Chapter 1: Amina’s secret

My name is Amina Locke, I am 22 years old. I am quite short, curvy, and have beautiful blue eyes and waist-long blonde hair. Unfortunately, my features don't exactly endear me to my family, especially my mother,Sharon, and sister, Elizabeth. She is a carbon copy of mother. They both have long black hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. My father, David Locke, is a dark-eyed, dark-haired man, and unlike the rest of my family, he is kind and supportive of me. We are one of the wealthiest families in Hummingville, with a beautiful home, successful business ventures, and plenty of extra societal benefits.

Our mansion is an imposing structure, built from rose-tinted bricks and filled with grandeur. The building towers over the tree-lined avenue on which it is placed, and the meticulously maintained gardens only add to the appeal. In one corner of the garden, there is a small gazebo where I like to sit and read during the summer evenings.

Our wealth comes from a variety of businesses that my father oversees. My family owns some of the top restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers in town. They also invest in real estate and have an impressive stock portfolio. I help my father run his business ventures, adding my own brand of genius to the mix, unlike Elizabeth and mother who knows only how to spend money on top brands and keeping up with the latest trends.

Sitting in my spacious corner office, I was lost in thought, staring out the window at the towering skyscrapers beyond. Suddenly, my assistant , Jane, popped in the door, interrupting my daydreaming.

"Miss Locke, I'm sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to remind you that you have a doctor's appointment in an hour," she said.

quickly thanking Jane, I gathered my things and walked out the door. Taking a quick glance at the nameplate on my office, I see "Amina Locke," in grand and bold letters.

Making my way to the elevator, I couldn't help but admire the stunning lobby of my fathers building, with its high ceilings, gleaming marble floors, and chic modern decor. The parking lot outside was just as impressive, filled with sleek luxury cars, including my own low key but beautiful Aston Martin.

With a quick rev of the engine, I pulled out of the lot and headed to the doctor's office. Arriving just in time, I checked in with the receptionist before being ushered into the exam room. I was nervous, but I had to know what was happening to my body. The doctor's office was cold and sterile, and I nervously waited for him to return, wringing my hands the whole while.

As the doctor entered and began reviewing my file, I couldn’t help but feel my heart racing with anticipation . I had been waiting for these results for what felt like an eternity and the suspense was killing me. “Amina, your test results are in," doctor smith began, looking at me smiling. then, before I knew it, he broke the news,

"Congratulations, Miss Locke, you're pregnant," he said, and my mind went blank for a second.

The news came as a shock to me. I had always been careful with contraception, but I suppose accidents happen.

All I could feel at that moment was a wave of shock and disbelief washing over me. I had always wanted to be a mother, but I never really saw it happening so soon. There were so many questions that raced through my mind, like how I was going to balance this with my hectic work schedule, or how I was going to tell my boyfriend, Josh.

After processing the revelation, the one thing that stood out was the deep sense of happiness and excitement that I felt in that moment. Knowing that I was going to bring a new life into the world, and start a whole new chapter of my life with josh filled me with an indescribable sense of joy and hope for the future.

Josh was the first person I decided to tell about my pregnancy. Leaving the doctors office I rushed over to his apartment, a mix of fear and excitement churning within me. When I arrived at his apartment building, I walked into his apartment using the key he gave to me a while back, with a beaming smile on my face. My appointment with the doctor had gone well and I am eager to share the news with Josh. I walked into the living room, calling out his name, but the moment I stepped through the doorway, my smile vanished.

There was Josh, tangled up in the arms of my sister, Elizabeth. For a brief moment, everything seemed to come to a standstill. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and my heart began to race with fear and betrayal.

The room was quiet, save for the sound of their breathing and the rustling of their clothes. As Josh and Elizabeth disentangled themselves from each other, I felt a cold lump settle in my stomach. I couldn't believe that this was happening. Not to me.

I couldn't hold it in any longer, and tears streamed down my face as I turned to leave. Josh’s voice called out after me, ”Amina wait” but I didn't stop. I just kept walking, wanting to put as much distance between myself and that apartment as possible.

As I stepped onto the street, my legs felt unsteady, and my heart felt heavy with pain. The only sound was the dull roar of cars passing by, and it felt like the world was closing in on me. All I wanted was to be alone with my thoughts, to try and come to terms with what had just happened.

I don’t know how but, I found myself sitting in a park, watching as couples walked by hand in hand. I was alone now, hurt, heartbroken, and betrayed. All I could do was cry, mourning the loss of the love I thought I had found. I let the weight of everything hit me like a tidal wave, until I could scarcely breathe, so lost in sadness that I forgot for a moment I was even pregnant. A mix of emotions flooded through me. My mind raced with thoughts on how to move forward, but the sadness lay heavy on me, shutting down my ability to think about anything other than my betrayal.

My heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces. I couldn't believe that I had been so blind to what was happening right in front of me. As I climbed the stairs, my steps felt heavy, and I could feel a dull ache deep within my chest.

The staircase was curved, with a wrought-iron railing running alongside it. I had always loved this part of the house; it made me feel as though I am ascending to a grand palace. But today, everything felt different. The stairs felt longer, and the railing seemed like an anchor weighing me down.

Finally, I reached my bedroom, locking the door behind me. I crumpled onto my bed, letting out a wail of despair into my pillow. I couldn't understand how something so perfect could come crashing down so quickly. I thought about the future I had imagined with Josh, the life we planned together. Now, all of it was lost in a single moment of betrayal.

As the tears came in waves, I felt like I’m drowning. My thoughts swirled around me, and I couldn't make sense of anything anymore. I have never felt more alone and heartbroken, and it felt like I would never be whole again. With those thoughts, I cried myself to sleep.