Chapter 1 You Are Pregnant

Mia's POV

"Congratulations," Dr. Ray said with a gentle smile, "you're pregnant."

I blinked rapidly, trying to focus. Her smile never wavered as she guided my attention to the screen, pointing to two tiny dots pulsing in sync.

“Twins,” she added. “You’re having twins.”

Twins? I couldn't even grasp the reality of being pregnant. I had been so careful—so cautious. The pills Kyle had insisted I take every single day were supposed to prevent this. We had a contract—one that explicitly forbade a pregnancy. That was the deal, after all.

“I… I’ve been taking the pills,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands shook, and I placed them on the edge of the examination table, trying to steady myself.

Dr. Ray glanced at me with a slight frown. “If you've been taking them regularly. Are you sure you've been consistent?”

I hesitated, unsure. My memory was hazy. There had been moments when I had been distracted. “I…” My voice cracked, and I shook my head. “I’m not sure.”

Dr. Ray’s expression grew more serious. “Well, pregnancy can happen even with contraception, but…” She trailed off, looking at me with concern. “Don’t you want your baby?”

“No,” I murmured. “I didn’t think I could get pregnant.”

She helped me wipe the cool gel from my stomach. "Well, what matters now is ensuring your health and the babies' health. I must warn you though," her expression grew serious, "your uterus condition requires extra attention. You'll need proper nutrition, regular rest, and frequent check-ups."

I nodded mechanically, my hand drifting to my still-flat stomach. Two lives. Two tiny beings growing inside me. Kyle's children. Our children.

I thanked Dr. Ray and left the hospital. I got into the car, my hands gripping the steering wheel as I tried to breathe. The drive home was a blur. I kept thinking about the contract's words. Clause 6 - Regular contraception required. No pregnancies permitted. The terms of our marriage were clear, clinical, like everything else about our relationship. I should not get myself pregnant as my entire life was built on pretending to be his wife while the world—and he—saw me only as a secretary.

I pulled into our driveway, killing the engine but remaining in the car. Marriage was supposed to be about love, trust, and building a life together. But when your husband sees it as merely a business arrangement, those dreams become nothing more than wishful thinking. Kyle had made that crystal clear from the beginning.

"This is a deal," he'd said, sliding the contract across his mahogany desk. "I hope you don't have any other ideas." But I did have other ideas. I had love - years of it, carefully hidden love. So I'd signed, clinging to the hope that maybe, just maybe, time would help him see me differently.

Three years later, that hope had proven as substantial as morning mist. Our relationship existed primarily in the darkness of our bedroom, mechanical and devoid of emotion. During daylight hours, I was just another employee at K.T. Enterprises, our marriage a secret known only to Linda, his personal assistant.

When I arrived home, I moved mechanically, my hands trembling as I prepared a quick meal. Maybe it was just my nerves, but I felt hungrier than usual. I allowed myself to eat more, knowing I needed to maintain my strength.

After eating, I took a shower quickly. Standing in front of the mirror, I stared at my reflection. My body hadn't changed yet—not visibly, anyway. My stomach was still flat, no sign of the growing life inside me. But the reality of it was there, and the idea of two little beings growing inside me made my heart race. Would they look like me? Would they have my green eyes? Or would they inherit their father's dark, stormy gaze?

I couldn’t help but wonder about them. What this pregnancy would mean for our future? Would they bring hope? Or just more disappointment?

When I finished getting dressed, I settled on the couch, waiting for Kyle to return. I wasn’t sure how long I had been sitting there. My mind raced, playing out every possible scenario in which I would break the news to him. The evening stretched endlessly. My hand kept returning to my stomach, trying to forge a connection with the tiny lives within. But Kyle was late today. The minutes dragged on, stretching into hours until I finally started to doze off.

I awoke to familiar hands on my skin, and my heart rate immediately spiked.

When I wake up, I'm already in bed, and Kyle has already taken off my clothes. “Kyle, you're home,” I feel nervous, and my lower abdomen twitches slightly.

"You missed work today," he murmured against my neck, his breath warm. His lips brushed, a quick, possessive gesture, before he bit me lightly. I gasped, my body tensed.“You didn't go to work today.”

“I didn't feel well, so Linda and I took the day off.”

Kyle's tongue slipped into my mouth. I realized what he was going to do, but not today. I turned my face away. "Kyle," I looked up at his handsome face. He had the kind of cheekbones a sculptor would create, and his jawline would never stop. His eyes were the most amazing shade of grey, and at the moment they were full of lust.

"Open your legs," he said. His hard part was already against my entrance.

"No, Kyle. Not today.” He stopped.

He pulled back, his grey eyes darkening. "Why?"

"My stomach's upset," I said, the partial truth bitter on my tongue.

The warmth in his expression frosted over instantly. He stood, wrapping his robe around himself as he headed for the bathroom. "Make sure you see John about it," he called over his shoulder. John was our personal physician. I wasn't stupid enough to go to him for a pregnancy test. I bit my lip.

"Kyle, there's something I want to tell you." I began, but my words were drowned out by the sound of running water.

I sat up slowly, deciding to wait for him to finish his shower. That's when his phone lit up on the nightstand. A message notification caught my eye. Despite myself, I looked.

The name made my blood run cold: Taylor.

"I miss you, babe. Come see me on Thursday."

I was familiar with the name. Everyone who worked at K.T. was probably familiar with it. Kyle Branson had built the most legendary company in ten years. This seemingly cold and rational man named his business after him and the woman he loved the most. Their initials as K.T. Enterprises. A constant reminder of the woman he truly loved, emblazoned across every building, every document, every paycheck.

I may know Taylor a little better than others because she is my younger stepsister.

Then his phone rang again, calling from Taylor.