"The only crime I ever committed wasn't murder, Robert. It was simply loving you. I don't think anyone has ever loved you the way I did. I loved you to the point I was willing to sacrifice myself for your happiness. But not anymore. I'm over all that shit now. Sooner or later, you'll regret what you've done, and you'll realize what a huge mistake you made. And by then, it might just be too late." Lily thought she could endure anything for love, even a loveless marriage. Bound by a contract to her cold and distant husband, Robert, she sacrificed her dreams for his success. But when she accidentally becomes pregnant-a violation of their marriage terms-her world unravels. Betrayed by Robert who chose his newly returned ex lover over her and accused of a crime she didn't commit, Lily is sentenced to years in prison after narrowly escaping a death penalty, losing everything, even her freedom. After escaping her past, she works hard to rebuild her life, raising her children and creating a future far from Robert's shadow. But just when she's found happiness, Robert reappears, desperate for a second chance. Now, Lily must choose between forgiving the man who destroyed her or protecting the new life she's fought so hard to create. Will love triumph again, or will her scars run too deep to heal?
***The chapters of the book are written from the Lily's point of view except stated otherwise***
CHAPTER 1
"Congratulations Mrs. Wilson," the nurse said with a soft smile. "The test came out positive, you're a month pregnant."
I felt a cold wave of shock wash over me as though someone poured a bucketful of ice water on me. My heart jolted painfully in my chest and my lips parted involuntarily as the memories that led to this unexpected event came rushing back at me like a violent wind.
Robert, my childhood crush and husband who I was in a contract marriage returned that night drunk and overjoyed, the reason being the advertising company landed a huge advertising deal with one of the biggest luxury establishments in the city.
I knew he was drunk. I knew he wasn't in control of his actions. I shouldn't have let that night happen. But I have loved him dearly for a very long time and was unable to resist him. I was willing to do anything for his satisfaction and happiness.
For a long time, I have craved to have such intimate moments with him. Since we got married two and half years ago, that was the most intimate he's been with me, so I lost myself in that thought. Lost myself in the heat of the passionate moment, both of us forgetting to use protection.
"Here," the nurse said, handing me the test reports.
I swallowed a lump that formed at the back of my throat, my hands trembling as I reluctantly collected it, still struggling to believe it to be true.
"Are....are you sure this is correct?" I tried to confirm as I said to the nurse awkwardly, unable to keep myself from stuttering. "Perhaps there was a mistake somewhere....maybe the test wasn't properly conducted?..."
A single night of mistaken passion couldn't have led to something as life-changing as pregnancy. It was just a quick one-time something. Perhaps this was another woman's pregnancy report mistaken as mine. But my name, Lily Wilson boldly inscribed on it as I took a quick peep at it betrayed that little hope.
"Yes," the nurse said, nodding firmly. "The pregnancy test was properly conducted. Every health worker here is a professional. We do not joke with something as serious as this."
On hearing that, the remaining pieces of my heart dropped in my stomach. The day started as any other, but now everything has changed. This pregnancy will change everything.
"Good luck on your pregnancy Mrs. Wilson," the nurse said, holding my shoulder and giving me a small smile. "You are in a delicate state now. Don't overwork yourself and make sure to be coming regularly for your prenatal checkups."
She said before leaving me to roast in the flame of misery and despair she ignited.
Jane, my best friend since childhood who had come with me to the hospital for the checkup burst into the room and took the reports from me.
Going through the contents, she gasped as she looked at me, her eyes widening and sparkling with excitement. "Oh my God, Lily! This is wonderful news! A baby! It's just what you and Robert need. A new beginning! I'm so happy for you!!"
Jane's smiles reached her ears. Her joy was infectious but I couldn't bring myself to share in it.
I managed a smile, stiff and unnatural. My mind was elsewhere, grappling with the harsh reality of this situation. My marriage to Robert wasn't built on love; it was a contract, a cold, formal agreement with clear and strict terms. One of which explicitly forbids children.
As Jane continued to gush about baby names and nursery decorations as we stepped out into the hallway of the hospital, my mind drifted to the harsh cold words of the contract the day I signed it "NO BABIES NO MATTER WHAT."
Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes but I quickly blinked them away, forcing myself to keep smiling as I maintained a happy demeanour. This wouldn't have happened if Robert hadn't returned home drunk that night. Now I'll have to pay the price for it.
I couldn't let Jane see me in such a miserable state. She'll raise a brow and feel bad because she was caring and always shared in my emotions. She didn't know my marriage to Robert was based on a contract. I never told her. And I didn't plan to anytime soon.
She kept assuring me that this pregnancy would bring an end to my unhappy marriage and make Robert finally love me as I deserve. Little did she know this pregnancy would produce the opposite effect. Little did she know it would be the bane of my existence.
I was breaching the contract agreement with this pregnancy and if Robert finds out, I will have to suffer severely for it. I must not tell him. He must not find out. I will keep it from him for as long as I can no matter what I have to do.
Halfway through the hallway, we unexpectedly ran into Robert. I was shocked to see him with another woman who was in a hospital gown as if also going for a medical check-up.
Chapter 1 Accidentally Pregnant
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Chapter 2 His First Love
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Chapter 3 The Call
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Chapter 4 The Dinner
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Chapter 5 You're still mine
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Chapter 6 The shocking Revelation
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Chapter 7 The Sabotage
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Chapter 8 Facing the consequences
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Chapter 9 The Confrontation
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Chapter 10 Exiled
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Chapter 11 A Chance Encounter
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Chapter 12 He Found Out
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Chapter 13 The Ultimatum
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Chapter 14 Desperate Choice
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Chapter 15 The Decision
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Chapter 16 Arrested
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Chapter 17 The Set-up
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Chapter 18 Shocking Revelation
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Chapter 19 The Weight Of The Loss
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Chapter 20 Torn Apart
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Chapter 21 Signing the papers
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Chapter 22 Unseen
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Chapter 23 Free and Reunited
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Chapter 24 Tears and Laughter
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Chapter 25 Leaving for good
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Chapter 26 New Dawn
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Chapter 27 Celebration and Controversy
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Chapter 28 Matters Arising
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Chapter 29 I can't...
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Chapter 30 The Reason
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Chapter 31 Threat from a new enemy
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Chapter 32 Truth Exposed
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Chapter 33 Deception
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Chapter 34 The man who came for his wife and kid
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Chapter 35 No turning back
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Chapter 36 Sending her away
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Chapter 37 Difficult to let go
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Chapter 38 Last Resort
12/11/2024
Chapter 39 We want our daddy!
26/11/2024
Chapter 40 A Difficult Question
26/11/2024
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