Left at the Altar, Chased by Lies

For the longest time, I truly believed that Damien’s love for me was real. His pursuit, his sweet words, and the tenderness he showed made me feel special like I had finally found the one who truly cared.

But now, looking back, I see it all for what it really was. From the very beginning, it had been a lie.

His pursuit? Fake.

Our marriage? Fake.

Even his illness? Completely fake.

And somehow, I had fallen for it all—hook, line, and sinker. I had gotten trapped in his so-called love and couldn’t escape.

Dr. Adams was wrong about me. I’m not like my mother. She sacrificed everything—her life, her soul—for the country’s scientific research. But maybe... just maybe, I’d found where I truly belong.

Three days after I woke up in the hospital, Damien came in, just like always. "Camille, how are you feeling? Any pain?" His voice was full of concern like it had been so many times before.

But this time, I couldn’t bring myself to answer with the warmth I once had.

Instead, I gave him a cold look and said, "I want to go home."

He froze for a moment, hesitation flashing across his face.

After a long pause, he finally said, "I’ll ask the doctor if you’re good to go."

A few hours later, after a thorough check-up, I was cleared to leave. Damien took me back to the place I thought of as home.

As soon as we walked inside, I felt something was off. The whole house was decorated like a party—streamers, balloons, and a huge birthday cake sitting in the middle of the dining table.

"Happy 26th birthday, Camille!" Damien smiled as he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me.

I stared at the cake, completely stunned. "You remembered..."

"Of course I did," he said with a grin. "Now, make a wish and blow out the candles!"

I sat down in front of the cake, still in shock, but just as I was about to close my eyes to make a wish, my phone rang. Damien’s face immediately changed. His brows furrowed, and he quickly stepped into the study to answer it.

When he came back, his face was full of urgency. "Camille, something happened with Hayden. I need to go check on him. I’m sorry!"

Before I could even respond, he was already out the door.

A few minutes later, a video popped up on my phone. I clicked it, and suddenly, my whole world shattered.

The video showed Naomi, clinging to Damien’s sleeve, looking pale and fragile like she was about to break.

"Damien, I’m pregnant! I can’t believe it—I’m really pregnant! What should I do?" she cried, her voice shaky.

Damien wiped away her tears, his expression serious and reassuring. "Don’t worry, Naomi. I’ll take care of you and the baby."

Naomi’s eyes filled with fear as she asked, "But Aaron... he died in a car accident! What if my child grows up without a father?"

"Don’t worry," Damien said, his voice soft but firm. "I promise you, I’ll be the father to this child."

And with that, Naomi collapsed into his arms, her face lighting up with hope.

I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt like it was being crushed. I was trembling as I held the phone. The image of them holding each other was seared into my mind. Each second of that moment felt like a hammer, striking over and over.

My vision blurred as hot tears spilled down my cheeks, one after another, without control.

Instinctively, my hand moved to my abdomen.

I remembered the ultrasound—how tiny she was, how fragile. She should have been here.

But the doctor had told me I couldn’t undergo a liver transplant while pregnant. The decision was made for me, and I had no choice but to go through with the abortion.

At first, I was so happy when I found out I was pregnant. I wanted to give her the best life.

But in this cruel twist, I had taken away her right to live.

And her father? He was making promises to another woman, vowing to be a father to her child.

"Why? Why are you doing this to me?!" I screamed, my voice breaking. I swiped my arm across the table, knocking the cake off and watching as it crashed to the floor.

I swept everything off the table—plates, glasses—all of it scattered to the ground.

But no matter how much I broke or shattered, the only thing that remained was the suffocating pain in my chest.