“Are you okay?” Nick whispered into my ear.
“I can’t stand being here. I want this event to be over!” I replied firmly.
“Relax and calm down, love,” he said, making my eyebrow raise at his use of the word “love.”
“Thank you all for coming tonight and witnessing my close friend ask for my granddaughter, Lily Davis’s, hand in marriage. Finally, the long-awaited day is near—the wedding of our grandchildren. All of you are invited to the ceremony!” Grandpa announced with a smile.
After Grandpa’s speech, Nick’s grandfather spoke, followed by Dad and Nick’s father, who both gave joyful remarks.
I heard Dad call Mom.
“How I wish Mom were with me right now,” I muttered to myself.
I looked at Nick and felt he was deeply troubled. If he was, I needed to find out why—it might help me stop this wedding. I couldn’t allow him to claim the role of father to the baby in my womb. I gently touched my slightly rounded tummy.
A smile spread across my face as I caressed it. For a moment, I felt like I was in another world, imagining Arlo and me walking hand in hand together.
If Nick hadn’t called my name several times, I would have stayed lost in my daydream. Then, the harsh reality hit me, reminding me of my hurtful words to Arlo.
After two long hours, the event finally ended. I rushed to my room, locked the door, and immediately took off the dress I was wearing. Irritated, I removed the engagement ring from my finger and threw the diamond ring into the small trash bin.
I opened my drawer and took out the pregnancy test I had used earlier—it showed two lines. I was now certain I was pregnant. All the tests I had bought were positive.
“You will know no other father but your true father,” I said softly, speaking to the baby in my womb.
The next day, I woke up with my whole body aching and my head pounding. I heard my mom’s voice outside my room. She knocked on my door.
“Child, are you awake?” my mom asked.
I didn’t want to get up, but I forced myself because I didn’t want Mom waiting outside. Without a word, I opened the door and saw Nanny bringing my breakfast.
I felt like I had gone back to how it used to be here in the Davis Mansion, where everyone treated me like a princess. Mom searched for the TV remote because the news about my upcoming wedding to Nick was already airing. I covered my mouth in shock, knowing for sure that it had already spread on social media and had likely reached Arlo.
When Mom found the remote, she turned on the TV. The screen immediately showed my face and Nick’s, with his arm around my waist. Anger boiled inside me. I grabbed the remote from Mom’s hand, startling her, and threw it at the TV, shattering the screen.
Even I couldn’t understand myself. My temper flared so quickly, and I felt like the blood in my veins was rushing to my head.
When I smelled the breakfast that Nanny Stella had brought in, I found the scent unbearable. Mom’s eyes widened as I called another household staff member to take the tray of food out of my room.
“Daughter, aren’t those your favorites?” Mom asked. I felt like I was losing my mind as I opened all the windows in my room.
“Not anymore, Mom. Ever since I left this mansion, I’ve forgotten everything about my life here,” I said.
“Miss, isn’t this your engagement ring?” Nannyasked. I didn’t respond.
“Stella, where did you find that?”
“In the trash can, ma’am.”
Mom looked at me.
“Why did you throw it away? Please, Lily , calm yourself. Like I told you, child, trust me—I promised there would be no wedding. Trust me, my child,” Mom said, hugging me to calm me down.
“Leave me alone. I need some time to myself,” I said.
They had no choice but to leave. I opened my social media account and found that my engagement with Nick was all over my news feed. We were trending everywhere.
“Lily Davis, heiress of the Davis family, is set to marry her fiancé, Nick Dawson, a business tycoon from a wealthy lineage.”
I didn’t finish reading the rest.
I couldn’t stop myself from crying—I felt pity for myself. I didn’t know how to comfort myself either. But when I remembered that I was pregnant, I felt a surge of courage and reminded myself to stay strong.
I opened my phone again and dialed Arlo’s number, but it was turned off. I tried again, but it was still off.
I then dialed Nikki’s number. She didn’t recognize me at first until I told her I was Lily, though my voice was hoarse.
