Chapter 1 THE UNWELCOME

Sarah was seated at the edge of the bed, with her hand protectively placed on her stomach. The results were obvious - two strong lines indicating her pregnancy. A new life was growing within her, a tiny spark of hope in her otherwise complicated world. She'd imagined Jake's reaction countless times: the joy in his eyes, the embrace they'd share as they looked toward their future as a family. This news was her lifeline, a bridge to the happiness she'd been dreaming of since marrying Jake.

But, as if on cue, a familiar figure interrupted her thoughts-Isabel, her sister-in-law, who seemed to have no boundaries when it came to intruding on Sarah's life.

The news of Alex's plane crash had left Jake distraught, and somehow, that pain had bonded him with Isabel. Day after day, she was at their home, her grief-filled expressions, subtle touches, and lingering looks at Jake filling the space that should have been Sarah's. It wasn't just the loss of his brother, it seemed, but the presence of Isabel that had transformed her marriage into something unrecognizable.

Today, Isabel came with an announcement of her own, revealing her pregnancy with a coy smile that left Sarah feeling as if the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. Jake's response to Isabel's news only deepened the growing emptiness in Sarah's heart. Instead of comforting her or even acknowledging her presence, Jake turned all his attention to Isabel, wrapping her in a warm hug, and offering words of comfort and support. His eyes sparkled with a tenderness Sarah hadn't seen in a long time, and it left her feeling invisible.

The days that followed were suffocating for Sarah. Isabel, now officially a fixture in their home, began to manipulate every situation to her advantage. Pretending to be helpless and frail due to her pregnancy, she demanded Sarah's constant attention, insisting on having special meals and sending Sarah on endless errands. All while smiling sweetly at Jake, her gaze daring Sarah to protest. Sarah was losing her patience, but she remained composed, wishing that Jake would recognize her distress and offer his support.

One night, Sarah made a lovely fruit platter for Isabel, aiming to alleviate the escalating tension with a simple gesture of kindness. With precision, she arranged slices of mango, strawberries, and apples, then drizzled honey and added fresh mint leaves. Walking into the living room with the tray, Isabel looked at her with a smirk, her eyes cold and calculating.

Isabel expressed gratitude to Sarah in a sweet manner before taking the tray. However, just as Sarah was about to reply, Isabel purposely knocked the tray out of her hands, causing fruit and broken glass to scatter on the floor.

Isabel gave a dramatic scream, grasping her stomach and widening her eyes in fake surprise. Jake! Hey there, Jake! "Jake, please assist!" she cried, collapsing onto the couch in a well-rehearsed swoon.

Jake dashed in, his expression contorted with worry. "Isabel!" "Are you doing alright?" He had all his attention on her, his hands shielding her as he gave Sarah a fierce look. "Tell me, what have you done?" he asked, his voice filled with blame.

Sarah started to speak to explain, but Jake interrupted before she could respond. His icy tone snapped when he mentioned that Isabel could have been injured. "Are you not able to recognize that she is delicate at the moment?"

Biting her lip, she looked down, trying to control her emotions. While she moved, the intense pain of glass stabbing her palm caused a small amount of blood to run down her hand. Even though Sarah was injured, Jake's focus was solely on Isabel, ignoring Sarah's suffering.

Without another word, Sarah slipped away, her injured hand cradled against her chest. Her heart ached with a pain deeper than the cut, feeling more wounded by her husband's indifference than by the glass. She managed to bandage her hand herself and decided to go to the hospital, not just for the injury but because she needed some space to breathe.

In the hospital, Sarah's emotions swirled into a tumult of betrayal and sorrow in her mind. Her mind wandered back to the life she had imagined with Jake, the future she had longed for deeply. However, it appeared that Isabel was pushing Jake away more and more each day, leaving no space for Sarah in their marriage.

A nurse entered the room and gently wrapped Sarah's hand, providing a brief sense of solace. "Things like that can happen," the nurse said with compassion, unaware of the profound pain Sarah was truly feeling. Sarah mustered a faint smile, her eyes revealing the loneliness she was experiencing.

While waiting for the discharge papers, she glanced at her phone, wishing to find a message or missed call from Jake. However, there was nothing displayed on the screen. Realizing he hadn't even noticed her absence made her heart sink. It seemed as if she was an apparition, gliding quietly through the existence she had previously believed belonged to her.

Upon returning home, she discovered Jake and Isabel having a peaceful moment together, their heads leaning in close while conversing softly. She coughed lightly, disrupting the enchantment that appeared to be holding them together.

"Welcome back," Jake mumbled, barely looking at her. He looked at Isabel again, not paying attention to the bandage on Sarah's hand or the slight bruises under her eyes. She wished to shout, to insist that he acknowledge her, to inform him about their child - their child who should be cherished, to have a father who was concerned. However, as Isabel's eyes connected with hers, the words she was about to say faded away, replaced by a subtle smile of contentment on Isabel's lips.

That evening, Sarah remained in bed, gazing at the ceiling, feeling increasingly isolated. She reflected on the life developing within her, and on the optimism she had previously held for their upcoming days. However, that hope seemed delicate now, vulnerable to breaking with one thoughtless remark from Jake. Her thoughts became more burdensome, her mind constantly returning to Isabel and the influence she held over Jake.

While drifting off to sleep, Sarah was certain that things could not go on as they were. She was faced with a decision: either defend her position in the marriage or leave, considering her unborn child and her well-being. In any case, it would involve facing the shadows Isabel had created in her life and revealing the truth about Jake's faithfulness.

The first steps of that journey, Sarah knew, would be the hardest, but she couldn't stay silent any longer. Tomorrow, she'd confront Jake about their future, about her place in his life. And, perhaps, she'd begin to unravel the web that Isabel had spun around them all.