The rain cascaded down, soaking her frail body, while her once pristine white dress clung to her skin. Disoriented, she found herself in a place unknown, oblivious to the path that led her from her apartment to this desolate street.
Starkov's gaze was fixated on the towering screens of a nearby skyscraper. In an unimaginable betrayal, her fiancé walked hand in hand with her closest friend, a scion of a prestigious family. How could such treachery unfold within a span of just two hours?
Her cellphone rang incessantly, displaying Bella Yang's name. Startled and detached from the world, she couldn't bring herself to answer the call. Passersby glanced at her, a disheveled woman consumed by despair, perhaps assuming she had lost her sanity. Yet, none stopped to offer her solace, not even an umbrella.
With closed eyes, she struggled to let her tears flow. Numbness permeated her legs, while her mind was enveloped in a void. The memories of the past month haunted her, leaving her heart adrift without any remedy.
In the bygone morning at the hotel, Joe Cavy's lips met hers before he left the bed. Blushing, she pulled the blanket over her face, overwhelmed by the happiness of their impending marriage next month.
"Darling, rest a bit more and then go home with Anastasia. I'll be back tonight. Don't eat without me," he said, slipping on his shirt from the nearby chair. She blushed further, cherishing the moment. Their first intimate encounter affirmed his love, even in the face of his family's disapproval. Her lack of a prestigious background made her an unwelcome match in their eyes.
As he dressed, he returned to her side, his words filled with affection. "I love how you blush. Call me if you need anything, my love."
She nodded, disbelieving the turn of events. After countless obstacles and unforeseen circumstances, they had finally shared a night together, a year into their engagement. While it might be considered unconventional, she held no regrets, guided by her profound emotions for Cavy.
Leaving the room, she rose from the bed, hastily donning her white nightgown. The lingering warmth on her cheeks reminded her of their passionate encounter. Throughout the day, as she went about her usual routine of work and university, her mind remained in a daze, her vision blurred. What had transpired between them? The previous night's party had blurred the boundaries, leaving her unable to regain her composure.
Nightfall arrived, but he didn't return. She called him repeatedly, yet he remained unresponsive. If she didn't know him better, she would have thought he had abandoned her. However, he was a diligent man, the CEO of SSI Entertainment Company, never known to leave any task unfinished.
Days turned into a month of agonizing silence, until she received an unexpected call from his manager. He promised to meet her that night. As soon as the call ended, her stomach churned, and she rushed to the bathroom, retching uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face as the truth overwhelmed her. She missed him terribly.
Opening her eyes, she tightly clenched the pregnancy test in her fist. Joe Cavy's recent actions revealed his cruelty only two hours ago. Expressionless, he looked into her eyes and uttered those heart-wrenching words, "We must end this."
A dark void consumed her, shattering something deep within her heart. Her mind turned numb. How could he return after a month and abruptly end their relationship? The marriage registration was scheduled for the following morning. Couldn't he have told her earlier? What was the exact reason?
"What?" she stammered, her trembling hands reaching for his sleeve, only to be brushed aside by his palm.
She was about to reveal her positive pregnancy test, evidence of the life they had created together. They had planned to build a life away from the interference of others, hidden in their secret engagement. But now, the world would perceive her as a woman who had dallied with a stranger, carrying his child. Only Bella knew the truth, and she too was left in the dark, perpetually anxious.
"You can have this apartment as a gift from me."
He released her hand, turning his back on her. The man who professed unconditional love, despite her orphaned status and lack of familial support, had changed.
And just two hours later, she witnessed his image alongside Anastasia Chen, her beautiful best friend from a wealthy family. Anastasia had vanished a month ago, after attending the party hosted by Starkov's family at the same hotel.
"Joe Cavy and Anastasia Chen, you will face the consequences of your actions," she murmured, her lips quivering. If there was anything that could push her to the brink of madness and shatter her sanity, it was the betrayal inflicted upon her by those she trusted.
Now, she stood alone, unable to face the university where she was a student. Her belly would soon grow, and the truth would be exposed. At only twenty years old, she lost her job as a secretary at SSI, her life lay in ruins. They had torn apart her existence, eroded her trust, leaving her with nothing. How foolish had she been? How naive to allow it all to happen?
She lowered her head, her fists clenched. The heat pulsated through her, coursing from her back to her feet.
A gentle, warm voice called from behind. Without turning to see his face, she recognized him by his voice alone. He held the answers she sought.
"I am pregnant, Mr. Boe Mosley."
Her trembling hand extended, revealing the pregnancy test. She couldn't fathom why she confided in him, but he was the only person she knew even remotely, perhaps the only one who wouldn't care at all.
"I know, Miss Alina Starkov. Allow me to take you home."
Her large, frantic brown eyes briefly met his gaze. He had been the man persistently asking her to be his personal secretary, an offer she declined in favor of joining SSI because of Joe Cavy.
This man, the twenty-five-year-old CEO of River Company, a self-made success in the fashion industry despite his family's domination in entertainment, now stood before her. Renowned for his business acumen and influence, he possessed an undeniable handsomeness that could captivate any woman's heart. Yet, here he was, holding an umbrella for a stranger on this foreboding night.
"Come with me, Miss Alina. You'll catch a cold in this weather. I'll take you home."
Home? She had no home. She couldn't allow herself to sink lower, accepting charity from Joe Cavy.
"There's nowhere for me to go," she murmured, her voice feeble, though he heard her loud and clear.
Turning to his butler, he instructed, "Victor, open the door for Miss Alina."
The young butler obeyed with haste, his complexion betraying his surprise, questioning why his boss would extend such kindness to a pregnant woman who could potentially burden him.