The Price Of Betrayal

tant as she gazed at the sprawling gardens below. The luxury around

, and still no child?" Olivia, Christian's mother, had sneered just days ago during a famil

ly. They saw her as an outsider, an interloper who didn't deserve to carry thei

below, faint vo

red. "She tries so hard, but they

ve the family an heir," another replie

ing back the tears that threatened to spill

ing through the bitter silence. Grateful

voice steady despite

eterson. The results of the test you took last week are in. Could you

about it. For weeks, she had been plagued by nausea and weakness

ay," she replied, alrea

r nerves tingling with anticipation. Dr. Peterso

printout of the results. "Congratulati

her for so long. Pregnant. She was going to be a mother. A child-her child and C

ears," she whispered, a smile breaking

trieve some additional files, leav

hristian's number. It rang once, twice, three times then went to voicemail. She tri

ood to tell you. Pl

ed his reaction. Would he finally see her as the wife he had a

, expecting a reply from Christian. Instead,

takable: Christian, shirtless, with his arms around Ilda. The two of

nds and clattered onto the floor. She sat rooted in place, her brea

nto a million pieces as tea

to me?" she whispere

eside her railing as a nurse approached wi

l staring back at her like a cruel reminder of her place in Christian's

atened to consume her. The man she had sacrificed everything for the man she had lov

sobs filled the room, one

he going t

tal turned abruptly, her expression unreadab

the sonogram picture tightly in her hand, her heart a storm of emotions. She wanted to laugh, cry,

down and froze. It was a breaking news alert. The headline read: "Ch

epping out of the hotel lobby, his arm draped casually around Ilda. Paparazzi sw

led, a sound Crystal hadn't heard in months. The camera zoomed in as Ild

felt moments ago shattered into a thousand jagged pieces. The man she'd sacrificed everythin