Rebirth of a scorned Empress

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of fallen leaves and the promise of change. Olivia Carter stepped out of the hospital, her hands trembling as she clutched the white envelope containing the test results. Pregnant. The word echoed in her mind, colliding with memories of the past four years-every whispered "I love you," every promise Nathan had made, every sacrifice she had given to be with him.

Her family had tried to stop her. They had warned her. But love was blind, and she had chosen Nathan Parker despite their protests. And for a while, she had believed she had won.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she traced her fingers over the envelope. This was supposed to be a new beginning, a sign that their love had been worth it. Nathan would be thrilled-he had always talked about having a family.

As she stepped into their grand estate, the familiar scent of cedarwood and his cologne filled her senses. Home. Their home. Her heels clicked against the marble floors as she walked through the dimly lit hallway, eager to surprise him.

Then, a sound.

A muffled noise from upstairs-soft moans, breathy gasps.

Her heart clenched. Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe it was the wind or the television. But as she moved toward the staircase, the sounds grew clearer. Intimate. Raw. Undeniable.

Her pulse pounded in her ears as she ascended, each step dragging her closer to the moment that would shatter her world. The door to their bedroom was slightly ajar, and with trembling fingers, she pushed it open.

Time stopped.

There, on their bed, tangled in silk sheets, was Nathan. And beneath him, arching against his touch, was Sophia.

Sophia-the woman Olivia had loved like a sister. The friend she had trusted with every secret. The girl she had defended countless times.

Air refused to enter Olivia's lungs. Her legs wobbled, threatening to give way. Her fingers tightened around the envelope, the edges cutting into her palm, grounding her in the horrifying reality before her.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Olivia's vision blurred, her mind struggling to process the scene before her. Nathan-her husband, her love, her world-lay tangled in the sheets with Sophia, the woman she had called her sister.

Yet, as the initial shock settled, their faces did not show fear or regret. Instead, Nathan exhaled deeply, as if relieved, while Sophia sat up, her lips curling into a smirk.

"Well," Sophia said, tossing her long, wavy hair over her shoulder. "It's better that you found out now."

Olivia's breath hitched. What?

Nathan stood, reaching for the robe at the foot of the bed. He tied it loosely around his waist, his expression unreadable. "We couldn't keep pretending anymore," he said, his voice eerily calm. "It was exhausting, lying to your face every day."

Sophia chuckled, her fingers grazing over Nathan's chest possessively. "You see, Olivia," she continued, her tone laced with amusement, "Nathan and I have always been together. Long before you came into the picture."

Olivia's nails dug into her palm. "That's a lie." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Sophia's eyes glowed with cruel satisfaction. "Is it?" She leaned forward, resting her chin on Nathan's shoulder. "Do you really think it was fate that brought you two together? That he fell in love with you just like that?" She clicked her tongue. "Sweet, naive Olivia. We planned everything."

A sharp chill ran down Olivia's spine. She could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, dreading the answer.

Nathan sighed, rubbing his temples as if this conversation was an inconvenience. "It was all staged, Olivia. Every moment. Every smile. Every struggle we 'overcame' together." His lips curled into a smirk. "You were nothing more than a tool."

A dry laugh escaped Sophia. "Remember that night when some men tried to assault you, and Nathan came in like a knight in shining armor?" She tilted her head mockingly. "We arranged that. We hired them. Just so you'd think Nathan was your savior."

Olivia staggered back, the air knocked out of her lungs. "No... No, that can't be true."

"But it is." Nathan's voice was unfeeling. "And it worked. You fell in love, clung to me despite your family's warnings, and married me, just as we wanted."

Her mind reeled, but Sophia wasn't finished. "And your family?" she continued, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "You thought we were helping them, right? That Nathan was managing your father's business to keep it from falling apart?"

Olivia's lips parted, but no words came out.

Sophia smirked. "We destroyed them, Olivia. Piece by piece. Your father trusted Nathan, and in return, we took everything-his company, his assets, his dignity. He died thinking he failed."

A sharp, icy pain pierced Olivia's heart.

Nathan exhaled. "And your younger brother... That poor kid." He shook his head in false pity. "He shouldn't have been so nosy. He found out what we were doing, tried to warn you, and well..." Nathan shrugged. "Accidents happen."

Olivia's blood turned to ice.

"You... killed him?" Her voice cracked, horror wrapping around her chest like a vice.

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Don't act so surprised. You were always so blind to the truth."

Olivia's hands trembled, rage bubbling in her veins like molten fire. "You monsters," she whispered.

Nathan smirked. "Maybe. But we won."

Her heart pounded furiously, her vision darkening at the edges. Betrayal, disgust, fury-it all crashed into her at once. She clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to tear them apart. But no, they weren't worth it.

Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned on her heel and walked away.

Each step felt heavier than the last, but she kept moving. She had to escape, to breathe, to think. She had given them everything-her love, her trust, her life. And they had burned it to ashes.

She staggered out of the mansion, her blurred vision making it hard to see. Her hands instinctively went to her stomach, cradling the unborn life within her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to her baby. "I'm so, so sorry."

The sound of screeching tires snapped her out of her daze.

Her head jerked up just in time to see the blinding headlights of a speeding car.

A sharp, agonizing impact.

Pain exploded through her body as she was thrown into the air. The world spun in slow motion. Blood. The sky. The pavement rushing up to meet her.

As her body hit the ground, a sharp, numbing cold spread through her limbs. Her fingers trembled as she reached for her stomach, her lips parting in a final, whispered vow.

"If I had a second chance..." Her vision blurred, darkness closing in. "I would make you all pay."

Then everything went black.