I slowly opened my eyes and was met with the sterile smell of the hospital room, the beeping of machines and the gentle hum of fluorescent lights overhead.
My mind was still foggy and my thoughts, disjointed. I tried to sit up but a sharp pain shot through my head that forced me back onto the pillow.
A gentle voice spoke beside me. "Naya, honey, don't try to move. You're safe now."
I looked to see that the gentle voice belonged to Chloe. I was more than relieved to have her near me.
"W-What happened?" I asked softly.
"You fainted when you came back home after your visit to Ivan's office.." She said as I furrowed my eyes at the memory.
"Are you okay? Do you remember now? You were bleeding so much.. what really happened back there?" She took my hand into hers and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Ivan…" I croaked out as my eyes blurred with tears. "I-Ivan h-happened.." I wiped away my eyes with my other hand.
"How? I thought you went there all determined and stuff?" She said as I shook my head.
"I did.. I mean I successfully threw those papers in his face and I actually did it but.." I trailed off as I remembered the fact that he made out with Flora in his office. "He humiliated me in front of everyone outside the building.."
"What?" Chloe perked up a brow.
"He obviously never lets me win.. I actually thought I'd win against him this time but… he said that I deliberately killed our unborn child three months ago…" I whispered the last part.
"What? He said that?"
I shook my head and sniffled and quickly tried to blink back the tears in my eyes.
"You were there Chloe.. you know what they did to me… they made me lie in front of the whole world that I.. that It was my fault I lost my child because of my carelessness, when in fact his mother was the one that intentionally pushed me down the stairs!" I tried to scream out the last part but it only came out muffled.
I discovered that my voice wasn't loud enough to scream out all of the frustration that pierced my pores.
"I know, I know.. I'm fully aware of all those fuckers did to you… and I honestly, I still don't understand why you subscribed to it Naya..." Chloe tried to blink back her tears at the thought of everything.
My gaze rested on her as I bit my lower lip so hard that I intend to draw blood. I felt like shit at the thought of the actual reason why I became a fool and an actual doormat to the Andersons..
"Because I love him.. because I love Ivan, Chloe. And the thought that I still do makes me hate myself even more.." I said barely above whisper.
What's wrong with me?
This is what Ivan and his family have reduced me to, a helpless and an unfortunate woman.
"No, don't hate yourself…" Chloe sniffled and squeezed my hand even more in reassurance. "You should hate them instead, you did nothing wrong, Naya. Apparently, the only thing you did wrong was try to love him." She mumbled as I sniffled when I saw the doctor walk into my ward.
Chloe quickly dried her tears and focused her attention on the doctor whose face registered with relief.
"Doctor?" Chloe croaked out, whereas I, couldn't find my voice.
"Thankfully, you and your baby is in good condition. The baby isn't affected as a result of the fall and I've prescribed some painkillers and ointment for your bruises and…"
"Baby? Did you just say baby?" I managed to say as the doctor nodded at me.
"She's pregnant?" Chloe asked and looked back at me before she glanced back at the doctor.
"Yes, your friend is four weeks pregnant." The doctor confirmed my thoughts as I stared down at my stomach in surprise.
What does this mean? I'm pregnant again?
For a moment, my mind darted across the memory of only being mistreated and the memory of how the doctors were only permitted to attend to my painful and agonizing state at the condition that I make a public statement admitting to the press about the miscarriage being my fault.
"Naya…" Chloe dragged me out of my thoughts as I stared into her eyes to see that she tried to control her emotions at the news.
I wanted to ask her what the news meant for me because I couldn't understand why the universe had to torture me with the child of that monster.
It was obvious to me that this child would only rekindle the ties between myself and the Andersons, the very ties I'm intent to sever to its roots.
Chloe squeezed my hand yet again at the thought of what she believed was good news.
It was bad news for me, and for a split moment, I wished that I miscarried.
"Whatever it is that you're thinking, don't. Naya, this child is only a gift.. a second chance given to you by the heavens!" Chloe shook me out of my thoughts.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw the doctor rush out of the room to probably attend to another emergency.
"H-How do you know that I wish it gone?" My lips trembled at the thought.
Her eyes softened at my resolve. Then she shook her head at me. "I know how you feel but the fact that you're pregnant again, gives you a clear opportunity to get back at the Andersons.." She said as I thought about the possibility and instantly ruled myself out of the impending war I'd probably have with Ivan and his family.
I shook my head. "No, Chloe.. I just need to get rid of it this time around because you know that I'm not cut out for a confrontation with those demons! They don't mind getting rid of me in the process, just like they almost did that night. Those devils almost killed me just to frame me for having a ridiculous affair with their bodyguard!"
Chloe shook her head at me in understanding but she was intent on what she believed was an opportunity for me to get my revenge on them.
"To be honest Chloe, you know I'm weak and.. I can never bring myself to fight the Andersons. I don't see myself fighting against them… No." I mumbled under my breath as Chloe shook me out of my pity pool.
"Naya, you're not weak. Just in fact, you are the strongest woman I know on this planet, you hear me?" She said and blinked back her tears. "You just need rest and a little break from all these drama and then I know you will come back stronger after that."
Speaking of breaks, the TV in my ward flickered to a breaking news with the headline:
Ivan Anderson reveals his Wife, Naya Simpson Anderson intentionally murdered their First child.
Then it also showed how I was slandered on all social media platforms.
I gasped at the sight of my picture plastered on the screen.
I looked away and clutched the sheets as I heard Ivan's voice from the TV.
"It pains me to discover how vile and evil my wife actually is…"
My lips trembled with the only name that screwed daggers into my heart.
"Ivan…" I breathed out.