Chapter 2 Wounds of Betrayal

"Why are you guys so heartless?" Kiara looked at the couple in front of her with tears in her eyes. Her eyes looked blank with disbelief. "What did I do wrong?"

"Why me? What's my fault?" screamed Kiara suddenly.

Her hands were clenched tightly, trying to hold herself together as she met Nova's triumphant eyes. "You! I never thought that you would do this to me."

"I treated you very well. I've always helped you and tried to be there for you, no matter if I'm in a bad situation. Nova, we've been friends for a long time, how could you? Not only did you snatch my fiance, you're even now...." Kiara was unable to finish her last word.

Her gaze traveled to Nova's stomach briefly, and she felt even more choked up.

They already had a child. Doesn't that mean it's been a very long time?

It felt so claustrophobic just imagining the two people she trusted and cared about having an affair behind her back.

Don't know who started it, but it was painful. Her heart shattered like it was pierced by two arrows from two different directions.

"Kiara, I... forgive me," Nova said at last.

Kiara's crying stopped. She looked at Nova closely and slowly stepped closer.

However, before actually approaching her, Daniel suddenly stood up and blocked her way.

"Don't ever think you can approach her just to hurt her," Daniel said with emphasis.

Kiara was instantly transfixed. She blinked slowly, with tears flowing down her face. Her gaze turned to Daniel. "Am I that bad in your eyes?"

"Shouldn't you explain everything to me instead of making me feel even worse?"

"Daniel, don't be like that. Kiara is my best friend, please don't treat her harshly," Nova said.

"No! I can't let her get close to you. Who knows what she'll do? You're pregnant, Honey. I don't want anything to happen to you and our child." However, Daniel just dismissed his words quickly and emphatically, as if Kiara was indeed a villain who had to be kept away from Nova.

Kiara was even more stunned. She stared in disbelief at the man standing in front of her.

The look in his eyes was different, no longer like Daniel, her fiancé who loved her wholeheartedly.

Now, it felt unfamiliar, like they had never taken a step towards the altar.

Only a few moments ago, they were gazing at each other with the happiness of being married. But now... everything changed in an instant.

"Kiara, I'm sorry." At a moment like this, Nova suddenly burst into tears. "I wronged you. I'm sorry."

"Honey!" Of course, this made Daniel panic.

He immediately turned towards Nova and hugged her from the side. "Don't cry. You'll make our son sad. It's not your fault, okay? We're not at fault in this."

"No! I was wrong! Kiara, forgive me! Please forgive me. But I'm really helpless. I love Daniel and want to be with him. This feeling makes me unable to think clearly. I love him so much. Please forgive me!" Nova exclaimed sadly.

"So you feel guilty for not being able to leave him? Not for betraying me? Nova, why are you so cruel?" screamed Kaira, who then received a hard slap from Daniel, making her fall silent with her head turned to the side.

Nova's crying also stopped.

"You're the cruel one! Stop acting like you're the one being hurt and the saddest one here! I should be the one to ask you that. Why are you being so mean to me?" Daniel's eyes became sharp and hateful.

However, unbeknownst to anyone, his hands were clenched into fists. Not out of anger but out of restraint from pulling Kiara into his arms and soothing her.

This was the first time he had seen her cry so violently and pitifully, making him, who had been with her for 5 years, inevitably feel pain.

"What are you saying? You're the one who cheated on my best friend and had a child, but you're blaming me? Daniel, why are you being so heartless?" The girl, who was still wearing her wedding dress, looked at him disappointedly. The loose coils of her hair looked even more messy.

Daniel, who initially felt heartless, immediately lost his feelings and replaced them with anger when he saw Kiara's innocent face.

He immediately pushed her roughly and grabbed her neck for a grip, then snapped, "You're the heartless one, Kiara! You betrayed me first! You slept with another man and forgot your promise to me!"

"At first, I thought everything was fine and I could accept you no matter what. It was all because my love for you was so great. But you had absolutely no initiative to explain. You didn't even feel the slightest bit of remorse and guilt towards me. You are the cruelest one, Kiara! You're the one who betrayed me!" Daniel's eyes bulged sharply, with the veins on his neck protruding.

He looked so angry that his eyes glazed over.

Kiara was stunned.

Her mind was noisy, with Daniel's words spinning in an echoing voice. Her breathing started to become labored as her body began to weaken.

Where did Daniel find out?

She had tried to cover it up, not caring, even though she was always haunted by fear and trauma. But now, it seemed that all her efforts had become a sharp weapon that destroyed her.

"Daniel, I can explain. It's not like you said. I... that night... I-"

"Enough, Kiara!" snapped Daniel, cutting off Kiara's stammering. "It's over, and your chance is over. I don't want to hear it anymore."

Kiara shook her head with tears falling. She tried to grab Daniel's hand, but the man rushed back. "Go away! I don't want to see you again."

"No! I'm not leaving! You misunderstood. That's not how it happened. I was trapped," Kiara said quickly, hoping Daniel would listen to her explanation.

"Trapped? Then tell me who trapped you."

However, as soon as these words were said, Kiara fell silent. She didn't know either. Even the man she slept with didn't know.

Seeing her silence, Daniel suddenly smiled sarcastically.

He looked at Kiara with a disgusted look in his eyes, as if he was seeing something he shouldn't. "I never knew you were a prostitute."

"Daniel." Kiara was dumbfounded, with tears welling up.

"You always refused when I asked you to have fun. You even kept your distance from me. But it turns out you're just a slut. Now that I know why, it must be because you didn't want your secret to get out. Kiara, our relationship is over. Go away, don't bother me and Nova anymore!" After that, Daniel turned around and sat on the chair next to Nova's bed and held her hand.

Nova could only remain silent with a sad face. However, her eyes radiated real victory.

"If the truth is revealed, I hope you won't regret it. Because when that happens, I don't want to see you anymore," Kiara said in a low but determined voice.

Then she wiped her tears and turned to leave after looking at Daniel and Nova in turn.

Nova saw her leaving and couldn't help but smile happily.

The only person who stood in her way was gone. Now, she could live happily with Daniel and the child in her womb.

"Are you happy?" Suddenly, Daniel's voice rang out.

However, instead of fading her smile, Nova smiled even more and grasped Daniel's hand back. "Thank you for choosing me. I won't let you down."

"I know. You're very different from Kiara. You're loyal and always manage to make me happy. Whereas she... never mind, no need to think about it anymore." Daniel then moved to Nova's side and pulled her into his arms. "I'll take care of our wedding soon."

Nova's smile became even more unbearable. "I hope your family will come and approve of us."

"They will. Especially now that you have my offspring in your stomach."

Outside the hospital, Kiara walked absentmindedly with dragged feet.

Her flowing dress looked dirty, with her hair completely down. She did not care at all about the people who were staring at her with various gazes.

Her thoughts raged together with the pain in her heart, making the distrust and disappointment she felt even more deeply ingrained.

Hence, she didn't realize that the long walk to her house was on foot.

When she opened the door, a suitcase was suddenly thrown in front of her, making her freeze and slowly stare in the direction it was thrown.

"Ma?"

"All your belongings are packed. Get out of this house!" After saying that, the middle-aged woman who was still wearing the special dress for the bridal party's family threw two more suitcases.

She was Zahra Adaline Harrison, Kiara's mother. Her face now looked full of anger. "What are you waiting for? Get out of my house right now!"

"Ma?"

"No need to ask for an explanation. You are a disgrace to this family. You are a disgrace, Kiara. I don't want this family to suffer the consequences of your actions. Get as far away as you can. You are no longer part of the Harrison family," Mrs. Zahra said passionately, with her eyes wide with anger.