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The Contract of Fate

章 1: The Rainy Night

A message pops up on the screen:

"See the video. Did you like it?"

Serena Vale stared at her phone, her heart racing and stomach twisting. The name that flashed on the screen sent a chill down her spine—Damian. She had been staring at the blank wall of their bedroom, the shadows stretching long as the storm raged outside, mirroring the turmoil inside her. The muted sounds of thunder rolled like distant drums, echoing her anxiety. With trembling fingers, she clicked on the link, dread pooling in her stomach.

The video began with a blurred image, the faces obscured but the sounds painfully clear. Loud moaning and thrusting filled the space around her, making her stomach churn. A body—naked and glistening—filled the frame, breasts bouncing rhythmically. The voice, sultry and teasing, echoed in her ears.

"Baby, harder!"

Her breath hitched as she recognized it.

ELARA.

Her own sister.

Serena's heart thundered against her ribs, the world narrowing down to the small screen where the betrayal unfolded. A man's hand smacked the woman's ass, the sound ringing in her ears like a death knell. "Put your ass up," the voice commanded, a taunting echo of everything that had gone wrong in her life.

Every gasp, every moan, cut deeper than any knife. Serena's mind raced, swirling with disbelief and despair. HOW COULD HE? The man she had given her heart to, her soul, had torn it apart for her own blood.

The storm outside intensified, rain lashing against the windows like the cries of a heart in anguish. She felt an overwhelming urge to scream, but the sound lodged itself in her throat. Instead, tears cascaded down her cheeks, mixing with the bitter realization that her marriage was nothing more than a façade.

Three years of love—NO, three years of unwavering devotion—had been built on a foundation of lies. In that moment, the weight of betrayal pressed down on her chest, suffocating her, until she could barely breathe.

Serena dropped her phone onto the bed as if it had burned her. She clasped her hands over her face, fighting against the tidal wave of grief and rage that threatened to consume her. "I can't believe this," she whispered into her palms, the words muffled but echoing in her mind like a haunting refrain.

What had she done to deserve this?

The memories flooded back—those fleeting moments of happiness that now felt like cruel taunts. The laughter, the promises, the dreams they had shared. All of it reduced to ashes in a matter of seconds, all the love she had poured into their relationship now mocking her from the screen.

It was not the first time Damian had been distant, but this was the first time the distance felt insurmountable. He had always been consumed by his work, prioritizing his career over the family they were supposed to build together. Late nights turned into weeks of absence, and Serena had tried to fill the void with hope, believing that one day he would come back to her. But this—this was unforgivable.

The sound of thunder cracked overhead, startling her. She stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the wooden floor as she paced the room, trying to quell the chaos in her mind. Her hands trembled as she grasped the edge of the desk, her knuckles whitening from the pressure. She couldn't stay here. She needed to leave, to escape this reality.

As the rain hammered against the windows, she realized she was not just losing her marriage; she was losing a part of herself. The betrayal cut deeper as she thought of the baby growing inside her—her child, who had become a target for the anguish of her heart. How could she bring a life into such a world? A world where love was nothing more than a cruel joke, and family ties were mere strings waiting to be severed.

"You will never know the kind of love I can give you," she whispered to her unborn child, clutching her stomach protectively as if to shield the life within her from the horrors of the outside world. "You will be safe with me."

But safety felt elusive, like a shadow slipping through her fingers. As she turned away from the window, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her was not the confident woman she once was but a shadow of her former self—eyes swollen from crying, hair a tangled mess, and clothes hanging loosely from her frame.

"I can't do this anymore," she whispered, voice cracking. The enormity of the moment settled around her like a heavy fog, thick and suffocating. She was done being the perfect wife, done being the one who accepted his coldness, his neglect. "I'm tired of fighting for someone who doesn't even want me."

In that moment, a fierce determination began to bloom within her, but it was quickly overshadowed by fear. What would happen when she confronted him? Would he deny it, or would he laugh in her face? Would he shrug it off as if it meant nothing? The thought made her stomach churn.

The sound of the door creaking open pulled her from her spiraling thoughts. Damian stood there, framed by the dim light of the hallway, his expression shifting from surprise to a hardened mask of indifference. "Serena? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice flat, devoid of the warmth she had longed for.

"WHAT'S WRONG?" she echoed, her voice rising, fury bubbling to the surface. "YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO ASK ME THAT?"

Damian's eyes narrowed, but he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, feigning innocence as if he hadn't just shattered her heart into a million pieces.

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?!" Serena cried, the storm inside her matching the tempest outside. "I JUST WATCHED YOU WITH MY SISTER!" The words felt like poison on her tongue, and she could see the color drain from his face, his bravado crumbling under the weight of her accusation.

"Elara?" he said, his voice barely a whisper.

"YES, ELARA!" she spat, shaking with rage and betrayal. "YOU CHEATED ON ME WITH HER! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?"

For a moment, silence enveloped them, thick and heavy like the rain battering the window. Then Damian's expression hardened, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "You don't understand," he said, his tone dismissive. "It was just a mistake."

"A MISTAKE?" Serena laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and mocking. "THIS ISN'T A MISTAKE; THIS IS YOUR LIFE!"

"You've always been dramatic, Serena," he replied, crossing his arms defensively. "You don't have to make a scene."

The condescension in his voice ignited something primal within her, a fury so hot it threatened to consume her whole. "I AM NOT BEING DRAMATIC! I AM DONE BEING YOUR PUNCHING BAG! YOU THINK I DON'T DESERVE BETTER?"

His eyes flickered with irritation, the very essence of their marriage—cold, unyielding, and devoid of warmth.

"You need to calm down," he said, his tone condescending, as if she were the one at fault. "You're overreacting."

Serena's heart shattered anew, not just from his betrayal but from the realization that he would never see her as an equal, never value her enough to understand her pain. "No, Damian. I am NOT overreacting. You made a choice. You chose HER. I won't be here to play second fiddle to your whims any longer."

The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to choke on, and as lightning lit up the room, she felt the full weight of her resolve. She turned away from him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm losing my baby," she whispered, her voice breaking.

The words hung in the air, a painful reminder of what was at stake.

Damian took a step closer, his eyes softening momentarily. "What do you mean?"

But she could see the flicker of guilt in his eyes, quickly replaced by the familiar coldness. He didn't truly care. He was more concerned about how this would reflect on him than the life they were about to lose.

"IT DOESN'T MATTER!" she shouted, feeling her heart race as despair clawed at her throat. "I'M DONE!"

Without another word, she fled the room, her heart pounding in her chest. Each step echoed the finality of her decision. She would fight for her child, but she could no longer fight for him.

As she reached the door, she looked back one last time. Damian stood there, frozen, eyes darkened with something she could no longer recognize.

"Goodbye, Damian," she whispered, her voice steady, a stark contrast to the storm that raged outside.

With that, she stepped out into the rain, feeling the cool droplets wash over her like a cleansing embrace. The darkness of the night loomed ahead, but for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope—this was her chance to reclaim herself, to fight for her child, and to finally confront the demons that had haunted her for too long.

As the rain poured down, each drop felt like a release, washing away the remnants of a life that had betrayed her. Serena stepped into the night, the coldness of the downpour mirroring the frost in her heart. She had no destination in mind, only the instinct to escape—to flee from the suffocating silence of the house that had become a prison.

"I will not let this define me," she murmured, determination igniting within her. The world outside was dark and chaotic, but within that chaos lay a promise of change. She hugged her arms around herself, not just for warmth but as a gesture of self-protection. Each step she took felt like an act of rebellion against the life she had known.

As she walked aimlessly, the rhythmic patter of rain against the pavement provided a strange solace. With every echoing footfall, she distanced herself from the betrayal, the pain, and the cold reality of her marriage. The weight of her heartbreak felt lighter with each stride, and soon she found herself at the edge of the town, where the streetlights flickered like dying stars in the stormy night.

"What now?" she wondered aloud, her voice drowned by the storm. She had no plan, no direction, but the flicker of hope began to guide her. She could not allow herself to succumb to despair, not when the life inside her needed her strength.

Suddenly, the thought of her baby brought her to a halt. She placed a hand on her abdomen, feeling the warmth and life pulsating within her. "I will fight for you," she promised softly, her heart swelling with newfound purpose.

As she stood there, a car approached, its headlights slicing through the rain-soaked darkness. She squinted against the brightness, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity. The vehicle slowed, and a familiar figure emerged from the vehicle, a silhouette against the harsh glare of the headlights.

"Serena!" A voice called out, cutting through the noise of the storm. It was Alexander, her ex-husband's older brother, the one man who had always treated her with kindness.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, concern etched across his handsome features. His dark hair clung to his forehead, rain running down his face, but he looked remarkably composed amidst the chaos.

Serena felt a mix of emotions—gratitude, relief, and something else she couldn't quite name. "I—" she started, the words catching in her throat as the weight of everything crashed down on her once more.

"Get in the car," he insisted, his voice firm but gentle. There was no room for argument in his tone, and she found herself nodding as she moved towards him, the warmth of his presence drawing her closer.

The moment she slid into the passenger seat, the world outside faded, replaced by a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time. The car's interior was warm, a stark contrast to the chill of the storm outside. As Alexander pulled away, she stole a glance at him, studying his profile illuminated by the streetlights.

"What happened?" he asked, his gaze steady on the road ahead.

Serena took a deep breath, the moment feeling surreal. "Damian…" She hesitated, searching for the right words. "He's been cheating on me. With Elara."

The air in the car thickened, and she could feel the tension radiating from him. "I'm sorry, Serena," he said finally, his voice low. "You deserve so much better than that."

The sincerity in his tone touched her, and for the first time since everything had happened, she felt understood. "I thought I could make it work, that things would get better," she admitted, a tremor in her voice. "But I was wrong. I can't stay with him anymore."

Alexander's jaw tightened, a flicker of anger crossing his features. "He doesn't deserve you," he said fiercely. "You deserve someone who values you, who treats you right."

His words sent a shiver down her spine, a mixture of comfort and fear. Could she really let someone else in after all that had happened?

"I just want to protect my baby," she replied, her voice breaking slightly. "I don't know how to do this alone."

"You're not alone," Alexander said, turning to look at her for a moment before focusing back on the road. "I'll help you, Serena. We'll figure this out together."

The sincerity in his voice filled her with warmth, but the shadows of doubt loomed large. "You don't have to," she said softly, unsure of how to accept his offer without feeling vulnerable. "I don't want to burden you."

"You're not a burden," he replied, his tone unwavering. "You're family. I care about you."

Family. The word hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. It reminded her of the bond they once shared, and a flicker of hope ignited within her. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for healing, for a fresh start.

As they drove through the rain-soaked streets, Serena felt the weight of her decision settling around her. This was not just an end; it was a beginning—a chance to reclaim her life, her identity, and the future she had always envisioned for her child.

Eventually, they reached Alexander's apartment, a modest yet inviting space filled with warmth and light. He parked the car and turned to her, his expression softening. "You can stay here for as long as you need," he said, sincerity shining in his eyes.

Serena nodded, grateful for his kindness. "Thank you, Alexander. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You don't have to thank me," he replied, a faint smile breaking through his seriousness. "Just promise me you won't let this bring you down. You're stronger than you think."

The promise hung in the air, echoing within her as she stepped out into the rain once more. But this time, it didn't feel like a burden; it felt like a release. Together, they moved toward the building, the storm behind them and a new path stretching out ahead.

As they entered, the sound of rain began to fade, replaced by the warmth of his home and the flickering light that welcomed her. In that moment, Serena made a silent vow—she would not allow herself to be defined by the betrayal. She would rise from the ashes, stronger and more determined than ever.

With her child and Alexander by her side, she could face whatever lay ahead.

"This is just the beginning," she whispered to herself, her heart steadying with each passing moment.

"And I will not be broken again."