Hayley Brooks, now ex-wife to Scott Brooks and also the mother of his son, travels to a different city, Georgia, after a painful heartbreak which led to their divorce. In Georgia, she's helped by a stranger turned friend, Brynn Shane, who happens to be a bartender with feelings for her and because of that, he helped her to acquire a job as a secretary in Willow Industries. Settling in Georgia, she was determined to rebuild her life and also to give her son, Ethan, who was only three, the best she could afford in life even without the presence of his father. But, she also struggled to let go of the past.
Chapter 1 Happiness and hurt
Hayley's PO
THREE YEARS AGO - NEW YORK
"Congratulations Mrs Brooks, you're two weeks pregnant." the doctor said as he extended a hand to me with the test results in his grip.
My heart seemed to plummet into my stomach as I held a hand over my mouth to cover my smile. With my hand over my mouth, I didn't even realize when I broke off an unbelievable sigh as I glanced at his arm extending towards me.
I could literally feel my insides vibrate however I couldn't say for sure if the news of my pregnancy was the cause or perhaps, I just loved being called Mrs Brooks. Either way, I knew my husband, Scott was going to have to put some more respect on my name the moment I break the news to him.
I lifted a trembling hand and received the results from the doctor and then turned the one-page report upright to get a better read at it. As I took time to digest every single word, I caught myself smiling as I confirmed for myself that I was really pregnant.
I took a deep, calming breath as I noticed that tears were begining to form in my eyes. I had had to wait for three years just to get this news. At some point, I was beginning to doubt and see myself as the problem. Not only that, but also, I was tempted to ask Scott to try the option of a surrogate mother because his actions towards me were begining to say so.
One of the benefits that came with getting married to Scott was the respect and recognition I got from far and wide and I wouldn't say I didn't like any of that but when the issue of having a child arises, my marriage turns out to be a shadow of itself.
However, with this news and the result in my grip as an evidence, I bet Scott would make no mistake in treating me like a queen that I am. I smiled at the thought of it.
It was time to leave, I righted myself from my seat and adjusted my skirt into place.
"Thank you so much doctor. I'll be on my way now." I said and exited his office.
As I ambled in the hallway, I unzipped my satchel bag and took out my phone to share the news with Scott but after giving it a second thought, I figured it would only ruin the surprise. So I returned my phone into my bag and continued towards the exit door of the hospital.
With anyone I came across, I exchanged knowing looks with a smile on my face be it a child or an adult. I did so until I finally stepped out of the hospital and walked down to where my car was parked.
Before settling in, I glanced at the doctor's report again as a smile pushed my lips to the side then I opened the door and settled. I inserted the key into the ignition and with a soft click, the engine came alive with a purr.
What should initially take me half an hour to arrive home took me just fifteen minutes as I couldn't wait to share the news with my husband and most importantly, see the reaction on his face.
As I arrived home, I turned the doorknob open and stepped in. He had confirmed to me in the early hours of the day that he would be at home today but when I stepped in, the deafening silence made my skin crawl with sparks of dread. Nonetheless, I walked in and reclined on the sofa.
"Sweetheart, I'm home." I said, announcing my arrival. "I have got good news for the both of us, one you would definitely want to hear about."
I added, taking off my heel shoes and then I unzipped my back, took out my phone and dropped it on the center table.
Still, there was no response from him.
"Babe?" I called again, trying to make certain he heard me just in case he didn't the first time I called.
Even at that, there was still no response from him. Perhaps, he was fast asleep or buried in his work or so I thought.
That could wait, I ambled towards the fridge, took a mug from the top of it with one hand and used the other to open and get a bottle of chilled water which I poured into the mug and drank to my fill.
Now back to issue of Scott not responding to any of my calls, as I dropped the mug on the top of the fridge and turned to leave, I heard some sounds from a distance.
I paused to listen intently and then I figured it was coming from the top floor. Although, I couldn't really pick any of what was being said but it didn't see like a conversation between two people neither did it sound like something from a TV.
So what was it exactly?
Curious to know, I followed the sound, climbing up the stairs. As I edged closer to the source, I called out.
"Honey, is that you?" I asked, darting my eyes all over the place.
Still there was no response, However I realized that the more I edged closer, the sound became clearer. Standing outside his room, I needed no one to tell that the sound I was hearing were the moans of a woman.
I paused and even though I knew what was going on in there, I shook my head in disbelief as if to clear the thoughts away from my head.
Already, I could feel my heart pounding so fast against my ribcages. On the one hand, I wanted to leave but then my curiosity got the better of me so I remained there. I took a deep, steadying breath as I gripped the doorknob and then turned it open.
Registering the shock of what was going on, I widened my eyes.
"Scott?" I called, jerking my head back with a crinkled face.
At the sound of my voice, the woman who laid beneath him turned to me and as we locked gazes my mouth fell open.
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