Chapter 1

There was something heavy and stifling about the silence in the bathroom.

It caught her attention just as soon as she closed the door behind her.

Not an ordinary silence. Not a silence that made a room calm or comforting.

A suffocating silence that made every breath feel forced.

Her hands trembled as she looked down at the pregnancy test sitting atop the white marble counter.

Two pink lines.

Simple. Harsh. Unquestionable.

She couldn’t think about anything else.

The luxurious hotel ballroom on the other side of the paneling. The fundraiser. The donors, the executives, and the photographers.

All she could see were the two little lines.

"No…" she whispered.

But her voice sounded uncertain. Distant.

Because she already knew.

Her absent periods. The nausea. The lightheadedness. All the exhaustion she had blamed on work.

And him.

Julian Carter Vance.

Dani clenched her eyes tightly shut.

Two months.

Only two months ago, one careless night changed everything.

Only two months ago, she woke up in Julian’s office, lying tangled in his expensive black sheets while sunlight crept into the room from beyond his towering figure by the window.

Two months ago, she discovered that the handsome man standing there half-naked was more than just another rich businessman.

He was her boss's husband.

The sharp knocking echoed on the door of the bathroom.

"Dani?"

She jumped.

"Stella needs you in the ballroom. The donor presentation starts any minute."

Her stomach twisted up immediately.

Stella Carter Vance.

Head of Vance Holdings. Her boss. Julian's wife.

The one who could easily ruin any career with a smile.

She quickly placed the pregnancy test in her purse and shut it away.

Her hands trembled violently.

"I'm coming," she said.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Pale face, wide hazel eyes, and dark curls perfectly done for the six-month effort put into organizing the fundraiser event.

Perfectly normal. Or so she thought.

She pressed her cold hands against her stomach.

Pregnant.

It didn't hit home.

Not just yet.

Knock, knock.

"Come on already," the assistant outside snapped irritably.

She had to force herself to step out.

The corridor to the ballroom was bathed in the warmth of amber light and gleamed with white marble under her feet. This place oozed money.

Today's fundraising event was among Vance Holdings' finest affairs.

Politicians. Investors. Media. Billionaires pretending to be charitable.

Dani had personally orchestrated nearly everything.

She usually would be filled with pride.

Tonight she could not shake the feeling that she was walking to the gallows.

The doors to the ballroom opened in front of her.

All at once, sounds rushed towards her.

The melody. The laughter. The delicate heartbeat of crystal glasses.

But then she caught sight of him.

Julian Carter Vance stood in the room, a glass of wine he wouldn't drink in his hand, and his appearance in a black suit made him stand out in the sea of people.

Tall. Commanding. Distant.

Scary without having to raise his voice.

He looked up.

And his eyes locked with hers immediately.

Dani stopped breathing.

Months of running from him came down in seconds.

Julian's eyes found her as if he had been waiting for her arrival since that very moment, as if he had been expecting her arrival.

She had noticed his eyelids hardly moved in the presence of others. Like he didn't blink or he'd risk betrayal. He had many secrets to keep, especially from Stella.

Stella, the poised blonde CEO, sidled up next to him and slipped her hand into his with practiced grace.

There was no flaw in Stella’s perfect smile. The hairs on the back of Dani's neck rose in a chilling shiver.

"Daniella, there you are," Stella cooed.

"Mrs. Vance,” she said.

"Calm your nerves,” Stella coaxed playfully. "You have organized this whole event, and it is supposed to be your night too.”

Julian remained silent.

But she knew that Julian was studying her. It was neither casual nor courteous, but intense. He was looking into something deeply, as if he were trying to find something.

"Julian was just going over the acquisition proposal, weren't you, darling?"

Darling.

The word fell, somehow fake.

Finally, Julian spoke.

"Yes."

His tone was deliberately distant. Cold enough to freeze the air.

And Dani hated the way she felt when she heard it.

Stella gave a slight smile. “But I think Richard should handle the account.”

"I already have someone to work on it,” Julian responded.

"Who?"

Again, Julian’s eyes returned to Dani.

"Her."

There was no sound from either of them but breathing around the table, and the music and chatter all over the ballroom

Dani's heart skipped a beat.

Stella blinked and chuckled, an elegant sound.

"Dani?"

Julian raised his glass of champagne.

"Yes."

"Big client,” said Stella.

Julian remained unreadable.

"I'm aware.”

Tension rippled through them, invisible yet palpable.

Stella's smile froze a little, Dani noticed.

Then Julian spoke again.

Softly. Particularly to Dani.

"You've been avoiding me.”

Her stomach tensed.

"I've been busy.”

A lie.

He knew.

His dark eyes narrowed.

"You've been ignoring my emails.”

"What emails?" Dani murmured.

"Don't play coy with me.”

It had been two months since that night, but Julian had messaged her only three times since then.

First Message:

Are you home?

Second Message:

You left your bracelet.

Third Message:

Dani.

She didn’t reply to any of those messages.

Stella examined the exchange, analyzing every word in the air between them.

The silence hung, awkward and defiant.

But then, someone donated a piece of art to the auctioneer, effectively ending the moment of awkwardness.

"Mr. and Mrs. Vance!" the older gentleman called out in cheerful tones.

Julian took on his designated character with ease.

Perfection incarnate. Total enigma.

Watching Julian effortlessly switch characters made Dani feel more anxious than anything else.

Because Dani knew that another Julian was behind closed doors, the one who had kissed her as gently as though gravity might give way underneath her.

Julian was tired. Lonesome. Real.

This wasn’t.

"Dani?"

Dani blinked.

Julian stared at her again.

"You look pale.”

"I'm alright.”

Liar.

Julian's eyes narrowed.

But before he had a chance to say anything, Stella rested her hand on his forearm.

A tiny move.

But Dani saw the transformation immediately.

Cold. Remote. Unapproachable.

It was not only her words that irritated him but also something much more, which would not stop.

"Julian," she said in a sultry voice, “you’ve promised the mayor ten minutes.”

"I know.” It was a clipped response, without any emotion.

He looked one last time at Dani.

"Don't go too far from me tonight.”

Confused, Dani looked up.

"Why?"

"Because we have to start discussing the acquisition…”

There was a pause before he added, with a new edge to his voice:

"I need you close.”

And then he walked away.

Leaving Dani standing next to the donor station, the fake smile stuck on Stella's lips as she walked beside him.

Inside Dani’s purse, next to her cell phone, lipstick, and keys, rested the very positive pregnancy test strip. Somehow that made her purse feel extremely heavy.