Emma's POV
The morning breeze blew, and my heart soared. Watching the raging storm and the swirling turns of the ocean was overwhelming. Each moment drifted my thoughts back to the doctor's news from three days ago.
I had long waited for this day to share the good news with Rick. I couldn't imagine how he would feel hearing it today, on our marriage anniversary.
Becoming parents was something I had long dreamed of, and I was beyond grateful it was happening so soon. We would be a happy family. I imagined playing with our child, spending time together, and building a life filled with love.
A smile formed on my lips.
I kept my eyes on the water, my hands slowly gripping the reels.
Rick had planned this beautiful celebration by the shore, and I couldn't have been happier. He loved me deeply, and I was grateful I had married him.
I thought about his sweet words from last night. He had mentioned a surprise for me today.
How could I have forgotten? My heart filled with excitement as I reminded myself.
I placed a hand on my flat stomach and chuckled. There it was, a tiny life inside me; a dream come true. With a loving husband and a baby on the way, what more could I ask for?
"There she is," I heard an unfamiliar voice call from behind,
my smile faded.
For a moment, I wondered who could be on this ship with us. It was supposed to be just Rick and me. Had he invited someone else without telling me? Maybe a surprise, I thought.
Turning in the direction of the voice, what greeted my eyes sent shivers down my spine, but I tried to remain composed, hoping it wasn't what I thought.
An unfamiliar woman was approaching, her hands clutched around Rick's, and from their closeness, my stomach twisted.
I swallowed hard.
"Honey, who is she?" I inquired politely the moment they were close.
"Save that silly question, you sneaky snake," he responded, a frown creasing his forehead.
I blinked repeatedly.
For a moment, I remained resolute, trying to process what he had just said.
"I don't understand. Isn't this supposed to be just the two of us?" I asked, frustrated.
The woman scoffed, giving me a cold glare. "Look who's pretending now."
My thoughts raced. I couldn't make sense of any of this.
"Can someone tell me what's going on? I don't understand either of you!" I snapped.
They both stared at me with disgust. My frustration grew.
"You really thought I wouldn't find out?" Rick yelled.
"Find out what?" I paused, but then it hit me; maybe he had found out about the pregnancy and was upset I hadn't told him yet.
"Oh, that?" A slight smile formed on my face. "I was going to tell you today."
"Oh, so the bitch even had the nerve to tell her husband about her affairs," the woman spat.
My heart skipped instantly.
"What affairs?"
"Didn't you just say you wanted to tell him?" She turned to Rick. "See the bitch you've spent one year with! She's a whore who…"
I cut her off. "Enough! I won't let you insult me," I snapped, turning to Rick, hoping for an explanation.
I thought today was supposed to be special. Why were they doing this? My brows furrowed in confusion.
Or… was this some cruel joke?
Rick's eyes darkened as he pulled out a brown envelope I hadn't noticed before.
"Here. Open it." He shoved it into my hands.
My heart seethed, but I tried to put on some composure.
My stomach tightened as I took a deep breath. Hesitantly flipped it open.
"What…" I screamed as the file slipped from my hands. Inside were pictures of me making out with another man. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. How was this possible when the only man I'd ever been with was Rick?
"Surprised?" he mocked.
"I think this is fabricated, I…."
"Shut that hole you call a mouth!" His eyes darkened, and my bones turned to jelly at his outburst. "I trusted you. I gave you my heart, even when it wasn't my initial intention to marry you, and yet you repay me with infidelity?" he yelled.
"Ho…"
"I said shut up!"
"Why don't you just admit it already, you lying bitch?" the woman cursed. For a moment, the urge to lash out at her surged, but I tried to restrain myself.
"You know you're just unfaithful," she spat, and that was it. I couldn't take it anymore.
Snack!
My hand met her cheek with a loud slap. The force sent her staggering. Her cheek burned with pain, and I could tell, even without looking, that my fingers had left a red mark on her disgusting face. She winced, clutching her cheek.
"How dare you!" Rick roared. Before I could react, his palm crashed against my face, twice as hard as I had hit her. The impact sent me to the floor, pain shooting through my abdomen. I held my stomach, gasping.
"It's not enough that you betrayed me by opening your legs to other men, but you also had the nerve to slap my fiancée?"
"Fiancée?" I snapped, confused.
"Yes, you heard him right. We'll be getting married soon," the woman boasted, wrapping her arms around Rick's shoulders. I watched in horror as they kissed. It wasn't enough that he brought her here, he also humiliated me and destroyed everything we had built.
"How could you?" I managed to speak, my voice trembling. The pain in my abdomen was intensifying, and deep down, I prayed that my child was safe.
I never imagined things would turn out like this.
"I despise you," Rick growled, and it felt like a dagger piercing my heart. I snapped almost immediately.
"I'm pregnant with your child!"
"That thing cannot be his! It's probably one of those men you slept with," the woman sneered.
"Which men? Argh!" I groaned in pain.
"That serves you right. Maybe in your next life, you'll choose to be faithful," Rick snapped, approaching me. Before I could say anything, he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me across the deck like a piece of trash.
"Let go of me! What are you doing?" I cried, my body weakening. I felt something slipping away, but I tried to fight. Unfortunately, he was too strong.
"My family will make sure you pay dearly for this," I gasped through the pain.
"Which family?" he smirked.
"It's a surprise, babe. They won't find out anything. The Peters will know nothing. Your death will be slow and peaceful. And guess what? I've got it all planned."
"Death?" I asked, shocked.
Fear gripped my entire numb body.
For a moment, he stopped in his tracks, his hand still tangled in my hair. "Yes, you heard me right."
I tried to speak, but the words choked up in my throat as the fear intensified, sending a striking pull down my spine.
Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably.
"Your sister Lily is also involved here," the lady smirked, turning. And immediately, Lily appeared in the distance.
My heart sank.
"Lily," I struggled with the words.
Lifting my already teary gaze toward her, I saw her smile before turning her gaze away.
Then, it dawned on me; I was doomed.
I had always known Lily didn't love me. I had tried to understand why, but I never imagined she would betray me like this.
"Lily… why?" I whispered, my voice barely there.
"Enough with the drama, you slimy bitch," she spat, her eyes full of hate as always.
"Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Peters," the woman mocked. "The storm came, and before I knew it, your precious daughter fell overboard! Help! Help!" She laughed cruelly.
My vision blurred. My body was failing me. I could feel it, I was losing the baby. My clothes were soaked, and I knew it wasn't just water, but blood.
"Please… let me go," I begged weakly.
"That's exactly what I'm doing," Rick sneered.
He yanked my hair one last time, dragging me along. The next thing I felt was the hard impact of my face against the iron railing of the ship, that tore in-between.
A loud crack echoed as my head slammed against the lower railing.
Suddenly, everything blurred.
My body plunged into the ocean with a loud splash….