Hunger had finally taken over me again. I headed straight to the nearest restaurant for a quick meal to satisfy my cravings.


    Pushing the ss door open, I made a beeline straight onto the counter and lined up behind the already long queue of ordering customers. It was lunchtime after all.


    I crossed my arms underneath my breasts, trying to shield myself from the icy st of air-conditioning.


    "I should have brought my jacket with me," I mumbled under my breath while shivering from the cold.


    My stomach growled, temporarily distracting me from the freezing cold temperature.


    I couldn''t stand the hunger any longer. I was so hungry!


    The baby in my womb kicked. Instantly, I knew she was hungry, too.


    "Hold on baby, mommy has to order our meal first. Be patient and wait for a little while." I told her, caressing the spot where I felt her kick. I wasn''t sure yet if the baby was a ''she'' but call it maternal instinct or something, I had a strong feeling she was going to be a girl.


    Taking a deep breath, I looked at the queue. It showed no signs of moving, and impatient customers had no choice but to watch the TV screen for entertainment while waiting. I took a quick look, it was showing celebrity news.


    The employees were doing their best to fulfill everyone''s orders, but because it''s the lunch hour, there were simply too many customers for them to handle quickly.


    Hope flickered inside me when I saw the priorityne. I saw an elderly couple finish ordering from that counter to wait for their orders on their tables.


    Relief washed over my face. Immediately, I walked towards the priorityne. The amodating staff, after eyeing my palms protectively caressing my stomach, simply asked for my order.


    Finally, I sat on the nearby table and waited for my order. When it finally arrived, my mouth watered from the sight. Without a moment''s dy, I attacked the food as though it was going to be myst meal.


    Quickly done with my meal, I lifted the ss of water, but stopped midway before it could reach my lips. My eyes widened in shock as they remained locked on the TV screen.


    There on the television, aired for everyone to watch, was the live wedding coverage of my ex-husband and his mistress. This attracted the attention of many customers, who were also bored and finished with their meals.


    "Oh, Ace Greyson is getting married!"


    "Didn''t he already get married?"


    "Who knows? Maybe he got divorced?"


    As customersmented casually to their friends about the wedding on the screen, pain stabbed my heart. No one knew that the man on the screen was my ex-husband that cheated on me.


    I forced myself to tear my gaze off the screen. I would not torture myself any longer. I rose on my feet, preparing to leave.


    "Do you ept this woman as yourwfully wedded wife and live together in holy marriage?" The priest asked.


    I did not want to hear my ex-husband''s response. I hurried out of the restaurant as fast as I could.


    Thest of my strength faded, and I slumped on the bench outside. I couldn''t see what was taking ce on the TV, but the scene of the wedding still yed in my thoughts.


    I hated my ex-husband, but it did not mean that watching him marry that home-wrecker didn''t hurt!


    "I''m so sorry you had to hear that." I told my baby while caressing my stomach. "It''s okay if your dad''s marrying another woman. Mommy will provide all the love you need." I assured her. I vowed to myself that I would keep this child''s existence a secret from Ace.


    Ace must never know we had a child from the time he took advantage of me in the hotel.


    Rising from the bench, I walked to the za nearby. A brief walk would help calm the storm inside me.


    I walked around the za and watched the children y on the yground. I tookfort at the sight, knowing one day I would see my child y freely like those kids.


    The kids were so adorable, I didn''t have the words to describe them. Their high-pitchedughter filled my heart with glee. Looking at them makes me forget about the wedding scene.


    Out of nowhere, thunder roared from the sky. I raised my head up and saw dark gray clouds slowly swallowing the clear sky.


    ''It''s going to rain again.'' I thought to myself with a disgruntled sigh.


    Time to cut my outing short, thest thing I wanted was to catch another cold again. I hailed a cab to go home.


    Just when my cab was reaching my apartment, I immediately spotted a man in an elegant ck tuxedo desperately rattling the gates.


    Shock hit through me like lightning. I could recognize my ex-husband anywhere! Why was Ace standing in front of my apartment? I didn''t need to alight to know that he was probably calling my name, trying to get me to see him.


    "Miss? Will you be alighting here?" The cab driver asked.


    "No!" I cried out in panic. The cab driver stared at me in surprise. Iposed myself and said, "Please continue driving slightly further up around the bend. I''ll alight there."


    "Alright," the driver said, slightly confused but agreeable. I then paid the driver and mbered out of the car, making sure to keep out of Ace''s sight. I hid behind a wall to watch him still rattling the gates. A frown formed on my face.


    He was supposed to be at his wedding ceremony. It was his wedding day. How could he leave his new wife and march here immediately after his wedding? That jerk! I was upset for myself and for Ang!


    "Phoenix! I know you''re there. Please talk to me." He shouted pleadingly.


    Rain unexpectedly started pouring from the sky without warning. Ace didn''t seem to care, he continued to wait for me toe out of the door even after his expensive clothes got soaked from the rain.


    "You deserve that bastard," I mumbled, my fists clenching in myp. But how was I supposed to get back home when he was still there? I didn''t want to be soaked either, and there was little shelter where I was hiding.


    Then out of nowhere, a hard object mmed against my head, almost breaking my skull. I felt a ringing in my ears, and a throbbing pain followed. My body copsed on the floor.


    I caught a glimpse of blood trickling down my head and staining my hands. Terror filled my body, and a sudden chill crawled down my spine. I wanted to call for help, but my mouth wasn''t forming any words. I could only gasp painfully from the floor.


    Before I could understand what was happening, darkness swallowed me up.