Chapter three

A MONTH LATER

Lisa sat frozen, staring at the two pink lines on the pregnancy test gripped tightly in her trembling hands. Panic and fear flooded her mind as reality sank in.

"Freya!" she called out, her voice shaky.

Freya burst into the bathroom, her face etched with concern. “Lis, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost.”

Out of words, with tears welling up in her eyes, Lisa picks up the test and shows it to her. Freya's eyes widen in shock.

“My goodness, you're pregnant? But how…unless…”

The realization hit them both. It had to be that night at the mansion with the mystery guy a month ago. Lisa's mind raced back to the event from that night—waking up naked, a sign that she'd been intimate with someone. She tried dismissing those thoughts at the time when it happened, but now the truth is undeniable.

“You think it's the mystery guy, right?” Freya asked cautiously.

Lisa nodded, a choked sob escaping her lips. "That's the only explanation. I haven't..." she trailed off, unable to voice the intimacy that had been absent from her life for so long.

"I can't believe this is happening." Lisa whispered, her voice shaky with emotion.

Freya urged Lisa to confront the mystery man. “You need to tell him, Lisa,” she said, her voice firm.

"Oh, yes, I will," Lisa responds, a flicker of determination replacing the fear.

Freya reached for Lisa's hand. "I'm coming with you, Lis.”

But Lisa waved her off. "No, I should do this alone. I want to stand face-to-face with that monster who did this to me alone. Don't worry, Freya, I'll be okay."

Freya looked doubtful but nodded in agreement with what Lisa had said. “Don't worry too much about this, Lis; we'll get this figured out,” she assures.

Lisa got herself prepared to go in search of the mystery man, and as she headed for the door, her heart pounded anxiously. She had no idea what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: her life was about to change.

Finally, Lisa boarded a cab, still trying to recall the address of the mansion, but she was able to locate it anyway.

As the cab pulled up to the iron gates, a wave of terror threatened to consume her. Taking a deep breath, she paid the fare and stepped out, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs.

With her trembling hands, she reached for the doorbell. A deep voice crackled through the speaker.

"Who is it?"

Lisa held out a deep breath. "It's Lisa. I need to see you."

There was a long silence after her response. Then the voice was up again.

“Come in.”

The gates swung open, and Lisa stepped in, her chest pounding with a mix of fear and something else she couldn't comprehend.

Reaching the doors, Lisa raised her hand to knock.

But before her knuckles could meet the wooden craft, the door creaked open, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered man with a face etched with surprise.

His eyes widened in recognition. "Hello Lisa, what a surprise?"

"Hy, Mr., what may I call you?” She asked, her tone dissatisfied.

"Oh, pardon my manners. You can call me Jim,” he responds, his voice cheerful. “Please come in,” he said, ushering Lisa into his apartment.

She was sure that, from the look on his face, it was clear he recognized her. Quite impressed at the appearance of the man she had seen, she walks in, her gaze swaying nervously around the opulent living room.

"So," Jim began, his voice crowded with enthusiasm, "what brings you here?"

“Why did you take advantage of me in my vulnerable moment, you monster?” Lisa yelled, her voice laced with anger.

“I'm sorry, darling, but you consented to it; you seduced me, and even when I refused, you forced yourself on me even in your drunken state. You wanted it, girl,” Jim explains innocently.

Ashamed of what she just heard, Lisa looked away from him. “The reason I'm here is to let you know…” she said, taking a deep breath. “I…I'm pregnant. And based on the timing, it's obvious you're the father.”

Jim's eyes went wide for a moment, but he composed himself, his face splitting into a beaming grin. "Are you serious? Wow, that's amazing!"

Lisa blinks in surprise at his exuberant reaction. "You're...happy about this?"

“Of course, darling,” he said, moving towards her and taking her by the hand. “Children are precious gifts. I can't wait to welcome one.”

Just then, a deep voice echoed from the doorway: "What's going on here, and what child are you two talking about?

Lisa froze at the figure that appeared before her: Branden Grevor, the famous billionaire. She couldn't believe her eyes.

"Mr. Branden Grevor?" She gasped, her voice barely a whisper.

“Hey beautiful, What a surprise. Good to see you again.” Branden said, extending a handshake.

“I've tried to find you, but all to no avail. When I returned from the hospital that morning, after I was called for an emergency, I realized you were gone. I've been at the club a couple of times, hoping I could meet you there. Why did you leave without at least giving me a clue on how to find you—at least your name or something?” Branden complained, his tone wary.

Lisa stood there, confused and quite surprised at everything Branden had just said.

"You...you're the one who brought me here that night?" She stammered out in disbelief.

Branden nodded in response. "Yes, I am, from the club downtown. Some lunatic was trying to take advantage, so I intervened and brought you somewhere safe."

Lisa's head spun as the memories all came running back. This powerful billionaire had been her rescuer that fateful evening.

Branden, sensing her confusion, he reached out for her shoulders, "It's alright, dear; you were quite intoxicated; I'm just glad I was there to help.”

"Well, I'm sure you met Jim, my younger brother,” Branden said, introducing her to his brother.

Panic gripped Lisa as she realized she had mistaken Jim for Branden. She opened her mouth to clarify, but Jim cut her.

"Branden, Lisa came here to share the good news—well, she's pregnant. With my child," he stated plainly, casting a deep gaze on Branden.

A tense silence fell over the trio as Branden processed Jim's words.

Lisa's eyes widened in shock at what Jim had just uttered. “What on earth are you saying, Jim? Whose child is yours?” Lisa yells, quite confused.

Lisa saw the shock and anger flare in Branden's eyes as he cast a stern gaze on his younger brother.

“I hope this isn't what I'm guessing it is, Jim,” Branden blasts, his voice deep.

“I'm sorry, brother,” Jim responds, his tone impassive.

"You did what?" Branden growled, moving toward Jim menacingly and grabbing Jim by the collar, his grip tight enough to leave red marks.

"You slept with my guest? In my own home?!"