Raegan Hayes thought her life was finally falling into place when she married Mitchel Dixon, the man she’d loved for years. But her dreams shattered when Mitchel left her for his ex-girlfriend, Lauren, just as Raegan discovered she was pregnant. Heartbroken and alone, Raegan fought to rebuild her life, finding strength in her new job and the support of unexpected friends. Yet, just as she began to move on, Mitchel reappeared, begging for a second chance, while another man from her past confessed his feelings for her.
Now, Raegan stands at a crossroads. Should she trust Mitchel again, risking her heart once more? Or should she take a chance on someone new, who’s been by her side all along? With her baby on the way and her future hanging in the balance, Raegan must decide what—and who—truly deserves a place in her life. Will she choose love, forgiveness, or a fresh start? The answer could change everything.
Chapter 1: The Ex-Girlfriend Returns
Raegan Hayes was lost in thought, her mind swirling with the doctor’s words from earlier that day: “Congratulations! You’re pregnant.” The news had left her in a daze, a mix of joy and disbelief. She and Mitchel Dixon, her husband of two years, had always been careful. How could this have happened?
Before she could process it further, Mitchel’s voice snapped her back to reality. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, his tone low and slightly impatient. Without waiting for an answer, he kissed her deeply, his hand cradling the back of her head. Then, just as quickly as he’d pulled her in, he let go and headed to the bathroom.
Raegan lay in their massive bed, her body still aching slightly from their earlier intimacy. Damp strands of hair clung to her face as she stared at the ceiling, tears welling in her eyes. She reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out the pregnancy test report. Five weeks pregnant. The timing traced back to last month, after a party where Mitchel had asked if she was in her “safe period.” Safe period? Clearly not.
The sound of the shower running in the background filled the room. Mitchel was her husband, but their marriage was far from conventional. They’d married in secret two years ago, a decision made to fulfill his grandfather’s dying wish. Mitchel was the president of Dixon Group, her boss, and the man she’d had a crush on for eight years. To her, marrying him felt like a dream come true, even if it was just a contract.
But now, as she stared at the pregnancy test, her emotions were a tangled mess. She wanted to tell him the truth, to share this life-changing news. She also wanted to confess that her feelings for him weren’t new—she’d loved him long before they’d ever married.
The shower stopped, and Mitchel stepped out, his phone ringing almost immediately. He answered it on the balcony, his voice too low for her to hear. When he returned, he dressed quickly, his tall, muscular frame as striking as ever. Raegan couldn’t help but blush, even after two years of marriage.
“Don’t wait up for me. Good night,” he said, heading for the door.
Raegan’s heart sank. “It’s already so late,” she murmured, clutching the pregnancy test tightly.
Mitchel paused, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Are you still horny? Want me to make you cum again?”
Her face burned, but before she could respond, he was gone, leaving her alone in the quiet room.
Unable to sleep, Raegan scrolled through her phone, her heart stopping when she saw the news: “Famous designer Lauren Murray spotted at the airport with her mysterious boyfriend.” The photo was blurry, but Raegan recognized Mitchel instantly. He’d canceled his afternoon meeting to pick up his ex-girlfriend.
Her hands trembled as she dialed his number. When a woman’s voice answered, Raegan felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. She threw her phone aside, nausea overwhelming her as she rushed to the bathroom.
The next morning, Raegan went to work, her mind racing. Mitchel hadn’t come home last night, and the woman’s voice on the phone haunted her. She tried to stay calm, telling herself she deserved answers after all these years of loving him.
As she approached Mitchel’s office, she overheard a conversation between him and his childhood friend, Luis.
“Do you have any feelings for Raegan or not?” Luis asked.
Mitchel’s response was cold. “What do you mean exactly?”
“You know what I mean! Raegan’s a good girl. Isn’t she your type?”
Mitchel’s reply was careless, almost dismissive. “Do you want me to hand her over to you?”
Raegan’s heart shattered. They were talking about her like she was an object, not a person with feelings.
Then Luis brought up Lauren. “I saw the gossip news about Lauren’s mysterious boyfriend. That was you, right?”
“Yes,” Mitchel admitted.
Luis laughed. “That woman still has you wrapped around her little finger. Did you two spend the night together?”
Raegan’s vision blurred, her body going cold. The words cut deeper than any knife. Lauren and Mitchel had spent the night together.
As the door opened, Luis spotted her. “Raegan?”
She stood frozen, the weight of everything crashing down on her.