Athilda's POV
"Make me pregnant."
I said it without shame. Without fear or hesitation, to a man I barely knew. A man I chose just minutes ago.
His eyes widened. "What?"
"I want your baby," I said again, standing tall. "No names. No promises. Just give me what I need."
I pushed open the VIP room door and stepped inside. It was private, dim, and expensive-looking. Just right for what I came here to do.
He followed me in and shut the door behind us, hard.
"What is this?" he asked, sounding half-angry, half-shocked. "Are you serious right now?"
I turned to face him. My eyes dropped to his broad chest before rising back to meet his.
"Dead serious. You're strong. Good-looking. Healthy. You have the kind of genes I want for my child."
He looked like I had lost my mind.
"I don't need your love. I don't want your name. I just… want to create something beautiful. Please."
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "I'm desperate. I need this."
He backed away, as if I had said something crazy.
"Are you drunk? Do you even hear yourself?"
I sighed and leaned in before he could say more, and I kissed him hard. He did not kiss back right away. But he did not move, either. His lips tasted unexpectedly sweet, like cherries. I smiled a little. It had been a long time since I had kissed anyone, and yet here I was. My body pressed against his, and I felt his reaction instantly. He wanted me, whether he said it or not.
I leaned in more. My heart was racing. But suddenly, his hands gripped my shoulders, and pushed me back. His eyes were sharp. His face was cold and most girls would be scared. But I was not like most girls. He looked at me like he was trying to make a decision. Then, his voice came low and rough.
"You're driving me insane, woman."
And just like that, he snapped.
He grabbed my dress and tore it down the front. My breath caught as I stumbled back onto the sofa. His hands were rough, sure, and completely in control. When his fingers slid between my thighs, I gasped. A cry escaped my lips. And then he growled near my ear, his mouth hot against my skin.
"Fine. I'll make you pregnant."
****************
This was how my little madness started:
"She's such a beautiful child," Dad said cheerfully, smiling at my elder sister Talia's daughter.
I looked at Vivienne, my niece, who sat quietly between her parents, munching on fruit like a little princess. Dad was right, Vivienne was stunning. She looked just like her mother.
My sister is a well-known model. Even after having a baby, her body still looks like it belongs on a runway. She's the definition of picture-perfect.
And her husband? Let us just say he is every woman's dream. Half-Canadian, model looks, wealthy beyond imagination, one of the top business tycoons in the world. But do you know what makes it worse? The man everyone admires… is my ex. Or should I say, my ex-fiancé.
Yes. You read that right. The same man who used to promise me forever is now married to my own sister.
Unbelievable? Right!
It feels like one of those cheesy soap operas where the kind, angelic sister turns out to be the real villain. That is exactly what happened. A classic betrayal. The kind where everyone loves the older sister, and you end up forgotten.
They just arrived from abroad for a short vacation, and of course, my parents insisted I take time off work so we could "bond."
Bond? With them? As if I would.
"When will you give us a grandchild, Athilda ?" Mom asked out of nowhere.
I paused, halfway through my food, and rolled my eyes.
Here we go again. They never know when to stop. It is like they cannot breathe unless they are poking into my life.
"I do not know. Maybe later," I replied dryly, staring down at my plate. I suddenly lost my appetite.
"You are not getting any younger," she continued. "Do you still not have a boyfriend? Have you not moved on from Lucien yet?"
Lucien. The name alone was enough to make my grip tighten around the cutlery.
Lucien, my ex.
Lucien, now my sister's husband.
Lucien, the father of my niece.
Lucien, the man sitting across the table from me.
What a lovely family dinner.
I slammed my fork down and gave them a cold look.
"Really? At the dining table? In front of his family? You taught us to respect others, but now you are disrespecting me while we eat. Where are your manners, Mum?"
I spoke calmly, but I could feel my jaw tightening. My whole body was tensed from the anger rising inside me. I wanted to scream, but I stopped myself for Vivienne's sake.
"Ehem," I heard Lucien clear his throat, but I did not even glance at him. Choke on it, you snake. I hope karma catches up to you.
I am only twenty-four. Why are they acting like I am already too late to live my life?
My comment clearly struck a nerve. Both Mom and Dad stood up from the table, glaring at me like I had committed a crime.
"How dare you speak to your mother like that?" Dad shouted, his face turning red with anger.
I smirked. The veins in his neck were visible now.
"Dad, please calm down. Vivienne is here," my sister said softly, placing a hand on his arm. She looked at me with disappointment, like I was the one who ruined everything.
Do I look like I care? She is the one who destroyed our relationship. She is the one who chose to take what was mine.
"I have lost my appetite," I muttered.
I stood up and walked straight to the stairs, ignoring them even as they called after me.
They could call all they wanted. I was done sitting at a table where I was treated like a burden, while they served smiles to the ones who betrayed me.
I walked into my room and slammed the door behind me.
Throwing myself onto the bed, I stared up at the ceiling, trying to calm the storm inside my chest.
Why do they always have to bring up my past? Just because I do not have a boyfriend or a child right now does not mean my life is worthless.
Ever since Lucien broke up with me, I have not even tried dating again. What he did was too painful. It left a scar that still stings.
How could I trust anyone again?
We were together for two years. Two full years. Only to find out he had been lying to me the whole time.
He never really loved me. He was in love with my sister. I was just his excuse, his way to get close to her.
What hurts the most is that he even proposed to me. He cried, acted like he could not live without me… all fake. It was all a game to make my sister jealous. He used me to get her to admit she had feelings for him too.
What a joke, right? But that was over three years ago now.
I have moved on from Lucien... at least, I want to believe I have. But sometimes, the bitterness still lingers. Maybe even the anger.
To be honest, things between my sister and me have never been the same since then. It is like there is a wall between us now, something heavy, something permanent. We used to be so close, but after what she did, I just cannot go back to how we were.
Immature? Maybe. But that is the truth. It still hurts.
Talia and Lucien have been married for nearly three years. They spent two of those years living in Canada. My sister is twenty-five now. Lucien is twenty-six. Their daughter, Vivienne, is two years old.
Lesson learned; do not date someone who is close in age to your sister. He might just leave you for her. Harsh, right? But that is my reality.
Let us be real, older sisters are often the more mature versions of us. And sadly, most men these days prefer women who seem mature, stable, and composed. Unlike me, immature, clingy, and emotional.
I envy her, I will not even lie. She is beautiful. Poised. My parents' favourite. She got the guy I loved. Now she has a family of her own. She looks happy.
And me? I am the black sheep of the family. The one who got left behind. The one who was not chosen. The one who feels like something is missing every single day.
I am so deeply jealous of her. I am so insecure. And I am not going to pretend otherwise.