Melissa Wright spent three years as David Haynes' loyal secretary and secret wife; silent, unseen, and unwanted. When she discovers she's pregnant, she believes it's finally time to fight for her place in his life but the night she plans to tell him, she finds herself standing in the shadows watching David toast to a future with his first love; Helena Powell. With her heart in pieces and a child to protect, Melissa disappears without a trace, determined to build a life of her own. But fate has other plans. When she reemerges, thriving and unrecognizable, she's no longer the woman David once overlooked; she's a rising star in the fashion industry, powerful in her own right. Now, David is faced with a woman he barely knows, yet can't ignore. And when he finally learns the truth about the child she kept from him, he realizes too late that the woman he took for granted is the one he can't afford to lose. But Melissa has learned the hard way that love isn't enough. Can he prove he's truly changed, or will she slip through his fingers forever?
Chapter 1 The News That Changed Everything
Melissa Wright walked out of the hospital speedily, holding the test results with her hands trembling. At first, the words on the result were blurred in her eyes but she already knew what they said; she was pregnant with David's baby.
She let out a huge sigh of relieve as a shaky breath left her lips and at that point she pressed a hand to her still-flat stomach. "This was it... The moment that changed everything."
Her fingers hovered over her phone as her mind talked to her "Call David, tell him" She was convinced then that maybe, just maybe, this would be the thing that made him finally see her.
Just as she was about to place the call to David, her screen lit up with a message before she could even dial his number.
Melissa frowned at the text "No 'hello,' no explanation... just an order. Typical David Haynes." Still, she pushed aside the irritation and hailed a cab. If he wanted to see her then she would tell him the news in person.
She smiled to herself in the backseat while trying to picture his reaction "Would he be shocked? Happy? Would he pull me into his arms the way I'd always dreamed he would?"
Hope filled her chest and she began to believe that this was the start of something new; something real.
The cab pulled up at the Grand Arcadia and Melissa's heart leaped at the sight of flashing cameras, a red carpet, and a sea of expensive gowns and tailored suits "A celebration?" she asked herself.
"My wedding anniversary" She said as she exhaled and relief washed over her. "Maybe David had finally planned something for me" She thought "Maybe this was his way of making things right." She said lowly as she stepped inside, pushing through the crowd and scanning the room for him.
There he was; tall, striking and impossible to miss but he wasn't alone.
Her heart leaped as she saw the woman beside him; "Helena Powell?" The woman David had never truly let go of; David's first love.
Melissa's breath seized as Helena leaned into David and their closeness unmistakable as the guests cheered and someone raised a glass "To David and Helena, reunited at last!"
Melissa felt the world stop for a while; Laughter, Applause and Helena smiling as though she already owned David.
"David's wife?" someone scoffed. "Oh please, we all know he only married Melissa to appease his grandmother" another echoed "Exactly! David was always meant to be with Helena" the first responded.
David smiled at the teasing "Alright, enough.." he said coolly. "Helena can't drink, so I'll drink for her." He added as he took Helena's glass from her. He lifted his glass with his hand on Helena's waist and his expression was relaxed and comfortable like she was what he had wanted all along.
Melissa barely registered the moment as she turned and walked out. The sound of rain greeted her, but she kept moving even when her body felt numb. The wind bit at her skin with rain soaking her dress but she didn't care at all.
The hospital's results crumpled in her hand forgotten. "So that was it" she said as tears dropped down from her eyes. That was David's real choice.
She forced herself to breathe knowing she needed to leave, to just walk away and be done, but just as she reached her front door, headlights cut through the rain and a sleek black car pulled up with a familiar figure stepping out. His sharp and commanding voice cut through the night. "Melissa, why are you standing in the rain?"
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