Under the raging thunder and crackling lightning, there stood two individuals. One is thin & gaunt, named Emily while the other one is exact opposite of her, named Grace.

As the clouds rained down in a relentless downpour. The nails that bit deep into Emily's palms drew blood, mixing with the cold rain that soaked her to the bone.

"Let me see him" Emily's voice trembled, but it was filled with determination. She stood outside the large mansion, her body shaking from both the cold and the emotions coursing through her. Her eyes were red, tear stains marking her pale cheeks and she bit her lower lip with such force that it started to drew blood. To the outsiders it might seem like - Even the smallest gust of wind from the storm might knock her over at any moment.

Across from her stood Grace, her former best friend and now her rival in every sense. Where Emily's hair clung lifelessly to her face, Grace's hair shone even in the dim light of the storm. Where Emily's cheeks were hollow and sickly, Grace's were full and rosy, her beauty seemingly untouched by the harshness of the storm.

Anyone looking at the two of them would never ever believe that this was the same Emily, who had once captured every man's heart with her breathtaking beauty.

Because of Ethan, Emily had given up everything. For him, she gave up on her dream, future, freedom and everything. Became submissive, and did everything in her power to gain approval from the man and his family. Listening to Grace's honey-coated advice, Emily began to believe that taking care of herself was too excessive and that it will make her look superficial if she desired anything more than daily necessities.

Slowly, she let herself go. Her clothes became plain, her beauty continued to fade away with rough care on each passing day. She stayed up late every night to cook for Ethan, who was always busy and woke up early each morning to make breakfast for him. She lived her life as less of a partner but more of a slave. Emily spent years, sacrificing herself for a love that was never reciprocated back to her.

And all of this effort had only earned her cold shoulder.

Ethan never acknowledged her as his equal. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen her lover's eyes light up in her presence. And all along, Grace was there, whispering words of reassurance that she was taking care of things, as she and Emily were best friends. Emily believed that Grace was helping her by telling Ethan of her good points, hoping to change his heart.

Little did she know that Grace’s version of "taking care of him" was completely different from what she imagined.

While Emily toiled away like a slave, Grace was there, growing closer to Ethan. When Emily was scorned by Ethan’s mother for being ugly, Grace was gradually becoming the perfect daughter-in-law that Mrs. Roy always wanted. When Emily looked at Ethan with desperate, love-struck eyes, Ethan was already looking at someone else with love.

Now, as the two girls faced each other in the storm, their roles had been completely reversed.

Grace’s lip curled up in disdain as she glanced at the broken girl before her. "What are you doing here? Don't you know, someone like you isn't allowed in this house?"

Emily flinched, her heart aching at the words. That mansion had once been her home but now she wasn’t even allowed past the front gate.

"I need to see him," Emily repeated, her voice firmer as she clenched her fists tighter.

Grace sneered, contempt dripping from her voice. "Where do you get the nerve? He doesn’t want to see you. He told me that waking up next to you every morning was like a nightmare for him. Now, at least, he wouldn't have to worry about seeing your face every morning and can wake up to my beautiful face. You aren't needed here, so, just why are you still clinging to him."

Though she was accustomed to these insults, Emily still felt her heart shatter. How many times had she allowed herself to be broken by that man, clinging to the hope that one day she would receive just a fraction of the love of what she has for him?

"No, I can't. I need to see him," Emily repeated desperately.

"Just why can't you understand, nobody needs you."

But even after listening to all these insults, Emily resolves remain unchanged, still clinging to one last tiny bit of hope.

The rain blurring the lines between tears and raindrops on Emily’s face.

As the heat of the argument continues to flare up, the surrounding storm also seemed to have reached its peak.

"I still need to see him," Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Although she already looked like a desperate woman begging to see her ex-husband outside the gates, her wide, soulful eyes were filled with unshed tears.

Even though Emily had lost her beauty over time, but those enchanting eyes of hers remained unchanged, making anyone want to drown in them.

Seeing her eyes, Grace felt a sudden surge of hatred bubble up within her but as she glanced down at the expensive ring on her finger. Slowly, her lips curved into a triumphant smile.

Ha! What was there to be jealous of? Emily had already fallen so low. Poor, divorced, and ugly - how could she even dare to compete with her? Besides, Ethan was already hers. Now there was nothing for her to be afraid of.

"I am pregnant with his child..."

As the soft whisper reached her ears, Grace froze.

She looked at Emily standing outside the gates and noticed that Emily was covering her stomach protectively. In that brief moment, Grace was suddenly seized with rage.

How could that woman be carrying Ethan's child?

Why is it that she is always one step ahead of her?

Grace had meticulously planned her way to the top; she was supposed to be the one to give birth to Ethan's child, not her. But she had overlooked this one critical detail.

Grinding her teeth, Grace fought to keep her composure. How dare this woman throw a wrench in her plans?

'No, I can't let her destroy my future', Thinking quickly, the disdainful look on Grace's face softened, and she opened the gates. But she didn’t allow Emily to enter.

Instead, Grace stepped outside and gently placed a hand on Emily's shoulder.

"You have Ethan's child?" she asked, masking her inner turmoil. "Are you sure that you're pregnant? Did you go to the doctor? You know, right, that Ethan won’t believe you without any solid proof."

Emily hesitated when she noticed how quickly Grace's demeanor shifted, but the way Grace spoke reminded her of the times they had spent together, and her resolve weakened.

"Yes, I went to the doctor. It's only two months old."

Emily noticed that Grace was subtly steering her away from the front gates. So, she asked "Where are we going?"

"To see a doctor, of course. You need to have a proof to show Ethan." Grace flashed a dazzling smile. "I was in a hurry earlier, so I parked my car around the corner."

"Wait, I have the proof with me. Now, we just need to show it to Ethan," Emily moved away slightly, her hands protectively cradling her stomach. A simple necklace adorned her neck, its creamy white color completely blended with her pale white skin. It was the first gift given to her by Ethan, in their college year. "And I'm sure he can call a doctor to our- to the mansion, if needed."

She had almost said "our home" before painfully realizing that it wasn’t hers anymore.

Grace’s eyes darkened as they fell on the necklace and the barely noticeable bump on Emily’s stomach—both ugly reminders that Ethan wasn’t truly hers.

But after hearing that Emily already has a proof with her, Grace's already sour mood turned ashen.

With fury simmered beneath the surface and pulsing in her veins, Grace completely ignored Emily's desperate attempts to break free from her grasp. With a fierce determination, she forcibly dragged her away from the looming mansion, her grip unyielding.

Emily felt a flash of panic, her heart raced with fear. She tried to resist, but her weak resistance was no match for Grace's strength fueled by anger. The weight of her pregnancy and malnourishment drained her energy, leaving her at the mercy of Grace's violent grip.

"What are you..."

But maybe after listening to Emily's desperate voice, a glimmer of reasoning flashed in Grace's eyes and she released her hold before masking her intentions with a false excuse. "I am taking you to see Ethan and tell him about your pregnancy," she said, her voice laced with deceit.

Only after hearing the reason was she able to calm down.

But even after listening to the reason Emily still hesitated, then eventually nodded, her panic subsiding slightly. "Oh, okay. So, Ethan isn’t at home?"

Grace nodded in response, her concerned smile slowly twisting into something sinister. Emily failed to notice the malicious glint in Grace’s eyes as she turned away to make a quick phone call.

When she returned, the mask of concern was back in place. “Let’s go,” Grace said, leading Emily to the car. As they drove off, the unease in Emily’s heart grew, but she pushed it aside, trying to hold on to the hope that she would soon see Ethan.

The car ride was silent, with Grace focusing intently on the road. Emily’s eyes darted nervously around as they approached the hospital, where she was supposed to meet with Ethan and tell him about her pregnancy. But the moment they arrived at the hospital, Grace ushered her inside and Emily felt a chill run down her spine but still followed her behind.