Trauma-Made Queen

Abbie Brown had always known that life was unpredictable, but she never imagined it would betray her in such a profound way. A year ago, she had met Brian Cole, the heir to the powerful and wealthy Cole Group. He had been everything she had ever dreamed of-handsome, charismatic, and surprisingly grounded for someone who grew up with the weight of billions. Their relationship had felt like a fairytale come true. But little did she know that this fairytale was only a prelude to a story of betrayal she would never have seen coming.

It all started when Brian fell ill. It was a rare condition, one that affected his kidneys, rendering them nearly useless. He had been in and out of hospitals, and Abbie had been there for him through it all, supporting him like she never thought she could support anyone. The doctors gave Brian a grim prognosis: without a kidney transplant, he wouldn't make it through the year. The problem was that the transplant list was long, and Brian's name was buried somewhere far down in the pile. Time was running out.

That's when Abbie made a decision that would forever change the course of her life. Without a second thought, she offered to donate one of her own kidneys. It was a gesture of love, of devotion, and, at the time, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Brian had protested at first, but she insisted. They underwent the grueling process of testing, matching, and preparing for surgery. In the end, she was a perfect match.

The surgery went well. Abbie recovered, but Brian's condition continued to improve by leaps and bounds. It was supposed to be a turning point in their relationship, the ultimate act of love. However, as she stood by his bedside in the sterile, white-lit hospital room, Abbie couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. It was almost as if Brian's gratitude had begun to feel like an obligation rather than the deep, heartfelt thanks she had hoped for. She brushed it off. Maybe it was just the medication, or maybe it was her own fears creeping in.

But the shift only grew stronger.

After her recovery, Brian invited her to meet his family-his mother, Judith Cole, and his younger sister, Jenny. Abbie had been excited about the meeting, imagining that this was a step toward solidifying her place in Brian's life. After all, if they were going to spend their future together, family introductions were the logical next step.

The day of the meeting arrived, and Abbie was dressed in a simple yet elegant white dress, her hair styled in soft waves. She was nervous but excited as they drove to the Cole family estate, a sprawling mansion that had more rooms than she cared to count. Brian's father, a stern and intimidating figure, was not in town, so it was just Judith and Jenny that Abbie would meet.

Judith, a woman in her late fifties with sharp features and a well-manicured appearance, welcomed Abbie with open arms. Her smile, though warm, never quite reached her eyes, and Abbie couldn't help but feel like she was being sized up, measured, and found lacking. Still, she smiled back, determined to make a good impression. Jenny, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of energy-a few years younger than Abbie, she immediately threw her arms around her in an unexpectedly affectionate hug.

"You must be the amazing woman who saved my brother's life," Jenny said, pulling back to look at Abbie with an expression of admiration.

Abbie smiled softly. "I wouldn't call it amazing... I just wanted to help."

Brian was there beside her, his hand gently resting on her lower back as they made their way into the grand dining room. Judith offered a tight smile before excusing herself to the kitchen, leaving the two younger women and Brian to chat. Jenny, ever the talkative one, began asking questions about Abbie's life, her childhood, and how she had come to meet Brian. It was the typical first-meeting conversation, the kind you'd expect when trying to build rapport.

But there was an odd tension in the air. Abbie couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something didn't feel right.

As the dinner progressed, Abbie found herself increasingly uncomfortable. Judith was quiet, speaking only when necessary, and Brian seemed distant, as though his mind was elsewhere. Jenny kept the conversation going, but there was an undertone of something unspoken-a quiet edge to her words that Abbie couldn't ignore.

It wasn't until dessert was served that the truth began to reveal itself.

Jenny excused herself from the table, her eyes meeting Abbie's with a knowing look before she slipped out of the room. Brian stood up to follow her, but Judith's voice stopped him.

"Let her go, Brian," she said softly, her tone oddly calm. "She's had a long day."

Brian hesitated, then sat back down, his gaze fixed on his mother. "Are you sure, Mom? I-"

"I'm sure," Judith interrupted.

Abbie, now feeling more out of place than ever, sat quietly in the tension-filled silence. She could feel the weight of both women's eyes on her, but it was Brian's gaze that she felt the most. There was something there-something that made her uneasy. Her stomach churned as she realized that, for all his gratitude and affection, there was something lurking beneath the surface.

Soon after, Brian returned to the table, looking more withdrawn than before. The conversation was brief and strained, and before long, they were saying their goodbyes.

That night, as Abbie lay in bed, the unease gnawed at her. She had always trusted her instincts, and her instincts were telling her something was off. She thought back to the way Jenny had looked at her-the way her words had seemed to carry hidden meaning. The way Brian had acted. Something wasn't right, and Abbie had the sinking feeling that she had missed a crucial detail.

The following day, Abbie decided to confront Brian about the strange vibe she had gotten from his family. She needed answers. After all, she had given him a piece of herself-a part of her body-and she deserved to know what was going on.

Brian met her in the living room of their shared apartment, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked more tense than usual, but he smiled when he saw her. It wasn't a smile that reached his eyes, though.

"Hey," he said softly. "What's going on?"

"Brian, I need to ask you something," Abbie began, her voice trembling slightly. "About last night... your family. There's something I'm not understanding."

Brian's eyes flickered, just for a moment, with something that resembled guilt-or maybe it was something darker. He set his glass down, his fingers tapping the side of it as he avoided her gaze.

"What do you mean?" he asked, though Abbie could tell by the way his jaw tightened that he already knew what she was talking about.

"It's your sister, and your mother," Abbie pressed. "There's something... I don't know. It feels like they were hiding something from me. And you-you've been distant."

Brian ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling with his words. "Abbie, it's not what you think."

"Then what is it, Brian?" she asked, her heart racing. "What am I missing?"

Before he could answer, the doorbell rang. Abbie turned, her heart leaping into her throat. She wasn't prepared for what came next.

When she opened the door, Jenny stood there, her face pale, her hands trembling. Abbie's stomach dropped as Jenny whispered, barely audible, "I need to tell you something... about Brian."

The world seemed to tilt, and in that moment, Abbie realized that nothing was as it appeared. The betrayal had already begun-and she had no idea just how deep it ran.

As Jenny stepped inside, she looked at Abbie with wide eyes, the words barely leaving her lips before the truth hit like a ton of bricks.

"I'm pregnant... with Brian's child."

The room fell silent, and Abbie's world began to shatter, piece by piece.