Chapter 4

Rora’s POV

Morning came quietly, but my heart did not.

I woke up before my alarm, staring blankly at the pale light leaking through the thin curtains of my room. My chest felt tight, as though something heavy was sitting right on it. For a moment, I lay there without moving, trying to understand why my heart was beating so fast.

Then his face appeared in my mind.

Ethan Walker.

I squeezed my eyes shut, but it was useless. His calm gaze, his deep voice, the way he stood so close to me yesterday, all of it replayed itself like a cruel joke.

Why did it have to be him?

Of all people in this city, why did the man I had a one-night stand with turn out to be the most powerful man in the Walker family? The uncle everyone feared. The man Liam dared not offend.

And worse… why did my body still remember him?

I groaned softly and rolled onto my side, burying my face in the pillow. My cheeks felt hot.

I remembered leaving money behind that night. The shame came rushing back so fast it almost made me curl up.

What must he have thought of me?

Did he laugh about it later? Did he feel insulted? Or worse, did he feel nothing at all?

My heart twisted.

Then another image surfaced: Ethan standing up from his chair, closing the distance between us in his office, his hand on my waist, his eyes dark with something unreadable.

We were so close.

So close that my breath had caught.

And then Mark walked in.

I frowned deeply.

For the first time in my life, I truly hated a man named Mark.

I sat up abruptly. “Enough,” I whispered to myself. “Get up and get ready for work or else your ass will be kicked out.”

Today wasn’t about my foolish thoughts. It wasn’t about Ethan’s face or his voice or the way my heart reacted to him.

Today was about work.

About surviving for my family especially my father, he wasn't aware that my mom had jumped down the building out of depression. I kept telling him that she was top busy with work and she will come later to see him.

I dragged myself out of bed and walked toward the small wardrobe in the corner of the room. When I opened it, my throat tightened instantly.

It was almost empty.

I stared at the few pieces of clothing hanging there, and memories flooded back against my will.

The blue dress my mother once love and get me from an auction, it's sold.

The heels my father bought me on my birthday. Sold out.

The handbag Malice once envied. Sold out

I had sold everything that could buy me a little time.

I pressed my lips together tightly.

One billion naira debt. I'm about 940 million debt away ,I've covered 60 million.

Even if I sold myself, would it ever be enough?

My hands trembled as I reached for the only decent outfit left, a simple black skirt and a white blouse. Nothing fancy. Nothing eye-catching. Just something that said I’m trying to survive.

As I dressed, I couldn’t stop thinking.

If Ethan hadn’t hold me yesterday… what would have happened to me?

I looked at myself in the mirror after tying my hair back neatly.

The girl staring back at me looked tired. Thinner. Older.

But her eyes still held something stubborn.

I grabbed my bag and left the house.

The taxi ride to the mall felt unreal. Buildings passed by, people walked freely on the streets, living their normal lives, while my own felt like it was hanging by a thin thread.

I hugged my bag tightly to my chest.

Please… let today go well.

When the taxi stopped, my breath caught.

The mall stood before me like a different world, tall glass walls, shining floors visible from outside, luxury cars parked in neat lines. People walked in confidently, dressed beautifully, laughing softly.

I felt like an intruder.

For a second, I considered turning back.

But then I remembered my father behind bars. My mother’s lifeless body. The debt letters. The threats.

I stepped out.

I stood outside the mall, checking my phone nervously. Ethan hadn’t arrived yet.

I tried to calm myself.

He is your boss now, Rora. Nothing more.

Then laughter pierced the air.

A laugh I knew too well.

My heart sank even before I turned around.

“No…” I whispered. "It must not be what I'm thinking"

Liam and Malice.

They walked toward me like predators who had found wounded prey.

Malice’s eyes lit up when she saw me. “Oh my God,” she laughed loudly. “Isn’t this funny?”

Liam crossed his arms. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m waiting for someone,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.

Malice laughed harder. “Waiting? For who? A cleaner?”

People nearby slowed down, curiosity flickering in their eyes.

Liam sneered. “You really have no shame. Coming to a place like this after everything.”

Malice stepped closer, her voice dripping with mockery. “Did you come to beg again, sister? Or are you hoping to catch another rich man?”

My fingers curled into fists.

Then she raised her voice deliberately.

“Everyone should take a good look at her.”

My heart skipped painfully.

“This is Rora Grayson,” Malice announced proudly. “The bankrupt daughter. Her family owes one billion.”

Murmurs erupted instantly.

“And she came chasing my fiancé for money,” Malice continued sweetly. “When that failed, she slept with a strange man on her engagement night.”

Gasps coming from them, followed by their laughter. They gave me disgusted looks.

My ears rang.

“That’s not true!” I shouted, my voice breaking.

But the words drowned.

I felt naked. Stripped. Judged.

I regretted everything, coming here, breathing, surviving.

Just as my knees began to shake..

“And what exactly is going on here.”

The voice cut through the chaos like ice.

The crowd froze.

I looked up slowly.

Ethan.

He stood there, calm, tall, his presence heavy enough to suffocate the air around him. His eyes moved from Liam, to Malice, then finally to me.

Something dark passed through them.

“What is happening here?” he asked coldly.

“Uncle..” Liam started.

“Apologize,” Ethan said flatly.

Liam stiffened. “She was causing trouble...”

“I said apologize.”

Silence.

Malice’s face went pale.

They turned to me unwillingly.

“I’m sorry,” Liam muttered.

Malice forced a smile. “Sorry.”

I wanted to feel victorious.

Instead, my vision blurred.

The humiliation, the noise, the pain, it crashed over me all at once. I felt weak as my knees shake, I realized my breathe is slowly fading and I can’t feel any strength in me.

My legs gave out as I fell back.

Darkness swallowed me.

When I woke up, everything felt quiet.

Too quiet.

I felt a warm grip around my fingers.

I opened my eyes slowly.

Hospital room. White sheets and Ethan sitting beside me.

He sat beside my bed, his hand holding mine firmly, as though afraid I might disappear.

“You fainted,” he said calmly when I stirred.

Before I could speak, the doctor walked in with a smile.

“Mr. Walker, the test results are ready.”

He handed a file to Ethan.

I watched his eyes move across the paper.

Then his expression changed.

“Miss Grayson,” the doctor said gently, “Congratulations, you’re pregnant.”

The words slammed into me.

Pregnant?

My heart stopped beating.

“What…?” My voice came out barely above a whisper.

My hand flew to my stomach.

No.

This couldn’t be happening.

Tears welled in my eyes as panic surged. “I won’t use this against you,” I blurted out desperately. “I swear. I didn’t plan this. I won’t ask for anything...”

Ethan looked at me steadily.

“I know,” he said.

Then he stepped closer.

“I will take responsibility, Will you marry me?”

My breath caught.

“What…?”

The world tilted.