2: The Devil's Heir

Elara’s POV 

“No. No. No…”

 My heart sank as I stared hard at the pregnancy strip. 

It's been four weeks since the reckless affair. Suddenly feeling strange and missing my period, I had to get the test kit after much reluctance. 

“Please, god.” 

I mumbled, my fingers shook terribly. This felt like the longest one minute of my lifetime. 

Two marks?!

My heart dropped deep into my stomach, with my guts twisting hard on themselves. It felt like I would pass out. 

Thick beads of sweat broke out of my pores and drenched me in ruin. First, I was engaged to a man I barely knew, gave my virginity to a freaking stranger who was reckless enough to bang me without protection, and now… 

“Argh!” 

I fell flat on my butt and cried. The sting from the fall wasn't as brutal as my broken heart, blocking the painful sensation as a result. 

My whole life was in shambles!!!

“No. This can't be happening.” I groaned in severe pain and scoffed in disbelief. 

Unexpectedly, I heard my room door burst open and the frantic footsteps that approached me. 

Wait… What?! 

My parents were supposed to be away for a quick business meeting and they were only supposed to return late in the night as always. 

With the footsteps getting closer and my reality mocking me broadly, I bolted up and tried to discard the items. 

“Elara?” 

The toilet door opened without a prior knock and I spun to meet the blaring eyes of my mother. 

Her mouth parted wide as she mopped at my suspended hand. Following her gaze, I was looking at the pregnancy strip with the awful lines. 

It fell off my shaky grip, crashing to the floor. Confused, I kicked it off, but the damage has already been done. 

“Is this what I'm thinking?” 

She flung the strip from me to confirm for herself. 

“You never told me you were into Nathaniel.” She grinned. “Come on, don't be hard on yourself, darling.” 

It was either I let her assume and think about what to do later or say the hurtful truth. 

“I’ll put a call to Mr. Vincent, the wedding must be done before your bump pops out.” 

“It's not him.” 

The rest of the words hung in my throat and my mouth suddenly dried up. 

In utter shock and confusion, her smile froze, leaving her face with a blank expression. 

“Who. Is. The. Father?”

She demanded. Beside her, her fists clenched in a tight ball. Even though she was the wife of a nobleman, she had a reserved temper that made one question her personality. 

“WHO?!”

“I don't know.” 

Terrified, the answer ripped out of me. Trembling visibly, I held the shower for support and eventually slipped, almost falling off except for the cold wall that supported my weak frame. 

“It was a mistake. I promise.” I rapped to save my head. 

In and out, she took control breaths. “Was it that night?” 

I nodded. Hopefully, she got to share a portion of the blame. 

“Where was it?” 

“Uh… Marco Dynasty.” I bluffed, putting my mind to good use. 

As expected, she gasped. “The den of criminals? My god!” Her hand covered her mouth. “Let me guess, you slept with a random old freak!” 

“No.” I hastily debunked it as if it would save anything. “He's not that aged.” 

“Good thing you remember.” She growled. “Now start talking.” 

“He… He's tall, hazel eyes or brown…” I stopped myself from adding sexy before I made everything worse. The dark image of his erection still haunts me to date. “Has tattoos… I think with his initials.” 

Her eyes closed and she tried to be calm. “Makes it worse,” she sighed. 

“M. C.” I recalled the letters. 

Seeing her freeze in place, got me more agitated. For the longest, deadly silence ate me deep. 

Acting out of whim, she rushed out, leaving me with my wild thoughts. Did she know him? Was I in some sort of trouble?!

Of course, I was! 

I managed to get into the room, but nothing seemed to come to mind. 

My mum reappeared again, this time, showing up with her phone. She had the screen to my face and as if it was yesterday, I was staring at the most gorgeous man on earth. 

I nodded, too scared to say a word. 

“What have you done, Elara?” She collapsed on the couch nearest to her. “Marco Conti,” she finally spoke up. “You slept with Marco Conti?”

Marco Conti. Marco Conti… Marco Conti?! 

The rumored gangster whose father was a notorious kingpin involved in so many illegal and dirty dealings? It was worse that he came after my family’s business, and never left until he crumbled it in ruins. To say our families were enemies, was to sound civil.

“You slept with the devil?!” My mum charged towards me and I cowered, shaking to my bones. 

As if she got touched, she stopped midway and groaned in agony. Thankfully, my father wasn't home. 

In my broken state, I started to sob, more confused than I was. I hadn't just slept with any man, but a monster. 

“Hasten the wedding with Nathaniel, and act like nothing happened.” My mother’s voice made my blood run dry. “Or get rid of it.”

Her eyes were bloodshot red, nothing like I've ever seen. Was she serious?! Did she expect me to pin a baby on an innocent man?!

Looking at her angry gaze, the only question that bugged my mind was ‘Who are you?!’