A Marriage Without Love

BRAAAKK!

The sound of a violent crash shattered the silence of the night. A black sedan was left mangled after slamming into a massive tree on the side of a deserted road. A light rain fell, soaking the cracked windshield and the dimly glowing headlights.

Behind the steering wheel, Vanesa sat frozen for a few seconds. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her chest rising and falling unevenly. Her head felt heavy, her vision spinning.

“Ah…” a soft groan slipped from her lips.

A sharp, searing pain stabbed her lower abdomen, spreading to her back. Vanesa slowly lowered her gaze—and when she saw the red liquid soaking her skirt and the car seat, her body began to tremble violently.

“No…” her voice shook. “No… please, not now… not now…”

With trembling hands, she touched her slightly swollen belly. The baby—her tiny hope, the one she had been protecting all on her own.

With what little consciousness she had left, Vanesa reached for her phone that had fallen onto the car floor. The screen was cracked, but it still worked. She pressed a name she knew by heart.

Axel.

The ringing tone echoed. Once. Twice.

Vanesa held her breath, tears pooling in her eyes.

“A-Axel…” her voice broke when the call was finally answered. “Please help me… I’m—”

Before she could finish, Axel’s cold voice cut her off, utterly devoid of concern.

“Vanesa, I’m busy. Don’t disturb me right now. Handle your own problems.”

The words fell like a hammer, striking her chest without mercy.

“A-Axel… I’ve had an accident… I’m bleeding…” Vanesa whispered, barely audible.

But all that came from the other end was an impatient sigh.

“That’s enough. I don’t have time for drama.”

Click.

The call ended.

Vanesa stared at the darkened screen, as if hoping what she’d heard was nothing more than a nightmare. Her chest tightened. Her breath caught—not only from the pain in her body, but from the agony tearing through her heart.

“Axel…” she whispered faintly, full of despair.

The pain in her abdomen intensified. Vanesa tried to open the car door, but her body was too weak. Her legs trembled as she forced herself out. The moment her feet touched the wet asphalt, her knees gave out.

Her body collapsed to the ground.

“Ah!” Vanesa winced in pain, her hands instinctively clutching her stomach, now feeling even wetter.

The road was deserted. No passing cars. No houses. No light except her car’s headlights and a flickering streetlamp in the distance.

“Help…” her voice was hoarse. “Anyone… please help me…”

Only the rain answered.

Tears mixed with rain streamed down her cheeks as Vanesa lifted her face toward the dark sky.

“God…” her sob broke free. “Please save my baby… I beg You… he’s innocent… he’s done nothing wrong…”

The cold slowly crept through her body. Her vision blurred further. Her heartbeat weakened.

“I couldn’t protect you in time…” she murmured hopelessly. “Forgive Mommy…”

Her eyelids slowly fell shut.

Suddenly, headlights pierced through the rain and darkness. A man driving past slammed on his brakes when he noticed the wrecked car by the roadside.

“An accident?” he muttered.

He pulled over and ran toward the scene. The moment he saw a woman lying on the asphalt, blood surrounding her, his expression turned tense.

“Hey! Miss! Can you hear me?” he shouted in panic.

No response.

“Oh my God…” He knelt down and checked Vanesa’s breathing. It was still there—weak, but present.

Without wasting another second, the man carefully lifted Vanesa and carried her to his car. His hands were smeared with blood, but he didn’t care.

“Hold on,” he said firmly, though his voice trembled. “You have to hold on.”

The car sped through the rain toward the nearest hospital.

At the same time, in an exclusive downtown restaurant, Axel Armand sat comfortably at a table of expensive marble. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, his expression calm—as if the world was entirely under his control.

His phone lay on the table. No longer ringing.

“Who was calling you earlier?” the woman across from him asked with a sweet smile.

Axel glanced at her briefly. “My wife.”

“Oh?” The woman let out a soft laugh. “Still being clingy?”

Axel leaned back in his chair.

“Not important.”