Chapter 2
Erick’s so–called love had always been like a beautifully wrapped candy–deceptively sweet on the surface, yet destined to rot at its core. Bianca realized this too late. The truth had stripped away every ounce of sweetness, leaving only the bitter aftertaste of betrayal.
Her face, once alive with warmth and trust, had become eerily calm, like still water reflecting nothing but emptiness.
Sitting in the dim light of the bedroom, she stared at her phone for what felt like an eternity before dialing a number. The ringing echoed in the silence, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed the device to her ear.
When the line connected, she spoke in a low, controlled voice. “Erick is cheating. Help me. I want to leave him.”
The person on the other end didn’t reply
Chapter 2
immediately. There was a long pause, punctuated only by the faint hum of static. Finally, the voice responded, steady and grim.
“With Erick’s influence, leaving won’t be easy. He’ll make it impossible for you to escape.” There was another pause, this time filled with hesitation. “Here’s the plan–give me three months. I’ll arrange everything. In three months, I’ll deliver your ‘corpse‘ to him so you can disappear.”
Bianca tightened her grip on the phone, her nails digging into her palm. “No,” she said firmly. “Before that, I’ll find a way to
divorce him first.”
Her voice was steady, but her heart felt like it was being torn apart. Betrayal had already shattered her trust; she wouldn’t let him destroy her dignity, too. Erick would
have no claim over her–not even over her staged death.
After the call ended. Bianca sat motionless, her phone slipping from her fingers.
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Shadows from the window stretched across. the floor as the night deepened. Hours
passed and she didn’t move, her mind racing with plans and regrets until dawn began to creep in.
The sound of the front door opening broke the silence. Erick’s presence filled the room, accompanied by the cool scent of early morning air. His footsteps quickened when he saw her pale face.
“Bianca, you look awful! Are you feeling sick?” He knelt beside her, his hands
cupping her face with the same practiced tenderness he always showed.
The faint scent of his post–shower cologne wafted toward her. She had once found comfort in its familiarity, believing it symbolized his thoughtfulness–his desire not to bring the grime of late–night work into their home. Now, she knew the truth. It wasn’t about her at all. The cologne masked the lingering traces of other
women.
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Her stomach churned violently. The nausea was unbearable. Bianca shoved Erick aside and bolted to the bathroom, collapsing to her knees in front of the toilet.
The sound of her retching echoed through the small space. Erick’s panicked voice followed her. “Bianca! Bianca, what’s wrong?”
Moments later, he was on his phone, summoning an ambulance. “She’s been pale all morning,” he explained to the dispatcher, his voice thick with urgency. “She needs help now!”
At the hospital, the air was sterile, filled with the faint scent of antiseptic and the quiet murmurs of medical staff. Bianca sat in silence as the doctor reviewed her test results, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Erick hovered nearby, his brows furrowed with worry.
The doctor’s expression softened. “Stantonratulations,” he announced with a smile. “You’re going to be parents!”
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The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Bianca froze, her mind reeling. She blinked and hot tears began streaming down her cheeks. This child…. this innocent life had come at the worst possible time.
Erick, mistaking her tears for joy, clasped her hands in his. His face lit up, his usual composure replaced with raw emotion. “Bianca, we’re having a baby! A baby!” His voice cracked with excitement as he spoke, his eyes glistening. “We’re going to be a family, Bianca! Isn’t this incredible?”
Bianca stared at him, her expression. unreadable. She knew how much Erick had longed for a child. The news should have been a blessing, but all she felt was an overwhelming sense of despair.
‘Erick,‘ she thought, her heart heavy. “There’s no future for us. No future for this
child.‘
The doctor’s voice brought her back to reality. “The pregnancy is still in its early
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stages and your condition seems unstable. I recommend staying in the hospital for observation.”
Erick immediately took charge. filling out the admission paperwork with an enthusiasm that bordered on childlike glee. He called everyone he could think of— family, friends, even distant acquaintances -proudly declaring the news.
“Bianca and I are having a baby!” he said. his deep voice brimming with pride. “Can you believe it? I’m going to be a dad!”
The nurses, overhearing his calls, giggled among themselves. One leaned over to Bianca, whispering with a grin, “Your husband really loves you. You’re so lucky.”
Another sighed wistfully. “Men like him are a rare find these days.”
Bianca didn’t respond. She simply stared at the scene unfolding before her, her gaze cold and detached. It was as if she were watching actors perform in a play–one
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that had become painfully absurd.
Eventually, Erick noticed her tears hadn’t stopped. He crouched down beside her, his worry deepening. “Bianca, are you okay? Are you in pain?”
Through the haze of her emotions, Biancal looked at him–the man who had once promised her forever. Eight years together, five of them married and all of it felt like a cruel joke now. She wanted to scream at him, to ask him why he had betrayed her. But she couldn’t–not yet.
Suppressing the storm raging inside her, Bianca let her tears flow freely. “I’ve never had a child before,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’m scared.”
Erick sighed in relief, his smile returning. He gently squeezed her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “Don’t be afraid,” he said softly. “I’m here. I’ll be with you every step of the way, Bianca. I’ll always be with you.”
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