Best Friend Divorced Me When I Carried His Baby

Kelly's POV

Was it a blessing to marry your best friend?

I wasn't very sure what Pierce thought, but marrying him was a dream come true for me. And now, what was even more exciting was that we were about to welcome our first child.

"It's a good thing you're cautious. You could've lost your baby, Miss Monroe," the GYN told me seriously as she could see the shock in my eyes.

I subconsciously touched my belly, still unable to believe a baby was lying there. Had I heard it right? I was pregnant? I was pregnant with a baby for Pierce-my best friend and my first crush!

On the way out of the hospital, I couldn't wait to tell Pierce about our baby. I wondered what his reaction would be. Would he scream in happiness? Would he kiss me? God! I couldn't contain my happiness.

I cupped my flushed face as I fantasized, but the moment I felt the cold of the simple ring on my finger, my wildly beating heart calmed down. I almost forgot that Pierce wasn't the type to be keen on having children, especially since our marriage was arranged by his family.

Pierce was a complete gentleman, both as a friend and a husband. Every time we had sex, he was considerate yet cautious, saying there was no need to add extra shackles when we weren't ready.

This baby, in a way, was out of the plan.

My mind was becoming restless as I sat in my car. Would this be good news for him? What if Pierce still wasn't ready for a baby?

"Ma'am, is everything okay? Do you need to call the boss?" my private driver, Luke, asked worriedly as he noticed my frown. Luke was reliable, like family, but if I chose to share, I still wanted Pierce to be the first to know this news. He was my baby's father.

"No," I shook my head, giving Luke a reassuring smile. "He's on a flight. I'll talk to him later myself." I wanted to sense his answer directly from his raw expressions. I was always good at that.

I closed my eyes, recalling the first day we met. His bright smile in the sunlight was so dazzling; he was a Prince. Long before we became best friends, I fell in love with him at first sight. But it was only unrequited love; I knew that well.

I slid down the car window to get some fresh air but accidentally caught a glimpse of our old high school. That bitter feeling filled my chest once again. Pierce was my first love, but I wasn't his.

In high school, I was just a boring nerd in others' eyes while Pierce Anderson was the shining quarterback. Everyone was surprised that we could be friends. Though envy arose, I enjoyed being around him. I slowly realized that I didn't just want to be his friend.

However, right when I was about to confess my feelings to him, another girl came into his life.

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of those sad memories. I gripped the cold wedding ring on my finger, telling myself the past was the past. Pierce said they were over, and I was his wife now. I was his wife who was carrying his baby.

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and opened the door to our house. My heart calmed as I breathed in the scent of home. Our home. It wasn't as luxurious as his family's villa, but it was cozy. Pierce and I decorated it together with our own hands. We enjoyed it. Yes, I must have been overthinking. That woman had been out of our lives for a long time, and my marriage with Pierce had been as beautiful as a fairy tale for the past three years.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. At this point, Pierce should have gotten off the plane. He had been traveling for over a month for the sake of our family's business. Pierce was the President of ADE, the leading fashion magazine company in Asia, and I was actually the Vice President. We were not only life partners but also good partners at work.

I really missed him. I dialed his number immediately. I wanted to hear his voice now, to know when he would arrive home. I would prepare a good meal for him, and he would reward me with a sweet kiss. Then we might have passionate sex like what he gave me the night before his business trip. Oops, I almost forgot I was pregnant now. I needed to tell him this first before we could do anything else.

I was happily envisioning our lovely reunion when my heart dropped as a woman's voice came over the line.

[Hello?]

I snapped the phone as just one word came out. My phone fell to the floor, and my body started shaking uncontrollably. NO! It couldn't be her! It couldn't be Lexi! She was already out of our lives! I must have misheard.

I rushed to the fridge, attempting to calm myself with some alcohol. But the moment I touched the wine bottle, I was reminded of the doctor's words and my baby. I needed to be cautious for my baby's sake. I turned to grab a box of milk and walked toward the sofa.

I didn't know what made me recognize that as Lexi's voice at that moment. I meant Lexi and I were never close. Lexi Gilbert was a typical blonde beauty that men would go crazy for. She was the popular cheerleader in high school while Pierce was the star quarterback. A better match than he and a nerd like me, right? It wasn't surprising that he had fallen for her.

My pride couldn't stand watching the man I loved go crazy for another woman. So I had once tried to stay away from them silently, but Pierce refused to quit my life. Every time I drowned myself in a sea of books and studies to forget them, Pierce would appear at my doorstep asking me out. I couldn't say no to his charming smile; I couldn't refuse when he claimed it was his duty as my best friend to take me out to enjoy the real world.

To avoid ruining our friendship, I could only hide my broken heart, silently playing the role of his best friend while watching his happy face as he pursued another girl. I finally mustered the courage to study abroad when I learned that Pierce was planning to propose to Lexi. However, I never expected Grams would call to beg me to return.

I hurried back only to see a lifeless Pierce. His heart was shattered, thanks to Lexi. My beloved sunshine boy was nowhere to be seen, and my heart bled for him. I started to hate Lexi from that moment. I gave up my cherished man for her, and how dared she harm him so badly! That witch!

Pierce didn't tell anyone what happened except that he was done with Lexi. Grams arranged our marriage. I didn't understand why he agreed until the day I heard him say that marrying anyone but Lexi would be the same for him.

It hurt like hell, but I still walked into this marriage without a second thought. My cherished boy was broken, and I wanted to fix him, not caring if I ruined myself in the process.

I fell asleep at home, feeling insecure and worried. I woke up in the middle of the night when I felt someone caressing my cheek.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and realized I had fallen asleep in the living room.

Someone lifted me from the couch. I immediately recognized his scent and touch as I looked at him with heavy-lidded eyes.

"Pierce..."

"Hmm," he hummed as he walked toward the stairs. "Why did you sleep on the couch?"

I stared at his face as he gently placed me down on the bed. He caressed my hair and kissed my forehead. He was always so gentle, and that was why I loved him so much. Even when making love, he was very considerate of my feelings. We'd been apart for over a month; my body missed him, and my heart wanted him.

"Where have you been? I've been waiting for you," I said as I caressed his cheek.

"Just met a friend. You said you were waiting for me; is it something urgent?"

Looking at his gentle face, I suddenly didn't want to ruin the moment, so I closed my parted lips and swallowed the truth back down. Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, I would have the courage to face all the puzzles.

I shook my head and pouted, signaling that I was sleepy. He chuckled and carefully carried me to the bed. Just as he was about to leave me after giving me a goodnight kiss, I panicked for some reason. I quickly grabbed him and kissed him with all my passion, trying to undress him, trying to make him touch me more and deeper. I missed him. I wanted him. I felt that the only way I could feel at ease was to let him inside me again, to ensure he was still mine.

"Wait, Kels," he said, stopping me by pinning my hands to the bed. "I thought you said you were sleepy and needed to rest."

"But I think I miss you more now." I looked at him with innocence and caught the desire flashing in his eyes, but I didn't know why it faded so quickly. He used to be happy when I took the initiative.

As if noticing my confusion, he chuckled and playfully pinched my nose. "I'll just take a shower. I smell like alcohol."

I nodded and watched him as he walked toward the bathroom. But drowsiness struck again, so I closed my eyes to take a nap. However, it was already morning when I opened my eyes again, and Pierce was beside me, putting a tray of food on the bedside table.

"Hey!" I greeted, smiling when I realized what he'd done. He had prepared breakfast for me. In bed. The sweetest.

He smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "Good morning."

I grinned as I sat up. He carried the tray and put it beside me. I shot an eyebrow up, tilting my head as I stared at his handsome face. His deep brown eyes and thick, black eyebrows complemented his striking features. His nose was proud and pointed and his lips were red and thin. He literally looked like a sexy bad boy. Even Damon Salvatore would feel overshadowed beside him. No one stood a chance against this man.

"What is this? Is this a bribe? You stood me up last night, bad boy."

He didn't laugh. Instead, he heaved a sigh, gently tucking my hair behind my ear before taking my hand and staring into my eyes. "I have something to tell you."

My heart raced. I thought about our baby. He had something to say, and I did too.

"W-What is it?" I asked, feeling my voice tremble.

He took a deep breath. "You know you're important to me, right?"

I slowly nodded, my lips parted. I couldn't speak; I was scared of what he was about to say. I had a bad feeling about this.

"You were my best friend before we got married. You're one of the few people I treasure..."

I hid my clenched fists under the sheets. I didn't understand why he was telling me this, but I felt tears pooling in the corner of my eyes already.

"Kelly..." He paused, squeezing his eyes shut before looking into mine again. "I-I think it's time for us to divorce."

"P-Pierce..." My heart clenched.

He smiled sadly. "I know you don't have feelings for me either. You only married me because of my grandparents. You just did this because you love them. Now it's time for our real happiness, Kelly."

I shook my head. "W-What are you talking about, Pierce?"

"Lexi is back, Kelly. My first love is back."

Kelly's POV

I got off the bed and tried to leave, but Pierce grabbed my hand. I quickly wiped the tears rolling down my cheeks before he could see them. He stood in front of me, searching my face as I struggled to look down and avoid his gaze.

My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. I thought... I thought I could make him fall in love with me during those three years together. I believed his feelings would deepen, that he would see me as a woman rather than just a best friend. I was foolish to hope and dream so high.

I had failed. No matter how hard I tried, his heart belonged only to his first love, Lexi.

"Kelly..."

I sucked in a breath and swallowed the pain as I looked at him. I forced a smile. "I need to wash up before eating."

He stared into my eyes, trying to figure out what I was thinking. I knew he understood me too well, so I made a concerted effort to hide my pain and smiled back at him.

He sighed and let go of my hand. "Okay. I'll wait for you here. Let's eat and go to work together."

Together? How cruel could he be? He still wanted us to get along as if he hadn't just asked for a divorce? He wanted us to stay the same right after telling me that his first love was back and he wanted to divorce me?

Oh, Pierce, what's going on in your head?

If I used to be able to force myself to remain in the role of his best friend, wishing him happiness, I no longer had that courage after the three years we'd shared. There was no way I could endure that kind of torture again, especially now that I was carrying his baby.

The baby... I had thought it was good news for us, but now... it felt more like a burden to him, I guess. A burden that would prevent him from pursuing his true love and freedom.

I knew how an unwanted child could grow up. My parents divorced even before my mother died, and my father's new family hated me. It hurt like hell. I didn't want my baby to experience that same pain. I needed to keep my child away from it.

I forced another smile. "We can't. I need to visit the studio for the photoshoot of our new models..."

"I'll go with you-"

"No." I pushed his hand away. His eyes followed my hand before he looked up at me again.

"You have some documents to sign. Our schedules are already organized, remember?"

"But..."

"I have a personal driver, Pierce. I'll be fine going alone."

He sighed and slowly nodded. I turned my back on him and entered the bathroom. I immediately opened the shower and stood under the cold water. Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I covered my mouth to suppress my sobs.

My shoulders trembled violently, and when I thought about my baby, I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself down. I wiped my face and caressed my belly. I needed to be strong. I had to stay calm. I shouldn't put my baby's life at risk just because I got my heart broken. I had to handle this wisely.

I took a deep breath and finished my shower. When I got out of the bathroom, I was shocked to see Pierce still there. He was struggling to fix his tie in front of the full-length mirror. I also noticed my pair of heels and dress on the bed.

"Hey! I picked your dress for today."

Since our marriage wasn't public, Pierce had said he would try to do little things for me as a husband. He did it well, and I used to enjoy these sweet moments, but now, they felt like daggers to my heart.

I grabbed the dress and went into the walk-in closet. I felt him following me. I put the white dress back and picked a red one. When I turned to face him, his forehead was creased.

"I prefer red today. I'd feel beautiful in this dress."

His eyes landed on the dress I was holding, and his face immediately relaxed. He nodded and walked toward me.

"I see. Help me fix this first."

I placed my dress on his arm and started adjusting his tie. I could feel his eyes staring intently and it was making my heart beat so fast. I took a deep breath and chewed my bottom lip as I struggled to fix the tie. My vision started to blur again. Damn!

"Kelly..."

I jumped in shock. "Hmm?"

"Are you okay?"

I looked at him and smiled. "Yeah."

"I have something else to say."

I finished fixing his tie, then immediately grabbed the dress from him. I glanced at him before walking past him and said, "Let's just talk some other time. I'm going to be late."

I heard him sigh as he followed me again. I grabbed my underwear and got dressed while he was standing behind me. He's silent the whole time as if he's thinking about something.

"You should eat before you leave."

I turned to him and nodded. "I will. You should go now."

"Kelly, we're on the same page, right?"

I stared at him. No, Pierce. We're never on the same page. All of this was just my stupid fantasy. I thought you had feelings for me, and I was so wrong.

"If it's about the divorce, I understand everything, Pierce. I know what I have to do. Just give me some time because I'm really busy with the company. I won't run away."

"Kelly, I'm not just doing this for myself. I'm doing this for you too. You've been caged with me ever since we got married. I know you're not happy because deep down, you want to find the man you deserve. Someone who will truly love you. Not me. Not someone who's half-hearted."

"I understand what you're trying to say, Pierce," I said, trying to turn away, but he held me by the waist, keeping me in place.

He did everything he could to capture my gaze, and he succeeded. He looked at me worriedly. "You are my best friend. I don't want to lose you, Kels. You're one of the few people I..."

"I know," I said out of frustration. He looked shocked, so I took a breath to calm myself. "I-I know. You don't have to worry. I'm just stressed about work. It's not about our divorce."

His lips parted, and he slowly nodded, as if he could finally breathe properly. He walked toward me, and I froze when he gently kissed my forehead...

"Thank you, Kelly," he whispered. My heart clenched. It had been three years, but I was still such a coward. Why couldn't I just tell him that I loved him? He's my husband, and I'm carrying his baby! If I told him, he might change his mind!

I swallowed hard, ready to speak, but his phone rang. I didn't miss the caller ID. Again, it was Lexi.

"I gotta go." He scratched his head in apology, and I didn't miss the upturned corners of his mouth. "I called Luke, and he's waiting outside. Eat before you go, okay?"

With that, he left our room. The tears I had managed to hold back burst forth again. Why did I think I could have a chance? He had made his choice the moment he asked for a divorce, hadn't he?

Whenever it came to Lexi, I was always the one he would abandon.

Kelly's POV

I entered the studio wearing two-inch red heels and a red dress. Everyone turned to look as I walked down the hallway, greeting me with smiles, but my face remained stoic, not showing any emotions at all.

The conversation with Pierce this morning lingered in my mind, but I couldn't let it affect my work.

I couldn't fail my work after I had failed my marriage.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. However, when I entered the photoshoot room, I could notice everyone was in chaos.

"We can't! She's not answering her calls. What should we do? The Vice President is coming today. She'll be furious."

"We can just tell her the truth. She's nice."

"Not in this situation, Lily! She'll scold us-"

"What's happening here?" I asked, stepping further into the room.

The staff turned to me with worried expressions, and I knew then that something was wrong.

"G-Good morning, Miss Monroe."

Miss Monroe. Of course, no one knew that Pierce and I were married except for our families. I felt a pinch in my heart because of that truth. It hurt.

I stared at her blankly, "What?

"W-We have a problem, Miss Monroe. Miss Chen, our model, has been refusing our calls. She said she heard that we're changing the model, so...she doesn't want to come here. She's even threatening to file a case against us."

She bowed her head, and I gritted my teeth, scanning the room. "Where's the marketing manager?"

"S-She's still trying to convince Miss Chen, Miss Monroe."

I massaged my forehead, squeezing my eyes closed. I grabbed my hair and screamed in so much anger, causing everyone around me to jump in shock. I groaned, sucking in a breath before looking around.

"Miss Monroe..."

"What is this, Miss Hayley? You're the marketing manager. What's happening?"

"Miss Monroe, I don't know how it happened, but Miss Chen heard that you're changing our model. She's about to file a case against us-"

Changing the model? How had I not known about this? Miss Chen had always been a trusted partner, and if not necessary, changing models for a commercial shoot on short notice would only create chaos for the company. I would never allow such a costly mistake.

"I never asked for that. You must be mistaken." I cut her off to save the time, "Fix this mess, or I'll have to fire you!"

"Miss Monroe... It's Mr. President who ordered the change." Hayley spoke hesitantly. "He instructed us as soon as he returned from his business trip yesterday."

The truth hit me hard. Pierce's order? Why hadn't he told me? He used to discuss every major decision with me first.

"It shouldn't be..." Confusion clouded my mind. Pierce was not a clueless businessman; he maintained a clear distinction between work and personal matters, which was why he always succeeded. And that was also why he chose to keep our marriage a secret.

"Yes, Kelly. I gave the order." The voice pulled me back.

"M-Mr. President..." Hayley bowed in respect as the man suddenly appeared behind me.

"I think you owe me an explanation, Pierce. About changing the model!" I snapped as I turned to face him.

He knew how much effort I had put into securing this project. I hadn't slept well for days, and Miss Chen was the perfect fit for us. He had agreed too. But now... he just changed the model as he liked without informing me in advance. It felt like a hard slap in the face.

"Go ahead with the work. I'll explain it to her." He pacified the staff first, ignoring the anger simmering in my eyes.

"Answer me, Pierce! Why did you change the model so suddenly?" I couldn't contain my fury. He touched my shoulder and whispered, "This isn't the place to talk. Let me explain in the car."

I glanced around, noticing others sneaking glances at us. I shook off his hand and walked toward the parking lot, my heart growing heavier with each step. I had a sinking feeling I wouldn't like his explanation.

"Now, say it," I blurted once we were seated in his car.

He stared into my eyes as if weighing my emotions. I looked away again.; I couldn't bear his gaze. I couldn't withstand his eyes that never looked at me the way I wanted him to. He had no feelings for me and it hurt so much.

"I-I..." he paused, sighing. "I replaced Miss Chen because Lexi wants to be our model. She's also a good fit, so I agreed-"

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

He pressed his lips together and looked away, ruffling his hair in frustration before shaking his head and holding my hand.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It was just so sudden. She asked for a favor, and I couldn't say no."

I pulled my hand away, looking at him with a mix of pain and anger. "You can't say no to her, so you'd rather harm the company-our company. You've betrayed me, Pierce."

"Kels, come on. You know how much I love her. She's my first love."

Painfully, I closed my eyes. Oh yes, she was your first love. She's always the one you want, no matter the cost. As long as she frowns a bit, you turn a blind eye to the pain and effort of others. You're so heartless, Pierce.

"Well, you've made your decision. I don't have a say in this since you're the President. Just go. I'll be in the office." I said coldly, opening the car door to leave.

"Kelly..."

I looked him in the eyes. "Go home early. Let's talk about our divorce at home tonight."