The Most Beautiful Gift From A Betrayal

"Mrs. Ricardo, congratulations. You are ten weeks pregnant. The condition of the fetus is very healthy and good."

Carissa could not help but smile as she recalled the obstetrician's words three days ago. Her gaze fell on a small photograph on her nightstand, and she reached out to gaze at it fondly while rubbing it.

The little angel she had been waiting to see for two years was growing inside her womb. Carissa's hand consciously moved to her stomach, touching it gently as if she could touch her child directly.

She couldn't imagine how Alex would react to this news. Would he immediately laugh and hug her? Or would he be silent with his silly face in disbelief?

Carissa unconsciously chuckled softly at the thought of that happening. This would be the most special gift on their 2nd wedding anniversary. In fact, she really did not expect that this good thing would come at a time like this. Even when checking on it, she did it secretly because she didn't want Alex to be disappointed for the umpteenth time. However, fate seemed to be happy with their anniversary.

Then, she put the photo into the box she had prepared, joined together with the test pack, and tied it with a red ribbon, her husband's favorite color.

Right then, a notification sounded for an incoming message, making her immediately grab her cell phone beside her and open it. It was from Alex.

My world.

Crown restaurant, VIP room number 2, 7 pm.

I can't pick you up, so we'll meet there. See you and be careful on the road.

Carissa's smile spread beautifully with a blush on her face. Fingers moved nimbly to reply to the message from Alex.

Alex always managed to make her heart pound. He never forgot this important day even though they rarely engaged in romantic talks.

Quickly, Carissa headed to the bathroom to get ready. It was still 5 pm, but she wanted to prepare everything well. She wanted to look stunning in front of her husband.

**

Carissa looked at her reflection in the full-body mirror for the last time. She twisted her slender body, revealing her perfect curves wrapped in a black dress, making her white skin shine even more. Then she adjusted her long brown hair, lightly patted with small pearls, ensuring everything was right. Moreover, her soft makeup was applied with care.

She suddenly felt nervous and couldn't help the wave of excitement that washed over her.

The journey to the restaurant took 20 minutes. When she set foot in the building, a waitress greeted her and led her to the room.

Upon entering the room, the atmosphere is warm and romantic. At the bottom, flowers surrounded the room, accompanied by dazzling gold-colored tumblr lights. Carissa was amazed. And when she looked away, Alex was sitting at a round table in the center of the room. Small candles surrounded the place, as well as cascading candles on the table that moved gently.

The sight, coupled with the figure of a handsome man in his black suit, further added to the beauty created. His sharp eyes looked straight at her, making her heart pound even more. For the umpteenth time, she felt mesmerized by Alex's good looks. He was indeed the perfect man.

Carissa started walking towards him with a big smile. Alex stood up and pulled out her chair, but she felt something was different. On his handsome face, there was not the slightest hint of a smile.

"Alex," Carissa called out unconsciously.

"Yes?" Alex raised his gaze and looked at Carissa, still with his flat face.

"Is there a problem?" Carissa asked directly.

Hearing that, Alex averted his eyes. "Nothing. We'd better get on with the food."

Carissa pursed her lips when she heard Alex's cold voice. She felt there was something he was hiding. But was it about her? Had she made a mistake that she was unaware of? However, if she did make a mistake, wouldn't Alex have invited her here?

Ah, it was probably just her feelings. Alex was acting like this because he wanted to surprise her.

Carissa's smile instantly grew again at the thought of this. Her gaze also sparkled with admiration as she looked at the man in front of her. "Happy second anniversary, my dear," she said excitedly.

A few seconds passed, and Carissa was still waiting for a response from her husband. Unfortunately, Alex turned his gaze in all directions restlessly, making her smile slowly fade. Then Alex took a deep breath and looked at Carissa strangely.

Instantly, Carissa's premonition became bad. "What's wrong?"

"Carissa." Alex finally made a sound.

Carissa just stared at him and waited for the rest.

However, instead of continuing his words, Alex took something from inside his jacket and placed it on the table, then pushed it towards Carissa, who was still silently staring at his every move.

"What is this?" Carissa asked quietly.

"Open it!" Alex commanded indisputably, making Carissa unconsciously swallow nervously.

Even so, hesitantly, she still reached for the envelope and opened it slowly. However, her movement about to take out the paper inside suddenly stopped when she read the title. She was shocked and looked at Alex with an uncomprehending gaze. "What is this?"

At that moment, there was a sudden sound of the door opening, followed by the loud tapping of heels. Carissa spontaneously turned around and found a sexy girl in a tight dress walking gracefully towards them.

"Carissa, we have been married for two years, and I have always treated you well. But, unfortunately, there is no love growing in my heart. No matter how hard I try, it never happens. Instead of feeling thrilling happiness, I feel depressed. I didn't want to feel any deeper hurt. So, I made the best decision for both of us," Alex said suddenly.

Afterward, the man stepped up to greet the girl who had just arrived and embraced her slender waist intimately. Carissa was even more shocked to see it. She stared in disbelief at the two people in front of her.

"You must still remember her, right? She is Jillian, my college sweetheart. Now I'm back with her, the girl I love the most. Whether it was then, now, or in the future," Alex continued as he looked at Jillian and kissed her lips lovingly.

Carissa was stunned at the scene that unfolded in front of her. Her husband was kissing another woman in front of her, and it was his ex-lover. Instantly, her eyes felt hot, her neck felt suffocated with a chest that began to feel tight from the pain that suddenly hit her. This was too painful and confusing at the same time.

"Alex, you're not joking, right?"

Alex pulled his face away from Jillian and looked at Carissa lazily. "Instead of asking something where the answer is obvious, you'd better sign it right away so that the process can be expedited."

"The sooner the better. Because then, Jillian and I won't have to hold back in expressing our love anymore," Alex smiled mockingly.

Carissa's tears were getting unstoppable, but she held them back with all her might. She didn't want to look weak and pathetic in front of the two people throwing mocking glances at her.

Even though her heart was so excited that her breathing started to get labored due to emotion and heartache, she still tried to control herself to stay calm. She couldn't get out of control and make a spectacle of herself. At least, those two bastards who were looking at each other meaningfully would never know how broken her heart was right now.

"If that's what you want, I'll sign this letter," Carissa said.

Jillian, leaning on Alex's broad chest, looked at her condescendingly and chuckled softly. "You shouldn't be stupid for love. Open your eyes wide and look at Alex! He didn't love you at all from the beginning, Carissa. You've been deceived by your feelings, even though you were stabbed many times, you still didn't realize it."

"Look at it now. Why are you still sitting there, silly? This romantic scene is not for you. Go away, your presence only spoils its beauty," Jillian continued.

"Isn't that right, darling?" Then Jillian looked at Alex with an indulgent whine.

Alex nodded steadily, laughing with her at Carissa's suffering and humiliation.

"Okay." Carissa smiled, hiding her wound.

Then she got up. Feelings of anger and betrayal came over her inexorably. How could Alex do this to her after all they had been through together? Her heart broke into pieces as she realized that their marriage was truly over.

Carissa took a deep breath to regain her composure, straightened her back, and looked at Alex with determination. The look of love in her eyes was now gone, replaced with a palpable determination.

Alex's grin spread for a moment, and before Carissa could speak, he spoke indifferently. "Good, you'd better pack your things and return to your broken family home. It won't be long before I marry Jillian and move in. You can't possibly stay there and become a pathetic statue, right?"

"Of course, I'll go... goodbye," Carissa said tremblingly.

"Oh yeah, my lawyer will see you tomorrow to talk about the compensation details," Alex said casually, as if what was discussed could not hurt.

Carissa nodded. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to control her emotions. She couldn't bear to stay in the same room any longer, to witness more of their sickening display of affection, and to be further stricken with pain. It was disgusting. Turning around, she walked towards the door, determined to put this painful thing in her life behind her.

As she stepped outside, the cold night air hitting her skin, Carissa felt a range of emotions raging inside her. Anger, sadness, and a glimmer of hope to start a new life without Alex by her side. She knew the road ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it. With newfound determination, Carissa set out into the darkness, leaving behind the remnants of her broken marriage and the man who had broken her heart.

**

The next day, in a very spacious room with an elegant style dominated by white, Carissa packed her belongings into a large suitcase. Everything was hers, nothing was left behind. However, in between her activities, she accidentally looked at the large figurine hanging beautifully on the wall, making her stop her movements and stand still, staring at it.

It was her wedding photo with Alex.

There, they were smiling widely, looking so happy with love surrounding them. No one would have thought the beautiful marriage would end up dark and broken into pieces.

Carissa herself still didn't expect that her dream wedding with the man she had loved since she was in high school would give her such a deep wound.

Alex had changed... no, maybe it was more like he was very good at playing roles. Carissa smiled sadly with tears in her eyes.

"I thought that fool had left after the divorce. Turns out she's still here." A voice full of sarcasm suddenly sounded, making Carissa immediately turn her face away and wipe her tears.

Emily Ricardo, Alex's younger sister, walked into the room with her arms crossed. Her gaze wandered, and upon seeing Carissa's suitcase, a small chuckle escaped her. "Ah, it's getting ready. But why didn't you finish it immediately and stare at that ugly picture instead?"

Carissa turned around and resumed her packing without bothering Emily's question.

"I know this is hard for you. It must be very hard for you to leave this luxurious house. But what can I do? My brother doesn't love you, and he's not happy in this marriage. You can't be selfish and force him to keep this useless you, right?" But Emily seemed to have a personal grudge and continued to speak dispassionately.

Carissa's movement that was about to close her suitcase stopped momentarily. Her teeth gritted, but a moment later, she took a slow breath and returned to her normal demeanor.

"There is nothing wrong with love, but you are too ignorant," Emily said again while looking at Carissa with a condescending gaze. This time, Carissa's movements completely stopped. "You are beautiful, Carissa, but that alone is not enough. There are so many flaws in you, oh no... maybe even your family too."

Carissa turned around with a raised hand, about to slap Emily's annoying face. But it only froze mid-air as she suddenly remembered how much Alex loved his sister.

"Why stop? Just keep going! You can slap me all you want, but I can't guarantee what my brother will do to you. Your broken and scattered family may disappear from this world." Emily was getting more defiant with her annoying smile. "Ah, it's unlucky to be your family. But they deserve it for being such annoying trash."

Plak!

In an instant, Emily's arrogant face was turned to the side with widened eyes and mouth open in disbelief.

"You can insult me all you want, but not my family!" Carissa's voice became cold and sharp, carrying a kind of pressure that had never been there.

Emily held her cheeks and stared at Carissa angrily. "You slapped me? How dare you!"

"Why? You insulted my family, of course, I have to teach you a lesson so that your foul mouth doesn't get used to throwing words around carelessly," Carissa retorted with an icy face.

"What? You!" Emily burned with anger until her face turned bright red. And afterward, she also slapped Carissa with great force. "You're just a dumped snotty woman, you have no right to call me that!"

The throbbing in Carissa's heart hurt far more than her face as she heard the word 'dumped' spoken with emphasis.

"Carissa, you are no longer a part of this family. Don't think there will be anyone to defend you. Everyone in this house doesn't like you. You might not believe it because they were so nice to you before. Do you know why? Because you have no value anymore. Your family is ruined and can't provide any benefits anymore. Then you... you're nothing more than a sickening whore!"

Like being struck by lightning, Carissa's body froze. Her heart seemed to stop beating, and her face turned pale. She slowly turned her head, looking at Emily, smiling wryly with satisfaction. "You... what did you say?"

Emily chuckled with her chin raised haughtily. Her gaze at Carissa was like that of a master to a disgusting, lowly slave. "Do you think my brother married you out of love? Hah, how naive! Carissa, I suggest you beat your head against the wall to fly away from your dreams. This marriage happened because my brother needed the support of your father's company. But now we don't need it anymore. Your family has been destroyed and will never rise again. Meanwhile, my brother's company has grown very fast.

So, it's better to get rid of you early than for us to be dragged into your family's pit of misfortune later."

"Ah, never mind. What am I telling you all this for? Carissa, hurry up and leave because soon my brother will come with Jillian. You won't be able to bear seeing them being so intimate." After flashing her satisfied smile, Emily turned around and walked away with a swaying body.

As for Carissa, she slowly sat down on the floor with tears welling up like a broken dam.

So, everything Alex had done all this time was just an act?

He treated her well because she still needed the help of her father's company. Carissa's tears broke out even more, and she beat her chest, which felt full. How stupid she had been!

After a moment, she fell silent. No, she was not stupid, but they were cruel. From now on, she would no longer allow them to treat her the same. After all, she was already divorced.

With renewed vigor and hope, Carissa wiped away her tears and stood up, grabbed her suitcase, and pulled it out, leaving behind a room full of false memories.

Carissa vowed she would never look back again. Everything that happened in the past slowly flew away with the wind as she left the mansion that was a silent witness to her folly. However, a grudge is still a grudge.

**

Five years later.

At the airport, a woman in her formal attire was seen walking hurriedly towards the exit. Her curly hair flew up with each step she took. Her face looked flat, but the look in her eyes showed anxiety.

Just as her foot stepped into the outer courtyard of the airport, a large hand grabbed her smooth wrist. "Carissa!"

Carissa turned her head while pulling her hand from the man's grasp in a subtle way.

The tall man with a firm jaw realized his action and sighed softly. But even so, he still said firmly. "Let me drop you off."

"Thank you for your kindness. But I'll just get a taxi," Carissa replied politely but no less firmly. Then she turned her gaze to the street in front of her, hoping that something she desperately needed would appear soon.

"Instead of waiting, it's better to be with me. Your child is sick. You don't want to make her wait any longer, right? Come on, Carissa!" Geffrey Edmund Harrison, the only son of Charles Harrison, the CEO of his family's third largest company, looked impatient and grabbed Carissa's wrist again, about to pull her towards the nearby car.

Carissa's face instantly turned dark. This time, she jerked it roughly, not caring even if the man in front of her was her boss. "Please stop grabbing my hand without my permission!"

Geffrey was still with his stony face. But anyone could see that the look in his eyes was different. There was a touch of tenderness there.

"Carissa, we've wasted too much time. Your child is waiting for you," he said as he walked over to his car and opened the passenger side door next to the steering wheel. "Come on!"

Carissa was still frozen in place, with her face turned away. Geffrey patiently waited. And finally, Carissa exhaled a rough breath and stepped closer.

"Come in!" Geffrey opened his voice when he saw Carissa stop her steps right in front of the wide-open car door.

"If it weren't urgent, I wouldn't have accepted your offer," Carissa said, looking at Geffrey flatly.

Surprisingly, instead of feeling offended, Geffrey nodded slowly. "I know."

Carissa finally moved in, and Geffrey swiftly touched her head, avoiding any collision.

After ensuring Carissa was seated safely, Geffrey ran around the car and started running it at a moderate speed.

Their journey was filled with silence. Carissa turned her face to the side while Geffrey focused ahead with occasional glances at Carissa.

"Carissa," Geffrey called finally.

But Carissa did not respond. She remained still in her position as if no one had called her.

Seeing that, Geffrey sighed. His stony face softened, turning into an inexplicable helplessness. "Until when are you going to be like this? Is two years not enough time to open your heart to me?"

Unfortunately, that question was like a breeze to Carissa.

"Carissa, speak up!" Geffrey became frustrated himself. He wanted to grab Carissa's face to look at him, to show her how sincere these feelings were. But he was afraid that his actions would only further increase the distance between them. "Tell me, what should I do? I'm ready to do whatever it takes for you to accept me."

Carissa suddenly turned her head, but she said in an untouchable tone. "Focus on driving and speed up."

**

When she arrived at the house she had been living in for the past three days, Carissa hurriedly ran inside and was immediately greeted by a little girl sitting on the living room sofa with her face bent sadly while hugging her stuffed toy.

"Sweetheart." Carissa approached and embraced her affectionately. Then she cupped her little face and kissed her warm forehead. "Mommy's home. How are you doing?"

"Mommy," Vienna whined. Her big eyes filled with tears.

"Yes, it's mommy, baby. Tell mommy what Vienna wants?" Carissa asked in her soft, calm voice. It was very different from when she spoke to Geffrey.

At that moment, the sound of tapping shoes was heard approaching. Vienna turned her head, and instantly, her watery eyes sparkled brightly. She smiled widely, looked up at her mother, and cooed. "Mommy, yesterday Vienna saw Dahlia's birthday video. It was very festive. There was Mommy, Daddy, and friends. Vienna wants to be like that. Isn't today Vienna's birthday? Incidentally, Uncle Geffrey is here. What if we do it too, Mom?" Vienna then looked up, looking at Carissa expectantly.

Like being stabbed by a knife, Vienna's every word made Carissa choke with all her pain. She was silent for a long time, making Vienna shake her arm impatiently. "Mommy, Vienna wants to be celebrated by many people. Vienna wants a festive atmosphere. Is that okay?"

Carissa looked at Vienna with reddened eyes. She wanted so badly to make it happen, but... then her gaze fell on the big wall clock in front of her. "It's late afternoon, sweetheart. We can't do it," she said, looking back at Vienna with a coaxing smile.

But the little girl shook her head hard. Her tiny lips began to curve downward with tears ready to spill.

"Vienna, good girl, listen to mommy, okay? Her birthday is postponed first. The day after tomorrow, Mommy will celebrate it festively. It takes time to prepare everything, dear." Carissa continued to say coaxing sentences while gently rubbing the little one's head.

Seeing that, Geffrey could not stand it and spoke up. "Why don't we go for a walk? Vienna can buy anything and play as much as she wants."

"Geffrey!" snapped Carissa, turning her head sharply.

However, Vienna's cheerful voice chimed in. "Vienna wants to! Come on, Mom, let's go to the mall with Uncle Geffrey!"