On our wedding anniversary, I caught my husband— Zane— cheating on me with his new secretary.

That morning, I had walked into a boutique to buy him something special for his 30th birthday, hoping to make the night unforgettable. I chose a gift, smiling as I pictured his reaction. Tonight would be perfect—a surprise visit where I intended to reveal the secret I had bottled up for three years, then a quiet dinner, and finally, the banquet I had planned in his honour.

As I drove to his office, a mix of excitement and nerves churned inside me as I tapped anxiously on the steering wheel. Would he still look at me the same once he knew my secret?

When I arrived at his office, I stepped into the elevator, took a deep breath, and told myself I was ready. But just as the doors closed, the lights flickered, and the elevator jolted to a stop.

Panic rose as I pressed the buttons. Nothing happened. I dialed Zane’s number, my voice barely steady. “Zane, I’m stuck in the elevator. Please help.”

But their was still no response from him. I got even more scared as I kept calling Zane, my hand trembling as I dialed again and again, but he didn’t answer. My heart pounded, fear tightening in my chest as the air in the elevator grew stifling. Just as my vision started to blur, my phone buzzed, lighting up with a news alert. I squinted at the screen, struggling to focus as the headline flashed: “Prominent Businessman Zane Harrington Spotted with New Secretary in Romantic Scandal.”

The world around me spun. My breath hitched, and my eye lids grew very heavy as I slipped into unconsciousness.

I woke up with a sudden jolt, my body soaked in cold sweat. My breath quickened as reality hit me like a wave. The stark white walls around me felt unfamiliar, illuminated by the harsh fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and the rhythmic beeping of machines made my heart race.

I blinked several times, trying to focus. My head throbbed, and I winced as the pain cleared from my blurred vision.

“Where am I?” I whispered, my voice weak and trembling.

Just then, a nurse entered, her cheerful demeanor brightening the sterile room. “Good to see you awake!” she exclaimed, checking my vitals with practiced ease. “I’ll let the doctor know you’re up.”

I felt disoriented, confusion swirling in my mind. “What happened?”

The nurse paused, her brow furrowing slightly. “You fainted in the elevator. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” She noticed me attempting to sit up and gently placed a hand on my shoulder. “Just take it easy for a moment. You’ve been through a lot.”

As I lay back, memories started to flood back—the gift I had bought for Zane, the excitement I’d felt. Then, the last thing I remembered before everything went dark: my phone screen lighting up, the shocking news report about Zane’s affair with his secretary.

I shook my head, refusing to believe that Zane would betray me like that. It had to be a misunderstanding—maybe even fake news. People made things up all the time, right? But still, a small, nagging doubt lingered, gnawing at me.

“But I need to know—Zane… where’s Zane?” My heart raced as I thought of him. Where was he? Why wasn’t he here? I tried to push myself up again, but the nurse’s firm grip held me back.

“Slow down, Natalie. The doctor will explain everything when he gets here,” she reassured me, a soft smile on her face. “For now, just relax. You need to let your body heal.”

With that, the nurse stepped out, leaving me alone in the stark room. Questions raced through my mind as I tried to piece together the fragments of my last memory.

Moments later, the door opened and the doctor entered, a warm smile on his face. He was tall, with neatly combed dark hair that was beginning to show flecks of gray at the temples. His friendly brown eyes sparkled with kindness, framed by a pair of thin, round glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. He wore a crisp white lab coat that contrasted against the blue scrubs beneath, giving him an air of professionalism mixed with approachability.

“Welcome back, Natalie. How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice soothing and calm, but it did little to ease the unease gnawing at me.

I forced a smile, my heart racing. “I feel… okay. But where’s my husband? Zane?”

The doctor’s expression shifted, a flicker of hesitation crossing his features. “I’m afraid he hasn’t been here since you were admitted.”

A cold knot formed in my chest. This didn’t sound like the Zane I knew. “What do you mean? He hasn’t called? He hasn’t visited?’”

The doctor shook his head. “I’m sorry, but no. However, I do have some good news.” He paused, clearly aware of my growing anxiety.

“What good news?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly with a mix of hope and fear.

The doctor smiled softly, studying my expression before continuing. “You’re pregnant.”

I froze, the weight of his words sinking in slowly. “Pregnant? Really?” I could barely process it. It was what we had wanted, what we had been hoping for, but my excitement was clouded by the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.

I forced a smile. “I can’t wait to tell Zane.”

The doctor nodded, maintaining his calm demeanor. “Congratulations. I suggest you tell him as soon as possible.” He paused, studying me closely. “This pregnancy may have contributed to your fainting spell in the elevator. It’s important to get plenty of rest. Your body is going through a lot, and you’ll need support.”

He stepped closer, his tone gentle yet firm. “Your husband should play a crucial role in ensuring you have adequate rest. Make sure he understands how important it is for you right now. Communication is key, especially during this time.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions—joy, excitement, but also a strange discomfort. “Can I have my phone? I need to tell him.”

The doctor gestured for the nurse, who was standing by the door. She nodded and left to retrieve my phone. I couldn’t help but wonder why Zane wasn’t here. Why wasn’t he the first to be by my side?

Moments later, the nurse returned, holding my phone. She handed it over with a reassuring smile. “Here you go. Just take it easy, alright?”

I reached for the phone, my pulse quickening with eagerness. I dialed Zane’s number, anticipation bubbling inside me. The call rang, and I held my breath, hoping he would pick up.

“Come on, pick up,” I murmured, a sense of urgency growing. Finally, I heard his voice on the other end.

“Hey, I’m busy. I’ll call you back later,” Zane said, cutting me off before I could even speak.

My heart stopped. “Later?” His words felt cold and distant. No concern. No curiosity about my well-being.

“Zane, wait!” I tried to call back, but it was too late.

I stared at the phone in disbelief. Did he just hang up on me? No concern for my health? Why didn’t he care? Why hadn’t he been there for me? I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted, something I couldn’t yet understand.

Just before I could process the rejection, another call came in. It was my grandmother. “Natalie, darling! Did something happen? Why did Zane go to the banquet with another woman?”

Shock hit me like a cold wave. “What? No, Grandma, I’ve been so busy with work. It’s nothing to worry about.”

Her voice softened, concern etched into every word. “Have you told him who you really are yet?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears. “I… I haven’t told him yet. I was going to do it tonight.”

“So, why didn’t you attend the banquet?” my grandmother pressed, noticing the hesitation in my voice.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my tone light. “Something came up, and I couldn’t make it. I’m sorry, but I’m just feeling a bit under the weather.”

My grandmother sighed, her worry palpable even through the phone. “I know how much you invested in that banquet. Why would you suddenly decide to leave for something else?”

I winced, knowing my grandmother knew that I had poured my heart into planning that event. “I just… I developed cold feet about revealing my true identity to Zane. I thought it would be easier to wait.”

Her surprise was evident. “Then when do you plan to tell him the truth? He deserves to know who you truly are.”

I felt the weight of the secret I had carried for so long. “Soon, Grandma. I promise. I just need to figure out the right moment.”

After hanging up, a whirlwind of emotions swept through me.

Thoughts of Zane at the banquet with another woman gnawed at my mind. Could it really be true that Zane is cheating on me? I shrugged it off, believing I was just being impulsive and that isn’t right. I trust Zane. He was always busy, always working late.

Once discharged from the hospital, I attempted to call Zane again. No answer. Frustration bubbled within me as I sent a series of texts, each met with silence.

“Why won’t you pick up?” I muttered to myself, feeling a growing sense of unease.

Just then, a sleek Rolls Royce Phantom pulled up in front of me. The driver’s door swung open, and a tall, handsome man stepped out, exuding confidence. He approached me with an easy smile.

“Hello! I’m Sebastian Sterling, CEO of Vanguard Dynamics,” he introduced himself, extending his hand.

I recognized the name. Vanguard Dynamics had competed for contracts I had awarded to Zane. They were rivals with Zane’s company. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Sterling,” I replied, trying to mask my unease.

“I’m Natalie Winters,” I added, my tone polite but reserved.

Sebastian’s smile widened as he shook my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Natalie. Are you alright? You look a bit lost,” he observed, his gaze sincere.

“I’m just waiting for someone,” I said, instinctively protective of my situation.

“Would you like a ride home?” he offered, charming and disarming. “I can’t leave a lovely woman stranded.”

“No, thank you,” I replied politely, though curiosity flickered within me. He seemed genuine.

Sebastian’s smile faltered slightly, but he pressed on. “Are you sure? I insist. It’s a long wait, and I’d hate to see you standing here alone.”

His persistence was admirable, but I shook my head again. “I really can’t. I’m just waiting.”

He sighed, clearly not ready to give up. “I have a meeting to attend, but I can drop you off afterward. Just let me know.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine,” I insisted, trying to keep the conversation light.

After a few more attempts, he finally relented, returning to his car with a bemused smile. Just as he settled back into the luxurious interior, his personal assistant, Mark, looked over at him, eyebrows raised.

“Why did you take such an interest in that woman?” Mark asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

Sebastian sighed, his gaze drifting back to where I stood, my expression a mix of confusion and determination. “I don’t know. There’s just something about her,” he admitted. “I can’t quite place my finger on it, but I feel drawn to her.”

Mark chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “You, the notorious womanizer, suddenly interested in a woman you barely know? What’s the catch?”

Sebastian smirked, brushing off the comment. “It’s not like that. It’s different this time. There’s an air of mystery around her, and I want to uncover it.”

“Okay, Sherlock,” Mark replied, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just be careful. You don’t want to get caught up in something you can’t handle.”

Sebastian’s smile faded slightly, a hint of seriousness replacing the playfulness. “I know what I want, Mark. And if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that I want her.”

Sebastian leaned back in the plush leather seat of the car, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. His gaze drifted back to the entrance of the hospital where he had seen me. The image of me standing there lingered in his mind like an unfinished melody.

“Mark,” he said, turning to his assistant, who was busy tapping away on his tablet. “I need you to look her up. Her name is Natalie Winters. I want everything you can find.”

Mark glanced up, surprise flickering across his face. “You’re really interested in her, huh?”

Sebastian nodded, his tone becoming more serious. “She’s a beautiful woman, isn’t she?”

Mark nodded in agreement. “You’re not wrong about that. I’ll look her up and give you feedback as soon as possible.”

“Good,” Sebastian replied, settling back in his seat.

He started the engine of the car and zoomed off.

I watched as the sleek Rolls Royce Phantom glided away, my eyes following its movement until it disappeared from view. Sterling's presence lingered in my mind longer than I expected. He was as handsome as everyone said—tall, with a commanding presence and an easy charm that caught me off guard. I had heard his name countless times in business circles, but this was the first time we had met in person. Our brief interaction replayed vividly in my thoughts.

“Sterling’s got quite the reputation, but I guess there’s more to him,” I mused quietly to myself.

The thought didn’t last long. Frustration quickly returned. I pulled out my phone again and tried calling Zane. No answer.