A Crown For The Wrong Queen

"It's an urgent work thing." Caleb immediately stood and started dressing, not even glancing at me. "You're not feeling well, so get some rest."

He didn't even bother to invent a new lie. The door slammed shut.

I clenched my teeth and forced my weak body to call a cab. My legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand, but desperation drove me forward.

I followed him all the way to the private club where we first met.

From a distance, I saw Caleb standing on the terrace. A blonde woman stepped out of the shadows and threw herself into his arms.

"Caleb, my love," her voice, carried on the night wind, was triumphant and possessive.

"I'm ready to become Mrs. Pierce and bring you everything you need."

Pure ambition and satisfaction bloomed on Caleb's face.

He lifted Sabrina high into the air, spinning her around like a child. That pure, unguarded joy was a sight that shattered what was left of my heart.

"Sabrina! My muse!" His voice trembled in the night. "I promise, you'll get everything you've ever wanted!"

I had never seen him so unguarded, so… happy. He wrapped his arm around Sabrina's waist, as if showing off a rare treasure, and strode briskly toward the club's private suite.

I collapsed onto a bench outside the terrace, the tears finally breaking free.

For five years, I thought I was the love of his life, but I wasn't even worthy of a happy spin in his arms.

A tearing pain shot through my chest, as if the very bond between us was physically snapping. The emptiness of losing my child and the pain of his betrayal hit me all at once. I cried until my throat was raw, until I had shed my last tear.

My mind flashed to the encrypted phone I hadn't touched in years, the one my family used to contact me.

With a trembling hand, I dialed the number.

"Juliet?" A familiar voice answered immediately, filled with surprise and concern. "You're finally calling us!"

"Brother," my voice broke, "I'll do it. The strategic marriage you mentioned... with the business titan."

There was silence on the other end, then an urgent question: "Did he hurt you? What did that bastard Caleb do to you?"

I closed my eyes as fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.

"When you insisted on being with a self-made CEO, I told you he wasn't worthy of you," my brother's voice was filled with suppressed rage. "The heiress of the Sterling family does not suffer this kind of humiliation!"

"But our love..." I choked out.

"Love?" he scoffed. "The man our family chose for you is a thousand times more powerful than that piece of trash." His voice softened. "I have the perfect man for you—Sebastian Thorne. He's a true titan, a living legend whose influence rivals the oldest dynasties. He will never let you suffer."

I nodded through my sobs. "Okay."

"Three days from now," I announced, my voice trembling but firm, "at the family's annual gala. I agree."

After ending the call, I dragged my exhausted body back to the penthouse and began to pack my few belongings. In five years, I had accumulated almost nothing of my own.

Finally, I took out the pregnancy test. It had once been a joy I had hidden away when I discovered I was pregnant. Now it was a cold, glaring reminder of the life I had lost. I placed it on Caleb's pillow along with my hospital discharge papers—a silent, final farewell.

He didn't come home that night.

The next morning, I dragged my suitcase to the office, ready to submit my resignation to HR.

As I reached the executive floor, I saw a sight that made my heart stop. Caleb and Sabrina were standing hand in hand at the entrance of the conference room, looking like a perfect couple, as all the executives congratulated them.