Chapter 1
Trina Grow’s face lit up when the doctor handed her the pregnancy test results. “Congrats! You’re pregnant,” he said with a grin.
Trina smiled softly, resting her hand on her still-flat stomach, her eyes filled with warmth. She was carrying Cyril Banks’s child-the beautiful fruit
of their lover.
“Thank you, doctor,” she replied, her steps light as she left the examination room. She couldn’t want to share the good news with her husband Cyril
As she turned the corner, she nearly bumped into a tall, simposing man with chiseled features. Her heart skipped a beat. “Cyril?” she called out.
Before she could say anything else, he grasped her wrist. “Perfect timing. Lisa needs another blood transfusion,” he said, already pulling her towards the blood draw room.
Trina’s smile faded as she took in Cyril’s reaction. Instead of asking why she was at the hospital or if she was okay, his only c received her blood transfusion on time.
The cruel irony wasn’t le
lost on Trina-her husband’s thoughts always seemed to revolve around someone else.
Trina wrenched her arm free. Tm not going,” she said firmly.
concern was that Lisa
Cyril stopped dead spinning to glare at her. “Trina, have you forgotten the promise you made when we got married?” His voice was ice-cold, his
sharp gaze twisting her stomach with resentment.
Three years ago, Cynfrex, Lisa Reid, had been diagnosed with leukemia. Her rare blood type made finding donors nearly impossible, and transfusions were her only hope.
Back then, Trina had struck a deal with Cyril: she’d donate her blood to Liss if he agreed to marry her. Cyril hadn’t hesitated, sealing the deal with a wedding ring
“No,” Trina replied quietly, her voice tight with frustration, but I’m pregnant now. I can’t donate anymore”
Cyril’s eyes narrowed, his face hardening with disbelief. “That’s bullshit he snapped. “We’ve always used protection. There’s no way you’re pregnant
His grip on her arm tightened painfully as he tried to drag her toward the blood draw room again.
Trina protested, her voice rising in desperation. Im not lying! The rest results are in my bag. Her words might as well have been air.
Cyril shoved her into the chair. “Take 600 milliliters, he barked at the nurse, his tone as cold as steel.
The nurse hesitated, a look of concern crossing her face. “Sir, the safe limit is 400 milliliters. Taking more could seriously harm her.
Cyril’s expression didn’t change. “I said 600. Do it
A sharp ache tore through Trina’s chest. She was his wife, yet he cared so little for her health that he’d put her at risk for someone else. She couldn’t help but wonder if Liu’s le meant more to him than hers
As the cold needle slid into her arm, Trina stared numbly at the dark bruises and puncture marks scattered across her pale skin-silent reminders: of the countless times she’d “donated” over the years.
For a fleeting moment, Cyril’s face flashed with something like guilt, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He reminded himself that she’d known exactly what she was agreeing to when they made this deal
As her blood drained away, Trina’s lips paled, and her body grew cold. She shivered uncontrollably, her vision blurring as the room spun. Through…] the haze, she watched Cyril grab the blood bag and rush out without looking back. A bitter smile crossed her lips.
For three years, she’d tried to win his heart, hoping he’d finally see her one day. What a fool she’d been. He only had eyes for Lisa, never really caring about her.
The world faded to black as Trina slipped into unconsciousness.
When Trina finally came t
to, she found herself in a hospital bed as a nurse gently pulled the IV from her arm.
You fainted from blood loss,” the nurse said, her tone casual but firm. “You’re free to go whenever you feel up to it”
Trina instinctively placed a hand on her stomach, panic rising. “What about my baby?” she asked, her voice trembling.
The nurse reissured her, “The baby’s fine, but you’re severely anemic. You need iron supplements and extra care. The fetus is delicate at this stage.
11:41 AM
Chapter 1
Trina nodded weakly, a mix of guilt and relief washing over her. After three years of constant “donations” to Lisa, her anemia wasn’t exactly surprising. She had only herself to blame.
On shaky legs. Trina made her way out of the room. As she moved slowly down the hall, she heard a familiar, smug voice nearby. “Cyril’s so attentive. He always mukes sure I get all the blood I need.”
Trina stopped in her tracks, her ears perked up. Peeking through the cracked door, she saw Lisa lounging in a hospital bed, chatting with someone on the phone
Lisa continued cheerfully. “My illness cleared up
d up ages ago. But that bitch is tough as nails – no matter how much blood we drain, she is still kicking”
Trina’s world spun as the truth hit her like a ton of dricks. She stumbled forward and fling the door open. “You’ve been faking it this whole time!” she demanded her voice shaking with anger
Stanled by Trina’s sudden appearance, Lisa quickly hing up the phone. Her eyes flashed with panic before morphing into a sneer.
So what if I have? Don’t play the innocent victim. If you hadn’t trapped Cyril with your generous offer a nobody like you would never have landed him. I should’ve been his wife! Lisa sustered.
She continued, arrogance dripping from her words, “One word from me, and Cyril will bleed you dry. I’ll milk this illness until you’re nothing but a shell.”
Anger simmered just below the surface inside Trina. With a furious yell, she lunged and slapped Lisa hard across the face.
Lisa looked like she was ready to dodge, but then her gaze flicked past Trina. Instead of ducking, she let the slap land and dramatically crumpled to the floor with a piercing scream.
As the sting faded from Trina’s palm, she realized something was off. Weak from blood loss, there was no way she could have knocked Lisa down with just one hit
“Trina Grow!” That familiar, icy voice cut through the room.
Turning slowly, Trina saw Cyril at the door, his face a storm of rage. Ignoring her, he rushed to Lisa’s side. “Are you okay!” he asked, helping her up.
The tenderness in his voice hit Trina like a gut punch. In three years of marriage, he’d never looked at her the way he now gazed at Lisa
Lisa whimpered, shaking her head and clinging to Cyris arm. “I-I’m fine. It’s my fault for being so sickly. Poor Trina’s given so much blood because of me. Of course, she’d be upset
Trina let out a harsh laugh. “Lisa, you’re wasting your talent here. You could win an Oscar for those acting skills.
“Shut up!” Cyril snapped, his voice sharp. He helped Lisa back onto the bed before turning to Trina, his face dark with anger. “Apologize. Now”
Trina stared in disbelief, “Apologizer Cyril, she just admitted her illness is faire. I heard it with my own ears!”
“Cyril” Lisa whimpered, burying her face in his chest.
His arms tightened around her protectively as he glared at Trina. “You expect me to beliekę your lies? Apologize,” he demanded.
Trina let out a bitter laugh, her eyes brimming with tears. The last flicker of hope in her heart extinguished. She’d been a fool to think he might actually believe her over Lisa. It felt like one big cruel joke.
For years, she’d bent over backward trying to win even a scrap of affection from this man. Now the truth hit her like a freight train-compared to Lisa, she didn’t even register
Realizing there was no point in clinging to this loveless marriage. Trina decided it was time to walk away
“You love her that much? Fine. I’m out she said, her voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill. “This charade has gone on long enough”
Cyril’s eyes narrowed. “What are you getting at!”
“I want a divorce, Trina declared firmly. “It’s over, Cyril. We’re going our separate ways. Whoever wants to be the next Mrs. Banks can have at ic”
She was done banging her head against the wall of his indifference, done letting this empty marriage eat away at her soul bit by bit. It was time to cu her losses.
Without another word. Trina walked out of the room, not looking back.
Cyril snapped out of his daze only after Trina’s slim figure disappeared from view. He wondered what new game
game she was pla
now,
Beside him. Lisa struggled to hide her glee behind a concerned facade. “Cyril, maybe you should go after her. Talk things out. Don’t let me come between you.
2/3
Chapter 1
Cinterrupted, his voice flat. “She’s jou bluffing She’ll be back before sundown”
In his eyes, a gold-digger like Trina would never actually go through with a lavorer. And she basically had nowhere else to go after leaving their place
One Trina stepped out of the hospital, she took a deep breath, feeling as
ferling as if a huge weight had finally
by been lifted off her shoulders.
It daword on her that marrying Cyril had been a mistake from the get-go. Her only regret was that her child would grow up without a father. But she was determined to raise this baby on her own-she had what it took.
o
She pulled out her phone and dated a number she knew by heart. “They, Truman. I want to go home.”
Fifteen minutes later, a sleek, limited edition Femari screeched to a hah in front of the hospital.
AD
