Rayon Lookalike

While I Was Bleeding Out, He Lit Lanterns For Her

Katie Oettgen

As I lay on the floor of our manor, bleeding out from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, I used my last ounce of strength to call my husband, Cole. I begged him for help, my vision blurring. But the only thing I heard was the clinking of champagne glasses and his mistress's giggle in the background. "Stop the drama, June," Cole snapped, his voice cold. "We're about to go on stage. Don't call again." He hung up, leaving me to die alone on the Persian rug while he accepted an award with another woman on his arm. I woke up in the hospital days later. My baby was gone. They had removed my fallopian tube. Cole finally arrived, smelling of expensive scotch and his mistress's perfume. He didn't hug me. He didn't cry. Instead, he leaned over my hospital bed, pressing his knee into the mattress until my fresh stitches tore open and bled. "You embarrassed me by calling an ambulance," he hissed. "My mistress, Alycia, says you're faking it. Clean yourself up." He left me bleeding again to go announce a $10 million donation to Alycia's "groundbreaking" medical research. I stared at the TV screen, numb. The research Alycia was taking credit for? It was mine. I wrote that patent years ago under a pseudonym. They thought I was just a poor, orphan housewife who needed Cole's money to survive. They had no idea I was actually a billionaire scientist hiding my identity. I pulled the IV needle out of my arm. A drop of blood fell onto the divorce papers I had been hiding. I didn't wipe it off. I signed my name right over it. Then I walked into the bank, reactivated my dormant account with $128 million, and bought the penthouse directly overlooking Cole's house. The mourning widow is dead. The avenger is born.

Romance Crime Revenge Pregnancy Enemies to Lovers Pregnancy Personal Growth

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"Hmm..." Sadie Hudson murmured in a gentle whisper, her eyes fluttering open into a drowsy blur, only to be met with the intense gaze of another pair of eyes.

Her husband, Noah Wall, had quietly returned, his presence subtly marked by the faint aroma of alcohol.

He sealed their reunion with a kiss that was unyieldingly dominant, compelling her into a reluctant acquiescence.

A wave of unease surged through Sadie's chest, and reflexively, she attempted to withdraw.

"Stay still." Noah's voice rumbled, deep and seductive, tinged with a compelling charm that was hard to resist.

For a moment, Sadie's body tensed, caught in a struggle between resistance and submission.

Today was significant—their second anniversary—and she was determined not to spoil the celebratory spirit.

With a sigh, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to melt into his embrace.

The robust scent of his cologne masked the alcohol, swirling around her and piercing her heart with its potent allure.

Noah's eyes darkened with desire as he observed her yielding, his actions becoming bolder and less restrained.

Just as Sadie was about to regain her composure, she gasped softly, her plea laced with a tender fragility. "Please, not too harsh... because I..."

She couldn't complete her revelation of being pregnant. The sharp ring of a phone sliced through the thick tension, abruptly severing the intimate moment between them.

Noah's eyes, still ablaze with longing, flickered as he caught sight of the caller ID.

He got up and began to dress, his movements betraying none of the fervor that had engulfed him just moments before.

"Are you heading out?" Sadie inquired, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and concern as she tightened the grip on her nightgown.

"Yeah," Noah answered, his tone breezy and dismissive, as if evading further inquiry.

"But..."

"Go back to sleep," he interjected smoothly, his voice soft yet detached. He leaned forward, his lips briefly caressing her forehead in a fleeting, tender gesture.

Without a single backward glance, he strode out of the room.

Sadie's eyes lingered on the empty doorway, her heart sinking slowly.

She convinced herself it had to be an emergency at work.

Understanding was essential; any sign of displeasure could drive him further away.

After all, she had loved Noah for over a decade, and becoming his wife was a dream realized. She could hardly expect more.

With a sigh, Sadie quickly freshened up and returned to bed, her hand resting gently on her belly, a hopeful smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Sweetheart, Daddy didn't mean to leave us by ourselves. Please, don't hold it against him, alright?"

No sooner had she uttered these words than her phone buzzed with an unexpected news alert, startling her.

"Wall Group CEO Spotted at the Airport Late at Night, Allegedly Picking up Mysterious Girlfriend."

The photo that accompanied the headline captured Noah at the airport's private terminal entrance, clad in a black suit. He stood with impeccable posture, exuding an undeniable aura of authority.

His eyes conveyed a softness, a tender warmth that Sadie had never observed before.

Shock flashed across Sadie's face as her heart thudded painfully in her chest, the sharp sensation nearly stealing her breath.

It took a considerable effort for her to regain her composure. Clutching onto a sliver of hope, she clicked on the article, her fingers quivering.

As she had feared, a familiar face filled the screen—Kyla Wade.

The woman Noah had seemingly been unable to forget was evidently back in his life.

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