Payback, Reborn To Marry My Boss

Harlow's POV

I had made up my mind I would step into that abortion theater and get rid of this child like Zane wanted me to. But I didn't know I would feel scared to do it. I could feel my hands shaking beside me as my hand slowly moved over my tummy.

Would Zane's love really be worth taking this child's life? Was this all a mistake or am I doing the child a favor by getting rid of the child? If I did as Zane wanted, maybe, just maybe he would stop looking at me like trash and would value me a bit more. Maybe he will stop choosing Alina over me. My hands moved slightly to grab the thin fabric of the hospital cloth tightly.

"Mrs Harlow, we're ready for you." The nurse called me, but I remained rooted to the spot, feeling distant. "Mrs Harlow?"

I jolted slightly, looking up at the nurse.

"Are you fine?" she confirmed.

"Sorry. "Yes, yes, I am." I mumbled, letting out a shaky breath as I laid down on the cold table against my back. My heart pounded against my chest like it was going to rip out, and it hurt so bad. I felt like I was betraying my own baby. I felt the guilt creeping up on me. But Zane didn't want it. He said he wanted Alina's child instead. He'd thrown some money at me like I was some problem he could pay off. And like a fool, I took it, hoping it would give him the slightest chance to satisfy me.

I wanted to have a child. All I've ever wished for from our marriage was a child. But now, the only way I could save this marriage was by getting rid of this child. Or that's what I think can save the marriage right now.

"Are you sure about this?" The doctor confirmed for the very last time. No I wasn't. But I nodded anyway.

I closed my eyes as the mask was placed over my face. The gas made me dizzy. My thoughts became fuzzy. But nothing faded. I thought they said at times like this, everything starts to fade so you don't feel any pain and everything around you becomes numb.

I was looking forward to the numbness. Maybe it would help me think a bit.

But the pain hit me.

It was sudden. Sharp. Burning. Painful. My whole body spasmed. I could hear the sounds of machines beeping faster and faster and panic hitting the room. But I was strangely calm, tears rolling from the corner of my eyes.

I knew I had made the wrong decision all over again, like it was news to me.

"She's crashing. Her heart rate–"

"Everything seems fine, but we're losing her!"

"She's bleeding out!"

My body felt heavy. Like I was sinking. My breath came in short gasps and I could barely move my fingers.

"Please... please call my husband." I whispered with all the energy I could muster. At least I deserve one good thing.

I didn't know how long had passed, but it felt like an eternity before someone placed something cold near my ear. The ringing sounded faraway, my vision blurring, but I held on to everything just to speak to him one last time.

Then I heard his voice.

It wasn't to me.

"Angh... Zane..." Alina moaned. Her voice was soft and breathy, filled with intimacy. It was unmistaken, it was definitely Alina's voice.

Zane's voice followed, low and deep. "You like that, baby?"

I froze. My heart stopped beating for a second.

I was here, dying, just so I could do what he was pleased with. He couldn't even follow me to the hospital just to know I would be okay.

He was with her.

Tears spilled from my eyes as I slowly shifted away from the phone. My chest ached. The pain was getting numb, but it hurt like crazy, no doubt.

"Zane..." I whispered, but he didn't hear me. No one did. Of course, they never did.

I have tried everything I could do to make sure I never stepped on anyone's toes. I made sure I made everyone happy just so I could live a perfect life. But I always get blamed for it. I am the one always jealous of Alina's achievements and no one ever saw her trying so hard to push me into her shadows and take everything that used to be mine.

At the end of the day, she was just my younger sister. Why would I treat her like that? She wasn't even blood.

She took my husband and everyone turned a blind eye to it. They spoiled her rotten and she never did anything wrong in their eyes. I had to be the older one and act like it. Please him if he wanted, even though he was making a fool of me.

Now I was dying because I made a foolish decision to do as he pleased. And where did it end me? In this darkness I am slowly slipping in with nothing to hold on to.

The soft whispers in my head, telling me I deserved it for trying to get rid of this child. I didn't want to do it, but I thought I had to. I thought they would care.

But no one did.

And just like that, everything went black.

*******

Laughter echoed through the space I was in, gradually becoming clear from a far distance. The warm glow of the chandelier bathed the room in gold, making the silverware before me glitter. The scent of roasted lamb, buttered vegetables, and freshly baked bread filled the air alongside other familiar dishes. I could tell from their scent because it signified a family dinner in the family. This scent I always found comforting made a knot form in my stomach.

I looked around slowly, taking around what was happening around me. My father was seated at the head of the table, my mother next to him with Alina seated next to her.

And here I was, seated next to Zane, who looked younger. Not only that, everyone looked younger. What was going on? I wanted to freak out, but I just moved slightly in my seat.

"We were thinking about investing more in the family business, so Alina could eventually take over the company. "I would have handed it over to Harlow, but I'm sure you'll both be too busy trying to form a family to have time for some old business." My father said, his words feeling oddly familiar to me.

"Really father?" Alina asked, excitement laced in her tone.

Giving Alina the family business? This happened five years ago. That night, I had taken Zane to my parents, telling them we were engaged. I looked down at my clothes, and it was the same brand Zane had bought me for that night.

I thought it only happened in novels.

But this was five years back, and I seem to have woken up the night I made a decision that ruined my entire life.

Have I been reborn, or would I call it reincarnated?

My gaze flicked over to Alina, a bright and fake smile plastered on her face. Behind that mask was the bitch who locked me in my room just to miss my award ceremony. She was the one who said to my face that she would take everything from me and no one would believe me because she was a lovely soul.

I stayed in her shadows just for peace to reign, so everyone would love me because I thought that was the right thing to do. I was just a naive and scared girl, desperate for attention and love. But now, it is going to be different.

I don't know what I did to deserve this, but, whoever gave me this second chance, I would grab my chance to make them pay for my death and the death of my child. I will make them suffer bit by bit and make them more miserable than they made me, even if it takes me the whole of this life.

My fingers wrapped around the step of my wineglass, gripping it tighter and tighter. My hand trembled slightly before I let go of the glass with slow deliberation, letting it slip from my fingers.

CRASH!

The room went silent as the glass shattered against the marble floor. The red wine splattering across the floor like spilled blood.

Every eye turned to me. My mother's brow furrowed in disapproval. Alina looked worried. Zane looked startled and shocked.

"What a nice conversation everyone is having tonight. Let's get this straight, everyone...!"