“I'll cut to the chase,” Aaron said, his voice cold and firm. “You have two options: terminate the pregnancy now, and I'll compensate you generously for your trouble. Or, carry the baby to term and receive a substantial payment, but you will have no rights or contact with the child after birth.” Raina, a young fashion designer, discovers her husband's betrayal just as she learns she's pregnant. But in a shocking twist, she discovers the baby isn't her husband's due to a fertility clinic mix-up. The child belongs to Aaron Kingston, a reclusive billionaire who never wanted a family, just an heir through surrogacy. Now entangled in a complex situation, she must navigate this complex situation and find a way forward. But what happens when they start falling for each other?
Lihat lebih banyakRaina paced around her room, rehearsing the life-changing news. “You're going to be a father, Kai...No, too cliché.” She scrunched up her face. “I'm three weeks pregnant, Kai... Ugh, too blunt.”She murmured to herself, searching for the perfect words.
A week had passed since Kai returned from his business trip, but he had been avoiding their home. Today, she planned to confront him at his condo, determined to share the surprise that would change everything.
Three years of marriage had somehow turned them into strangers. With a deep breath, Raina grabbed her bag and headed out, only to be stopped in her tracks by her assistant, Jamie, who was waiting in the hallway.
“Good morning, Mrs. Ashborne.” Jamie greeted with a bright smile on her face.
Raina's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. “Jamie, didn't you request a week's leave?” she questioned.
Jamie shrugged, her expression nonchalant. “I just wanted to check in, make sure everything's okay. Where are you headed today?”
Raina hesitated before answering. “I was going to see Kai.”
Jamie's expression suddenly turned cautious. “Ma'am, I wouldn't advise that. You know how Mr. Ashborne gets when his work is interrupted. Why not wait until he's finished? He'll come home when he's ready.”
“But—” She began to protest,
“I understand your concerns, ma'am,” Jamie interrupted gently, “but you don't want to risk upsetting him, especially considering...recent tensions between you two. It's better to wait.” She emphasized.
Raina nodded slowly, letting Jamie's words sink in. She and Kai had been having arguments before his trip. With a small sigh, she abandoned her plan. “You're right, Jamie. I'll wait.”
Two days ticked by with no word from Kai and Raina's patience suddenly snapped. Unable to hold back any longer, she got into her car that evening and drove to Kai's condo with a mix of emotions swirling in her chest.
When she arrived, the condo door was slightly opened while a thin dim light spilled onto the hallway floor. Her heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, her hand reaching for the door handle. She pushed it open, her voice trembling as she called out, “Kai?” The only response she received was the creaking of the door as it swung open.
She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the dimly lit living room. Clothes were scattered all over the floor, his shoes kicked off in a corner, and the couch cushions were disheveled, to add to the scene, the air was thick with an eerie silence.
Her gaze drifted towards the bedroom door, where a faint chuckling sound filtered through. Her brows furrowed as she approached the door, her hand reaching for the handle. Just as she was about to turn it, the door swung open, and Kai swooped out, clad in a gray bathroom robe.
His hair was tousled and his eyes surprised. Quickly, he tossed her a smile, regaining composure. “Hey,” he said, his voice low, but for an instant, his eyes flashed with guilt.
Raina's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with questions. What was going on? And who – or what – ever made that chuckling sound.
“Hey,” Kai repeated, bringing her mind back to the present. “What are you doing here?” He asked, his eyes darting across the rest of the space.
Her eyes flickered with disappointment as she frantically tried to explain that she had something important to tell him., but his immediately cut her short. “Whatever it is can wait,” he said dismissively, his tone as sharp as a blade.
She blinked, stunned by his indifference. “Kai, I’ve barely seen you since you came back. Did I… did I do something wrong?”
“Are you in pain?” he asked abruptly, his expression cold.
“What?” she frowned, caught off guard. “No.”
“Are you dying?”
“No—”
“Then it can wait.” He concluded, his tone curt.
Her face burned with anger and hurt. “You're really going to brush me off like that?” she spat, her voice rising.
He took a step forward blocking the door. “Go home, Raina.”
Her eyes narrowed, her mind racing with suspicion. “Who's in there?” she demanded, her tone sharp and firm.
“No one.” He said with a lazy and unconvincing smile.
Without thinking, she shoved past him and flung open the door. Her heart sank as she took in the sight before her. Her assistant, Jamie sat on the bed, the sheet clutched to her chest, her expression calm—almost smug.
Raina staggered back, her voice barely above a whisper. “Jamie...W-What’s the meaning of this?” She stuttered, her mind racing with questions.
Jamie opened her mouth to speak, but Raina cut her off, her anger boiling over. “This is the reason you’ve been covering for him, this is why you asked for the week off, isn’t...” She choked, tears crawling down her cheeks. “You're my assistant, Jamie! I trusted you!”
Her face showed no emotion, but the corner of her lips twisted into a small, mocking smile. “You trusted me with your schedule. Not with your husband.”
Tears blurred Raina’s vision as she turned to Kai, her voice trembling. “How long?” She sobbed.
Kai’s face was devoid of remorse. “Does it matter?” he said coldly.
Her fury erupted. “You’re disgusting!” she spat. “Both of you!” she screamed.
Kai stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Raina, let's not make this any more dramatic than it needs to be.” he smirked.
Her gaze snapped to him, her tears forgotten in her rage. “You're enjoying this, aren't you?!”she spat.
He shrugged, his tone annoyingly calm. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”
Her eyes widened in shock as he strode over to the dresser, pulled out a folder, and tossed it at her feet. “Divorce papers,” he said coldly. “Sign them, and let's be done with this farce.”
Raina’s knees buckled, her world crumbling as she looked up at him, he was barely anything like the man she fell in love with. Kai...you don’t mean this. Please, we can—”
“We’re done, Raina,” he interrupted. His voice was cold, final. “And for the record, I never really felt anything for you. You were just...convenient.”
Convenient? She thought. The words hit her like a ton of bricks, but Kai wasn’t finished yet.“Pack your things and get out of the house.” He said coldly as his voice dripped with hate.
Raina blinked, her tears morphing to disbelief. “The house?” She barely said, “you mean ourhouse?”
“No, my house,” he snapped, his eyes narrowing, “My name’s on the deed, remember? So technically, it’s mine, and you’re just a guest.”
“I paid for half of that house, Kai! You know that!” Her voice cracked as anger swelled up in her chest.
“And you’re welcome for staying there as long as you did,” he shot back with a sneer. “But your time’s up, pack your bags and leave, or I’ll throw you out myself!”
The words echoed in her mind as the room spun, her world collapsing around her. “No, this can’t be…”
Kai pushed the front door open quietly, as if hoping the house would swallow his arrival without notice.Night had already fallen on the city.And for him today had been a long day, no doubt. He had to make a combined eight hour drive to confront Raina and then returned.And for now, his efforts to get her back was still unsuccessful.But for he had a plan B.He froze two steps in, there she was, waiting… Jamie.She stood in the living room, framed by the glow of a single lamp, a glass of red wine held effortlessly in her hand.Her eyes locked on him immediately, sharp and calculating, as though she had been rehearsing this confrontation all night.“Where were you? And before you say work, I checked.. You never showed…” she asked, her tone deceptively soft, carrying the edge of accusation beneath it.Kai pulled off his jacket and draped it across the back of the chair. His movements were calm, almost casual, but his jaw tightened. “I was out, taking a drive round the city, I needed so
The Kingston estate’s study was dimly lit, the curtains drawn tight against the storm still raging outside.A fire burned low in the hearth, throwing flickers of orange light across the heavy oak table where Aaron, Lucas, and Margaret sat. Tris lingered near the shelves with her arms folded and her expression tense.Margaret set down her phone on the table, just after the call, her movements deliberate and controlled.“Your private investigator was right, Aaron,” she said, her voice calm but edged with steel. “It was Marco Cingarette who set Raina up. The recording was fake from start to finish.”Aaron’s jaw clenched, the words hitting like a second blow to the chest.Although, he knew this, hearing it from another source felt all the more painful.He leaned back in his chair, staring at the fire as if it could steady the storm brewing inside him.“We messed up big time, mum.”“I know.” she said, her tone soft.Margaret exhaled slowly, then continued, her eyes sweeping over both broth
The door creaked open, and two officers stepped in, flanking the tall, broad shouldered man between them.Mr. Kingston.He still carried himself like he owned the room, even in a now wrinkled shirt and those iron cuffs worn around his wrists.His silver hair was slightly disheveled, but his eyes were sharp and calculating as ever, as they swept over Aaron and Lucas with a certain cool assessment like he was in a meeting or a conference“Boys,” he said evenly, his tone almost casual. “I’d say it’s good to see you, but given the circumstances…”The officers uncuffed him and left, the door shutting with a hollow click.Aaron leaned forward immediately, forearms on the table. “We need to know what Giovanni has on you. What exactly did he use to get you arrested?”Mr. Kingston eased himself into the chair opposite them, fingers lacing together on the tabletop. “It’s probably nothing more than lies. Fabricated evidence, just enough to make the police dance to his tune.”Lucas frowned. “Then
The black SUV rolled out of the estate gates, its headlights cutting through the gray wash of late afternoon. Rain clouds hung low over the city, casting a dark shadow over the city. Inside, the air was thick with a silence neither brother seemed willing to break.Aaron kept his eyes on the road, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other resting on the gearshift. His jaw was set hard, the faint muscle twitch at the corner giving away the strain beneath his calm facade. Lucas sat angled toward the window, watching the blur of passing buildings, his reflection pale against the glass.For nearly ten minutes, the only sounds were the low hum of the engine and the faint patter of rain beginning to tap against the roof.Finally, Lucas spoke, his voice quiet but clear. “How are you doing?”Aaron didn’t look at him. “I’m fine.” The words were clipped, even almost dismissive.Lucas’s brow furrowed. “That’s not what I asked.”Aaron’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel. “Why do you care?
The heavy double doors of the Kingston Estate’s main hall groaned open, and Lucas stepped inside with Elise at his side, Tris trailing just behind them.The atmosphere was already tense, the servants moved quickly, avoiding eye contact with any of them, they had seen the news and were smart enough to know, neither of them were in a good mood, it was as if the walls themselves had absorbed the shock of what had happened at the gala.Elise’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, each step matching the clipped tone of her voice. “This is exactly what I was afraid of,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Your father walking straight into one of Giovanni’s traps… and now look where we are.”Lucas said nothing at first, tugging off his coat and draping it over the back of a chair. His expression was tight, jaw working. “We don’t even know the full story yet,” he said finally. “For all we know, this could be nothing more than a performance to humiliate him—”“Performance?” Elise shot
The music note gradually slowed until it died. One moment, the ballroom was filled with laughter and smiles, people conversing freely and then the next, a loud wail of sirens split through the night air, sharp and invasive.All heads turned toward the grand glass doors just as they swung open.And then a stream of uniformed officers poured in, their boots heavy against the polished marble. There presence felt heavy and demanding, almost like they were sucking the life of the party.Huge gasps rippled through the guests. All of them froze in their conversations, their hands trembling.They didn't know what was happening or what to expect.No one did, only Giovanni and his family.For a moment, they stood there, their eyes scanning the room, as if they were identifying their target.One of them spotted him, the lead officer at that.“Mr. Kingston,” the lead officer’s voice rang out, deep and unyielding. “You’re under arrest.”The crowd’s murmurs swelled to a roar. Elise, standing sever
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