Gone With the Secret

I ended a pregnancy before it reached three months—and he never even knew.

He was too busy rekindling things with his ex, still tangled in old flames.

To make her feel comfortable, he gave her my master bedroom like it was nothing.

He even turned what was supposed to be our engagement party into a welcome party for her. He let me become the laughingstock of everyone around us.

So I turned away, cut up my engagement dress, and agreed to marry the man my family had chosen for me.

My sister, Yvette Smith, texted me a photo of some guy she wanted me to meet. I barely gave it a glance before closing the message.

I texted her back.

[Sure. Set it up, but give me three days to sort things out here.]

I needed three days to say my goodbyes to that whole mess.

My engagement party was hijacked and turned into a welcome party for Sophia Green. Sticking around was like being the punchline of a cruel joke.

I tossed the ripped-up dress in the trash and got ready to head home.

However, of course, Sophia just could not resist twisting the knife.

"Yoana, I'm so sorry about your engagement getting sidetracked. Simon just had to throw me a welcome party today, and I couldn't say no. Don't be mad, okay?"

She strutted up to me, chin high, her smirk wide, making sure I did not miss the love bite on her neck.

She was showing it off, waiting for me to lose it like I used to.

Too bad for her. I was over it.

"Yeah, I don't mind," I replied, not giving her the satisfaction.

Her smug look faltered, her rehearsed taunts stuck in her throat.

I grabbed my bag and headed straight home.

The moment I walked through the door, my face went pale with pain.

My body was still a wreck.

A week ago, Simon Drake had ignored my protests and moved Sophia into our place. I threatened to leave, but it did not stop him. That was when I knew I would never mean as much to him as she did.

The day after she moved in, I had an abortion.

I was searching for painkillers when Simon burst in.

He tossed his coat at me like he used to, expecting me to catch it and hang it up. However, I just sat there.

He snapped, "I'm back."

For the first time, I did not move an inch.

His temper flared. "I get that you're not thrilled about the last-minute switch-up for today's party, but did you have to make it so obvious? You bailed before the party even wrapped up. How do you think that makes Sophia look?"

However, it was him who flipped the script on our engagement party. Why could not he see how mortifying it was for me?

Simon noticed I was not saying anything and reached out to grab my arm.

He only realized something was off