knew their answers wouldn't change anything. I was the outsider in their perfect little world.

I whispered softly to myself, "I'm just a fifth wheel in this relationship. No matter how much I hurt, no one will care."

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, my eyes glued to the scene inside. Emerson's face was filled with a tenderness he had once shown me. Now, it was all for Lilith. He didn't even glance in my direction.

Twenty minutes passed, and not once did anyone notice me. I was invisible. A shadow in their happiness. The realization hit me hard. I turned away, my heart heavy with sorrow.

I walked away from Lilith's room. A sudden sharp pain shot through my head. I stumbled, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

The world around me blurred, and I felt my legs give way. The pain in my head intensified, a throbbing agony that made it hard to think. I collapsed to the floor. The last thing I saw was the cold, white tiles of the hospital hallway.

When I woke up again, surprise, surprise—I was back in a hospital bed. Seriously, was this my new vacation home? What had landed me here this time? Was it the aftermath of the miscarriage that had knocked me out? Or had I managed to find some new, creative way to faint?

A nurse gave me some water and a snack. She ran some tests, shining a flashlight in my eyes. Her worried frown made me feel anxious. After I'd been awake for half an hour, slowly adjusting to my surroundings, the doctor arrived.

He was looking even graver than before. "Isabel," he began, his voice gentle yet firm. "You’ve been in a coma for 3 days. We ran several tests and scans, and found something concerning.” He paused. What could be worse than losing my baby? I wondered.

“I'm sorry to inform you… You have a tumor in your head. It's likely causing these symptoms - dizziness, headaches, fainting. If it continues to grow, you might not have more than a year."

His words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. I stared at him, unable to process the full impact of what he was saying. My baby was gone, I lost Emerson, and now my life was at risk. The weight of it all threatened to crush me.

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks. How had everything gone so horribly wrong? What was I supposed to do now? I felt completely and utterly alone, in a sea of pain and confusion.

- Last Hope

Isabel’s POV

Facing the fear of death for the first time, I found myself clinging to the hope that my husband could be my anchor. I remembered our early days together. The joy and love that had filled our lives. Emerson had been my everything. My knight in shining armor. The memories now felt like distant dreams. He wasn’t here for me in my darkest moments.

I spent a few more days in the hospital, under the watchful eye of a team of doctors and nurses. When they finally told me I could leave, I took a long shower in the sterile bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize myself.

My once bright blue eyes were now dull and tired, shadowed by sleepless nights and endless tears. My long blonde hair hung lifelessly around my face, lacking its usual shine.

I glanced down at my belly, still a bit swollen from the baby I once carried. The slight curve was a painful reminder of the life that had been growing inside me. A life that was now gone. I gently touched my stomach, feeling the emptiness echo through my entire being.

My cheeks were pale. My skin looked almost translucent under the harsh bathroom light. The lines of worry and grief had etched themselves deeply around my mouth and eyes, making me look much older than 25. It looked like I had aged 10 years in the past week.

The maternity dress that I had come into the hospital with hung loosely on my frame. I leaned in closer to the mirror, searching for any sign of the vibrant, hopeful person I once was. But all I saw was a broken woman, hurt by betrayal and loss. Tears welled up in my eyes. I took a deep breath.

As I wiped away the tears, I reminded myself that I had to keep going. The battle was far from over. I needed to find the resilience within to face whatever came next.

My best friend, Emma, came to pick me up from the hospital. She has been my rock since high school, always by my side through thick and thin. She's got this striking red hair that matches her fiery personality. Her green eyes are always filled with a spark. I felt so relieved when I saw her at the hospital parking lot.

“Oh, Em,” I sobbed as she ran up to me. She held me in her arms for a long time while I cried my eyes out. As she drove me to her place in her small red car, I told her everything.

Her eyes were filled with concern and anger as she listened to my story. “How dare him!” she cursed, her voice trembling with rage. “How could they do this to you, Isa? You don't deserve any of this!”

Emma had just broken up with her boyfriend. She discovered that he had an affair. Her own heartbreak only fueled her empathy for my situation.

“I totally get how you feel, Isa,” she said, her voice softening. “But you can’t let him get away with this. You have rights, and you need to defend them.”

Her words struck a chord with me. Emma was right. My father would be worried sick if he knew how miserable my life had become. He had always been my protector. But now, he was in a vegetative state. He had a car accident a few months back, caused by a competitor who ruined his company. The thought of my father lying helpless in a hospital bed brought fresh tears to my eyes.

I told Emma about my father's condition, the overwhelming medical expenses, and my fear of losing him.

“You have to fight for what's yours, Isabel,” Emma urged. “Think about your father. He needs you to be strong. You deserve a fair share of everything you and Emerson built together. Demand that he helps you find a good doctor for your father. His family has connections in the medical field. Use that to your advantage.”

Emma's encouragement gave me a newfound sense of determination. I decided to give Emerson one last chance. After arriving at Emma’s quaint apartment, I picked up the phone and called him. The sound of a baby's cry in the background made my heart ache. Emerson was busy comforting Lilith and their newborn.

“Emerson,” I said, my voice trembling, “Are you choosing Lilith over me? Do you really want a divorce?”

His reply was curt and impatient. “Isabel, I'm busy right now. Can we discuss this later?”

The coldness in his voice shattered the last glimmer of hope I had. “Fine,” I said, swallowing my pride. “I agree to the divorce. But only if you help me find a famous doctor for my father. Your family has the resources. It’s the least you can do.”

Emerson seemed taken aback by my sudden shift in attitude. “Isabel, this isn’t a game. Are you trying to manipulate me?”

“I’m not playing any tricks,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “I just want to make sure my father gets the care he needs. If you can't do that, then our marriage is truly over.”

After a long pause, Emerson’s voice turned cold. “We’ll get a divorce, but I won’t help your father. That’s your problem, not mine.”

His words were like a slap in the face. I felt my heart breaking all over again, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Alright, Emerson. Let's meet tomorrow to sign the divorce papers.”

We agreed on a time and place. I hung up the phone, feeling utterly defeated. Emma wrapped her arms around me, offering what little comfort she could. “You’ll get through this, Isabel. You’re stronger than you think.”

The next day, I prepared myself for the divorce registration. As I was about to leave, my phone rang. It was the hospital. The doctor's voice was urgent. “Isabel, your father's condition has taken a sharp turn for the worse. You need to come immediately.”