Ryan was my knight in shining armor. At least, that was how it seemed. He stood out among the academy's top students — tall, broad‑shouldered, with golden hair that caught the sunlight and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight through people.
His presence carried weight, not only because of his looks but because he was the son of the Moons family, one of the most powerful Family in the country.
Their wealth stretched far, their name whispered with respect in every corner of society.
The academy itself reflected that power. Its towering gates opened into marble courtyards where fountains glittered under the sun. Classrooms were lined with portraits of past scholars, their stern faces watching over us.
The air smelled faintly of polished wood and expensive perfume, a reminder that this was a place for the elite. Students wore crisp uniforms, their shoes clicking against polished floors, their laughter echoing in the halls. It was a world built for privilege, and Ryan fit perfectly into it.
For reasons I never understood, Ryan protected me. When insults flew, he stood between me and the cruelty. When whispers spread, he silenced them with his presence. Around him, I felt a peace I had never known, a warmth that softened the sharp edges of my pain.
Why me? Why would someone like him care about someone like me? I often wondered. The bullying never truly ended, but Ryan made it bearable.
Love came before I realized it.
I graduated with Ryan always at my side. Wherever he went, I followed, until finally, we began dating. I thought I had found happiness at last. Maybe this is what love feels like. Maybe I'm not cursed after all. But it was the worst mistake of my life.
Ryan was sweet on the surface, but inside he was a devil. He never truly loved me. He only wanted to use me. And he succeeded.
After college, Ryan was handed one of the Moon family's smaller businesses to manage on his own. The office was sleek and modern, glass walls reflecting the city skyline, desks lined with files and computers humming softly.
The air smelled of fresh paper and coffee, the kind of place that promised success. I was there, hired as his assistant. Together, we built the company from the ground up, turning it into a massive success. For five years, I stood by his side, blinded by love, unable to see the truth that I was being used.
Ryan never once introduced me to anyone from the Moon family. Whenever I asked, he had excuses ready. It's not yet time. The business comes first. Trust me, I love you. We'll marry soon.
And I believed him. I ate those words like a fool, clinging to promises that were never real. He's busy. He'll come around. He has to.
Everything ended the day I missed my period. A month and a half passed, and at the hospital I learned I was one month pregnant.
The sterile smell of disinfectant filled the air as the doctor smiled gently, confirming the news. The words filled my heart with joy. A life was inside me. Ryan and I had created something together.
With happiness overflowing, I rushed to the office to tell him.
I walked through the city streets, the noise of traffic fading behind me as I climbed the steps to the building.
My heart raced, my hands trembling as I clutched the hospital report. The elevator ride felt endless, each floor passing with a soft chime.
I opened the door and found Ryan seated, reading a file, the glow of the desk lamp casting shadows across his face. His golden hair gleamed under the light, his expression calm, focused.
"Ryan," I said, breathless, smiling through tears. "I have good news. I'm pregnant."
I expected joy, maybe even tears of happiness. What I received instead was a cold, displeased look.
"That can't be mine," Ryan said flatly. "I trust my pull‑out game. It can't be mine."
My world spun. My voice broke as I pleaded, "Ryan… there's no one else. It's yours." Tears streamed down my face, but Ryan denied it completely. Why is he saying this? Why is he looking at me like a stranger?
The office door opened, and a woman stepped inside. Petrisha. The one person who had made my life a living hell back at the academy.
"What does she mean, pregnant?" Petrisha asked, her tone sharp.
"I can explain," Ryan said quickly, moving past me and taking Petrisha's hand. "It's all a lie. She's nothing but my assistant. You are my true love."
My heart ached. I stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening. No… this isn't real. He wouldn't do this. He can't.
"Then sack her," Petrisha said coldly.
And Ryan did.
Because everything I owned was in Ryan's name — my car, my house, my savings — it was all taken from me. In an instant, I became homeless.
I cried for days, for weeks, alone. The pregnancy was the only thing that was mine, the only thing Ryan could not take away. With that, I found the will to live.
I clung to the new life inside me, moving from one part‑time job to another, struggling to survive.
Months passed. I endured hunger, exhaustion, and loneliness, but I refused to give up. I'll live for this child. I'll endure anything for this child.
Until the night of my incident.
After a long shift, I walked through a narrow alley. The city was alive with distant traffic, but here the streetlights flickered weakly, casting long shadows against damp brick walls. The air smelled of smoke and garbage, heavy with silence.
A figure followed behind me. At first, I thought it was nothing, but the footsteps grew faster.
My heart raced. I broke into a run. The figure chased after me, closing the distance. Please, not now. Not like this.
Before I could scream, he caught me. A flash of steel. Pain exploded in my stomach as the knife plunged deep.
I collapsed, my hands clutching my abdomen, blood spilling into the night. My baby… no… please…
Darkness swallowed me.