š¦š®š¶šæš®'š š£š¢š© I sat at my desk, meticulously reviewing the project details before attaching the finalized drafts to an email. Arineās PA had requested these, and I wanted everything to be perfect. The sooner the contract-signing process was complete, the sooner I could focus on the actual concept. After hitting send, I leaned back, letting out a small sigh of relief. One task down. I shifted my attention to my inbox, scrolling through the new emails. Most were routine updates, but one caught my attention, making me pause. Before I could open it, the door to my office flew open with a loud bang, startling me. I looked up, and there he wasāAlex.His broad frame filled the doorway, his face contorted with fury. His stormy eyes locked onto mine. āHow dare you, Mila?ā he shouted, his voice echoing through the room. āHow dare you try to harm my child?ā I blinked, utterly baffled. āWhat the hell are you talking about?ā I asked, annoyed at his sudden intrusion. āAnd lower your voic
š š¶š¹š®'š š£š¢š©I curled up on the couch, aimlessly flicking through channels,hoping to find somethingāanythingāthat could distract me. A random show played on the screen, but I wasnāt really watching. The laughter track, the vibrant colors on the screenānone of it could lighten the heaviness in my chest.My mind refused to cooperate, dragging me back to memories Iād rather not revisit. Memories of him. Of Alex.I never thought weād end up like thisābroken and distant. There was a time when Alex loved me like I was his whole world. He had been my rock, my shield, my everything. It felt impossible to reconcile that version of him with the man who barged into my office today, spewing accusations without a shred of doubt.My thoughts wandered to a moment etched deeply in my heart. It had been at one of those high-profile social events he insisted I accompany him to, despite my protests. I never liked being in the spotlight, but Alex was always by my side, making sure I felt safe.That
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
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© 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© 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© 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
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
Autthor's POVdMilaās fragile body rested in Arineās arms, her tears staining his shirt as she finally succumbed to sleep. Her breathing slowed, and the soft tremors in her frame began to subside. Arine didnāt move for a long moment, reluctant to let go. It felt as though the weight of her pain had become his ownāa burden he would gladly carry if it meant sparing her even a sliver of sorrow.When he finally placed her gently onto the bed, tucking the blanket around her, he brushed a strand of hair from her face and murmured, āRest, my love. Iāll make sure no one hurts you again.ābefore stepping out of the room to give the doctors space to check on her condition.Outside, Aunt Lana was waiting, her face etched with concern. As Arine closed the door softly behind him, she approached, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.āShe finally fell asleep?ā she asked softly.Arine nodded, his jaw clenched as he tried to keep his emotions in check. āShe did. But itās like every tear she cried tor
Arineās phone buzzed sharply, cutting through the silence in his car as he drove back from the warehouse. His assistant, Elijah, handed him the phone with a wordless gesture, his expression serious.āItās urgent, sir,ā Elijah said quietly.Arine swiped the screen without hesitation. The voice on the other end was one of his trusted board members.āMr. Malhotra, an urgent meeting has been called to finalize the action plan for the company you acquired. The situation is dire, and we need your directives immediately to stabilize operations,ā came the curt reply from one of the board members.Arine didnāt reply immediately; he was already mentally preparing for the challenge. āIāll be there soon,ā he said and hung up.Arine entered the boardroom with his usual commanding presence. The air was thick with tension; the takeover of Alexās failing company had left its employees and stakeholders in a state of panic.As he took his seat at the head of the table, the room quieted. Elijah handed h
Author's POVArineās breath caught, his chest tightening painfully. He dragged a hand through his hair, his mind spinning.He knew how much Mila loved her unborn child, but he couldnāt bear the thought of losing her.āAre you certain?ā Arine asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his usual composure cracking.The doctor nodded solemnly. āYes. We need your decision immediately.āArineās throat felt dry as he leaned against the wall, his head tilted back as he tried to steady himself. Mila had fought so hard to protect this child, even when Alex had abandoned her. But if she didnāt surviveā¦He closed his eyes tightly, the memories of Milaās trembling form and the fear in her eyes replaying in his mind. She was everything to himāthe woman who had unwittingly thawed the icy walls around his heart. He couldnāt let her slip away.Finally, he opened his eyes, his decision resolute. āSave Mila,ā he said firmly, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. āDo whatever you have to do
Author's povMila struggled desperately against the man's iron grip, her wrists raw from the pressure and the blade grazing her delicate skin. Every thrash only worsened her condition, her strength waning as exhaustion began to cloud her mind. She gasped for air, her vision blurring. Just as she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, the faint sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears.Before she could comprehend what was happening, the door was kicked open with a resounding crash. Five imposing men stormed in, their sheer presence radiating authority and danger. The man holding Mila froze momentarily, panic flashing in his eyes, but before he could react further, a brutal punch landed on his jaw, sending him staggering backward.Another man lunged for the second assailant, delivering blow after blow with precision, while the others restrained them effortlessly. In the chaos, a tall figure strode in, exuding raw power and dominanceāArine. His piercing gaze fell on Mila, taking
AUTHOR'S POVThe clock ticked relentlessly, each passing second amplifying Milaās anxiety. It had been almost an hour since sheād left Sally a voicemail, but the silence on the other end was deafening. Mila sat on the couch, her fingers tapping restlessly on her phone as she refreshed her messages for the hundredth time. Still nothing.The unease in her chest refused to subside. Determined to find answers, she got up and walked to Sallyās room, her footsteps muffled against the quiet apartment. Maybe Sally had left a note, something to explain her absence.Mila pushed open the door, the soft creak of the hinges breaking the stillness. Sallyās room was neat, almost too neat, as though it had been untouched for days. Milaās gaze swept over the dresser, the desk, and the bed, searching for any clue. She pulled open drawers, checked the bedside table, even glanced under the bedābut nothing. Not a note, not a hint of where Sally could be.She sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair from he
AUTHOR'S POV The room was bathed in soft golden light as the evening sun filtered through the curtains. Mila sat at her desk, her laptop open and her sketchpad spread out in front of her. Sheād been working on a set of designs from her last project, trying to refine them. At first, sheād only planned to make minor adjustments, but the ideas in her mind wouldnāt stop flowing. One concept led to another, and before she knew it, she was sketching new details with an energy she hadnāt felt in months.Hours passed in a blur of pencil strokes and clicks of the mouse. Her desk was now cluttered with rough drafts and reference photos, but Mila didnāt mind. There was a sense of satisfaction in the chaos. When she finally leaned back in her chair and surveyed her work, a smile crept onto her lips. The designs had taken shape beautifully, blending creativity with practicality. It felt like a small triumphāa reminder that she was still capable of doing what she loved.Satisfied, Mila glanced at
Mila's POVThe doctor stood by my bedside, clipboard in hand, her expression professional but tinged with concern. Her voice was calm, steady, but every word she spoke carried a weight I couldnāt ignore.āMila, your condition is stable for now,ā she said, pausing to make sure I was paying attention. āBut we need to be cautious. Without proper care, complications could arise in the future.āI swallowed hard, my hand instinctively resting on my stomach.āWhat do you mean? What should I do?āāFocus on rest and proper nutrition,ā she said gently. āKeep taking your supplementsāiron, calcium, folic acid. Most importantly, avoid stress. Any signs of discomfort, no matter how small, call us right away.āI nodded, absorbing her words like a sponge. āIāll do whatever it takes.āāYouāve done well so far,ā she added,her gaze softened . āYouāve been through a lot, Mila, and youāre doing better than you think. But you donāt have to do this alone. Donāt hesitate to lean on the people around you for s
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 tid
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