My Fiancé Impregnated My Best Friend, So I Married His Rival

###Chapter 1

At our fourth anniversary yacht party, my fiancé went missing during a dive.

One of his friends ran onto the deck, almost slipping as he shouted, “Darren’s oxygen tank malfunctioned. He sank!”

My whole body started shaking. I grabbed diving gear and jumped into the ocean without thinking. Like someone who had lost her mind, I searched everywhere underwater. In the end, all I found was an empty oxygen tank.

Using the last of my strength, I dragged myself onto a small deserted island nearby. Before I could even cry, I heard soft, sweet moans coming from behind the rocks.

That voice… why did it sound like my best friend, Riley Trelmont?

Behind the rocks, Riley was wrapped in a man’s arms, their clothes messy, their bodies pressed tightly together. That man… was my fiancé, Darren Eugene.

“Riley… don’t ever leave me again…”

His voice was soft, gentle and loving. A tone he had never used with me.

I covered my mouth and collapsed onto the sand. It felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs.

Only after they were done did Darren notice me sitting there, tears running down my face.

“Why are you here?” he frowned as he walked over.

Then he reached out his hand for my oxygen tank. “Whatever. Riley’s oxygen tank broke and she can’t swim. You’re a strong swimmer. Give this to her.”

Sharp pain tore through my heart. I held my seven-month pregnant belly and cried out, “I’m carrying your child!”

He glanced at my stomach and responded calmly, “It’s only a few miles, Vexia. Not a big deal. You can just swim back.”

In that moment, I finally understood. In his heart, there had always been only Riley Trelmont. I was just a mistake from four years ago. Something that happened after she left him. A drunken accident. A replacement.

He protected her and left me alone without looking back.

I gritted my teeth and swam toward the yacht. The sea water was freezing. My lower stomach felt heavy and painful…

Just as my vision started to blur, someone suddenly grabbed me. It was my father. With all his strength, he pushed me onto a floating board.

“My dear child… live well.”

Then, a huge wave rose and swallowed his last words… and his worried eyes.

When I woke up after being rescued, I wiped away my tears and called Darren’s father to cancel the engagement.

The old man was silent for a long time, then he let out a deep sigh. “Vexia, Darren is just confused right now. I know he loves you. He can’t live without you.”

I held the phone tightly and looked at my stomach.

I gave an empty smile. “I used to believe that too.”

The love he once gave me, my father’s life and my unborn child… they were all buried in that sea.

I didn’t want this engagement anymore.

In seven days, I would leave his world completely.

But before that, I would leave him three gifts. Gifts to thank him for everything he had done to me.

***

I woke up in the hospital. The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off. My body felt heavy and cold, like I was still underwater.

Outside the door, I heard Darren’s low voice.

“Prepare for an emergency C-section today. Extract the fetus. Riley caught a cold and she needs the placental tissue for regenerative therapy.”

The doctor sounded shocked. “Mr. Eugene, the baby isn’t full term yet. And after Miss Solmere almost drowned, the pregnancy has already become unstable. Forcing it could cost both of their lives.”

“Riley can’t wait,” Darren cut him off sharply. “Besides, this is all her own fault. If she hadn’t dragged Riley to clubs and let her drink so much back then, Riley wouldn’t have ruined her health. She wouldn’t have lost the ability to get pregnant. She wouldn’t have left me.”

My whole body turned cold. I could barely breathe.

Back then, it was clearly Riley who loved partying. I tried to stop her. I tried to persuade her. But again and again, I was the one who went to pick her up when she was completely drunk.

That night, when she had alcohol poisoning, Darren rushed into the bar and saw me holding her. From that moment on, he believed I had been a bad influence for her.

“Do the surgery before she wakes up.”

“Mr. Eugene, what if the baby doesn’t survive?”

“So what?” His voice was hard and heartless. “This is the Eugene Family’s hospital. If you won’t do it, you can leave.”

Fear tightened around my throat. I wanted to move. I wanted to scream. But I couldn’t even open my eyes.

The man I had loved for ten years was ready to sacrifice our child for another woman.

Even though that woman had once left him the moment she thought he might lose his family inheritance.

“Fine. I hope you won’t regret this.”

After the doctor’s heavy sigh, I heard the surgery bed being pushed closer down the hallway.

No… please…

I couldn’t make a sound. Like a body slowly turning cold, I was pushed under the bright surgical lights.

The cold knife touched my skin and cut open my stomach without mercy.

Tears flowed from the corners of my closed eyes. Before darkness swallowed me, I heard the doctor’s tired voice.

“The baby… couldn’t be saved.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Darren replied without hesitation. “Handle the placental tissue properly. Send it to Riley’s room immediately.”

When I woke up again, I held my empty stomach. The pain was unbearable.

My phone was beside my pillow. My fingers trembled as I dialed a number.

When the call connected, I told the old man everything that had happened in the past few days. Every drop of blood. Every bit of pain.

After a long silence, Grant Eugene finally spoke with a hoarse voice. “Vexia… the Eugene Family has failed you.”

“You saved Darren’s life once, but now he caused you to lose your child. I will transfer half of his shares to your name. Give me seven days to arrange everything.”

“Okay.”

I bit my lip until it bled. The taste of blood mixed with my tears.

Darren Eugene, this is what you owe me. The copy of the share transfer agreement will be the first gift I leave behind.

I closed my eyes in pain.

Seven more days.

Then I would disappear.