LOGINAmelia’s POVThe sound of the slap echoed sharply down the hospital hallway.Victoria’s head snapped to the side, her perfectly styled hair swaying with the force of it. A red mark immediately began to bloom across her cheek.Her hand flew up to her face."What the hell, Amelia?!" she gasped, staring at me in disbelief.My chest rose and fell rapidly."How dare you bring my mother into this?" I hissed, stepping toward her. "You petty, jealous—"Before I could finish the sentence, Victoria suddenly shrieked at the top of her lungs."Tristan! Help!"The door to Rowan’s hospital room flew open so fast it nearly slammed into me.Tristan stormed out."What is it?" he barked.Victoria immediately pointed at me, her voice trembling dramatically."She slapped me!" she cried. "Amelia slapped me! And now she’s threatening me!""Oh please," I snapped. "Playing the damn victim again?""What the hell, Amelia?!" Tristan growled. "She’s your sister."I threw my hands up."Why don’t you tell HER that
Amelia’s POV"Uncle, you’re awake."Tristan’s voice filled the room as he walked in with a wide, easy smile. He looked perfectly composed in a tailored suit, as if he’d just stepped out of a board meeting instead of a hospital corridor.Then his eyes landed on me. And they lingered. Slowly. Uncomfortably.They trailed down my body in that familiar, crawling way that made my skin prickle."Amelia… you’re here," he said, his tone shifting into something possessive. His gaze flicked between Rowan and me. "With him."I folded my arms."Good eye," I said dryly.Victoria stepped in behind him.She wore a polished cream blazer and heels that clicked softly against the hospital floor. Her makeup was flawless, her expression perfectly sweet.The second her eyes brushed past me, they hardened for just a fraction of a second.Then she turned toward Rowan with a warm smile."Uncle Rowan," she said gently, approaching the bed. "I’m so glad you’re okay."Rowan leaned back against the pillows, his d
Amelia’s POVAs I rang the bell, the door swung open almost immediately.Ethan stood there. His brow furrowed the second he saw me. His posture shifted, shoulders squaring, arms crossing over his chest like a human barricade."Amelia?" His voice was defensive. "What are you doing here?"The coldness hit harder than I expected."I… I came to apologize," I said, my voice already trembling. "I’ve been a terrible friend."His jaw tightened. "Yes. You have."Each word landed like a slap."Liz has been heartbroken," he continued. "I think you should go."My heart dropped into my stomach.I nodded slowly, staring at the floorboards. Maybe he was right. Maybe I didn’t deserve forgiveness.Just then, I heard her voice."Honey? Who is it?"Liz. My chest tightened painfully. God, I’d missed her."No one," Ethan called over his shoulder quickly. Then he glared at me again. "Now please leave. You’ve done enough harm."I swallowed hard.Part of me wanted to turn around, get in my car and disappear.
Amelia’s POVI paced out of the hospital as quickly as I could, my boots striking the polished floor in uneven, frantic rhythms.I’d heard enough. More than enough.My chest felt hollow. Like someone had reached inside and scooped everything out, leaving only cold air behind.He still cared about Sienna.Of course he did.He already had a family. A son. A mother who adored Sienna. A life that made sense long before I ever stumbled into it.Me? And this child? We would always be secondary. An afterthought.His family would see our baby as a mistake. A scandal. A bastard.The word burned.By the time I pushed through the hospital doors, the crisp morning air hit my tear-streaked cheeks like a slap. I barely noticed the nurses greeting me or the sound of traffic in the distance. My head was too loud.This morning, I’d woken before sunrise.Actually… I hadn’t slept at all.I’d stared at the ceiling the entire night, one hand resting protectively over my stomach, my mind racing in endless
Amelia’s POV My pulse quickened as I walked to the bathroom.I placed the small white box on the counter and stared at it for a long moment.This could change everything. My relationship with Rowan. My career. My independence. My entire future.I tore open the packaging with slightly clumsy fingers.The instructions blurred as I read them."Simple," I muttered to myself. "It’s simple."Nothing about this felt simple.I sat down on the toilet, heart racing, and took a steadying breath."Here goes nothing…"Moments later, I set the test on the counter.Two minutes.Just two minutes.I sank down on the edge of the bathtub.My leg bounced anxiously.What if it’s negative?Would I feel relief? Disappointment?What if it’s positive?Panic? Hope?Rowan’s voice in the hospital echoed in my memory. "Don’t disappear."Tears burned my eyes again."Why did you save me?" I whispered to the empty bathroom.The timer on my phone chimed softly."Please be negative," I whispered. My heart felt like i
Amelia’s POV"A pregnancy test," Dr. Patel repeated calmly, as if he were suggesting I drink more water. "Nausea, dizziness, heightened sensitivity to smells. It’s something we should rule out."Pregnant?The word echoed in my skull, too loud, too heavy.My heart started pounding in my ears so violently I barely heard my own voice when I answered, "That’s— that’s not possible."But even as I said it, memories flickered like an unwanted reel.That night with Rowan. In the car. His knuckles bruised from that idiotic fight with Gabriel.The way he had pulled me into him, raw and furious and vulnerable all at once.That must’ve been about three weeks ago.Oh God.Oh God.Dr. Patel watched me carefully, his expression professional but not unkind. "It’s always possible."I stared at the floor, unable to meet his eyes.This was too much.The motorcycle attack. Rowan in ICU. And now this?"I’m going to take a blood sample," he continued gently. "And I’ll have the nurse bring in a test for you
Rowan’s POVTristan slumped in the passenger seat of my Lamborghini, arms crossed, jaw tight. He hadn’t said a word since I dragged him out of Amelia’s apartment."So… are you going to tell me what you were really doing at Amelia’s place?" I said finally, keeping my tone light. He let out a long s
Rowan’s POVAs ‘Vera Calloway’ continued her presentation, I found myself seeing Amelia in a completely new light.I leaned back in my chair, gaze fixated on her. God, I’d been blind.I had thought of Amelia as just another beautiful woman with a temper and a complicated past. A fiery blonde who st
Amelia’s POVVictoria smiled as she glided into the room, her designer coat draped just so over her shoulders. "Hello everyone," she purred. "I’m so honored to be part of this wonderful project."I stared at her, stunned, but quickly masked my reaction. Of course Rowan would do this. I’d been fool
Amelia’s POV"You have no idea what I’m capable of," Rowan said, his voice low.I scoffed, crossing my arms tight over my chest. "So you’re seriously using our previous mistakes to threaten me?"He took a slow step closer, jaw tightening. "The only mistake," he said, gaze locked on mine, "would be







