Thank you for reading! What do you think about the mysterious man Mila feels connected to? Could he hold a piece of her past? Stay tuned in the next chapter!
Mila's POVArine’s grip on my hand was firm, his fingers wrapped around mine with a determination that left no room for argument.I had tried—more than once—to pull free, insisting that I didn’t 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 didn’t see it coming until I bumped into something solid. Startled, I stumbled slightly,My head jerked up, and I found myself staring at Arine’s 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 couldn’t quite name—something 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 something—or someone—I’d 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 him—gifting me his mistress’s rejected outfits as if they were symbols of love. I’d 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.“Well, well, if it isn’t Mila,” 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 I’d once thought I loved. Beside him stood Lily, eyes wide and hands covering her mouth in a theatrical display of innocence.“Alex?” I managed, voice low but steady despite the burning pain. I refused to show weakness—not in front of him, and certainly not in front of her.“Who do you think you are, Mila?” he spat, his eyes blazing with anger. “Harassing Lily like that—have you lost all decency?”Lily stepped closer to him, clutching his arm as if she were afraid, her voice soft and trembling. “Alex, please… don’t be too harsh on her,” she murmured, her eyes flicking over to me with a barely concealed smirk. “I’m sure she just… misunderstands the situation.”Misunderstands. 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.“
“The one from the mall, Mila! The one where Alex slapped you in front of everyone! It’s gone viral, like, everywhere! It’s all over social media. People are posting it left and right. I can’t believe it!” Sally’s voice was a mix of anger and disbelief. “What the hell happened? Why didn’t you tell me? Are you alright?”I 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 can’t 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 time… this time he had crossed a line.“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing calmness into my voice. “I’m just heading home now. I’ll explain everything later.”But 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 shattered… 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 today’s mess. Still, something in me— desperation for any distraction—or 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.“Hello?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.A pause, then a deep voice, smooth yet unsettling, came through. “Mila. I’ve been waiting to talk to you.”My grip tightened on the phone, a chill running down my spine. There was something familiar about the voice, though I couldn’t place it. No name, no explanation—just a tone filled with a strange confidence, like he already knew everything.“Who is this?” I demanded, my words sharper now.“You’ll find out soon enough,” he replied, his tone calm and almost teasing. “Meet me tomorrow. I’ll send you the location.”Before I could respond, the line went dead, l
I barely made it to the sink before I started vomiting, my body heaving, all that delicious food suddenly working against me. When I straightened, I felt dizzy, my head spinning as if I’d just stepped off a roller coaster. My hands were cold, and a strange exhaustion washed over me, settling deep in my bones. Sally was right outside the door, her concern quickly turning to worry. “Mila, are you okay? You look so pale. Do you need water or something?” I tried to reassure her, forcing a shaky smile. “I’m fine. Must’ve been a long day and maybe…maybe I ate too fast.” But as I walked back to the living room, a few things lingered— the sudden nausea, the dizziness, a lingering tiredness I couldn’t shake. I brushed it off, chalking it up to stress and fatigue. Yet something gnawed at the back of my mind, as if my body was trying to tell me something just beyond my understanding. But for now, I ignored it, focusing instead on cleaning up and carrying on, pretending that everything was perf
The doctor looked at us, her expression soft but unyielding. “I understand your surprise, but these results are accurate. Sometimes, diagnoses change. Bodies change. And from what we’re seeing here, you’re in the very early stages.” Sally was the first to speak up, her voice a little shaky. "Can we… can we see the report?" The doctor handed us the report, and we both scanned it, even though it may as well have been written in a different language. It was undeniable; every line pointed to one thing: I was, somehow, actually pregnant. Still, I couldn’t believe it. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I shot Sally a look, and she nodded, as if reading my mind. “Thank you, Doctor, but I think we’ll get a second opinion.” The doctor nodded, still patient. “Of course, Mila. If you need any further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out.” We barely made it out the door before Sally pulled me aside. “Mila, we need to check this again. Let’s go to another hospital. Mayb
After a long moment of silence, I made up my mind. I couldn’t ignore this anymore—whoever had been reaching out to me clearly had something important to say. I looked at Sally, determination set in my eyes. “I think I need to go,” I said quietly. Sally’s face immediately filled with worry, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she nodded firmly. “Then I’m coming with you. You’re not going anywhere alone, Mila, especially not in… well, this situation.” A small smile tugged at my lips. “Thank you, Sally. I don’t think I’d want to face this on my own anyway.” I reached down, my hand unconsciously resting on my stomach. There was a strange warmth there, a feeling that almost felt protective, like my body was somehow reminding me that I wasn’t truly alone. My heart softened, and I knew then that I had to be careful—not just for myself, but for the tiny life inside me too. After gathering a few things, we headed out, the drive long and winding as we left the familiarity of the city behind. Sall
Mila's POVArine’s grip on my hand was firm, his fingers wrapped around mine with a determination that left no room for argument.I had tried—more than once—to pull free, insisting that I didn’t 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 didn’t see it coming until I bumped into something solid. Startled, I stumbled slightly,My head jerked up, and I found myself staring at Arine’s 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 couldn’t quite name—something 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 couldn’t place where or when.“Mila,” Arine said gently, breaking through my thoughts. “You should eat something. The nurse said it’s important for your recovery. Maybe take a short walk afterward to stretch your legs.”I 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 he’d done this for me bef
𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘃I 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 didn’t even know who she truly was—or who I was—was right there, within reach.My eyes swept across the room, searching for any sign of Sally. When I was certain she wasn’t here, a strange relief settled over me. It wasn’t 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
𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 '𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩Stepping 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.“You better have a good reason for calling me at this hour,” I said, my tone sharp and commanding.On the other end, a man’s voice stammered slightly, clearly aware he had interrupted me at a delicate time. “I apologize for disturbing you, sir,the test results are out.I thought you’d want to know immediately.”I froze, my grip on the phone tightening involuntarily. My heart thudded against my ribs as I braced myself for what was coming. “Go on,” I said, my voice deceptively calm.“The test is positive,” he revealed. “Al
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 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 mine—it 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. “I need to take this,” 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
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 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 wasn’t 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 weren’t calm or reassuring—they were burning with frustration. It wasn’t 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
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 Alex glared at Arine, his eyes blazing with fury as he yanked his hand free from Arine’s iron grip. “This is a personal matter,”he growled, his voice sharp and accusatory. “You have no right to interfere.” I instinctively drew back, my fingers brushing against the fabric over my stomach, seeking some sense of calm. But Arine didn’t budge an inch. His gaze was cold and unyielding, as if Alex’s rage didn’t even register. “Anything involving Mila is my concern,” Arine said coolly, his words measured but laced with a quiet authority that made even me pause. Alex’s eyes narrowed, darting from me to Arine and back again. “Concern?” he sneered, his voice tinged with suspicion. “And who exactly are you?” he demanded, his tone dripping with disdain. “What gives you the right to involve yourself in this?” 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. “Who am I?”
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩The 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. “Don’t stress yourself out for me,” I’d said.He’d refused, his tone firm. “I’ll be back soon. Rest.” 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 woman’s shrill voice pierced through the silence, shouting at someone—likely 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 “inco
𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩When 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 didn’t want to wake her. Knowing Sally, she’d worked herself to the bone worrying about me and ensuring I was safe.She must’ve 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. “Thank goodness,” I whispered, closing my eyes briefly in gratitude.The sound of the door opening