Part 1When Forever Was Just a Rebound

When Ethan Thamson was broke and struggling, his first love left him for a richer man who could give her the designer lifestyle she wanted.

He spiraled until I found him unconscious on the side of the road and took him in.

On my 18th birthday, our friendship became something more, and before long, we were inseparable.

For the next eight years, I stayed by Ethan's side as he fought his way from a nobody on the streets to one of the most powerful men in the city.

And through it all, Ethan treated me like I was the center of his world. Even after all these years, he still remembers the smallest things, like bringing me a heating pad and a warm drink whenever I have cramps.

I never doubt his love—until I'm eight months pregnant and find an almost-empty box of condoms in his car.

Ethan laughs it off. "I lent the car to Mason. I'll tell him to clean up after himself next time."

After eight years together, I believe him.

One month later, Vanessa Coleman, Ethan's first love, shows up at our door.

She's pregnant.

Vanessa pulls down her collar just enough to reveal the marks scattered across her skin and smiles.

"Has Ethan ever wanted you this badly? In the past year alone, we've been together 108 times in hotels, 15 times in his car, and 18 times in the bed you share with him.

"You were never the love of his life, Natalie. You were just the woman he used to get over me.

"And now that I'm back, he doesn't need you anymore. So why are you still holding on?"

* * *

Natalie Montgomery's POV

Every word out of Vanessa Coleman's mouth cut a little deeper. She casually rested one hand over the swell of her belly, and the smug satisfaction on her face didn't try to hide itself.

"Come on, Natalie. You don't actually think Ethan loves you, do you? Do yourself a favor and accept the truth. Pack your things and get out before you embarrass yourself any further."

I stood there, frozen. Eight years of promises. Eight years of whispered "I love you", tangled sheets, and nights when I'd believed there was no one else in the world but us.

Now, every last one of those memories felt like a cruel joke.

The love I'd treasured more than anything had never truly been mine. I'd simply been holding on to something another woman had thrown away, something she could take back whenever she pleased.

Suddenly, the baby inside me kicked hard. A sharp pain tore through my abdomen. I doubled over as cold sweat broke across my forehead.

Seeing me doubled over in pain only made Vanessa's smile widen. "Oh, please. That's all it takes to break you? Since we're being honest, Ethan doesn't even want that baby you're carrying. My child is the one who'll inherit everything he has.

"And you? You're nothing but a live-in maid he gets to sleep with for free."

Heat surged through my veins. That was it. Before I could stop myself, I slapped her across the face. "Are you finished? Then get out of my house!"

Vanessa clutched her cheek and stared at me in disbelief. "Did you just hit me? Just wait until Ethan finds out. He'll make you regret this!"

A bitter laugh escaped me. I opened my mouth to answer, but a cold voice came from the doorway. "Natalie, you've gone too far."

Ethan's tall frame filled the doorway. He crossed the room in a few quick strides and immediately pulled Vanessa into his arms, looking her over with barely concealed panic. "Vanessa, are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

Vanessa leaned against his chest as though she could barely stand on her own. She pointed at me, her voice trembling. "Ethan, I only came here because I wanted to explain everything to Natalie, but she…"

Ethan turned to me. The eyes that had once looked at me with so much warmth were now colder than I'd ever seen them.

"Natalie, I'm the one who betrayed you. If you're angry, take it out on me. But she's pregnant. Going after her and an innocent baby? What were you thinking?"

It felt as though an invisible fist had closed around my heart and squeezed until I could barely breathe.