Chapter 2
Elena's POV
I woke to an empty bed. Alex's side was ice cold, only a shallow dent in the pillow where his head had been.
I pulled the covers over my head and breathed in the lingering scent of his cologne mixed with something else—Sophia's jasmine perfume.
He hadn't even bothered to shower before coming to bed.
Soon none of this would matter anymore.
Rolling over, I spotted an elegant navy velvet box on the nightstand. Inside lay a platinum necklace with a sapphire pendant the size of a robin's egg.
An anniversary gift.
Three weeks late.
Three weeks ago, I still had hope.
Alex had promised to come home for our anniversary—our first chance to be alone since Sophia returned. I'd put on a deep red silk dress, lit rose-scented candles, and set out champagne and lobster in the dining room.
Six o'clock. Seven. Eight.
The candles burned down halfway, the lobster went cold.
I fell asleep on the couch wrapped in a cashmere throw, waking at dawn to an empty house.
My phone showed Sophia's latest post.
The photo showed her and Alex on an Alpine ski slope, all pristine white mountains behind them. She wore a pink ski outfit, nestled against Alex's chest, cheeks flushed from the cold wind, grinning like a carefree teenager.
Alex gazed down at her with such tenderness it felt like a knife in my chest.
The caption read: "Finally learned to ski! Thanks to the best instructor ever. Some memories are worth treasuring forever."
I closed my phone and stared at myself in the mirror—still wearing that carefully chosen dress, looking like a fool.
That's when it hit me: I could never compete with Sophia. Because the man I loved had no room for me in his heart.
I snapped the jewelry box shut and shoved the necklace into the back of my drawer.
The woman in the mirror stared back with red-rimmed eyes. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.
Remember? You already signed the divorce papers. In a month, this will all be over.
Over the next few days, I quietly started moving my personal belongings.
Alex didn't notice. He was too busy taking Sophia to fancy restaurants and Broadway shows—all the things he'd never done for me.
That morning at my Sterling Tower office, I was organizing board documents when the room started spinning.
"Elena!"
When I opened my eyes, I was lying in an ER under harsh fluorescent lights.
"Elena? You're awake?" A familiar voice.
I turned to see Sarah, Sterling Group's HR director—the only colleague who knew the truth about my marriage.
"Sarah? How did I get here..."
"You collapsed in your office. Jessica and I brought you in." Sarah looked at the report in her hands, her expression troubled. "Elena, I need to tell you something."
"What?" I asked weakly.
"You're pregnant. About three months."
No. This couldn't be happening.
I'd been so careful. How did this happen?
Sarah's voice faded as a memory flashed through my mind—that night months ago when Alex came home drunk, stumbling into our bedroom with empty, cold eyes. He'd torn at my nightgown roughly, his movements filled with anger and desperation, like he was punishing someone.
Afterward, he rolled over and went to sleep, leaving me curled up crying on my side of the bed.
Later I found out—Sophia was coming home.
So that night, I was just his outlet. And now that mistake was growing inside me.
"Elena? You okay?" Sarah asked.
"Sarah," my voice cracked, "that resignation letter I submitted last week... can you rush it through?"
Sarah hesitated. "But you're pregnant now, and Mr. Sterling doesn't know you're leaving—"
"He won't care." I smiled bitterly. "This marriage was a mistake from the start."
Sarah was quiet, then sighed. "Elena, I've watched what you've been going through since Sophia came back. But this baby is innocent..."
"That's exactly why I'm taking him away."
"Have you thought about this?" Sarah squeezed my hand. "Whatever's between you and Mr. Sterling, this child deserves to know his father. I raised three kids alone—I know what growing up without a dad means."
"Do you really want to put him through that?"
Sarah's words kept me awake all night. As a single mother herself, her advice made me reconsider.
Maybe I should give Alex a chance. Let him know about this baby.
The next day, I walked toward Alex's office clutching the medical report. I'd decided to tell him everything—about the pregnancy, about leaving, and let him choose.
But when I reached his office door, the conversation inside destroyed my courage...
The door was slightly open. I could see Alex standing by his desk while Sophia sat on the couch.
"Alex, I'm so scared," Sophia's tearful voice carried through the gap. "This baby came so suddenly... I don't know if I should keep—"
"Shh, don't worry," Alex moved to kneel beside her, gently wiping tears from her cheeks. "I'll take care of you and the baby. The best doctors, the best hospital, whatever you need."
Everything went quiet.
Sophia was pregnant too. With Alex's baby.
The medical report slipped from my hands, papers scattering across the floor.
"Who's there!"
I scrambled to collect the documents, but it was too late.
"Elena?" Alex yanked the door open, his face instantly complicated. "What are you doing here?"
"I... delivering files," I said shakily, standing up. "Feeling a bit sick..."
Alex's gaze fell on the papers scattered at my feet, his brow furrowing. One sheet clearly showed the hospital letterhead.
"What's this?" He bent to look.
"Just work stuff," I quickly stuffed the remaining papers into my folder and turned to leave. "You can look at them later. I won't bother you."
"Elena, wait—it's not what you think—" Alex seemed to sense something, starting after me.
"Alex!" Sophia quickly grabbed his arm. "You promised me..."
I ran, and Alex didn't follow.
Sarah was right—Alex did deserve to know about this baby. But now I understood that even if he knew, nothing would change. His heart was already full with Sophia and her child.
There was no room for us.
