Chapter 1

Tags: Broken Engagement, Rejected Child, Cheating & Betrayal, Secret Pregnancy, Second Chance Romance

Three months into my pregnancy, I broke up with my fiancé, Austin Vance.

He frowned at me. "What are you throwing a fit for? Just because my mom said you shouldn't keep the baby right now?"

"Yeah."

He let out an impatient sigh. "Fine. Go home and get some rest. I'll talk to my mom."

I didn't answer. He turned away to take a call from his assistant, completely ignoring me.

"Book two first-class tickets to Miami. I'm taking her away for the weekend to clear her head."

That "her" wasn't me.

He hung up and casually told me we'd talk another day.

Little did he know, my latest ultrasound had just confirmed twins.

From that moment on, we were done. No more entanglements.

I dialed my phone: "Auntie, help me arrange everything to move abroad."

Since his family didn't want these babies...

They would take my last name. They would have nothing to do with the Vance family ever again.

"Hey Piper, it's Chloe Vance. Austin gave me your SnapChat. He told me to keep you company whenever I'm free."

The notification popped up on my phone just as I hung up with my aunt.

A friend request.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds and left it ignored.

I went back to packing my things.

When Maya came over, I was slipping my ultrasound report inside my passport.

She stood by the doorway, glancing around the living room before looking at the papers in my hand.

"You're packing?"

"Yeah."

"Where are you going?"

"Out of the country."

She walked in slowly, sat down on the edge of the sofa, and let her gaze drop to my stomach. "What about the baby?"

"Coming with me."

"Does Austin know?"

"He knows I broke up with him. He doesn't know I'm leaving."

"When are you going to tell him?"

"I'm not."

Maya's lips parted, but she stopped herself.

After a few seconds, she changed the subject. "Why does his mother insist you get rid of it anyway?"

I stopped what I was doing.

What Austin's mother actually said was: *Piper, I consulted a psychic. The baby's astrological chart clashes horribly with Austin's. It's a bad omen. The psychic made it very clear—you have to terminate it.*

When I told Maya, she crumpled the tissue in her hand into a tight ball.

"She's pulling that psychic nonsense?"

"Yeah."

"And what did Austin say?"

"He said he'd talk to her. Then, right in front of my face, he called his assistant and booked two tickets to Miami. To take Chloe."

"Who the hell is Chloe?"

"His childhood friend. She moved back two months ago. He said he wanted to take her away to unwind."

Maya stared at me for a long time, her eyes rimmed with red.

"You're doing the right thing."

My phone buzzed again.

Having failed on SnapChat, Chloe sent a direct text message instead:

"Piper, Austin mentioned you haven't had much of an appetite lately. I made some chicken bone broth and left it with your building's concierge. Don't forget to pick it up!"

I handed the phone to Maya.

She read it and looked up. "He asked *her* to bring you soup?"

"That's what the text says."

"And where is he?"

"Booking flights to Miami."

Maya handed my phone back without another word.

After half a minute of silence, she stood up and began neatly folding the clothes left in my closet, packing them into my suitcase.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Help me ship that box of books to my aunt."

"Got it."

I opened the prenatal report and glanced at it.

Maya leaned over.

"Twins?"

"Confirmed this morning."

"Does he know?"

"No."

"You really aren't going to tell him?"

"He didn't even want one. What difference would telling him there are two make?"

Maya didn't ask again. She helped me finish packing, and as she stood by the door before leaving, she turned back.

"Take care of yourself. Call me whenever you need anything."

"I will."

Once the door clicked shut, I sat on the couch alone, resting my hand over my belly.

At nine that evening, Austin came home.

As he kicked off his shoes, his eyes caught the suitcase in the foyer. He froze for two seconds, then walked into the living room.

"Where are you going?"

"Staying out for a few days."

He sat down beside me, reaching out to wrap an arm around my shoulder. "Still throwing a tantrum? I told you I'd talk to my mom."

"Did you tell Chloe to drop off that soup?"

He paused, caught off guard.

"She said she wanted to get to know you, so I gave her the address. She's really sweet. You two could get along."

"You gave our home address to a woman I don't even know."

"What do you mean you don't know her? I've mentioned her tons of times. We grew up together."

"You didn't ask me first."

He sighed heavily.

"Fine. Next time I'll ask first. Just don't leave."

"Did you cancel the Miami trip?"

Three seconds of dead silence.

"Her tickets are already booked. It wouldn't be right to cancel now."

"Then go."

I stood up to grab my suitcase. He stood up too, blocking the doorway.

"Piper Hayes, do you actually want to make this work or not?"

I looked up into his eyes.

"Austin, your mother told me to abort your child, and you called it a tantrum.

You gave my SnapChat to another woman, and you called me dramatic.

You booked two tickets to Miami with her, and you called me unreasonable. So tell me—what actually counts as serious to you?"

He had no answer.

His phone rang. He glanced down. It was Chloe.

He looked at the screen, then back at me. "Her insomnia has been pretty bad lately. Let me take this."

He answered the call and stepped out onto the balcony. His voice drifted through the glass door.

"What's wrong? Can't sleep again?"

I pulled my suitcase behind me and walked out the door. I didn't wait for him to finish that phone call.

Inside the elevator, I texted my aunt: "Expedite the visa."

She replied with two words: "On it."