Daphne’s POV

An annoying beeping sound pierces the darkness I find myself in. I thrash all about, but stop suddenly when I hear someone call my name.

“Mrs. Rivera-Black? Mrs. Rivera-Black! If you can hear me, I need you to follow the sound of my voice, okay? It’s easy. Just follow it.”

My eyes open slowly, and the blinding white lights make me close them again. It takes some time getting used to it, but when I finally do, I look around, the smell of antiseptic clinging to every corner, and the machine beside me still beeping.

My head pounds as I try to sit up, but again, strong hands keep me on the bed. I look to my side and see a man in a white coat looming over me.

“Mrs. Black,” he calls slowly, sampling a penlight. “You’re awake. Great.”

“I feel like a mess,” I groan, the ache in my head subsiding slowly. “Where is my husband?”

He angles his head. "Mr. Black hasn't been in since you were brought here, but I advise you to take your time trying to get better before we try to reach out to him."

“If he didn’t bring me here….”

“Someone did.” There is a sudden shift in his eyes, as if he was avoiding staring into mine. His eyes glossed over every surface of the room before returning to mine. “He found you passed out last night under the rain.”

“Where is he?” I asked, attempting to sit up. The doctor didn’t stop me this time, moving away slowly, to give me more room.

“He didn’t stay,” he responds quietly.

"Did he at least leave a note behind?" The only thing I remember was those piercing dark eyes, standing out in the night. For some reason, I was hoping it was Zayn.

Turns out hope doesn’t work that way.

I search the doctor's face for an answer, but the only thing he sends my way is a sympathetic smile. He shakes his head. "They didn't leave a name or anything. Although he asked that, "we ensure you feel much better before letting you leave."

It is strange how the person knew to bring me here, to our family hospital, when this detail isn’t exactly public knowledge.

My mind wanders back to Zayn, and the events of last night come flooding back. The familiar ache in my chest resurfaces, and my hands fly to clutch hard onto it. I remember the divorce papers, still lying on my nightstand back in Zayn's penthouse.

His penthouse. He has made it clear that I am not welcome there, but still, how does he expect me to let go of the only place I have called home for so long?

My eyes burnt with brimming tears as I looked up at the doctor. “Has anyone….”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Black, but you should let it go for now. You need to rest. It’s important for the health of your child.”

At first, my head jerks back, confusion eating at me. "What child? I am not…"

I searched his face again, wondering if this was a joke. Tatiana had done something like this in the past, messing up with my tests and making me believe something that wasn’t true.

God, I was so excited, and she was all too pleased to take that away from me.

“You are pregnant, Mrs. Rivera-Black,” the doctor confirmed, giving me a small smile. “Congratulations. I’m sure Mr. Black will be so excited to know this.”

Pregnant. Every despair I have been feeling since I got up suddenly halts with that word. For a moment, hope resurfaces again, and relief washes through me. Zayne cannot push me out of his life now, not with his child growing inside me.

A child he has always wanted.

Hell, this could get Charles treating me just the way he treats Tatiana.

“Can I be discharged right away?” I murmur, already flipping the sheets off my legs. “There is somewhere I have to be.”

The doctor looks momentarily startled, but he nods, knowing fully well that the Black family can take on the whole hospital if anything goes wrong with me.

I get discharged in the afternoon, but when I reach the penthouse, my key card doesn't let me in, no matter how hard I swipe. The doorman avoids my gaze as he murmurs something about my husband leaving strict instructions.

It doesn't matter. That is what I tell myself as I turn around and head to his company. The moment he finds out that I am pregnant, he will be the one apologizing for kicking me out last night. Everything will go back to normal, and I get to keep my place beside him.

I barely notice the whispers and the hands pointing at me as I walk into the lobby, heading to the 13th floor where his office is located at the far end.

"What are you doing here, Daphne?" His icy tone washes over me the minute I walk into his glass-walled office. "I told you…."

I don’t wait for him to finish his sentence before falling to my knees at the doorway. “Zayne,” I murmur, excitement coursing through me. “You have to listen to me.”

I feel someone behind me, edging closer. He steps to the side and looks down at me.

Charles Black.

“Well, isn’t this pathetic?” he sneers before looking at his son. “I thought we agreed for you to get rid of her.”

“Dad, I….”

“Shut it!” He snaps, then signals to the guards stationed at every door. “Get her out of here, and never let her in again if you don’t want to be tossed out as well.”

"No!" My hands flail out, but they grope at nothing but air. "Zayne, please, I'm…"

Charles raises a hand to stop the guards, and relief floods through me. Maybe they got a call from the doctor.

“Sign it, Daphne.” Charles’ voice kills whatever hope I have as he flings the divorce papers my way.

I shook my head. I can’t.

But my husband, the man I love, delivers the last blow. "Sign it, Daphne, and get the fuck out of my life. I should never have married you."

Somewhere within me, something small and fragile snaps.