Chapter 5
Back in senior year, during his internship, he started his own business.
It was tough.
We were broke.
Every penny had to be stretched.
We lived in a tiny ten–by–ten studio apartment, the kind where the heat barely worked in winter, and summers were unbearable.
A drafty window had a hole patched up with plastic sheeting.
Even when we had meat, it was mostly just fat.
But we were happy.
Walking hand in hand by the river, feeling the breeze, dreaming about the future.
Even crammed into that tiny kitchen cooking together, we found ways to laugh through the struggle.
Back then, it felt like we had nothing but each other, and that was enough.
We would have given up anything for one another.
But hard work paid off.
Life got better.
That tiny apartment turned into a proper condo.
Then, finally, financial freedom–a house of our own in the heart of the city.
But the more comfortable life got, the less time we spent together.
The distance between us grew wider and wider.
Until six months ago, when Zoe, fresh out of college, landed a job at Nathan’s company.
That’s when I started to see glimpses of the man he used to be.
More than once, he came home raving about his new assistant–how energetic she was, how thoughtful, how she made him feel young again, like when we first met.
I never expected the betrayal to come so quickly.
“Ms. Madison, the baby will be fully developed in about three weeks.”
21:04
Just a Stand In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife…
82.8%
Chapter 5
“You’ll need to watch your diet.”
“Have you been experiencing any nausea or other symptoms?”
The doctor’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
Clutching the ultrasound results in my sweaty hands, my breathing turned shallow.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“Doctor, I’d like to schedule an abortion.”
This baby was coming at the worst possible time.
If a decision had to be made, I wasn’t going to let it be another tie to hold me back.
I grew up in a single–parent home.
I knew how hard that life was.
The doctor’s expression was one of pure disbelief as she handed me the consent forms.
“If you’re sure… sign here.”
I took the papers and headed straight to the payment counter–only to run into Zoe.
“Madison!”
The sickly sweet way she said my name made my skin crawl.
She glanced at the documents in my hand.
The words “OB/GYN” stood out in bold letters.
Before she could get a closer look, I shoved them into my bag.
“Madison, wait… you’re not pregnant with Nathan’s baby, are you?”
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