★SEVERAL WEEKS LATER★
•SOPHIA LANGFORD• “Congratulations Mrs Banks, you're two months pregnant.” The doctor's words echoed in my ears, causing more of my tears to fall freely as I got driven to Levi's office by his driver. Seconds had rolled into minutes.. Minutes had materialized.. Hours had morphed into days and weeks and now, my connection with the billionaire was two months old already. “I think I need to go to the hospital for a check up, I feel sick” I'd said to him this morning while he was leaving for work and with a peck on my lips, he instructed one of his multiple drivers to take me to the hospital. Ellen's message came in for the sixth time. I'd actually texted her to inform her after getting the news. ‘Think well, maybe you both had sex when drunk.’ her message read. I sniffed, typing a response. ’I'm sure Ellen, we never got intimate sexually. Yeah, we kissed and had some intense make out sessions but he never slept with me. I swear..’ I typed with hiccups. I closed my eyes, shaking my head sideways. ‘I'm carrying the cruel creditor's child. The nightstand had really happened two months and a few days ago’ I texted further and sent. ‘The problem right now is that I've heard Levi mention his name several times as a threat to his progress in the business world. He's his greatest rival for the position he's thriving to get, though we haven't met again.’ I dropped another text.. ‘The Ethan Weston you talked about?! Shit!’.. she replied ‘This is bad because this man has no family too, he'll definitely try to win you and the baby especially when he realizes that your connection with the billionaire is just a deal and would be expiring in a month's time’.. another of her texts came in, scaring the hell out of me. “I'm in trouble and now I think I fell for Levi already, I think he's used to me too. Even if he wants to admit his love and marry me properly, can that ever be possible anymore when I'm carrying another man's child?.’ That was the last message I texted before the driver spoke. “We're at the office now ma'am..” he informed me while the other guard opened the car door. I wiped my tears immediately and threw my phone into my handbag before alighting. All the staff and workers bowed and murmured words of greetings as I walked towards Levi's office which was on the fifth floor. I'd been here a couple of times so no one would deny identifying me as his wife. “Levi thinks I'm still a virgin, he'll be so disappointed” I thought. My head was in shambles I left the elevators for the stairs. “Hormone stimulation?” I thought to myself while walking. “I don't think so, Jace, it might just be a fever. We're just about to try the IVF again since the first one wasn't successful, remember? I heard him say as I got to the front of the office. My mind was so occupied with the thoughts of my unwanted pregnancy so I didn't even think about what his words meant. The glass door had a pass code I knew of and immediately, I punched the digits into the system and walked in after it opened. He was right on his seat with the upper buttons of his shirt opened. Normally, I would have drooled and admired his perfection for a second or two but I was too devastated to do that. “I’ll call you back Jace..” he said on sighting me and with a deep breath, I dropped my bag on the chair opposite him. “Hey Soph.." he called while my tears threatened to fall again just at the sight of him. He dropped the phone and walked up to me immediately. “Hi..” my voice came in a whisper as I sniffed. He narrowed his eyes, moving closer to me. “What's the problem?.. you look sad, are you crying?.” he said slowly with worry, holding my shoulders.. “What did the doctor say about your health?” he asked again. I couldn't say a word nor control my emotions anymore, I instantly hugged him, pouring out my tears on his shirt. “You received a bad news on your way here?..” he asked, wrapping his hands around me, while I kept crying.. “It's fine, let out the tears if it makes you feel better. I'm here for you.” his words made me feel more terrible and I couldn't help crying more loudly. I remained in his arms for the next two minutes, reminiscing about my life's struggles and how I'd done a lot to save my family only to end up being pregnant for my savior's enemy. It seemed like my most devastating experience. He suddenly cupped my cheeks and raised my head from his chest, causing our gazes to meet. “Are you okay?.. you've never been like this before.." he said, sounding so worried. I kept crying more and without warning, he leaned in and claimed my lips. “Kiss me if it's going to help you feel better" he broke the kiss to say and this time, i reconnected our lips without hesitation.. I just wanted to distract myself from the hurtful memories.. The kiss was slow, since it was just to stop my tears and all I kept doing was pulling his head closer while my heart skipped several beats, just the same way it usually did each time I was with him. “I'm scared..” I thought, deepening the kiss more and more, till his gentle pushes made my back touch the wall. Suddenly, the door opened and at the same time we both broke the kiss. Since Levi was facing the door, he saw the person first. “How dare you barge into my office, how did you even know the code?!..” Levi said harshly with his arms still on my waist. Wondering whom he was talking to for a second, I turned immediately.. But as I turned, I met with my greatest nightmare and the one I least expected to see. “Noo!.." I gasped inwardly in shock. It was him, Ethan Weston!. “I'm talking to you!” Levi yelled, but Ethan's surprised gaze was on me instead. “Good riddance” I heard him mutter with a creepy smirk, while my breathing intensified terribly. This must be a dream! “Get out now!..” Levi said again, unaware of what was going on. Ethan turned to him immediately.. “I never thought this could be the wife of yours that everyone is talking about” he chuckled annoyingly. My head began pounding terribly. “What are you saying?.." Levi asked confused, sounding pissed. “You married the lady I had a nightstand with…” Ethan responded, laughing shortly. Levi's grip on me instantly felt stiff.. He turned to me immediately and then back at him with shock obvious in his eyes and expression. “What?!...”SOPHIA LANGFORD “She never told you?.. We got intimate two months ago..” Ethan grinned and Levi's eyes widened even more.. The only wish I had at that moment was for the ground to open up and take me in but unfortunately, it seemed impossible.It's hard surface still remained that way under my feet.I gave my lips a hard bite as Levi's gaze landed on me again. I was doomed, I knew it. “Coincidences are indeed crazy.." Ethan's mutter came alongside a chuckle.That damn chuckle was heavily weighty in mockery and creepiness. It defined a million things..“Two months ago..” Levi repeated in a cold whisper and I shivered as those amber eyes darkened..I doubt if he had ever been like this since we got married. His expression demanded that I look into his eyes and tell him things weren't true, but how was I supposed to do that when the truth had already morphed into a haunting refrain in my ears – ‘I slept with his rival to pay my father's debt and now I'm pregnant..Oh heavens, this
ETHAN WESTON If there's anything I'd always been looking forward to, that would be being on the winning side and having Levi at my feet's level always..This was just a big discovery to take advantage of!...I wasn't married, everyone knew that but damn, I had an unborn child!..Levi's wife was carrying my baby!!Could anything be more satisfying than that??..Absolutely no!..“You're carrying my seed.." I repeated, intentionally wanting to provoke Levi more and more.Oh heavens..I've always loved moments like this!“Levi, I can explain, listen to me..” I heard Sophia say breathlessly while Levi's expression still had shock on it.“The result isn't mine, I swear” she kept insisting and I smirked.“Apparently, it's yours. The name is printed in block letters, dear baby mama” I smiled knowingly.She immediately turned to me with glassy eyes..“I never willingly slept with you! You gave the option and I agreed to save my father from going to jail since he couldn't pay his debts!" Her
SOPHIA LANGFORD Levi's swift exit from the office followed closely on the heels of Ethan's departure. His face was totally twisted in anger and not even for once did he utter a word, leaving me too uneasy to attempt a conversation.How could I, anyways?..After all I'd just caused..I cried out my eyes for what seemed like forever in his office before heading out, feeling so scared even to go home.I was a rented bride right, but Levi had been a good husband since our wedding and now a damn pregnancy for his worst enemy is coming up..This shouldn't be happening now..“Boss ordered that all cars be taken home, how do you intend to leave?” Jessica asked as I got out of the office.I'd actually avoided bumping into her just now. It wasn't work's closing hour yet so there were still workers around.“Miss Jessica.." I tried to smile, bowing gently. Crazy right?.. but I really still do respect her since she interviewed and chose me as Levi's rented bride..I'd become used to it.“You hav
LEVI BANKS If someone had told me a situation like this would arise, I wouldn't have believed it. Of all the men in the world, how could Ethan be the one responsible for Sophia's pregnancy? My mind was reeling. It all made sense now - no wonder the in vitro fertilization Jace and I had attempted didn't work out! Her pleas and teary eyes were enough to melt my heart but the thought that she won't be able to carry my own child secretly as I'd planned without aborting the current pregnancy was annoying… Wait, that wasn't even the most annoying thing.. The fact that having a child for Ethan is a big threat to my inauguration is worse!! “You are getting rid of that pregnancy, I won't allow you to keep the bastard!” my anger made me aggressive despite how badly I wanted to help her up and apologise. “It wasn't my fault, I was only helping dad.” those words of hers wouldn't stop ringing in my ears but honestly, that d
ETHAN WESTON Just as I was heading home, Dad messaged me to come see him, and I had to reverse direction, driving out to the outskirts of the city where he lived. As usual, the neighbourhood was silent and empty, having no one loitering around unlike the street where I resided. I alighted from the car, walking in afterwards and just as I'd expected, he was right before the fireplace, glancing through a big book.. “The mighty death book.." I smirked, alerting him of my presence as I walked in. The book had existed for decades and he had always regarded it as ‘the death book’. No one, whose name gets into the book ever survives. No single person.. “What's so difficult about starting a conversation with a greeting word? Where the hell are your manners?” he took out his gun, aiming for my leg. “Seriously?" I scoffed, staring at his fingers right on the trigger. I lowered my butt to the couch
JESSICA FINN Boss's call had actually interrupted my thirty-minute break from the project I'd been working on all day. At first, I'd thought of ignoring the call and sending him a text like I usually did when resting but I just had a feeling that he was calling relating to the pregnancy matter I'd overheard that noon.. Was there anything Levi Banks keeps from his three-year secretary anyways?.. Oh yeah, he could hide what was going on from me but would assign me to some tasks that would give me hints about his decision and all.. …and if, just if I was interested in letting him tell me the truth, I could actually take advantage of a dull state of his to ask questions. I'd gained his trust to that level. “Abortion pills” I repeated for the seventh time since the call ended, walking back to my office. “You're not giving him that, are you?” my subconscious mind asked. “If she loses Ethan's baby, thei
SOPHIA LANGFORD I really didn't leave my room throughout yesterday since I went in tears and I believe Levi wasn't bothered because he never came around to say anything or plant even a knock on my door to check how I was doing. Last night was a hurtful one. I literally cried for most of the night's hours, regretting my actions of laying with Ethan over and over again. There was no one to confide in except, my best friend, Ellen, but unfortunately, she wasn't online and even when I called, her line wasn't going through… “I need to take water" I thought, getting up from the bed and taking a swift glance at my very little baby bump which was exposed since I was just wearing a crop top. I'd actually changed into it last night because I suddenly got tired of my pyjamas.. Oh, I forgot I was pregnant. Yeah.. the nasty hormones that come with pregnancy. My eyes swiftly landed on the wall clock and I sighed, rememb
SOPHIA LANGFORD “Ma’am?!” That sharp call snapped me out of my imagination and I jolted back to reality within a second. But everything suddenly seemed completely different. There was no sense of Levi's strong cologne anywhere anymore and his lips were no longer caged around mine. His arms weren't even around my waist anymore!.. It felt like he had faded into the thin air.. just now. No.. It can't be what I'm thinking right?.. The conversation and kiss I had with Levi just now wasn't an imagination right?.. That kiss wasn't imagined huh!!!! “Are you okay ma'am?” My stunned self landed it's gaze on the butler standing right infront of me and my eyes slowly widened more.. I actually bumped into him and started my imagination from there! Damn, that looked so real! “What do we call this too? A way to save someone from being thrown to juven
ETHAN WESTON Jessica was brought to the hospital by herself and her Ex husband, Viktor, had been waiting alongside a nurse who was to help take out the blood.. “Bravo!” Viktor said happily, hugging me thoughtlessly. I slapped his hands off, rolling my eyes. “As long as our agreement still exists, don't thank me for anything. We're simply helping each other" I replied, watching as Jessica's unconscious body got laid on the bed. I'd intentionally requested his oil company for such a little amount of money because why?.. I was still on the mission of getting ten times richer than Levi and even his grandfather, Harold. “Sweet wife” Viktor pouted, bending over to kiss Jessica all-over her face. “Yuck.." I grimaced. “I missed you insanely” he pressed his lips against hers this time. “Can you stop being shameless, the sedatives will wear off in less than four hours, we need to b
JESSICA FINN Nothing could be more heart melting than the moment when Levi began reciprocating the kiss while I continued deepening it. I'd intentionally made such a request last night and to him, he was doing it out of self-will but to me, my imagination made me feel like he was attracted to me just the same way I was. And.. Sure, my secret video camera was active. He tried breaking it but I didn't allow it until I was unable to breathe anymore. “Sweet..” I smiled shamelessly when we disconnected our lips. He wiped his lips before sighing. “Don't ask for this again" he said, proceeding to alight. “I deserve it, don't I?” He turned to me and sighed again. “I'll see you at the next meeting. Make necessary preparations towards it, see my lawyer today and ask the financial team to deposit half of Alfred's charge to the account he'll be sending” I instructed, makin
LEVI BANKS Morning dawned later than expected, probably because I spent so much time thinking about things in general and most especially, Jessica's request. I cleaned up in the bathroom and took one of the available clothes in the closet to wear, realising that my hair needed to be trimmed. My breakfast was brought in not so long after and this time, I didn't reject it. Not just because I was hungry but also because I felt better than the previous days.. besides, it wasn't the usual omelette but something much better. The cop in charge of me came in, just when I was about to call Jessica to ask for the time she would be coming over. “Good morning Mr. Banks" he bowed and with a sigh, I stopped dialing the number and switched off the phone, knowing fully well that he was here for the phone. “Here.." I handed the device over to him even before he could request it. “By the way, you have a
SOPHIA LANGFORD I couldn't sleep all night and worse, the night seemed unusually long. All I kept doing was cry, roll to the other side of the bed, visit the toilet, groan when I felt a stomach pain, and then, cry again.. Mum would always tell me when I was younger..“It's wrong to stare at mirrors at night” But this was me, staring at the mirror by 3AM, to talk to the baby inside of me. “Do you know how much I hate the fact that you're in there?” I began, staring at my exposed stomach and my little bump. “Do you know how much it hurts when I remember who your father is?.." “I'm locked here because of you!" My tears fell this time and I didn't even bother stopping them. “Why can't you just disappear. You cause me so much pain and discomfort..” I sniffed. “My heart hurts so much. Why did you have to come after that nightstand?I did it unwillingly, didn't you see that?..” I
LEVI BANKS I had no idea when I slept on getting back to my dorm and at midnight, I was awake. I couldn't sleep anymore. I took my phone on the bed stand where I placed it before sleeping off. I'd actually requested that it's given to me for the night by forfeiting the access to use it for the next two days. Jessica had definitely spoken with Ethan regarding Alfred already and I badly anticipated her feedback. I went over to my mailbox, bumping into over a hundred messages, both from work and my personal life.. Till now, no one except a few business partners and Xing's family knew I was in prison. It isn't something that should go viral except if I lose the case in court. “She sent no message?.." I raised my brows in surprise, seeing nothing in our private chat except our previous messages. I immediately began dialing her number, caring less of the fact that it was just 1AM in the mid
ETHAN WESTON “My chastity?” I needed to be sure I hadn't heard him wrongly just now so I simply asked to confirm. “Yes son. You shouldn't relate with women, stop it if you still do it" he replied, shocking me even more. I scoffed. “Is this a joke or what, dad, what are you talking about?” “I don't make expensive jokes and you know it” He responded. “I'm not a misogynist for crying out loud!” I lamented. “Then start adapting to being one” his voice held no form of emotions nor remorse, meaning, he wasn't even caring about my feelings. “Well, that's the greatest impossibility you'll come across. I'm too young to stay away from women. It's not even my thing” I spoke with so much confidence like he could do nothing.. “Amazing” I heard him chuckle devilishly and I folded my fists. What was this man up to?! “I'm not an eunuch, nor a monk, so why should I obey such instruc
ETHAN WESTON I didn't yell out Sophia's name, I knew I roared like a hungry lion and even the maids who weren't expecting such actions, flinched and staggered.. Sophia cannot attempt to murder my unborn child, never!.. not when it's my greatest greenlight to getting the presidential position. As the maid had informed, she was right in the large sitting room, looking so pale and barefooted with her hand folded around a knife which she was raising to her belly.. “I want to see Levi now else I kill myself and this child..” she threatened on sighting me. “And of course, the child is at a greater risk" she added with a smirk. I was really threatened but there was this ego in me that didn't want to reveal my panicked state, so then, I decided to change my expression into a calm one. “Thanks for making me confirm that you never even tried aborting the baby. Didn't you use the pills Jessica gave
ETHAN WESTON Sophia's eyes beamed with nothing but hatred and distrust but was it crazy that I craved her even more despite that?.. “I'm not joking Ethan!” she yelled as my arm bled. I let out another fake groan. The pain was nothing compared to the ones I'd felt at childhood when dad was terribly violent so I could literally endure it even without letting out a sound. “Your husband is in jail because of violence, do you think you'll go scot-free if I decide not to take this lightly?”I threatened and she calmed down a bit, breathing heavily. “You bloody ---" “You had better keep the remaining words in your head. I dislike being called names" I interrupted, trying to stop the blood from my wounded arm by raising my hands to it. “Take it or leave it, you'll be here till my child is born” I added, getting up from her bed and heading out. “You are just deceiving yourself! You can't restri
SOPHIA LANGFORD Ethan's house seemed so suffocating to me and I couldn't just wait to be out. “Even if you'll be leaving, wait to receive your last treatment from my private doctor, she might come around tonight, i forgot about her schedule” he had said when I insisted on going home earlier. But I was really running out of patience at the moment. It was well past 6pm already and I was determined not to spend a night at his place. I badly needed to see Levi. I couldn't wait any longer. “Ouch..” I winced, trying to get the water drip needle out of my veins. I was terribly hungry, and at one point, I feared if my baby was still safe... How was it faring when I was unconscious?.. Hating Ethan didn't mean I hated my own offspring, especially with the fact that being pregnant wasn't easy at all. A knock sounded on the door but I didn't even bother paying attention to it. The person knocking opened the do