In the Shadow of Betrayal

Part One: A Shattered Dream

Everything around Armina blurred into insignificance as she stood there, a silent witness to the unthinkable. Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched Ethan, her fiancé of two years, passionately kissing another woman. It felt like a surreal nightmare, as if she were trapped in a dream from which she couldn't awaken. The world around her seemed distant and muffled, like she was submerged in water, her senses dulled by the shocking scene before her.

Amidst the cacophony of voices and clinking glasses in the crowded pub, Armina could hear someone trying to reach her, their words barely reaching her ears through the thick haze of disbelief. But the only thing that cut through the fog of her mind was the sharp, searing pain in her chest, a physical manifestation of the agony she felt inside.

"I have to go," Armina finally managed to force the words from her trembling lips, her voice quivering with raw emotion. Without sparing Ethan a second glance, she turned and fled from the pub. The world outside was a chaotic blur, but her thoughts were in disarray as she stumbled toward her car, driven by an inexplicable urgency.

As Armina reached her car, a sudden, agonizing pain shot through her lower back, causing her to double over and clutch the hood of a parked car for support. Panic surged through her veins as she felt a warm liquid trickling down her legs.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" A concerned male voice pierced through her daze. She looked up to see a tall man in a sleek trench coat rushing toward her. His slender frame and sharp facial features contrasted with the chaos around them. His fair complexion and neatly combed dark hair added an air of calm to the pandemonium.

"I think... I think I'm in labor," Armina gasped, her breaths now coming in short, sharp bursts. The man caught her as she collapsed, his dark, intense eyes locking onto hers.

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Armina observed her daughter's joyful playtime with Nathan in the park, reflecting on the year that had passed since the incident. Nathan had been the one to discover her and rush her to the hospital. Their connection had grown significantly since that fateful day, evolving from mere acquaintances to close friends.

"Ready to head back, 'Mina?" Nathan, with his towering presence and a sense of quiet strength, cradled Reyna in his arms. He was dressed in a sleek black trench coat that accentuated his broad shoulders, a snug white t-shirt that hinted at a well-toned physique, black jeans that conveyed a sense of casual confidence, and sturdy boots that grounded his presence in the moment.

"Yeah, we should get going," Armina replied as she adjusted her curly hair, the rich red locks a striking contrast to her sun-kissed complexion. Her hand comfortably slipped into Nathan's as they made their way to his deep green four-door Range Rover.

"Hopefully, your roommates don't mind that we spent time together today." Nathan's words shattered Armina's fragile illusion.

"Of course not," she muttered as Nathan merged into traffic.

As they drove back, Armina's roommates, Ethan and Cathlin, came to her mind. The living arrangement had its humorous side, with Cathlin believing Armina was Niall's long-lost cousin.

Upon reaching their Langley, BC garden-style condominium, Armina marveled at the peaceful suburban setting. Their condo, nestled on the second floor, offered comfort and serenity with its two master bedrooms, private office space, living room, and fully equipped kitchen.

She strolled down the hall ti her room, where she placed a sleeping Reyna in her bed, and then settled into the living room. However, her peaceful moment was disrupted by the sight of Ethan and Cathlin snuggled together on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket. Armina couldn't help but feel a wave of nausea at their perfect romantic cocoon, a constant reminder of her own shattered relationship.