Shattered Hope

Chapter Three : Shattered Hope Racheal’s POV That night I sat on the floor, my phone in my hand, Mr Alexander’s words ringing in my head” by noon “. Then the other message flashes back “Don’t go. He’s not the only one watching.”He fired me. Told me to get rid of my baby. This is enough reason for me not to meet him . But a tiny part of me wants to meet . The part that loves him yes I hate to admit but I’m in love with him. The part of me that hopes for a future with him. I don’t know which scares me more, meeting him, or walking away. Before I can change my mind, I typed “I’ll be there. And I’m bringing something you need to see.” After that I took my meds and went to bed. The next day I arrived at Central Park ten minutes early, my nerves an emotional mess. I spotted Mr Alexander before he saw me. He stood by the fountain’s edge, hands in the pockets of his tailored black coat, looking every bit the powerful CEO he was. Tall, broad-shouldered, with that dark hair tousled just enough to make him seem approachable though I knew better. His blue eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on me. “Rachael,” he said, his voice carrying that deep, commanding tone that still sent unwelcome butterflies through my stomach. He stepped closer, but I held up a hand. “Stay there,” I said firmly. “This is neutral ground, remember? We’re talking . Nothing more.” He nodded, though his jaw tightened. “Fine. Look, I… I overreacted that night. The pregnancy caught me off guard. My life is complicated. The company, the deals, the pressure . But I’ve thought about it. We can make this work. I’ll provide for the child. And you… you can come back.” “Come back?” I echoed, disbelief washing over me. “As your assistant? Or your secret fling?” “As whatever you want,” he replied, his eyes intense. “I care about you, Rachael. More than I admitted.” I wanted to believe him. God, a part of me ached. But the memory of his cold rejection still burned. “You told me to get rid of it. You fired me. Threw me out like trash.” “I was wrong,” he admitted, stepping closer despite my warning. “Let me make it right.” “ What about your engagement? What about Miss Selena ? What about your fiance ? I asked , my hand unconsciously drifting to my stomach. Maybe this could be a fresh start. For the baby.But then his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and his expression darkened instantly. Storm clouds gathered in those blue eyes as he pulled out his device and thrust it toward me. “What the hell is this?” he demanded, his voice low and venomous. I took the phone, confused. On the screen were photographs but clear enough. Me hugging a man outside a coffee shop. Another of us laughing together in a park. A third where he had his arm around my shoulders, walking down a street. My heart sank. “Alexander , wait” “An affair?” he snarled, snatching the phone back. “All this time, you were screwing around behind my back? With this guy?” “No! It’s not what it looks like ” “Save it,” he cut me off, his face full of anger . “I had you follow after you left. Private investigator. These were sent this morning. You’ve been seeing him for weeks. Hugging, hanging out, acting like a couple. And now you’re pregnant, trying to pin it on me?” I felt the blood drain from my face. Betrayed? He thought I betrayed ? The reality hit me , but the shock left me feeling hurt. “ please , listen to me” “Why should I?” he yelled . “You used me, didn’t you? Slept your way to the top, got close to the billionaire CEO, and now you’re trying to trap me with some fake pregnancy story to get rich. Take your little scam somewhere else and respect yourself for once.” His words hit like punches. “Fake? Alexander , this is real . The baby is yours!” He laughed bitterly, a wicked laugh . “Sure it is. Probably his kid. Or whoever else’s you’ve been whoring around with. Slut.” The names sliced through me, sharp and cruel. w***e. Slut. From the man I’d once thought I loved. Tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them back . “How dare you” “How dare I?” he interrupted again, his voice rising. People nearby glanced our way, but he didn’t care. “You played me, Rachael. Acted all innocent, but you’re just another gold digging w***e . I should have seen it sooner.” “Stop this “ I shouted, my voice breaking. “That’s Charlie! He’s my cousin, my gay cousin who lives on the other side of town. We were just catching up on family stuff and nothing more!” But he wasn’t listening. He shook his head, disgust etched on his handsome features. “Lies. All of it. Cousins? Right. I’ve seen enough ‘family’ excuses from women like you. Stay the hell away from me. And if you try to come after me for money, my lawyers will take care of you.” He turned and stormed off, leaving me standing there, shattered. The photoshow had he gotten them? Follow me? The betrayal burned deep, hotter than his rejection ever had. I sat on a nearby bench, hands shaking as I held my bag. The ultrasound photo inside felt like my only hope . Charlie was family, nothing romantic. We met for coffee to talk about my situation. He has been supportive, hugging me when I cried about Alexander . Innocent moments turned into something ugly. But Mr Alexander did not allow me to explain. He accused, insulted, and destroyed me . As I let out heavy sobs I realized the truth there was no going back. No fresh start. Mr Alexander Knights had shown his true colors jealous, cruel, untrusting. And I? I was done begging for scraps from a man who saw me as disposable.From now on, it was me and my baby against the world. But deep down, a spark of anger ignited. One day, he’d learn the truth.And regret every single word. Suddenly I received another text for the same unknown number “ I warned you not to meet him . Watch what I will do next “ I replied quickly “ who are you ? Stay away from me . What do you want from me ? “ Then the reply came two minutes later: “If you want to know who I am, meet me tomorrow at Café La Quiet.” I couldn’t wait to see who it was. For the rest of the day, I was anxious and kept thinking about what tomorrow would bring.