The Heiress He Threw Away

On the night of Lothario’s birthday, I had everything planned. I made reservations at his favorite restaurant, arranged for a private rooftop dinner, and picked out a gift I knew he’d love. Tonight, I would finally tell him my secret—I was pregnant.

It wasn’t planned, but when I saw the two pink lines, I didn’t feel fear. I felt joy. Hope. Excitement.

Lothario was always late, but this time, he promised. Yet as the hours ticked by—eight, nine, ten—I sat alone in my apartment, staring at my phone. No missed calls. No messages. Just silence. I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm. He must be busy. Maybe something came up at work.

To distract myself, I scrolled through my phone, mindlessly checking the news. That’s when I saw it.

Alessia Ricci Returns to Italy—World-Famous Supermodel Spotted at Milan Airport!

My fingers tightened around my phone. Alessia Ricci. Lothario’s first love. The woman he once swore he couldn’t live without. A cold knot formed in my stomach as I clicked on the article. She had been overseas for years, making a name for herself in the fashion industry. Reporters had been buzzing about her return, speculating if she was back for good.

My heart pounded. It was just a coincidence. That’s all. I told myself there was no reason to worry, but my hands moved on their own, typing her name into Instagram. Her profile popped up immediately—millions of followers, perfectly curated pictures.

And then I saw it.

Her latest post. A photo of a candlelit dinner at a five-star restaurant, wine glasses clinking, soft golden lights reflecting off the table. And across from her—Lothario.

The caption made my breath catch.

“Some things never change. Good food. Good wine. Even better company. My man.️”

The comments were flooded with excitement.

“Omg, are you and Lothario back together?”

“Y’all were my favorite couple! This is EVERYTHING.”

“Rekindling an old flame? ”

My hands trembled as I swiped through her Instagram stories. Another clip—Lothario pulling out a chair for her, his smile warm. The same smile he used to give me. A final picture. Her hand resting lightly on his, their fingers brushing.

I felt like I was going to be sick. No. This had to be a misunderstanding. He wouldn’t do this to me. Not tonight. Not when I had something so important to tell him.

I dialed Lothario. No answer. I called again. Voicemail. Tears blurred my vision. I bit my lip hard, forcing myself to breathe. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe—

I shook my head. Who was I kidding?

I knew exactly where they were. That restaurant—it used to be Lothario and Alessia’s place. It had been their favorite long before I came into his life. Before I could think, I grabbed my coat and keys. I needed to see him. I needed to know if this was real.

The roads were slick from the light drizzle earlier, streetlights casting a golden glow on the pavement. My hands rested on my stomach as I whispered, “We’ll find out together, okay?”

Then— Bright headlights. A deafening horn. Impact. Metal screeched, glass shattered, my body jolted forward as everything spun into chaos.

A ten-wheeler. Brakes failing. Cars crashing into each other like dominoes. And mine—caught in the middle of it.

Pain exploded through me. My world tilted, and darkness swallowed me whole.

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the smell of antiseptic. The second was the sharp, rhythmic beeping of a machine. Hospital. My body felt heavy, my limbs weak. Something tugged at my arm—a drip, IV fluids slowly dripping into my veins.

I blinked against the harsh fluorescent lights, my vision swimming before settling on the doctor standing beside me. His face was unreadable. Cold dread curled in my stomach.

“Ms. Rivera…” His voice was gentle, but there was no warmth in it. “I’m sorry. We couldn’t save the baby.”

For a moment, I couldn’t process the words. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. I reached for my stomach with trembling hands. Flat. Empty.

No. No. No.

The world blurred as a sharp, shattering pain cleaved through my chest. My baby. My child. Gone.

Tears burned down my cheeks, and my body shaking with the weight of my grief. Still, I waited. Waited for Lothario.

Minutes. Hours. The nurse came and went, checking my vitals, offering comforting words that meant nothing.

Lothario never came.

With shaking fingers, I reached for my phone. My heart pounded as I dialed his number. It rang. Once. Twice.

Then, someone answered.

But it wasn’t Lothario.

A woman’s voice, smooth and familiar. Alessia.

“Lothario’s busy right now.”

My stomach twisted into a cold knot. “Who… who is this?” I whispered, even though I already knew. I just needed to hear it.

A soft chuckle. “Alessia Ricci.” A pause. Then, she delivered the final blow. “His fiancée.”

Fiancée?

Then what am I to Lothario?

The call ended before I could even speak. My fingers went numb, and my phone slipped from my grasp. I stared at the ceiling. It was a joke. A mistake. It had to be…

But deep down, I already knew. Lothario had betrayed me.