Episode 1

Chapter 1: The Fairy Tale Ends

Yesterday morning, I received the most unexpected news of my life. I'd been noticing changes in my body for a while now -- the nausea, the exhaustion, the way certain smells made my stomach turn. I finally went to the doctor, and he confirmed it: I was just over two months pregnant.

I had no idea how Leonardo would take it. We'd never once talked about having children, and he'd always been careful to use protection, even though we'd been married for a year.

But I already loved this baby more than anything in the world. This was my chance to have a family again. My parents died a little over ten years ago in a factory fire. They couldn't make it out. After that, I was raised by Amelia Montgomery -- Leonardo's grandmother. She'd been close to my parents, and she took me in as if I were her own granddaughter. I owe her everything.

Leonardo came home last night from a business trip. We didn't have time to talk properly -- he'd been gone for two months\, and we were too busy making up for lost time. He'd never touched me like that before. Every caress\, every whispered word made me feel special\, desired\, *loved*. For the first time in our marriage\, I truly believed he felt something real for me.

Morning came, and as always, I was the first one up. I slipped out of bed without making a sound, brushed my teeth, and took a quick shower. Then I rushed downstairs to make breakfast. Today, I wanted the table overflowing with everything he loved. I wanted it perfect -- the perfect moment to share the news. I was practically bursting with happiness when I heard his footsteps on the stairs. I grabbed the fruit platter and hurried to set it down.

"Good morning, Leo! Did you sleep well?" I greeted him with the biggest smile I could manage.

"Morning, Bella. Slept like a baby." He glanced at the spread. "The table looks beautiful, as always."

"I'm glad you like it. I put a lot of love into it."

"We need to talk," he said.

"We need to talk," I said at the same time.

Since I was always the one starting conversations between us, I told him to go first.

And what came out of his mouth destroyed every shred of hope I had left.

"Angela's back. I want a divorce."

I lost the ability to speak. Deep down, I'd always known this day would come.

My ears started ringing. All the warmth drained from my body. I couldn't think straight. It felt like I was underwater, sounds muffled and distant. But if he already knew he was going to say this, how did he have the nerve to make love to me last night? And then sit here this morning and say it like it was nothing?

He kept talking.

"Bella, I don't want you to worry about anything. I'd never leave you with nothing. I've had an agreement drawn up that's fair to both of us." He paused. "You'll always be like a sister to me."

I tried to mask my shock. Tried to focus on his words. It was nearly impossible.

"Do you already have the papers?" I asked, surprised by how steady my voice sounded.

"This afternoon. I'll have my assistant bring them over so you can review everything. If it all looks good, you sign."

"Sure."

"But what did you want to tell me?"

I looked at him -- still eating his breakfast, casual as could be, as if he hadn't just detonated my entire world.

"It was nothing important. I was going to ask about the dinner at Grandma Amelia's."

A throwaway excuse. The first thing that came to mind.

"Oh, right. Since you brought that up -- I need to ask you not to mention the divorce to Grandma for now. You know her health hasn't been great, and I don't want to upset her. You know how much she cares about you."

"Don't worry, Leonardo. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt her."

He gave me a strange look but said nothing more. He finished his meal, said goodbye, and left for the office.

And I sat there, staring at my coffee, long since gone cold, trying to understand how the tender, passionate man from last night had turned into this block of ice by morning.

---

Isabella Carter Montgomery, 22. About to graduate with a degree in Business Administration from Ashford State University. Daughter of Grace Carter and George Carter, both killed in a factory fire that caused an explosion at the plant where they worked. Her parents are considered heroes -- though they couldn't save their own lives, they saved hundreds of others by recognizing the danger and triggering the evacuation alarm.

Leonardo Montgomery, 28. Graduated from Ashford State University with a degree in Business Administration. Holds a Master's in People Management and Finance. CEO of Montgomery Industries.

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