Chapter 4

Later, I opened my eyes. My eyelids felt heavy. My head pounded and my body ached. I tried to sit up, but sharp pain shot through my ribs and back. I groaned and stayed down. Around me was a white hospital room. Machines beeped beside me, and an IV drip fed into my arm.

Memories rushed back.

Tyler’s engagement. My family cutting ties. Bianca’s betrayal… then the accident. I remembered driving too fast, blinded by tears, begging for the pain to stop. But someone saved me. Someone ignored my wish to disappear.

Anger burned in my chest. Anger at whoever forced me back into this life.

A deep voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Finally awake, I see.”

I blinked and turned my head. A tall man leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. His dark hair was messy, his jaw sharp, and his blue-grey eyes unreadable.

“Do you remember what you said before the accident?” he asked with a slight smirk.

I swallowed. “Yes,” I said bitterly. “A wish you ignored.”

His brow rose as he stepped closer. “You wanted to die?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “And you ruined it. You gave me a life I didn’t want.”

His smirk faded. His jaw tightened. “How can you be so selfish?”

His words slapped me. My breath caught. “Selfish?” I whispered. “How?”

He stepped forward. “You weren’t just ending your life. You were taking another with you. You didn’t even give it a chance.”

His words hit harder than a punch. My hands shook as I looked down at my stomach. “No… what do you mean?”

He sighed, his eyes softening. “You’re pregnant.”

My world stopped. “Really?” I whispered.

“Yes,” he said, voice tense.

“You didn’t know?” he asked, surprised.

I shook my head. Tears pricked my eyes. I had been too focused on betrayal, heartbreak… Tyler replacing me with Bianca.

Pain filled my chest. This child would tie me to more misery. A child linked to a man who threw me away.

The door opened. A middle-aged doctor walked in, holding a clipboard.

I opened my eyes to white walls and the smell of medicine. My body ached all over. A man sat beside the bed, watching me.

“You’re awake,” he said.

I frowned. “Why did you save me? I didn’t want to be saved.”

“You would have died,” he said. "For the record, My name is Andrew."

“That was the point.” My voice shook.

He leaned forward. “Anyways, the doctors came with the reports. You’re pregnant.”

My stomach turned. “What?”

He said nothing for a moment, then asked, “What do you plan to do?”

“Get rid of it.”

“No,” he said firmly. "Why make a child suffer, no matter what the case, abortion isn't the solution."

“It’s my body,” I snapped. "And I don't want anything to remind me of Tyler Ebon."

"Tyler?" Andrew's eyes widened. "CEO of Asgarr?"

"My ex-Husband."

Andrew rubbed his chin then grinned.

“Maybe we were fated to me."

I tilted my head in confusion looking at him.

"I will give you money. Lawyers. Information. Everything you need to exact revenge on Tyler.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would you help me?”

“Because Tyler destroyed me first,” he said. “He framed me for fraud. I lost my career, my wife, and every cent I had.”

“And you think I’ll be your weapon?”

“I think we can be partners,” he said.

I looked away, breathing slowly. “Fine. I’ll keep the baby. Not for you. Not for Tyler. I’ll keep it to prove I’m not barren.”

“And?” he asked.

“And we’ll take him down together.”

A small smile touched his lips. “Then we have a deal.”

It's been Five years since Andrew took me in. He offered me a place to stay and provided everything I needed to raise Barry.

I sat in the boutique’s lounge, leaning back in the chair with my phone in hand. Andrew was across from me, one leg crossed over the other, his eyes flicking toward the fitting room like he was losing patience.

“Hurry up,” he called. “We don’t have all day.”

I stepped out in a tight red dress that hugged every curve. His gaze lifted, lingering on my face before sliding down my body. He quickly looked away.

“It… looks good,” he said.

I tilted my head. “Just good?”

He cleared his throat. “It’s fine. Fits the plan.”

I walked toward him slowly, catching the way his eyes betrayed him with quick, stolen glances. My heel caught on the carpet, and I stumbled.

“Whoa—” He caught me by the waist, pulling me flush against him. My hands rested on his chest, and for a moment neither of us moved. His breath was warm against my cheek, and the faint, deep scent of his cologne wrapped around me.

“Careful,” he murmured, still holding me.

When I straightened, the string of my dress snagged on his watch. He stepped back, and the fabric tore with a soft rip.

His eyes widened before a crooked smile spread across his face. “Guess I owe you a dress.”

I grabbed a silky robe from the rack, slipped it on, and glared at him. “You’re unbelievable.”

Later that Night at his place, he wouldn’t stop laughing while I sat on the couch hugging a cushion.

“It’s not funny,” I said.

“It is,” he chuckled. “That dress didn’t stand a chance.”

I rolled my eyes and ignored him, scrolling on my phone.

Hours later, when Barry was asleep, a soft knock came at my bedroom door. I opened it halfway—and froze.

Andrew stood there completely naked, leaning on the doorframe like it was the most casual thing in the world. “Now we’re even,” he said with a teasing smile.

My eyes flicked down before I quickly slammed the door.

But as I leaned against it, a smile tugged at my lips.

And I couldn’t stop thinking about his crowned jewels.