Chapter One

^ELENA^

I stared at the pregnancy test in my trembling hands with mixed feelings.

Two dark pink lines.

Although the result is undoubtedly positive, I'm still not sure what was the appropriate reaction for me– should I be happy or sad?

In the eyes of the world, I was married to the love of my life– at least that's what I used to think previously. But in the three years of our marriage, Lucas Brown has always treated me like a stranger.

Beep!

The shrill sound of a message alert broke through my thoughts.

"Elena, I just sent you $500k. Please come to the hospital immediately. Aurora needs blood."

Aurora...

I clenched the phone, my nails digging into my palm till the extent of drawing blood; but that was nothing compared to the pain I was going through.

I felt like I had been pierced in the chest with a knife. The message was sent by "Hubby", and that's what hurts the most.

Right now, it feels like even his contact name is taunting me with its hollow meaning.

In reality, our marriage was more like a contract to Lucas. I'm being treated like a blood bank for Aurora Cruz, Lucas's childhood friend. The only reason he had agreed to marry me in the first place was because I had AB negative blood type, a rare blood type I shared with his sickly childhood friend, Aurora.

This is nothing more than a business transaction to him, because Lucas sends me money each time, to donate blood for Aurora. Or should I say, being forced to sell my blood to her?

My stomach churns to think about how many times I've been summoned to the hospital urgently and hooked to a machine for Aurora's sake.

This month alone, I donated blood to her three times, and to be honest, I am already fed up with this arrangement.

In addition, I am already pregnant and that wouldn't be good for me and my baby. It was my love for Lucas which compelled me to compromise my own health for saving his precious friend, but I won't take any risks with my baby's health.

I was still lost in my thoughts, losing track of time, when my phone chimed. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my cellphone to find a message from an unknown number. "Who could this be?" I mumbled.

"Loser, can you spot your husband resting his head on my bosom? He only gets peace in my arms, you know! The earlier you realize that you're nothing more than a plaything for him and a blood bank for me, the better for you."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I read the message and opened the picture attached to it, tears stinging my eyes.

Of course, it was Lucas with his so-called childhood friend.

Aurora was in her blue hospital gown, looking nothing like a patient. Her blond hair was spread out on the pillow, her cheeks pink and her skin shining. In the selfie she had clicked, my husband was fast asleep with his head nuzzled comfortably between Aurora's breasts.

My throat tightened as I struggled to swallow the lump forming there, making every breath difficult.

"Plaything?" I mumbled to myself, forcing a weak smile.

I stared at the pregnancy test once again, my tears finally dropping on the papers. Would my husband even care about me being pregnant?

From the very first day, our relationship has always been about Aurora, she is all that has ever mattered to him.

Even now, where is he? Lucas has been in the hospital with Aurora since yesterday, leaving me all alone in the big Mansion. For three years, I have been living like a shadow, trapped in the mansion and growing used to being forgotten and left behind.

Ring! Ring!

The loud ringing of my phone jolted me out of my daze, this time, it wasn't a message but a phone call. Glancing at the phone screen, my heart sank. The caller ID shows the name Laura, my mother-in-law.

Hesitatingly, I picked it up, and immediately, I was almost deafened by the loud yell from Lucas's mother.

"Elena, you slowpoke. Do I always need to remind you of what you should do? Don't you know that my groceries are finished, and the maids are off this week? Who do you think would do the grocery shopping? Me? Or Olivia?" She scoffed.

I took a deep breath, and replied.

"Mom, I'm really sick. I won't be able to do that."

"What? How dare you talk back to me? My son picked you from the gutters, and now you have the nerve to be so ungrateful! You..."

Laura was still talking when I hung the call up with a sigh.

In the three years of our marriage, the Brown's resented me so much. I was supposed to be the young madam of the Brown family, but I was treated like a servant.

They never accepted me– neither as Lucas's wife, nor as a family member; in their eyes, I'm not even good enough to be a maid. And yet, I have been meek and obedient despite how they humiliated me, in the hopes that things might change one day.

As a matter of fact, I have been keeping a weather eye on this marriage. I was not even allowed to work in the family's company, because they thought of me as worthless.

According to my sister-in-law, it would be a huge embarrassment if I showed my face to Lucas's business partners and clients. And hence, a housewife and a house help was what I did for the family.

Patting my belly softly, I mumbled. "Thank God you're coming into my life, my child. I'll take good care of you."

The thought of my unborn baby was the only thing keeping me afloat, because Lucas's mother, Laura, and his sister, Olivia, had made it their mission to make my life unbearable. They seized every opportunity to humiliate and make life a living hell for me, and my husband never defends me.

His silence stung more than their cruelty...

Taking a deep breath, I rose slowly from the couch, struggling with every movement. My body was sore and I could feel a headache coming on because of nausea.

The kitchen is just a few steps away, I can manage to get some water to take my pills with.

As I gulped the water down, a loud honking sound from outside startled me. It was undoubtedly my husband's car; and as expected, the moment I walked into the sitting room, I saw Lucas seated on the couch.

Despite everything, face beamed with smiles as I rushed to him. I couldn't wait to share the good news with him.

"Lucas, I have good news. I'm..."

Without letting me complete my statement, Lucas grabbed my wrist, his touch rough.

"Did you get the money? Come on, let's go to the hospital. Aurora needs blood."

His words hit me like a slap.

"Let go of me. Can't you hear me out first?" I snatched my wrist from his grip, my frustration rising to the surface.

Grabbing my arms again, Lucas snapped at me. "Whatever it is that you want to tell me can wait. We can talk about it later, Aurora needs a blood transfusion, now."

Before I could say another word, he had already dragged me along with him out of the house.

...

Immediately upon hearing footsteps approaching her hospital ward, Aurora started panting dramatically, as if she were in extreme pain.

"Lucas... I'm in pain." She mouthed, and he rushed to her side in an instant, leaving me at the door. His brows were furrowed with concern as he patted her hair gently.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Elena is here to do the blood transfusion, okay?"

My hands balled into fists at my sides as I stood there, glaring hard at them. They are behaving so intimately, making me feel like the intruder here... while another woman was smuggling up to my own husband.

I couldn't hold back the tears any longer and they now rolled freely down my cheeks. I didn't even bother to wipe them away, who cares?

"Doctor, hurry!" My husband urged the doctor with impatience as he gestured toward me. "Draw her blood. She's AB negative."

Aurora turned her gaze to me, trying to appear apologetic when I know she is anything but that. I was obviously in anger, and she spoke in a sweet voice,

"I apologize for my poor health, Elena. You're always giving me your blood, and Lucas always takes care of me. I swear, I didn't want to be a nuisance for you."

"Can we go now, doctor?" I said flatly, ignoring her and her attempts to manipulate me.

I followed the doctor out of the room, feeling like my body was made of lead. I didn't need to be told what to do next, I was already used to the treatment they were giving me.

As always, Aurora is always ready to play that pity card.

The blood transfusion left me drained, more than usual this time. I was already frail, and after the procedure, the dizziness is hitting me like a punch.

I had to steady myself on the edge of the bed, since there is no one else here. How much longer can I keep doing this? I'm in my early stage of pregnancy, yet I have already donated blood for Amelia three times in barely a month.

I made my way to the lobby, resting my head against the cool wall.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the wave of dizziness to pass, when I heard the faint sound of wheels rolling toward me. A nurse was bringing Aurora out of the wardnon a wheelchair.

When they got to me, Aurora signaled the nurse to leave. Aurora's face was glowing with satisfaction, and as soon as the nurse left, she spoke up.

"Can't you see, Elena? You still think he doesn't love me?" She smirked mischievously, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Despite my weak state, I felt my anger rising, I just had to yell at her.

"Stay away from my husband."

Upon hearing that, Aurora burst into laughter, throwing her head back. Then, she got up from the wheelchair and approached me, a mocking smile on her lips.

"Silly girl, trust me, he'll be my husband soon enough."

Her words stuck in my heart like a dagger, but I didn't want to give her the satisfaction to see me hurt. Without saying a word to her, I got up from the chair and turned to leave.

However, Aurora grabbed my arm, twisting it and making me stop in my tracks.

"Where are you going? How dare you think you can walk out on me when I'm still talking?"

"Let go of me." I struggled to break free from her grip, but Aurora pushed me hard on the ground.

I fell to the ground, wincing in pain. My hands flew to my stomach, groaning. I can feel something wrong...

Suddenly, the door to the hallway creaked open, and Aurora, quick as ever, threw herself to the ground beside her wheelchair. She started wailing, her screams of pain filling the air.

Lucas spotted her immediately, and rushed to her, leaving me in acute pain. Turning to me, Lucas half- yelled.

"Elena, what have you done?"

"No, I didn't... I..."

I tried to speak, but he cut me off, his voice harsh and cold.

"Get lost!"

Groaning in pain, I tried to get up, but I couldn't muster the strength to even pick myself up from the floor.

Lucas sneered at me, his eyes flashing with disgust.

"I said, get lost!"

He didn't even look at me as he helped Aurora up, but his eyes flickered momentarily when he spotted the red stain on my white dress.

For a moment, he looked confused, but just when he was getting curious, Aurora groaned even harder, pulling his attention back to herself.

Without a second thought, he scooped her up in his arms.

"Doctor!"

He called, running into the ward with Aurora in his arms, leaving me behind, bleeding and in agony.

The last thing I remember is seeing the blood soaking through my dress, and I screamed loudly out of panic.

And then, I blacked out.

The beeping sound of the EKG monitor was the only sound that could be heard in the room when I opened my eyes.

Panic returned along with the memories– I quickly clutched my stomach, and turned to see Lucas sitting beside the bed.

"My...my baby?" I asked with tears clouding my eyes.

Lucas sat beside me, his expression unreadable as he looked at me.

"We'll make another baby. Get some rest."