Chapter 1 One

Eve's POV

First, I discovered that the parents I had grown up with all these years were just my adoptive parents. Then, after finally returning to my biological family, I ended up in a drunken one-night stand at a party.

I thought I was healing from the trauma, trying to piece my life back together, but then-BOOM!-pregnancy happened.

And now, here I was, standing in the hospital for my routine check-up, my body burning like volcano. My hands trembled slightly as I held onto the counter, my vision blurring for a moment. The only one who could save me now-the man I foolishly believed to be mine-was the same man who had barely reacted when I told him I was carrying his child.

I clenched my fists, pushing away the lingering thoughts as I pressed my back against the cold hospital wall, trying to regain my strength.

"Hey, wake up... It's cold here, you could catch a cold."

A soft voice, accompanied by a gentle shake on my shoulder, pulled me from my haze. My disoriented gaze met the concerned eyes of the nurse standing before me.

Heat crawled up my neck. My guilty conscience made me look away in shame. I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole.

Gracious! It had already been months since that night, yet the memories of what happened with Joel still haunted my dreams. But no matter how many times the scene replayed in my mind, I could never fully grasp it. My drunkenness had erased most of it, leaving behind only blurred images and a deep, lingering regret.

Thanks to being drunk to the point of unconsciousness, I did not have much memory of that night, otherwise I would not know how to face him.

"Here, you forgot to take your pregnancy health results." The nurse extended a set of papers toward me. "Dr. James wants you to come back next week for another check-up."

I nodded, offering a weak smile as I took the report and carefully placed it in my purse. As I made my way toward the exit, a single thought dominated my mind-Joel was coming back today.

Or perhaps, he was already back.

My grip tightened around my bag as nervousness washed over me. It had been months since I last spoke to him. In fact, I only contacted him when I reached my seventh month of pregnancy.

I could still remember the silence that followed when I broke the news to him over the phone. There was no excitement, no joy-just stunned disbelief.

Doctor James had reassured me, saying men often struggled to process their first child and that their mentality would take time to change.

It couldn't be that. Even regarding our marriage, was I supposed to be the one to speak up?

Joel wasn't happy.

And if he wasn't happy, did that mean he didn't want the baby? Did that mean he didn't want me?

The sun was blindingly bright as I stepped out of the hospital. I struggled to support my aching waist as I flagged down a taxi. Just as I raised my hand, the roar of an engine filled my ears, followed by the sharp screech of brakes.

I gasped, instinctively stepping back as a dazzling white sports car swerved dangerously close, just barely grazing the hem of my dress before coming to a halt.

My heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

The door swung open, and from the driver's seat, a woman emerged, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders as she adjusted her form-fitting black dress.

My blood ran cold.

Natasha.

"You're crazy, Natasha!" I shouted, my hands still clutching my abdomen protectively.

She laughed-a sound so sharp and mocking that it sent a chill down my spine. Arms crossed, she swayed toward me, her high heels clicking against the pavement with an arrogant rhythm. Using the advantage of her high heels, she arrogantly looked down on my pregnant figure.

"What?" she mused, tilting her head. "Scared I'll kill the bastard growing inside you?"

I took another step back, instinctively shielding my belly from her venomous words.

"Natasha, you're going too far!" My voice wavered with barely restrained anger.

I always knew she despised me, but never had I imagined she could be this ruthless.

"Going too far?" she sneered. "Eve, you're the one who went too far. You got drunk, had fun with some random man, and now you're trying to pin the baby on Joel? Shame on you."

I froze, the air leaving my lungs.

"What nonsense are you saying?" My voice came out weaker than I intended.

Natasha clapped her hands together mockingly. "Don't tell me you actually believe the man you slept with that night was Joel?" She let out a laugh so cruel, it twisted my insides.

My breath hitched. I grew paler as I listened. Despite standing under intense sunlight, my whole body felt cold.

What... what was she saying?

"You claim you've known Joel since childhood, right? That you're childhood sweethearts?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And yet, you couldn't even recognize his body?"

A horrifying chill spread through me.

No. No, that couldn't be true.

But as her words echoed in my mind, my memories of that night suddenly became sharper. I thought back to the blurred silhouette, to the broad frame pressing against me, to the unfamiliar sensation of his touch.

Joel had been... different.

Too different.

Natasha smirked, reveling in my horror. "Shall I tell you the truth? That night, I spiked your drink. Out of the kindness of my heart, I even prepared two burly men for you. Who knew that you would be so insensible? You actually entered some wild man's room, that even unceremoniously..." Natasha's tone was full of disgust. "Joel only took the blame because he felt sorry for you."

My hands shook violently.

"You..." My voice cracked with rage.

I grabbed her wrist, my nails digging into her skin. "Why would you do this to me? Haven't you done enough?!"