LOGINSELENA POVTwo days later.I stood in front of the mirror with my fingers resting on my stomach, staring at my reflection.Tonight. By this time tomorrow, I would no longer be in this country. The thought should have terrified me. Instead it only left an ache in my chest.A knock sounded before Miss Margaret stepped in with breakfast. "Good morning, Mrs. Blackwood." "Morning." She placed the tray down before giving me one of her usual suspicious looks. "Alexander said you're not to leave this room today." I couldn't help smiling. That sounded exactly like him. "He specifically said if I let you out of my sight, he'll fire me." That made me laugh softly. "Then I suppose I shouldn't make your life difficult." "Good." She folded her arms. "Because I mean it." "I know." My eyes drifted toward the window. After all.. tonight, I would be leaving.The rest of the morning passed slowly. I spent most of it sitting by the window, watching clouds drift across the sky while pretending my hea
SELENA'S POVThe next morning I spent almost thirty minutes trying to convince Alexander to go to work."I'll survive for a few hours, Xander.""No."I sighed, watching him fold his arms like a stubborn child. "You've barely left my side since I woke up.""And I don't plan on changing that."I couldn't help smiling, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Mr. Blackwood, are you abandoning your company?""My company will survive.""But your wife might get bored to death if you keep staring at her."That finally earned me a chuckle. "I'll take that risk."I walked over and fixed his tie myself. "Please?" His eyes softened immediately. "You're using that face on purpose." "It's working, isn't it?" He sighed dramatically before pressing a kiss to my forehead."Fine. But I'm only going because Greg has called six times." "See? Even Greg misses you." "I'll be back before lunch." "I know." His fingers brushed my cheek. "Promise me you'll rest." "I promise." It wasn't exactly a lie.Af
SELENA POVI woke up to the smell of pancakes.For a moment I thought I was dreaming. Slowly opening my eyes, I was greeted by a familiar face and a tray balanced carefully over my lap."Good morning, sleeping beauty." Alexander smiled, looking far too pleased with himself.I blinked twice before looking down. Pancakes. Fruits. Fresh orange juice. Even the strawberries were cut into tiny hearts."You made breakfast?" I asked, genuinely surprised."Don't sound so shocked.""I am shocked."He gasped dramatically. "My wife doubts my abilities." A small laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. There it was again, that feeling, that warmth he always gave me without trying. And just like always, my heart betrayed me completely."You've been sleeping for two weeks. I figured I should spoil you a little." He sat beside me, adjusting the pillows behind my back before handing me a fork. "I was going to let you sleep longer, but our son apparently disagreed."Right. The baby. My hand in
SELENA POVMy hands tightened around the door handle.For a moment I thought I had heard wrong. Then Xander's voice came again, clearer this time."It's a contract, Nessa."I stopped breathing."When she gives birth, I'll take my child and pay her off. That's all there is to it."Something inside me shattered.My grip loosened from the door handle as my chest tightened so painfully I couldn't move. My breathing became uneven. I couldn't hear anything after that… couldn't stand there another second. Quietly, I pulled the door shut and turned around. One step. Then another. My hand found my stomach on its own.His words echoed endlessly. *I'll take my child. Pay her off. That's all there is to it.*Tears blurred my vision almost immediately. So that was it. That was all I had ever been to him. A contract. An obligation. The mother of his child and nothing more. I bit down on my lower lip so hard I tasted blood. Everything suddenly felt ridiculous.. my life, my love, my marriage. All
SELENA POVMy eyes found Vanessa immediately. She stood a few feet from the bed, exhaustion evident on her face, yet that familiar gentleness still sat in her expression.Then my gaze shifted to Xander.He looked terrible. His beard had grown out, his eyes were bloodshot, his shirt wrinkled, and for the first time since a long while, Alexander Blackwood looked human. Relieved and terrified and happy all at once. His hand tightened around mine like he was afraid I would disappear again."Lena..." His voice broke. "I thought I lost you."My heart ached. I knew he cared about me. I knew he loved me in his own way. But as I looked past him and remembered everything I'd heard in the darkness these past two weeks, another thought quietly settled in my chest. Maybe he just didn't love me the way I loved him. Maybe being the mother of his child was enough reason to care. And perhaps…perhaps, I had been selfish for wanting more.The door opened before I could follow the thought further. The d
SELENA POVDarkness.That was all there was. No light. No sound. Just endless darkness swallowing me whole.Then slowly, voices."They're losing her!" "Move!" "Get the OR ready!"My body felt weightless. Far away. Like I was floating somewhere between a dream and reality."Lena!"Xander. Even in the darkness, I would always recognize his voice. My heart reached for him. But my body wouldn't move."There is too much blood loss.." "No!" His voice cracked around me. "No. Do something!" Then everything disappeared again.**************************The next time I heard something, it was quieter. More distant."Mr. Blackwood, we need to investigate everyone." Emma voice. "There are inconsistencies in the CCTV footage. The camera didn't capture the push directly, but it captured the clothing of the person running from the scene."I wanted to open my eyes. I wanted to ask what happened. But I couldn't."It matches what Miss Vanessa Greystone was wearing."My heart stopped.A pause. The
SELENA POV I stood frozen. Tears poured down my cheeks, my body shaking violently. I wanted to go there, to tear them apart with my bare hands, to scream until my lungs gave out, but I couldn’t move. My husband… fucking my best friend. My best friend… I could barely breathe. I turned to leave,
SELENA POV“Congratulations, Mrs. Hale. You’re two weeks pregnant.”The doctor’s voice stretched forward with a smile, hands reaching out as if expecting joy. But my body refused to follow. My temple throbbed, sweat prickling against my skin. My hands trembled, my legs vibrating under me. No. No,
SELENA'S POV "Let's go." Kelvin didn't wait for my response before turning away, but I didn't bother replying either. Something inside me had already gone quiet, A quietness that comes after the last thread finally snaps. I knew it was over. Completely. The desperate wife of Mr. Hale was gone. I
SELENA'S POV My eyes slowly opened as the warmth of the morning sun brushed against my face. For a moment, I didn't move. My head was heavy, my body sore in places that made memories of last night rush back like a sudden wave, the club, the drinks, the stranger. My heart skipped. Slowly, I turne







