Chapter 1

Maddy's POV

Walking down the hallway, I heard a strange rhythmic creaking from the bedroom and muffled gasps; my brows furrowed, and a slight feeling of unease filled me. I brushed it off. Max was probably working out and hadn't heard me come in.

Then the gasps grew louder, unmistakably moans, followed by a woman's voice, raw with pleasure: "Oh, Max. Fuck me harder. I'm going to cum."

I was glued to the spot, the door slightly ajar, peering through, I almost gasped out loud.

The sight slammed into me: Max, his back glistening with sweat, piston-like, driving into the woman. Her pale legs were clamped around his hips, her head thrown back, eyes closed in ecstasy as she rode him. It was her.

Alissa. My coworker, my rival, her features contorted in pure hedonism. She was in bed with him fucking him.

Max grunted as he reached his climax. "Hurry up, Maddy could turn up at any second." Alissa laughed, a throaty, breathless sound. "If she catches us cheating, wouldn't that make it even more thrilling?" My breath caught, a silent scream forming in my throat. My stomach flipped with nausea. Embarrassment, anger, and a crushing heartbreak washed over me. I wanted to turn, run, disappear, but I stood there, frozen, watching them desecrate everything.

They suddenly both realise I'm there. Max's eyes widen in shock as he pushes her off him, and Alissa's face is just one big satisfied smirk, like she had planned for that to happen. For a moment, silence. Then Max stammers, "Maddy... what are you doing here?"

I can't speak. My voice catches, and I stare. The scene feels surreal—like I've stepped into someone else's nightmare.

Alissa is wearing my favourite white and pink striped pyjamas. And, my eyes can't pull away from the small bump showing.

She's pregnant?

"I suppose you know now. I'm pregnant with Max's baby. We are going to be together."

Alissa smirked, her eyes smug as she didn't even bother to hide it. Max tries to stand up, looking guilty and defensive. But I see the way he looks at her—like she's the only thing in the world right now.

And I'm the fool who thought I knew him.

My mind spirals.

Is she having his baby? How long has this been going on? Did I ever mean anything to him? How could he cheat on me—so casually, so blatantly? I feel my cheeks burn with humiliation. My hands clutch my bag tightly, as if holding onto something solid could keep me from falling apart.

"What the fuck is this, Max? Why is she here in your bed? In my pyjamas and pregnant with your baby?" I found myself screaming at the top of my lungs, but Max just rolled his eyes and told me to calm down because he didn't want his neighbours disturbed. He was acting like I was being dramatic.

Was he for real?

Didn't this ass hole care that I had just walked in on him having sex with that smug bitch of all people?

"Maddy, just take a chill pill, it's not even that deep. Max is just no longer in love with you." Alissa tried to wave it off, as if I was overreacting. I wanted to slap her around the face, but Max stood in the way.

"You won't touch her. Just go, Maddy. We will talk about it later. You're being so ridiculous right now, it's embarrassing." Max ran a hand through his hair.

Is that really how he saw me?

"You are a piece of shit, Maxwell." I reached up to slap him across the cheek, but he grabbed my arm and shoved me away, causing me almost to lose my balance.

"Fine, I will go. You can both go to hell." I hissed, glaring at the pair of them as I regained my balance.

"You know what, Maddy? You always were a loser. We are through, and that is final. Now get lost. I do not want to see you unless it is to do with work and work only." Max ushered me out of the door before I could say a word, and the door was slammed in my face.

That was it?

We were over.

No words could unsee what I had just witnessed, no apology would unfeel the horrible ache of betrayal that stabbed at my pounding heart. Max's voice echoed in my ears. His tone was cold, and his eyes were full of hatred for me.

I stumbled down the hallway, forcing my legs to keep moving despite the weakness I felt. My vision was blurred from the hot tears that stung my eyes. Only a few minutes ago, I had been skipping down this hall full of excitement and happiness to see the love of my life.

It felt like an eternity before the lift doors finally swung open, and thankfully, it was empty, because I wasn't sure I could face anyone right now. The doors hissed shut, and I clumsily fell inside, pressing the button for the lower level about five times before it started to move.

The cold morning air hit my face like a slap, but it couldn't cool the searing heat of my humiliation. My fiancée of five years had just dumped me like I was nothing but rubbish. I couldn't process the thought of them together all this time.

Did he ever care about me?

My phone pinged in my back pocket, causing me to stop. I pulled it out and stared at the screen.

Max.

"You better not make a scene at work."

Bastard.

My chest ached. All I had wanted was to be with him and make him happy. He was the love of my life, yet he saw no wrong in what he had been caught doing. And with her, my work colleague, the girl who despised me. And now she was carrying his unborn baby.