The “Deceased” Donna Chapter 01
Our honeymoon was cut short by a riot.
To help his first love, Riva, escape, my new husband, Carr, shoved me out of the car to draw the gunfire.
I was left stranded and utterly alone in a war-torn street.
At the depths of my despair, my dear friend Don John appeared like a savior.
He rescued me. He walked with me out of the shadows. He proposed to me. And when he learned I was pregnant, he was beside himself with joy.
But at the happiest moment of my life, I overheard him talking to my ex-husband, Carr.
“Once Mona’s baby is born, the cord blood can save Riva.”
Carr asked him, “Marrying a woman you don’t love and having a child with her, all for Riva—is it worth it?”
John gave a bitter smile. “You were willing to risk your life for her. I can sacrifice mine.”
“As long as Riva is healthy and happy, anything I do is worth it.”
So this marriage—the one that had seemed like my salvation—had been a conspiracy from beginning to end.
Both of my husbands had only ever loved Riva.
If that was how it was, there was no reason for me to keep struggling to hold together a loveless marriage.
But after I faked my death and disappeared, Don John clutched what he believed was my body and wept himself hoarse.
…
The VIP floor of a private hospital.
My ex-husband, Carr, and my current husband, Don John, both stood at the bedside, their eyes soft as they looked at Riva.
Carr asked quietly, “Mona’s pregnant?”
John nodded. “Once the baby is born, the cord blood can be used for a stem cell transplant. Riva will live.”
Riva coughed weakly. “John, will Mona agree? What happened on the honeymoon already hurt her so much. I’m afraid she’ll break if she finds out…”
John stroked Riva’s hair, his voice gentle as he soothed her.
“She won’t find out.”
“If it weren’t for you, she would never have become Mrs. Cromwell in her lifetime. She should be grateful to you.”
Carr was silent for a few seconds before asking, “Marrying a woman you don’t love, getting her pregnant—all for Riva. Is it worth it?”
John gave a bitter smile. “You were willing to push Mona out of the car in the middle of a riot for Riva. I can sacrifice a lifetime for her too.”
“As long as Riva is healthy, I’ll do anything.”
I stood outside the door, the prenatal report crumpled tight in my fist.
Three years ago, Carr and I went on our honeymoon.
A riot broke out in the country we were visiting. Gunfire and flames filled the streets.
To let Riva board the car first and flee, Carr shoved me out with his own hands.
I hid in the ruins of a foreign city for a week.
When I couldn’t hold on any longer, it was John who broke through the blockade with the Cromwell family and found me.
He pulled me into his arms and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Mona. I’m here.”
He said, “As long as I’m alive, no one will ever leave you behind again.”
I believed him.
I treated him as my salvation, married him, and thought at last I was truly loved.
I was wrong.
Saving me, marrying me, getting me pregnant—all of it was for Riva.
Both of my husbands had only ever held the same woman in their hearts.
I wiped away my tears and turned toward the doctor’s office.
I set the report on his desk. My voice was calm.
“Please schedule the earliest abortion possible. I want to terminate the pregnancy.”
The doctor looked at me. “Donna, are you sure? Just now, when Don found out you were pregnant, his eyes were red with joy.”
I answered coldly, “I am not his Donna.”
The Donna in his heart is someone else.