Trapped By His Silent Love

In the brightly lit operating room, Ariana Edwards lay on the cold table.

Her face was pale as she watched the doctor prepare the anesthesia, instinctively recoiling. Her desire to escape was evident.

"Don't worry, dear," the doctor said soothingly, noticing her fear. "It'll all be over quickly. There's nothing to fear from this procedure. Soon, you'll have your own baby."

Ariana could hardly muster a reply to the doctor's reassurances, a pained and sorrowful smile crossing her face.

How could she not be saddened?

She was still a virgin and yet, she was about to have a baby for a man she had never met.

Even if that man was Theodore Anderson, the heir to the prestigious Anderson family.

Ariana couldn't shake off the events from three days ago.

Only a month after her father's unexpected death, her stepmother, having seized the entire inheritance, suddenly produced her mother's possessions to lure Ariana back to the Edwards residence.

Upon her arrival, her stepmother had her phone confiscated by the maids and locked her away, hypocritically presenting her with consent forms for artificial insemination, a confidentiality agreement, and a marriage agreement.

"Ariana, we are family, after all. Don't hold my harshness against me. Your choices are to marry Theodore Anderson and become a surrogate mother or to marry a 60-year-old wealthy businessman. It's your decision."

Both choices felt like dead ends, and Ariana was determined not to agree.

She was already in love with her boyfriend, Jasper Anderson, and either option would mean betraying both herself and Jasper.

Yet in the end, she couldn't withstand her stepmother's merciless tactics and was forced into making a decision.

"Fine, I'll sign the consent for the insemination and the confidentiality agreement, but only if you return my mother's belongings."

Ariana set her terms through clenched teeth.

Once her stepmother agreed, Ariana signed the papers and was then taken to the hospital.

As the anesthesia began to take effect, Ariana felt her consciousness fading.

She suffered three days of torment, yet no one came to rescue her.

As she closed her eyes, thoughts of Jasper, her betrayed boyfriend, filled her with guilt.

Yet she felt she had no other option.

She resolved to make amends later.

With these thoughts, Ariana resigned herself to her fate.

When she woke up, the surgery was already complete. Opening her eyes, she saw Theodore's father, Darian Anderson, at her bedside.

"How did the surgery go?" Darian asked the doctor anxiously.

"Mr. Anderson, please be at ease, the operation was successful," the doctor responded respectfully. "However, we will need to wait a month to confirm if conception has occurred."

"Very well." Darian nodded with satisfaction, his eyes never meeting Ariana's, effectively treating her as nothing more than a tool.

Ariana despised being used as a tool, yet she felt utterly helpless.

What she wanted most was to get out of there as soon as possible and confess everything to Jasper.

Whether Jasper scolded her or even lashed out, she was prepared to accept it.

This was the consequence she had to face for her betrayal.

Suddenly, a familiar male voice reached her from outside the room.

"Dad, how did the surgery go?"

Why did that voice sound so familiar? It was like Jasper's...

Ariana was completely awake now, and she turned her head abruptly to look towards the door, hoping to see the figure she had been yearning for day and night.

In the next instant, Jasper actually stepped through the doorway.

A spark of joy lit up Ariana's eyes, her heart leaping, only to crash down immediately.

Because there, holding Jasper's hand, was her stepmother's daughter, her so-called younger sister, Brielle Edwards!

They entered together, closely, looking just like a loving couple.

Ariana was dumbfounded.

Why was Jasper with Brielle?

Didn't he realize that Brielle was one of the people she despised the most?

"Let me introduce you." Darian gestured towards Jasper and Brielle, introducing them to Ariana. "This is Jasper, Theodore's younger brother, and Brielle, his fiancée."

Younger brother? Fiancée?

Ariana's mind reeled in confusion.

She wanted to confront Jasper and Brielle loudly, demanding explanations, but the two of them simply looked at her, their expressions showing no surprise.

"Ariana." Brielle spoke first, her eyes gleaming with malice but her face painted with an innocent smile. "Congratulations."

Ariana suddenly felt dizzy, as if the whole world had turned upside down.

She felt betrayed, not just by the man she loved the most but also by the woman she despised the most, together.