Chapter 1

Camilla. 

My hands trembled as I stared at the white sheet of paper in front of me. I’ve always heard this saying, that life is not a bed of roses, but now I understand exactly what it means. Until recently, my life was a bed of roses, but now all those roses have withered away, leaving me with only thorns.

Dr. Mark’s voice echoed in my ears, confirming what I was scared to admit. “Camilla, I am so happy to announce that you’re going to be a mother. Congratulations dear.”

Instantly I felt my entire body go numb, my heart was racing. This isn’t real. It can’t be. I am sure there’s a mistake somewhere.

“What are you talking about?” I said, almost laughing at his statement. I just wanted to believe this was a prank and he was trying to pull my legs. I threw the paper onto his desk immediately, waiting for him to correct his mistake. “This cannot be my result. I would give you a few minutes to go back in there and bring my result.”

Dr. Mike looked at me patiently, like he had seen this reaction a million times before. He brought his arms to his chest and folded them together. “Camilla, I’ve been your family doctor for years and I have never given you a bad report. I guarantee you, there’s no mistake with these results. I double-checked it before presenting it to you.”

I shook my head violently. My chest tightened, making it hard for me to breathe. I knew he was telling the truth, but I would be damned if I believed it. “Maybe you’re wrong this time!” My voice was very soft as I sat down properly on my seat. “I’m not pregnant!”

Dr. Mark didn’t flinch or even stutter. “I understand this is a lot to process, but—”

I didn’t let him finish. “Process what exactly? You’re telling me I’m pregnant, but you’re not telling me what’s actually wrong with me! What’s the real problem? Is it anemia? Malaria? Something else? Tell me what medicine to take and how much is the fucking bill!”

“Camilla,” he said gently, “you are healthy. But you are two weeks pregnant.”

I stood up abruptly, my chair scraped loudly against the floor. “Oh my goodness,” I whispered. My throat felt so tight, like it was closing and soon I’d suffocate to death. “No. No. No.”

The air suddenly felt too heavy, too thick. I grabbed the test result off his desk and stormed out of the office, ignoring his calls behind me.

Two weeks. Two weeks was all it took for my life to crumble to the ground.

I still can’t believe it! It was like waking up one morning and finding out your entire life has been a lie. You found out your loving fiancé was having an affair with your beloved sister, and everything suddenly felt like it was a nightmare. You begged and prayed to wake up, but you didn’t and then you realized it was your reality. And then you made the worst decision of your life. 

I wanted to forget everything. 

I wanted the pain to go away. 

So I went to a strip club. Alone.

It was all a blur now. The music, the alcohol, the flashing lights. And him.

The stranger with piercing blue eyes and that smile that melted everything inside me.

Till today, I didn’t even know his name.

All I could remember was that I drank too much, danced too much, and ended up in his arms. No, in his bed.

I lost my virginity that night.

And now I’m pregnant with the baby of a stranger.

I clutched my stomach without thinking, as if the truth is something I could physically grab and rip out of myself.

What am I supposed to do now? How did my life spiral so far out of control?

Tears sting my eyes, but I forced them back. I didn’t want to cry. Crying wouldn’t fix anything.

I took a deep breath and waved down a cab. When it pulled up, I climbed inside, without even hesitating.

The cab smelled faintly of air freshener and cigarette smoke, and then instantly nausea kicked in and I felt like throwing up. I slumped back against the seat, and closed my eyes.

“Where are you going?” the driver asked.

“Just drive,” I said. I didn’t want to go home, not to those people I once called family. I didn’t want to go anywhere either.

The moment the cab started moving, I opened my eyes and glanced around. And then my gaze dropped on a magazine lying on the seat next to me.

Curious, I picked it up.

The cover showed a man in a sharp suit, his dark hair perfectly styled, his piercing blue eyes stared straight into mine.

I froze.

It was him. I could recognize him anywhere.

My heart skipped a beat. I stared at his photo, my mind racing.

The headline reads: “ALEXANDER GREY: The Billionaire You Can’t Ignore.”

A billionaire?

I felt like I'd been slapped right on the cheek. 

The man I had a one-night stand with… is a billionaire?

I read through the article quickly, scanning for details. Alexander Grey, CEO of LEEDS and some other massive companies, known for his wealth, charm, and mysterious personal life.

My stomach churned.

How did I not recognize him that night?

Then again, I wasn’t exactly in the right state of mind to notice.

I glanced at the tallest skyscraper in the city and tears fell to my cheeks. It was that one building in the city that you cannot ignore, and it has been my company’s biggest competitor, we didn’t even come close. And it was owned by Alexander Grey.

The cab driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “You okay, miss?”

I nodded quickly, even though I felt far from okay. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and broke me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out and saw a text from my mom.

‘Come to the hospital now. Your sister just fainted.’