ššæš¶š»š² 'š š£š¢š©Stepping out of the room, my hand still tingled where it had touched Mila to lead her in. Shaking off the warmth, now hanging in my chest, I closed the door, took a couple of steps down the hallway, and then looked around to make sure no one was around.Satisfied that I was alone, I pulled out my phone and swiped to answer the call. Placing it against my ear, I straightened my posture, letting my usual calm, authoritative tone seep into my voice.āYou better have a good reason for calling me at this hour,ā I said, my tone sharp and commanding.On the other end, a manās voice stammered slightly, clearly aware he had interrupted me at a delicate time. āI apologize for disturbing you, sir,the test results are out.I thought youād want to know immediately.āI froze, my grip on the phone tightening involuntarily. My heart thudded against my ribs as I braced myself for what was coming. āGo on,ā I said, my voice deceptively calm.āThe test is positive,ā he revealed. āAl
ššæš¶š»š²'š š½š¼šI pushed the door open cautiously, careful not to make a sound. The room was bathed in the dim light of the bedside lamp, its glow softening the edges of everything it touched. My gaze instantly fell on Mila, lying peacefully on the bed, her face relaxed, lost in sleep.For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, almost afraid to take another step. She looked so serene, so vulnerable. The woman who had unwittingly turned my world upside down, who didnāt even know who she truly wasāor who I wasāwas right there, within reach.My eyes swept across the room, searching for any sign of Sally. When I was certain she wasnāt here, a strange relief settled over me. It wasnāt that I disliked her presence, but right now, I wanted this moment to myself, this quiet, stolen moment with Mila.I moved closer, my steps careful and measured, until I was standing by her bedside. Her face was partially hidden by a strands of hair, and without thinking, I reached out and gently tucked it
Mila's POVA voice called my name, soft at first, almost blending with my dreams. I tried to ignore it, turning over to sink back into the comforting void of sleep. But the voice came again, clearer this time, and unmistakably familiar. Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking against the soft light.Arine stood before me, his gaze steady and focused .Behind him stood a man whose presence made me pause, unfamiliar at first glance. Yet, as I looked at him more closely , there was a strange pull in the back of my mind as if I had seen him before but I couldnāt place where or when.āMila,ā Arine said gently, breaking through my thoughts. āYou should eat something. The nurse said itās important for your recovery. Maybe take a short walk afterward to stretch your legs.āI blinked at him and nodded, still distracted, as the man stepped forward. He carried a small foldable table and carefully placed it over my lap. His movements were deliberate, almost too familiar, as if heād done this for me bef
Mila's POVArineās grip on my hand was firm, his fingers wrapped around mine with a determination that left no room for argument.I had triedāmore than onceāto pull free, insisting that I didnāt need his help, but his quiet, stubborn resolve always won. After a few futile attempts, I sighed in resignation.Eventually, I stopped resisting.We walked in silence, but my thoughts were anything but quiet. Tomorrow loomed over me like a storm cloud. Every day brought a new challenge, another hurdle I had to overcome for my baby. Would it ever get easier? Or was this constant fight my new reality?I was so lost in my thoughts that I didnāt see it coming until I bumped into something solid. Startled, I stumbled slightly,My head jerked up, and I found myself staring at Arineās chest.I blinked, startled, and slowly raised my eyes to meet his. His expression caught me off guard. He was looking at me with an intensity I couldnāt quite nameāsomething sharp and layered, like he was holding back a ti
The moment I set foot inside the mall, a sense of unease gripped me. My pulse quickened as I scanned the bustling crowd, an inexplicable feeling that somethingāor someoneāIād rather avoid was just around the corner. Brushing off the feeling, I reminded myself of my mission: buy some dresses. My wardrobe had suffered after the last purge when I realized Alex bought those dresses for her. The nerve of himāgifting me his mistressās rejected outfits as if they were symbols of love. Iād burned every last one, and today, I intended to replace them.As I wandered through the Western wear section, my fingers grazed a sleek, emerald dress. A small smile formed on my lips, thinking how satisfying it would feel to treat myself after months of pouring myself into the Royals project. Just as I was about to pull the dress from the rack, a familiar voice cut through the air, freezing me in place.āWell, well, if it isnāt Mila,ā the voice purred, dripping with false sweetness more likely in moking t
I blinked, my cheek throbbing as my vision cleared. Standing in front of me, his face twisted with rage, was Alex. He looked like a stranger, nothing like the man Iād once thought I loved. Beside him stood Lily, eyes wide and hands covering her mouth in a theatrical display of innocence.āAlex?ā I managed, voice low but steady despite the burning pain. I refused to show weaknessānot in front of him, and certainly not in front of her.āWho do you think you are, Mila?ā he spat, his eyes blazing with anger. āHarassing Lily like thatāhave you lost all decency?āLily stepped closer to him, clutching his arm as if she were afraid, her voice soft and trembling. āAlex, pleaseā¦ donāt be too harsh on her,ā she murmured, her eyes flicking over to me with a barely concealed smirk. āIām sure she justā¦ misunderstands the situation.āMisunderstands. That word echoed in my mind, thick with irony and the memories of a thousand twisted lies. I clenched my fists, feeling the fire building in my chest.ā
āThe one from the mall, Mila! The one where Alex slapped you in front of everyone! Itās gone viral, like, everywhere! Itās all over social media. People are posting it left and right. I canāt believe it!ā Sallyās voice was a mix of anger and disbelief. āWhat the hell happened? Why didnāt you tell me? Are you alright?āI froze, the breath catching in my throat. Viral? The thought of my humiliation being broadcasted to the world, out of my control, made my skin crawl. This canāt be real.I squeezed my phone tighter, trying to steady my breath. My mind was still racing, trying to piece everything together. Alex had always had a way of controlling the narrative, but this timeā¦ this time he had crossed a line.āIām fine,ā I lied, forcing calmness into my voice. āIām just heading home now. Iāll explain everything later.āBut I was too numb to take in her concern. All I could think of was how my world had just exploded in the worst way possible. The slap, the video, my privacy shatteredā¦ I c
I hesitated, eyeing the screen as the unknown number flashed. The last thing I needed was someone else trying to drag me back into todayās mess. Still, something in meā desperation for any distractionāor maybe it was the faint hope that someone, anyone, might actually have something helpful to say urged me to answer.With a sigh, I pressed "Answer" and lifted the phone to my ear.āHello?ā I said, trying to keep my voice steady.A pause, then a deep voice, smooth yet unsettling, came through. āMila. Iāve been waiting to talk to you.āMy grip tightened on the phone, a chill running down my spine. There was something familiar about the voice, though I couldnāt place it. No name, no explanationājust a tone filled with a strange confidence, like he already knew everything.āWho is this?ā I demanded, my words sharper now.āYouāll find out soon enough,ā he replied, his tone calm and almost teasing. āMeet me tomorrow. Iāll send you the location.āBefore I could respond, the line went dead, l
Mila's POVArineās grip on my hand was firm, his fingers wrapped around mine with a determination that left no room for argument.I had triedāmore than onceāto pull free, insisting that I didnāt need his help, but his quiet, stubborn resolve always won. After a few futile attempts, I sighed in resignation.Eventually, I stopped resisting.We walked in silence, but my thoughts were anything but quiet. Tomorrow loomed over me like a storm cloud. Every day brought a new challenge, another hurdle I had to overcome for my baby. Would it ever get easier? Or was this constant fight my new reality?I was so lost in my thoughts that I didnāt see it coming until I bumped into something solid. Startled, I stumbled slightly,My head jerked up, and I found myself staring at Arineās chest.I blinked, startled, and slowly raised my eyes to meet his. His expression caught me off guard. He was looking at me with an intensity I couldnāt quite nameāsomething sharp and layered, like he was holding back a ti
Mila's POVA voice called my name, soft at first, almost blending with my dreams. I tried to ignore it, turning over to sink back into the comforting void of sleep. But the voice came again, clearer this time, and unmistakably familiar. Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking against the soft light.Arine stood before me, his gaze steady and focused .Behind him stood a man whose presence made me pause, unfamiliar at first glance. Yet, as I looked at him more closely , there was a strange pull in the back of my mind as if I had seen him before but I couldnāt place where or when.āMila,ā Arine said gently, breaking through my thoughts. āYou should eat something. The nurse said itās important for your recovery. Maybe take a short walk afterward to stretch your legs.āI blinked at him and nodded, still distracted, as the man stepped forward. He carried a small foldable table and carefully placed it over my lap. His movements were deliberate, almost too familiar, as if heād done this for me bef
ššæš¶š»š²'š š½š¼šI pushed the door open cautiously, careful not to make a sound. The room was bathed in the dim light of the bedside lamp, its glow softening the edges of everything it touched. My gaze instantly fell on Mila, lying peacefully on the bed, her face relaxed, lost in sleep.For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, almost afraid to take another step. She looked so serene, so vulnerable. The woman who had unwittingly turned my world upside down, who didnāt even know who she truly wasāor who I wasāwas right there, within reach.My eyes swept across the room, searching for any sign of Sally. When I was certain she wasnāt here, a strange relief settled over me. It wasnāt that I disliked her presence, but right now, I wanted this moment to myself, this quiet, stolen moment with Mila.I moved closer, my steps careful and measured, until I was standing by her bedside. Her face was partially hidden by a strands of hair, and without thinking, I reached out and gently tucked it
ššæš¶š»š² 'š š£š¢š©Stepping out of the room, my hand still tingled where it had touched Mila to lead her in. Shaking off the warmth, now hanging in my chest, I closed the door, took a couple of steps down the hallway, and then looked around to make sure no one was around.Satisfied that I was alone, I pulled out my phone and swiped to answer the call. Placing it against my ear, I straightened my posture, letting my usual calm, authoritative tone seep into my voice.āYou better have a good reason for calling me at this hour,ā I said, my tone sharp and commanding.On the other end, a manās voice stammered slightly, clearly aware he had interrupted me at a delicate time. āI apologize for disturbing you, sir,the test results are out.I thought youād want to know immediately.āI froze, my grip on the phone tightening involuntarily. My heart thudded against my ribs as I braced myself for what was coming. āGo on,ā I said, my voice deceptively calm.āThe test is positive,ā he revealed. āAl
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š© Before either of us could say more, The silence was abruptly broken by a faint throat-clearing sound, startling both of us.Both of us froze,we turned simultaneously, confusion etched on our faces.There, sitting on the couch, was Sally.She was leaning back, one leg crossed over the other, a faint, amused smile playing on her lips. My cheeks burned as I realized what this must look like.Arine and I exchanged a quick look, and it was clear we both remembered how close we had been just seconds ago. His hands pinning me against the door, his intense gaze locking onto mineāit all seemed so... awkward now.Arine stepped back quickly, running a hand through his messy hair as his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, a look of relief washing over his face. āI need to take this,ā he said, the clipped tone of his voice leaving no room for questions. Without another word, he slipped out of the room, leaving me to face Sally alone.The moment the door clicked
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š© I glanced at Arine, who was still staring in the direction where Alex and Lily had disappeared his features set in a hardened expression. He seemed lost in his thoughts, his jaw tightening with every passing second, his posture stiff. It wasnāt like him to look so unsettled, and it made me uneasy.Clearing my throat, I tried to bring him back to the present hoping to snap him out of whatever storm was brewing in his mind.His head snapped toward me, his dark eyes meeting mine. But this time, they werenāt calm or reassuringāthey were burning with frustration. It wasnāt anger meant to hurt, but the kind born out of worry and unspoken fears. His usual calm demeanor had shifted into something sharper, angrier.Before I could say anything, he gently took my hand despite the storm brewing in his expression. Without a word, he turned and began walking, leading me back to the hospital room where I was supposed to be resting.The moment we stepped inside, Arine shut the door
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š© Alex glared at Arine, his eyes blazing with fury as he yanked his hand free from Arineās iron grip. āThis is a personal matter,āhe growled, his voice sharp and accusatory. āYou have no right to interfere.ā I instinctively drew back, my fingers brushing against the fabric over my stomach, seeking some sense of calm. But Arine didnāt budge an inch. His gaze was cold and unyielding, as if Alexās rage didnāt even register. āAnything involving Mila is my concern,ā Arine said coolly, his words measured but laced with a quiet authority that made even me pause. Alexās eyes narrowed, darting from me to Arine and back again. āConcern?ā he sneered, his voice tinged with suspicion. āAnd who exactly are you?ā he demanded, his tone dripping with disdain. āWhat gives you the right to involve yourself in this?ā I could feel the tension spike in the air, thick and suffocating. I glanced at Arine, unsure of what he would say, but there was no hesitation in him. āWho am I?ā
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room as I lay resting on the hospital bed. Sally sat nearby, busy typing away on her laptop, her focus unwavering. Arine had left a while ago, needing to attend a meeting. He had promised to be back in an hour or two despite my protests. āDonāt stress yourself out for me,ā Iād said.Heād refused, his tone firm. āIāll be back soon. Rest.ā Then he was gone, leaving me with Sally, who, as usual, balanced everything effortlessly. It had been nearly half an hour when the calm was shattered by a commotion outside. A womanās shrill voice pierced through the silence, shouting at someoneālikely a staff member. The tone struck a strange chord within me, so familiar that it made my stomach churn. But I brushed the thought aside, chalking it up to exhaustion.Moments later, a deep, booming man's voice echoed through the hallway, scolding someone viciously.His words were cruel, demanding explanations for what he called their āinco
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©When my eyes fluttered open, I was greeted by the blinding white of the hospital ceiling. A dull ache pulsed in my head as I struggled to recall how I ended up here. The last thing I remembered was the sharp pain and dizziness that had overwhelmed me back at home. Everything after that was a blur.Turning my head slightly, I spotted Sally slumped over the edge of my bed, her head resting on her folded arms. Her soft breathing was the only sound in the quiet room. A faint smile tugged at my lips. She looked so serene, almost like a child.I didnāt want to wake her. Knowing Sally, sheād worked herself to the bone worrying about me and ensuring I was safe.She mustāve been exhausted from her work and looking after me.I placed a gentle hand over my belly, holding my breath as I focused. Relief washed over me when I felt a faint flutter, a reassurance that my baby was okay. āThank goodness,ā I whispered, closing my eyes briefly in gratitude.The sound of the door opening