Chapter 2 Pregnant

Corynn went to the hospital the next day. Her heart shook when the doctor handed her the pregnancy test results.

She wasn't expecting to get pregnant, not when they were careful about their contraceptive methods each time they had sex. So she couldn't quite figure out exactly when she could have conceived.

Elliot's face flashed in her mind, and Corynn felt a ball of dread drop in the pit of her stomach.

This was her baby, hers alone. Elliot would have nothing to do with the child. And regardless of what he wanted, she was determined to keep the baby.

Corynn crumpled the test results and stuffed the ball of paper into her pocket.

She was leaving the hospital when something caught her eye and made her stop at the top of the stairs.

Through the glass walls of the building, Corynn saw Elliot get out of his car and walk around to the passenger seat. He opened the car door and helped a woman out. He was so gentle to her, something that he had never been around Corynn.

Corynn felt a stinging in her nose. Elliot had never shown her a hint of tenderness in the three years they had been sleeping together.

She used to think that the fault lay in him. He simply didn't know how to act like a proper boyfriend. He was never thoughtful, never gave her gifts or remembered significant dates.

But she realized now that the problem was her. Elliot never put any effort into her because he didn't think she was worth it.

But then, why did he stay with her? Why sleep with her in the first place?

Corynn tried and failed to hold back her tears.

She couldn't deny that the young lady of the Willis family was the ideal wife. She was elegant and accomplished. How could Corynn have ever thought that she would one day be accepted among the elite society of Orelens?

She swiped at her tears and hurried down the stairs.

In the middle of the lobby, Elliot sensed eyes on him. He looked up toward the second floor staircase, but found no one.

"Is something wrong, Elliot?" Amanda Willis asked in mild confusion.

"It's nothing," he replied. "Let's go."

Corynn headed straight to Lark Villa to pack her belongings. She swept her gaze over the room she had meticulously decorated. Just yesterday, this place felt warm and cozy-a home. Now, it was just a monument to her foolishness.

When she thought about it, it was utterly absurd how her feelings for Elliot had meant nothing to him. Nothing at all.

As if on cue, her phone beeped with a notification. A news article was posted online, announcing the engagement between the respective heirs of the Andrews and Willis families.

Corynn could already see how the public would mock her for this. They had always ridiculed her, anyway, and while Elliot had somewhat shielded her from the worst of the criticisms, he never put a complete stop to them.

Now, he had officially announced his marriage plans to another woman. It would only escalate the ridicule.

Corynn would have loved to get married, too, but it was clear to her now that the desire had always been one-sided. Elliot had never even acknowledged her as his girlfriend.

Swallowing back her heartbreak, Corynn hurriedly gathered the clothes she had bought herself, and dumped them into her suitcase. There wasn't a lot of them. Then she called a housekeeping service and gave them instructions to restore the villa to the way it was three years ago.

After settling everything, she took one last look at the home she had shared with Elliot. Corynn left Lark Villa without a single backward glance.

She had never been one to cling to things she knew she couldn't have. And like she had said to Elliot, she knew her place. There was no way she could ever compare to Miss Willis.

Corynn dragged her suitcase and made her way back to her family home.

She had caused her parents immense embarrassment over the course of three year, what with her shameless pursuit of Elliot. As a result, her relationship with her parents suffered. She rarely called them, apart from special holidays.

Corynn now stood outside their house, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

She was reaching for the doorknob when she overheard the sound of an argument coming from the other side.

Corynn paused and hesitated. She knew she caused all of this, sowed discord within her own family, all for a man.

She crouched and hugged her knees as a wave of ache and shame washed over her.

She had given so much to Elliot, had given up even more for him, and he repaid it by marrying someone else.

She could still hear the words he had said to her last night repeating over and over in her head.

Corynn had to take a few moments to pull herself together. She stood up, took a deep breath, and let herself into the house. "Mom! Dad! I'm back."

The conversation came to an abrupt halt as her parents turned to her in unison.