“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…”
The heavy silence in the auction hall was disturbed only by the quiet, shaky breaths of terrified guests. The air had grown thick with tension, pressing down like a suffocating blanket on every soul trapped inside. The flickering chandelier above cast eerie shadows across the room, bouncing off the terrified eyes and pale faces of men and women who had once strutted through the grand doors with pride and arrogance, now reduced to frightened spectators.Raina sat trembling beside Aaron, her back rigid, her hands trembling violently in her lap. Her chest rose and fell in erratic bursts, eyes wide and glassy with fear. The shrill sound of the ringing phone still echoed in her ears, haunting her like a ghost. Though the noise had stopped, its consequences lingered like a curse in the air. That ringtone… it had felt like a death sentence.And in a way, it just might have been.Behind her, Jamie sat perched like a smug vulture, her fingers laced together as a wicked smirk slowly crept acro
Raina sat quietly on the cold marble floor, doing everything she could to steady her breath—but her body had a mind of its own. Her chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven bursts, and no matter how tightly she pressed her hands together, they wouldn’t stop trembling. A chill had settled in her spine, sinking into her bones. The opulence of the auction hall—the chandeliers, velvet curtains, gold trimmings—felt so distant now, like the ghost of a dream.She wrapped her arms around herself tightly, drawing in as much strength as she could from the warmth of her own skin. Slowly, her hand drifted down to her stomach, resting gently over the soft satin fabric of her gown. It was an unconscious movement, instinctive—protective.And the moment her palm made contact, something inside her cracked.Fear, panic, helplessness.A swirl of emotions stormed through her all at once, nearly knocking the breath from her lungs. Her baby. Inside her. Vulnerable. Dependent.This can’t be happening.The words
The echo of the gunshots was still ringing when Aaron ducked instinctively, adrenaline surging through his veins. His phone slipped from his hand, bouncing once against the polished floor before landing near his foot. His breath was shallow, and his heart raced as he crouched in the small corner just outside the main auction hall, shielded for the moment from view.“Aaron? Aaron?! What was that sound? What is going on?” his mother’s voice cried from the phone’s speaker—shaken, panicked. She had heard it. The gunfire.Aaron’s fingers hovered over the phone. He wanted to answer. He wanted to tell her he was okay. But that would be a mistake. If any of the masked men heard him… if they realized he was talking to someone outside…Without saying another word, Aaron quickly ended the call. His hands moved fast, dialing again—this time 911. But just as his thumb hovered over the green button to call, he heard it.Click.The unmistakable sound of a gun cocking directly behind his head.He fro
The air buzzed with a thick mixture of excitement, envy, and satisfaction as Aaron settled back into his seat. The final number had been called—seventy million dollars. And the winning paddle had been his.A hush had briefly fallen over the crowd after the gavel slammed down, followed by a wave of murmurs and scattered applause. It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. After the fierce head-to-head bidding war with Lucas, Aaron could finally exhale. This wasn’t about the car. It never had been. It was about pride, legacy, and drawing a clear line in the sand.He didn’t even glance at Lucas. He didn’t need to.Instead, his gaze drifted to the sleek car on display, bathed in soft golden lighting. The body of the car shimmered under the chandeliers—smooth, predatory, almost alive. It was a rare piece of engineering brilliance. Still, seventy million was a ridiculous amount to spend. He wasn’t blind to that.A quiet chuckle escaped his Lips. “Maybe next time,” he murmured to himself, “you
Kai paced behind one of the pillars near the far end of the event hall, jaw clenched, his eyes stormy. The hum of conversation, the clinking of champagne glasses, and the echo of polite laughter blurred around him, but he felt none of it. His focus was on one thing—Jamie.She had disappeared into the crowd right after her little public stunt, leaving a trail of whispers and curious glances in her wake. He finally spotted her standing nonchalantly near a tall decorative plant, swirling a drink in her hand as if nothing had happened. Her poise only ignited his frustration further.Without hesitation, Kai stormed toward her and grabbed her arm, pulling her aside into the shadows of the hall, where no one could overhear them.“Are you insane?” he hissed through gritted teeth.Jamie jerked her arm free, completely unfazed. “What is your problem now?” she asked with cool defiance, tilting her head as if he were the one overreacting.“What is my problem?” Kai echoed, nearly laughing in disbe
Aaron gave Raina—who stood silently behind him—a long, unreadable glance. Her posture was tense, her eyes fixed on the floor as though the weight of the world was crushing her. He remembered the time she told him about her former personal assistant. The betrayal. The heartbreak. How she walked in on her assistant and her ex-fiancé. Her voice had cracked with pain then, not the kind you could fake, and as he looked at her now, he could see that same vulnerability in her eyes.There were only two explanations: either Raina had lied to him from the beginning, spinning a perfect victim narrative—or everything Jamie was saying now was just bitterness dressed as truth.But deep down, he already knew.The way Raina looked at him—the flicker of shame, confusion, and quiet strength—wasn’t the look of someone hiding guilt. It was the look of someone being unfairly cornered again. And Aaron had had enough.“Enough,” his voice rang out, low but commanding, slicing through the sea of whispers and
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