Chapter 2

Alicia POV:

The giggle reverberated in my head, a cruel echo that froze me solid. I stared at my phone, numb, then frantically redialed Carter's number. It rang and rang, then went straight to voicemail.

My chest tightened, a crushing weight. My heart hammered, a frantic drumbeat against my ribs. A sharp, searing pain shot through my lower abdomen. I gasped, doubling over. No, not now. Not this.

My legs gave out. I crumpled to the floor, my phone clattering beside me. The pain intensified, a relentless tearing sensation. I tried to push myself up, but my body wouldn't obey. Black spots danced before my eyes. All I could think of was my baby. My precious baby.

With a desperate surge of adrenaline, I crawled towards the door, my fingers scrabbling for my keys. I had to get to the hospital. Now.

The next few hours were a blur of blinding pain and frantic voices. I remember being wheeled through bright corridors, the cold efficiency of the emergency room. My fingers still clutched my phone, repeatedly trying Carter' s number, each attempt met with silence. Where was he?

"Alicia? Alicia McClure?" A familiar voice broke through the haze.

I blinked, trying to focus. A kind face, framed by dark hair and gentle eyes, peered down at me. Dr. Benji Davenport. My high school friend. He looked older, more tired, but still had that same reassuring presence.

"Benji?" My voice was a raw whisper.

He squeezed my hand. "It's me. What happened, Alicia? You're in a lot of pain."

I couldn't form the words. The pain was too overwhelming.

He nodded, already understanding. He glanced at my chart, his brow furrowed. "We're doing everything we can. There's a risk of miscarriage, Alicia."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Miscarriage. No. Not my baby.

Tears streamed down my face, silent and hot. Benji handed me a tissue, his touch gentle. He prescribed something for the pain, his voice soft, explaining what was happening.

"Where's... Carter?" he asked, his gaze searching.

I just shook my head, unable to speak. The humiliation burned hotter than the pain.

Benji didn't press. He just squeezed my hand again. "It's okay. We'll take care of you. I'm here."

As I was slowly being discharged, still weak and numb, a car screeched to a halt outside the ER entrance. The door flew open, and Carter rushed out, his face a mask of manufactured concern.

"Alicia! Baby, I'm so sorry! I just got your messages. How's the baby? Is everything okay?" He enveloped me in a tight hug, his breath smelling faintly of cheap perfume.

I stiffened, pushing him away slightly. My gaze fell to his pristine white shirt. A faint, smudged pink stain bloomed on his collar. Lipstick.

My blood turned to ice. Kenley's favorite shade.

"Where were you?" My voice was dangerously low, laced with a venom I didn't know I possessed.

His eyes darted, his face blanching. "I told you, babe. An emergency meeting. So important for the company."

"Oh, an emergency meeting." I laughed, a harsh, brittle sound. "Was it with Kenley? Did you have to kiss her to finalize the deal?"

His jaw tightened. "What are you talking about? Are you delirious from the pain? You're not making any sense."

I grabbed his collar, my fingers trembling as they pointed to the pink stain. "This. This is what I'm talking about. And this." I pulled out my phone, Kenley's anniversary video already queued up. I shoved it into his face.

He flinched, his eyes wide. "Who is that? I don't know her. Maybe someone with the same name?"

His words were a pathetic lie. Even as he spoke, Kenley Mendez herself appeared at the hospital entrance, a beaming smile on her face. She held a small, elegantly wrapped cake box. Our eyes met. Her smile morphed into a triumphant smirk.

"Happy anniversary, darling!" she trilled, walking towards us. "I know you said to keep it quiet, but I just had to bring you a little something." She held out the cake box.

Carter' s eyes widened in horror. He snatched the cake box, roughly shoving it back at her. "Kenley! What are you doing here?" His voice was a harsh whisper, laced with barely concealed panic.

Kenley's eyes welled up, her lower lip trembling. She looked like a wounded fawn. "Carter, why are you so mad? It's our special day."

"Your special day?" I stepped forward, my voice rising. "Kenley Mendez, the girl who sent love letters to my boyfriend for years? The one who publicly declared her love for Carter Burks at every school event, even when he was holding my hand?"

Carter spun to face me, his eyes blazing. "Alicia, stop! You're hysterical. You're pregnant, your hormones are-"

My hand connected with his cheek with a resounding smack. The sound cracked through the sterile hospital air. Then, with all the strength I had left, I pulled out my "marriage certificate" from my bag and flung it at him. It fluttered to the ground, landing at his feet.

"This," I screamed, tears finally blurring my vision. "This piece of paper. It's fake, isn't it? Our marriage. It's a lie!"