After three years of marriage, she discovered her husband was still in love with her twin sister.

****

"Congratulations, Thalia, you're four months pregnant!" The doctor announced, beaming with a warm smile.

"...Rea...really?" She asked, tears continuously piling up in her eyes.

She was overwhelmed by the news. After three years of marriage with her husband, she's finally carrying his child.

Her husband, Franklin Blackwood, has always dreamt of them having a child, he loved kids so much and she's about to give him one.

Maybe this was a gift from God on their three year anniversary.

Right now, she felt like she was on top of the world. She was excited and couldn't wait to share the news with him.

"It's accurate, you and your baby are perfectly fine," He said.

"Thank you doctor, thank you." Tears streamed down her face –not tears of pain, but of joy.

"Would you like to hear the heartbeat of your baby?" The doctor asked and she nodded eagerly, wiping her face.

The doctor smiled and moved the transducer over her belly.

And there it was, she heard it, the small but steady heartbeats.

That was her child's heartbeat. The most beautiful sound she'd ever heard today.

After the ultrasound, the doctor gave her an envelope and the pregnancy test result.

She clutched onto it as if her life depended on it leaving the hospital.

She went home straight away, to plan a big surprise, to announce the good news. She believes her husband would be more than excited to hear that she's pregnant.

She was smiling and nervous. She couldn't wait any longer, to share the good news with her husband.

She called him but he didn't pick, something she couldn't describe washed through her, but she shook it off and dropped a text message. They had dinner plans tonight anyway.

He replied with just a "I'm busy. I might not make it"

She told herself he'd come, and he was just trying to pull her legs.

Two hours passed, she stole a glance at her wrist watch, it's almost ten PM.

The hall was elegant and dimly lit, the soft glows of candles reflecting off the polished wine glass.

A maid passing by glanced at her pitifully. She smiled, hiding the discomfort growing inside her.

Then, just as she was about to dial his number again, she heard his familiar footsteps.

A sigh of relief escaped through her lips, until she saw him.

Franklin entered, holding a hand, their fingers locked, her eyes traced back to the face. A beautiful woman dressed in a short gown that barely covered her thighs.

"Yulia.." The name fell from her mouth uncontrollably.

Her twin sister, she was supposed to be in Paris for her modelling job. Thalia was shocked to the bone marrow.

Franklin stopped in front of her, gazing at her coldly and Yulia seething with resentment.

"Thalia," He called her formally, not as sweet as he used to call her name.

Tears stung her eyes threatening to fall from her eyes.

"What's this?", Thalia glared.

Franklin smirked, he placed a light kiss on Yulia's lips before facing Thalia again.

"You know before I met you, she was the love of my life..

"I asked a straight question!" Thalia snapped.

Yulia grinned softly, holding Franklin's hand tightly as if he belonged to her.

"Thalia, you don't have to make a big deal out of it. The thing is Yulia and I, are dating for two years now." He said.

Her world tilted.

Two years.

Yulia was the first woman he met and fell in love with;she never accepted his proposal. And Thalia was there, he supported him all through his successes, scooped up the remnants of his downfall.

"And I'm pregnant with his child, the baby you couldn't give him all these years!" Yulia blunted.

"What?" She whispered, her voice barely audible.

"And very soon the Blackwood family will have an heir!"

" Frank, today is our third anniversary...." He cut her off flatly.

"Yes, I'm aware of that," He said with a detached tone. "Exactly why we chose today as the perfect time to tell you this."

Today?

On their anniversary?

Thalia fidgeted,he chose today of all days?

Thalia's chest tightened, she staggered backwardly.

It was never a mistake, it was deliberate, they did it intentionally.

A suffocating horror coiled itself around her heart. And she felt it,fear– not loud or sharp, but slow and devouring.

She's pregnant and her sister is pregnant as well for the same man. No, this is a nightmare, she blinked. But nothing changed.

"We were married and you were with my sister." She stated, clutching her stomach.

"I never loved you Thalia, I tried to move on when Yulia rejected my proposal but somehow I found her in my arms!" He raised his voice at her.

He never loved, so all his care, his attention, his love –were fake for good three years.

No. No. No.

She doesn't wanna believe it's really happening, maybe it's just a dream. She blinked, but nothing changed, it's real!

"Do not blame him for anything, Thalia, it's all your fault. Why would you marry him when you knew he loved me!"

Rage and heartbreak collided and she threw a loud slap across her face.

"You bitch! How could you do this to me?!" She yelled out angrily. Tears slipped from the corner of her eyes.

"Hey!" Franklin yelled and returned the slap immediately.

Thalia held her cheeks in her palm and Yulia smiled,even if the slap did hurt her.

"Baby, are you fine?" He asked with care.

"Frank, you slapped me!" Thalia cried,her voice cracked.

He didn't hesitate. "Yes, I'll do it again and again, if you hurt my woman!"

His woman? She was his wife!

That triggered her, her hands flew up in the air,and Yulia caught her wrist before it could land on Franklin's cheek.

He smiled, and she yanked Thalia's hands off roughly.

She staggered a bit.

“Don't you dare!” Yulia glared.

A sharp breath hitched in Thalia's throat, letting her tears stream down her face.

“He's my man, you have no right to touch him anymore. Get a hold of yourself, even if he chose me it's not the end of the world. Move on and get out of his life, he doesn't want you. You don't have to act slutty!” Yulia yelled out angrily, she took a deep breath then smiled, embracing him shortly.

"Thank you baby"Franklin kissed her forehead.

Then he looked up at Thalia angrily.

"Let's not drag this too much,Thalia," He said, dug his hand in his pocket and brought out an envelope.

"Sign them!" He threw the papers at her.

"What is this?" She asked with a shaky voice.

Yulia smiled like a fool.

"Divorce papers." He blurted coldly. His words trampled her heart on the marble floor.

"Divorce papers." He blurted. His words trampled her heart on the marble floor.

"Sign them!"He muttered coldly.

She staggered, holding onto the edge of the table for support.

"You're joking, right?" She asked and he smiled mockingly.

"He's not joking, sign them and get the hell out of his life!" Yulia bluntly replied to her.

"I'm not talking to you!!"Thalia yelled at her, she tried to reach for his hand but he moved back,his grip on Yulia's hand tightened.

"Frank, we can talk about this, we can talk about this please!" She pleaded with tears in her eyes.

But it all fell on deaf ears, he's already made up his mind. And he's not ready to listen to anyone.

"Listen Thalia, you know I met your sister first, and I loved her first...

"But you loved me too, why are you doing this?" Thalia cried.

"Yes but not anymore. For one year I wasn't happy. I only married you to have a wife, to have a woman by my side not because I loved you or something. You should move on and sign the divorce papers, I really don't wanna be with you anymore."He said it right to her face.

Her jaw dropped,and a strange cold swept through her like a sudden fever.

"Franklin, do not feel bad for her, she deserves it. Despite the fact that she knew you loved me, she went on and married you .Thalia you're nothing but a betrayal and you deserve more than this for betraying me."Yulia concurred.

She wasn't surprised that Yulia thought of her that way. She's always envied her since childhood. Yulia craves anything that belongs to her. Clearly, she hates her and it was nothing new to her anymore.

But Franklin, they've been together for a good three years. Which meant he'd pretended to love her, this morning they were good, last night they're good too.

He said he didn't love her. But last night he kissed her forehead, and said ‘forever’. Had that been a lie too?

The love, attention, honesty, trust, care were all fake. He never loved her, his heart has always belonged to Yulia all this while.

"Why?" She asked, her voice cracked.

Frank scoffed, he thought she was being dramatic over something so simple. He found her reaction unnecessarily dramatic.

Yulia couldn't stop smiling, she felt like she was on top of the world. Winning Thalia was a dream come true. She had sworn to snatch Frank from her and she did. And not just Frank, everything that belongs to Thalia.

"Sign the divorce papers, don't waste our time!"She yelled.

"What have I done to deserve this?"Thalia asked, ignoring Yulia.

"That's the point here, you've been good to me, but I need to be happy and she's my happiness" He said, softly.

The venom of the betrayal sank deeply inside her. She didn't know more was yet to come.

A maid dragged Thalia's suitcase downstairs to the spot where they stood.

"What are you doing with my suitcase?"Thalia asked with shock sparkling in her teary eyes.

"Twin sister, you don't have to worry, besides you have enough money already..."

"Franklin what's all this?!"She yelled, unable to control her emotions.

"Yes, you can't stay here while Yulia is here. You should sign the divorce papers and leave. It's the best thing."He replied nonchalantly.

Where does he expect her to go? She's financially okay but by this time where will she go?

"This is our home, because of her you wanna throw me out of here!" Thalia cried,her voice trembling, her cheeks burning with shame.

"When will you understand? I said I don't want you anymore. We're not us again, sign the divorce papers and get out of my house!" He asserted.

As if cheating on her wasn't enough, he's throwing her out of the home they built together.

Thalia shook her head, taking two steps backwardly. He smirked, grabbed the handle of the suitcase, then reached for her hand but she yanked it off.

"Don't be stubborn!"He half yelled and grabbed her forcefully.

Yulia grinning with satisfaction enjoying every bit of it. She crossed her arms like a queen watching her enemy fall.

"Let go of me Frank, I'm not going anywhere!" She struggled but his grip was too strong. He opened the main door and pushed her out.

"Frank, where do you expect me to go?"She cried pleading with him.

"Please let me stay,I can't go out, I'm...

"I don't wanna know where you'll go or how you're going to survive. But you can't stay here tonight." He said.

"Frank, please you can't leave me. I love you remember I..." Franklin slammed the door loudly on her face.

Her body trembled with shock, a tear slid down her cheeks.

She stood there, frozen. The cold wind slapped her face but it couldn't compare to the chill that pierced her bones. Her fingers clutched the handle of her suitcase as if it could bring her back to a reality that had just been shattered.

The rain began to fall, slowly at first,soft drizzles kissing her skin, mixing with the tears already streaming down her face.

Her legs wobbled beneath her, she wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from the weight of betrayal collapsing inside her chest.

"Franklin, please don't do this to me..." she whispered to the shut door, her lips trembling.

"Please don't... I'm pregnant..."She whispered, the test report and the ultrasound result still in her pocket.

When she got no response, her hands dropped slowly from the door. Her eyes lingering on the handle as though hoping it'd turn. Hoping he would come back apologize and say it was all a cruel joke.

But it didn't, the silence from the other end screamed louder than any argument.

Yulia was in there, wearing her robe, sipping her wine, lying in her bed.

Their bed.

Thalia's knees gave in and she collapsed right there on the porch, hugging her suitcase like a child clinging to a lifeline.

Everything was gone,it was over for her. Three years of her life, gone like ashes scattered in the wind.

How did she not see this coming? How did she sleep beside a man who never truly loved her? A man who held her tightly while his heart beat for another woman.

Not just another woman–her sister.

Her stomach clenched,the betrayal wasn't just romantic, it was blood-deep.

Yulia–her twin sister. She was supposed to love her unconditionally but instead she dug the deepest blade into her back.

And Franklin–her husband. The man she loved, prayed with,cooked for, dreamed with, looked her in the eye, said she was just a body to fill the space of a 'wife'.

Nothing more.

The rain intensified, soaking her clothes, her hair, her skin. Still she didn't move.

She didn't know where to go. Her phone might be in her bag, but her fingers couldn't feel it. She couldn't form any name in her head to call, who'd she even explain to? Who'd hear her out?

Her drenched body needs rest, the doctor told her to rest but she didn't.

She had built her whole life around Franklin and now she was standing in the ruins alone.

And all of a sudden the door creaked open. She saw him standing at the doorstep.

Franklin."She called softly.

Her hopes flared up in her chest.

It was Franklin. Did he come back? Is he going to take her inside and apologize?

"Franklin."She called softly.

Her hopes flared up in her chest.

It was Franklin. Did he come back? Is he going to take her inside and apologize?

Her lips parted to speak. She wanted so badly to tell him, to say the words that had been choking her since the moment he decided to kick her out of his life.

“I'm pregnant Frank,...with your child."

But she couldn't.

Not when he looked at her like that. Emotionless, cold. Like she was a stranger in the rain.

"You forgot your phone...and your credit cards. They were on the bed" he said,his voice flat, offering no comfort, no warmth.

She was staring at him, her mouth still opened, her voice lost somewhere in her throat. She was shivering, soaked to the core, mascara trailing down her face.

Franklin didn't look at her, he reached into his pocket and held something out. 

Her wedding ring. The same ring he slipped into her finger under a canopy of roses just three years ago. 

God, if this is still a nightmare–can someone just tap her, this is too much.

He placed it on her palm, her fingers trembled as she closed it in her palm.

"And send the divorce papers when you're done signing them," he added, turning away–refusing to meet her eyes.

Yulia watched from the balcony,her arms crossed on her chest.

"Frank..,"she whispered. "What changed all of a sudden? We were happy this morning...."

He paused in the doorway, then let out a cold breath.

"Security,I don't wanna meet her here by the time I check again."

That was all he said before the door slammed shut on her once more, cutting off the last shed of thread of hope she'd been clinging onto. 

She wrapped her fingers around the ring, and pressed it against her chest.

A scream nearly broke from her lungs but she swallowed it.

Inside Yulia leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her red lips curled into a devilish smile.

The moment Franklin turned around, she walked up to him, her walk slow and sensual.

"You did the right thing," she said, brushing her fingers over his chest. "She was never meant for you Frank."

He said nothing , just exhaled slowly and took a sip from his drink.

Yulia cupped his cheeks, pulling his face closer to hers, biting her lips seductively.

"Lia," he called, maybe to say something.

"I'm here now..." She murmured brushing her lips against his. "I've always been here for you Frank."

"I know honey, but where will she go?"He asked and a cunning smile tugged on her lips.

Then she kissed him, his hands wrapped around her waist possessively. 

He kissed her back, soft at first, then deeper and bolder. She claimed him like she believed he belonged to her all along.

Then she smiled when he almost ate her face up, before breaking the contact abruptly.

"Let her cry in the rain, you deserve someone better than her....."

"Someone like you, Yulia. You make me feel alive. You've always been there for me,baby."He purred and kissed her again, shortly.

"We're finally together,me, you and our baby. That should be our priority from now on."She muttered and he nodded in agreement.

Thalia turned and slowly descended the steps,her heels sinking into the muddy ground. The wind whipped against her face, plastering her wet hair to her cheeks.

She kept walking–away from the house, away from the life she'd once built.

Until a Rolls-Royce halted smoothly in front of her. The driver's window rolled down.

"Thalia,"He called her softly,his voice barely audible as he got out of his car, with his umbrella.

Tears blurred her vision,and without expecting it–she fainted. But he caught her in his arms before she could fall.

"I'm here,Thalia."The man whispered again,his arms tightened around her as the rain poured mercilessly over them.

His umbrella was barely holding up against the wind, but he didn't care. All that mattered to him was the fragile woman in his arms–her skin was pale, her lips trembling, her body soaked through and she's shivering.

He carried her into the backseat of the Rolls-Royce holding her with the delicacy of someone holding something scared.

The door to the luxury Penthhouse swung open, and the warmth of the place clashed against the icy numbness wrapped around Thalia's soaked body.

He carried her inside, laid her on the velvety couch and knelt beside her–breathless.

He took a deep breath,then took off his drenched blazer, reached out for his phone before making a call.

"Doctor Lena, it's urgent. Get here as soon as possible." 

As he ended the call, his eyes landed on her hand... curled tightly and shaking slightly. He carried her to his bedroom, laid her on his bed. 

Then he opened her fingers gently, and the wedding ring fell on the floor.

"Mr Williams, the maids are here." His manager informed him.

Mr Williams, the billionaire no one saw in public. The name that sent chills down every competitor's spine

Georgia Williams. He was the man behind more than ten conglomerates across Europe and Aveloria. Ruthless, brilliant, reclusive.

A team of maids arrived that moment, he walked out and they helped him change Thalia's drenched dress. Then Doctor Lena arrived, attending to Thalia under George's watchful gaze.

"She's cold and extremely exhausted," The doctor informed him. "And there's something else..."

"What's that?"George turned to her sharply.

"She's pregnant."Doctor Lena replied and his eyes widened in shock.

The word hit the air like thunder.He was shocked, and at the same time silent. But he nodded and sighed.

“Given her vitals, she's just four months gone, she shouldn't be stressed out at all. It's risky for her baby.”

“Does she need anything?”He asked, concern etched on his face.

“She needs to stay away from rest and please,she shouldn't worry about anything. Please make sure she eats a lot, especially fruits. I'll prescribe some medicine, you can get it for her.”

If Thalia is shattered like this, it's not going to be good for her baby. The doctor bowed and walked out.

And he sat beside her on the bed, what really happened to her? 

Why was she in the rain?

He sighed, whatever the reason is, he's ready to support her and repay her –what she did for him, four years ago.