Chapter 1 I Was Betrayed

Katherine's POV

I walked down the hallway toward our bedroom. My fingers trembled slightly as I clutched the envelope containing my pregnancy test results. After three years of marriage, Alexander Hudson and I were finally going to have a baby. Despite his controlling nature and our recent tensions, I knew this news would make him happy.

The sound of soft moans drifting through the bedroom door made me pause. Alexander was supposed to be at the office until late tonight–a crucial board meeting at Hudson Financial Group that couldn't be rescheduled. Yet I clearly heard his deep, resonant voice, followed by a woman's lighter tones.

My heart froze for a moment, then the loud slapping sounds and wet noises filled the air, accompanied by his powerful movements. These sounds kept stimulating my nerves, making it impossible for me to think clearly.

My heart began to race as I recognized that feminine laugh. Sarah Porter. My half-sister. What was she doing in my bedroom with my husband?

"Alex, our son William is already born," Sarah's voice carried through the door. "When are you planning to divorce Katherine?"

The envelope slipped from my suddenly numb fingers as I stood frozen in place. William? Our son? The words echoed in my head, refusing to make sense.

"And what if Katherine gets pregnant too?" Sarah's voice continued, thick with implications. "What would you do then?"

A male voice – Alexander's voice – responded with chilling certainty. "Get rid of it."

The world tilted beneath my feet. I couldn't control myself and pushed the door open with a sudden, forceful shove, needing to confront this nightmare head-on. The scene before me confirmed my worst fears: Alexander and Sarah, intimately close on the bed. The result of the pregnancy test was like a cruel joke. I fought back the overwhelming pain and anger, and secretly stuffed the envelope into my pocket.

Sarah's eyes met mine with a triumphant gleam. No shock, no guilt – only satisfaction. Alexander remained eerily still, his face unreadable.

"You backstabbing bitch," I spat at Sarah, my voice trembling with rage. "My own damn sister? How long has this been going on, you two-faced slut?"

Sarah rose from the bed, smoothing her dress with deliberate slowness. "Oh, sweet naive Katherine. Since before your pathetic wedding. Did you really think he could love someone as worthless as you? Someone who couldn't even give him a damn child? You're just his trophy wife – pretty but useless."

"I trusted you!" I shouted. "I confided in you about our fertility struggles. And all this time..."

"All this time I was giving him what you couldn't," Sarah finished, her smile cruel. "William is proof of that. Face it, sis – you're just damaged goods."

I turned to Alexander, my voice dripping with venom. "And you , you lying bastard. You're even worse than she is. Or were you just going to keep playing happy family while plotting to murder our baby if I ever got pregnant, you heartless piece of shit?"

Alexander didn't answered me. This kind of silence was undoubtedly an admission of what he had done.

I was so disappointed that I ran out. I wanted to leave this place that had broken my heart. But ridiculously, I still picked up my phone, wanting to know the answers, wanting to figure out how much he really cared about our laughable marriage.

Because from beginning to end, he didn't say a single word to me. I don't want to break up with him due to misunderstandings. Perhaps...

So I called him.

"Alex, you have a child with Sarah, right?"

"What if it is. You know what you did!" replied Alexander.

"What I did? What are you talking about? I'm talking seriously!"

"The photos, Katherine. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

"You've lost your mind! Alexander! Don't talk nonsense. I just want to ask you," I shouted with tears. "William – is he your son with Sarah? Is it true?"

After five seconds of silence, he responded, "Yes."

One word. One syllable. It shattered my world.

"How could you do this to me?" The words came out as a whisper.

He said sarcastically, "Katherine, don't pretend to be the victim here."

I shouted, "You're using lies to justify your betrayal! Alex!"

"Save it. I thought you were different. I was wrong. All girls are the same."

Communicating with Alexander seems to be going nowhere. It seems that those who have betrayed somehow have more excuses.

I jabbed the garage door opener and peeled out onto the private drive, tears blurring my vision. Through the phone still clutched in my hand, I could hear Alexander's breathing change.

"Where are you going?" His tone shifted from anger to something else. "Katherine, slow down. The roads are dangerous in this rain."

The rain had intensified, sheets of water obscuring the winding road down to the main highway. My hands gripped the steering wheel as thoughts raced through my mind: William was Alexander's son. He'd been sleeping with my sister. He wanted to get rid of our baby.

I was so lost in my spiral of betrayal that I almost missed it – the eighteen-wheeler that suddenly swerved into my lane. I slammed on the brakes.

Nothing happened.

I pumped the pedal frantically. Still nothing. The truck's horn blared as it bore down on me.

I yanked the wheel hard to the right. The guardrail gave way with a screech of tearing metal.

Through the phone, Alexander's voice turned frantic. "Katherine! What's happening? What was that sound?"

"Oh God, the brakes—they're not working!" I screamed into the phone.

"Katherine! KATHERINE!" Alexander's voice cracked. "Where are you? Tell me where—"

As the car went airborne, time seemed to slow. I had a moment to rest my hand on my stomach, a silent apology to the life within.

The last thing I heard was Alexander's desperate scream through the phone before the world went black.