Maya's POV
"Daniel, who is she?"
My voice was small in the big church. I stood in my white wedding dress. I held flowers. My heart beat too fast in my chest.
Daniel stood at the other end of the church. But he was not alone. A very pretty woman stood next to him. Her dress was gold and tight. Her hand rested on her stomach. Her stomach was round. She looked... pregnant.
Everyone in the church was quiet. I could hear my own breathing.
"Maya," Daniel said. He walked toward me with the woman. "This is... not simple."
"Who is she?" I asked again. My hands felt cold.
The woman smiled. It was not a kind smile. "I am Chloe," she said. Her voice was loud. "I am having Daniel's baby."
The words hit me like cold water. I stepped back. "What?"
Daniel looked at me. His eyes were sorry, but also... strong. "It is true, Maya. Chloe is pregnant. The baby is mine."
I shook my head. "No. No, this is our wedding day."
"I know," he said. "But I must do the right thing. My child needs a father. You understand, right?"
Understand? I felt sick. "Daniel, look at me. We have been together for five years. I worked night jobs so you could study. We saved money for three years to build our house. I stopped my own studies for you. For you."
My voice shook. Tears filled my eyes. "I do not care about the baby," I whispered. "We can raise the baby together. I will forgive you. Please. Do not do this."
Chloe laughed softly. She put her hand on her round stomach. "So sweet," she said, like she talked to a child. "But this is real life. Daniel wants to be with his family."
Daniel looked at her, then at me. "Maya, do not be cruel. My son needs me. You are a good person. You will find another man."
Cruel? He called me cruel?
A hot pain burned in my chest. "Why, Daniel? Is it because I never finished school? Because I am not fancy enough for you now?"
He did not answer. But his quiet was my answer.
Chloe smiled again. "Let us go, my love," she said to Daniel. "This is too sad."
Daniel nodded. He did not look at me again. He took Chloe's arm and they walked away. They walked past all our friends and family.
I stood there alone in my wedding dress. The church was so quiet. I could smell the flowers. They smelled too sweet. I could feel the lace on my dress scratching my neck. I could see everyone looking at me. I felt a deep, empty pain inside me.
Then I ran.
---
I did not know where to go. My feet just moved. I walked out of the church. I walked down the street. People stared at me in my big white dress. I did not care.
I found a bar. It was dark inside. I went in and sat on a stool.
The bartender looked at me. "Bad day?"
"Whiskey, please."
I drank it fast. It burned my throat. I asked for another.
"Bad wedding?" a man's voice said next to me.
I turned. A man sat nearby. He was tall and handsome. He wore a very nice black suit. His hair was dark. His eyes were gray and calm. He looked... clean. Cold. Like he had no feelings.
"My wedding did not happen," I said. My words were messy. "The man I love left me for another woman. She will have his baby. He said I am not good enough because I did not finish school."
The man listened. He did not smile. He did not frown. He just watched me.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Maya."
"I am Alexander," he said. Then he said something that shocked me. "I can help you."
"Help me how?"
"Marry me," he said. His voice was flat, like he talked about the weather. "I need a wife for one year. You will have a baby for me in that time. After the year, you can leave."
I stared at him. "You are joking."
"I never joke," he said. "In return, I will pay for you to go back to school. I will give you money. A nice house. Clothes. Everything. You will become... a better person."
My head was spinning. "Why? Why would you do this?"
"My family wants me to have a child. I do not like feelings. This is a business deal."
He took a small card from his pocket. He put it on the bar. It said: Alexander Thorne, CEO.
"Think about it," he said. "Call me when you decide."
He paid for my drinks. Then he stood up and walked out. Just like that.
I looked at the card. My hands shook.
---
I went to my mother's house. I did not take off my wedding dress. I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I could hear a dog barking outside. I could smell food cooking somewhere. But I felt nothing.
My mother came into the room. Her eyes were red from crying. My little sister Mia was with her.
"Oh, Maya," my mother said. She sat next to me and held my hand. "I am so sorry. I told you that Daniel was not a good man. I saw it in his eyes."
I started to cry. "I gave him everything, Mama. And he left me because I am not educated. Because I am not like that woman."
My mother hugged me. "Listen to me. You are smart. You are strong. I do not have much money, but I will help you go back to school. I promise."
Mia was angry. "He is a snake! We will make him sorry, Maya!"
I looked at my mother's kind face. I looked at Mia's fire. Then I thought of Alexander's cold, clean offer. A way out. A way to become strong. A way to show Daniel he was wrong.
I took a deep breath.
"I have a plan, Mama," I whispered. My fingers touched the business card in my pocket. "I am still thinking about it."
My mother looked worried. But she nodded.
I closed my eyes. My wedding dress felt like a cage. My heart felt broken. But for the first time today, I felt a small, new feeling.
It was not hope. Not yet.
It was the start of a plan.