Chapter 2

Cora POV

“Get your damn hands off me, you crazy bitch!” she screamed, trying to break free, but I held tight.

“You’ve always caused me pain,” I shouted, my voice echoing through the air. “You took everything that belonged to me away from me. I won’t let you take him away from me, just like you took my parents away from me!”

Sloane struggled, her eyes blazing with anger. “You’re unfortunate!” she spat. “Was it my fault you got abducted? Was it my fault they chose to love me over you?”

I dragged her around, my grip unyielding, as our heated words hung in the air like a challenge.

“Are you mad? Let go of me!” Sloane shouted, trying to wriggle free. “How can someone be foolish enough to be in love with someone who doesn’t love them back? Are you crazy? I mean, are you so blind that you didn’t realized that we’ve been dating for the past three years? Don’t you understand that he loves me, not you? So do everyone a favor, just get out of his life and let me take over!”

I stopped dead in my tracks, my mind reeling in shock as one particular question kept replaying in my mind. “Are you telling me you’ve been dating my husband for this long?” I asked, my voice trembling with rage and hurt.

Sloane’s expression twisted in scorn. “Are you daft? Your husband or my man? Isn’t it obvious we’re both in love, and you’re just his toy? You’re the intruder here." she sneered, her words cutting deep.

I felt like the ground had given way beneath me, leaving me stunned and reeling.

“What have I done? Why did you take everything away from me?” I shouted, tears streaming down my face. “I never got to grow up with my parents’ love, just because of you. Why are you always a replacement for everything I’m involved in? Where did I go wrong?”

The pain and hurt I felt was overwhelming, like a tidal wave crashing down on me. I had thought I’d finally found happiness with Aston, but Sloane’s words cut deep, reopening old wounds.

After being abducted at five, I was replaced by this girl, who received all the love and affection from my parents. They showed me hatred and disdain, making me wonder if they were even my real parents. I often fantasized that my true parents would show up one day and rescue me from this nightmare.

But now, Sloane’s words made me realize that my suffering was far from over. “The only thing you did wrong was thinking everything should work in your way,” she said, her face devoid of remorse. “Maybe if you had chosen another man, I would have spared you.”

“I’m sure you seduced my Aston,” I said, desperation creeping into my voice. “I’m sure he loves me, and you’re just manipulating him.”

I felt like I was losing my grip on reality, unable to believe what was happening. My words made me sound like someone with low self-esteem, but I couldn’t help myself. I had tried so hard to have a happy life, but Sloane refused to let me have it.

Before I knew it, I was on my knees, pleading with her. “I know you don’t like me, and I’m not begging you to like me. But please, just leave Aston for me. I’m pregnant with his child. Where do you expect me to start from?”

I felt like a fool, begging her like this. But what was I supposed to do? I had no one else to turn to. My parents, who were supposed to love and support me, had chosen to favor my fake sister instead. I often wondered why they hadn’t given birth to her instead of me, then I could have accepted being an adopted child. But that wasn’t the case. So, I was left with no choice but to beg.

“So you can beg this much,” Sloane said, a smirk spreading across her face. “Aish, I feel like I want to pity you right now,” she added, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

I remained on my knees, desperation etched on my face. “Please, I’ll be happy if you pity me,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sloane walked closer, bending to my level, her eyes locked on mine. She raised my head with a gentle touch of her fingers, her cold gaze piercing mine. “What will you do for me if I let him go?” she asked, her voice low and calculating.

I grasped her hand eagerly, willing to offer her anything. “You can have my parents, all the property… everything,” I said, my words tumbling out in a rush. I was willing to give up anything to make her leave Aston alone.

“I have enough money, so I wouldn’t be needing that,” Sloane said, her voice cold and detached. “All I want is Aston, and I’m not going to let you have him.”

I pleaded with her, desperate. “Please, consider that I’m carrying his child.” But she just stood up, her expression unyielding.

I held onto her leg, refusing to let go. But she kicked me in the stomach, sending me crashing to the floor. I screamed in agony, but she just smirked.

“Are you shouting so Aston will rush down here to save you?” she taunted, laughing.

“You’re a fool for not realizing he could hear your voice but was just pretending not to,” Sloane sneered, her eyes flashing with contempt. “That simply means he doesn’t want you anymore.”

She licked her lower lip, her frustration palpable. “I hate seeing your face; it disgusts me. I want you to leave his life for good, but I have to get rid of that thing inside you, so you won’t come back to hold anything against my man.”

With a vicious smile, she hit me again in the stomach. Tears of agony streamed down my face as I started to bleed, and I growled in pain, my body writhing in torment. Sloane’s smirk only grew wider, her eyes gleaming with a malevolent triumph.

Suddenly, I began to lose my breath as I realized I had lost too much blood. I wished for a second chance, to be reborn like in stories and movies, to run far away from these people and start anew. But this was harsh reality, and I only got to live once. Maybe I should just die and go rest, I thought. The world didn’t feel like my home; perhaps I would find peace in heaven.

As my vision began to fade, I felt a sense of resignation wash over me. I thought of all the pains I have went through , tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I whispered a silent goodbye to the world.