Not Yours Anymore Mr ASHFORD

Chapter 2

The stairs swayed under my feet as I rushed down to make breakfast. My stomach lurched – morning sickness or fear, I couldn't tell anymore. I gripped the railing, waiting for the world to stop spinning.

"Not now, baby," I whispered, touching my belly. Still flat, still our secret. "Mama needs to focus."

The kitchen staff ignored me as usual. Just empty faces, trained by Nikolai to treat me like I didn't exist. I grabbed eggs from the fridge, trying to steady my shaking hands. The coffee machine hummed to life, filling the kitchen with its rich scent.

Then hands grabbed my waist.

"Mmm, you smell good, Sister-in-law."

Reed's breath hit my neck, hot and wrong. I shoved him away, knocking over the pan. Hot oil splashed my arm.

"Don't touch me!" The burn stung, but his touch was worse.

He laughed, moving closer. "So feisty today. What's wrong, Elena? My brother not taking care of you?" His eyes were hungry, predatory. "I could show you what a real man feels like."

"Back off!" I grabbed a knife from the counter. "I mean it, Reed."

"Put that down before you hurt yourself." He knocked it from my hand, pinning me against the counter. His fingers dug into my arms. "No one would believe you anyway. The gold-digger who seduced poor Nikolai? They'll think you begged for it."

I struggled, panic rising in my throat. The baby. Had to protect the baby.

"Help!" I screamed. "Somebody—"

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY WIFE!"

Nikolai's roar shook the kitchen. Thank God. Thank God. I broke free and ran to him, but his face – God, his face was murderous.

"Brother," Reed stepped back, suddenly all innocence. "This isn't what it looks like. She came onto me. Said you weren't enough—"

"He's lying!" My voice cracked. "Nikolai, please, you know I'd never—"

"SHUT UP!" Nikolai's fingers crushed my wrist. "Both of you!"

I caught Ella watching from the doorway, her perfect mask slipping just enough to show her satisfaction. Of course. This was her plan all along.

Nikolai dragged me upstairs, threw me onto our bed. The same bed where he'd taken me last night, where he'd ordered me to always be ready for him.

"So this is how you repay me?" His voice was deadly quiet. "Spreading your legs for my stepbrother?"

"No!" Tears burned my eyes. "Listen to me! He attacked me. I was just making your breakfast—"

"Liar!" He grabbed my chin. "You're all liars. Just like her."

Her. His first wife. The one who'd destroyed his trust years before I even met him.

"I'm not her," I whispered. "I love you."

Wrong thing to say. His hand went to his belt.

"Nikolai..." My voice trembled. "Please... I'm pregnant."

The belt froze. His face went blank.

"What did you say?"

Ella's voice drifted up the stairs. "Nikolai! Board meeting in twenty minutes!"

He stared at me, something flickering in those ice-blue eyes. Fear? Hope? Then it was gone.

"We'll deal with this later." He turned and walked out.

I curled around my stomach, protecting our tiny secret. In the hallway, I heard Ella and Reed whispering, plotting their next move. They thought they'd won.

I was changing the sheets when Ella knocked. My hands wouldn't stop shaking, and the fresh linen smelled too clean, too sharp. Behind me, the shower kept running – Nikolai washing away his anger like always.

"Elena." Ella's voice dripped fake sweetness. "I'm so sorry, dear. I was helpless."

I didn't answer. Just kept tucking corners, smoothing wrinkles. Anything to keep my hands busy. Anything to look normal.

"Is he still showering?" she whispered.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. The steam from the bathroom made the room feel thick, hard to breathe.

The shower stopped. My heart jumped as Nikolai walked out, all wrapped in his white robe. Water dripped from his hair, and his eyes – God, those cold eyes – they swept right past his mother and landed on me. I kept working, pretending I didn't feel his stare burning into my back.

He disappeared into the closet without a word. The silence felt like it might choke me.

That's when it hit – the nausea. My stomach rolled, and the room started spinning. I grabbed the bedpost, trying to steady myself.

"Elena?" Ella's voice seemed to come from far away.

I ran for the bathroom, barely making it in time. Everything came up, my whole body shaking. Ella watched from the doorway – I could feel her eyes on my back, calculating, plotting.

When I finally stood up, legs wobbling, she blocked my path. Her face showed concern, but her eyes gleamed with triumph.

"Oh, my dear," she said loudly – too loudly. "Are you... pregnant?"

The world stopped.

I heard Nikolai's footsteps behind me, heavy and slow. He stood there in his half-buttoned shirt, tie hanging loose, looking like a storm about to break.

"Nikolai!" Ella clapped her hands like an excited child. "We're finally getting an heir! After three years!"

She scurried out, leaving me alone with him. The air felt electric, dangerous.

"Pregnant?" His voice was soft, but it made my skin crawl. "Is it true?"

My hands went to my stomach without thinking. His eyes followed the movement.

"Answer me." He stepped closer, towering over me. The smell of his shower gel – mint and cedar – made my stomach turn again. "Are you carrying my child?"

I nodded, tears spilling down my cheeks.

"Is it possible?" His words cut like glass. "That someone like you could carry my heir?"

I wanted to scream, to tell him this baby was a miracle – our miracle. But my throat closed up, choking the words.