CHAPTER 12 — The Discovery

POV: Claire

The city was quiet that morning, almost oppressively so. I had told myself to stay calm, to keep my routine, to act normal—whatever that meant anymore. But the gnawing tension in my stomach, the subtle nausea that had been haunting me for days, refused to be ignored. Each sip of coffee was a battle against the faint churning in my belly, each breath a reminder of the secret I could barely contain.

Margaret’s presence was everywhere before she even arrived. She had this way of stepping into a room that made it feel smaller, sharper, as though her eyes could pierce through every lie, every hidden thought. I moved carefully through the apartment, making sure dishes were stacked neatly, blinds perfectly aligned, even though I was trembling on the inside.

I had no choice but to leave. Ryan had texted again: Meet me. Tonight. Hotel.

I bit my lip, heart racing. The pull of him, the desperation in his messages, the forbidden thrill that shot through me every time I thought of him—it was too much. I knew it was a risk, that Margaret’s gaze was never far, but I couldn’t stop myself. I never could.

By mid-morning, I stepped outside, a careful mask over my emotions. My coat pulled tight around me, scarf concealing my neck, hair hidden beneath a loose bun. Every step I took felt heavy with anticipation and dread. Margaret’s suspicions loomed like storm clouds overhead, and I knew it was only a matter of time before she acted.

I didn’t see her at first. But halfway down the block, the flash of her luxury car parked unobtrusively near the café caught my eye. My heart slammed against my ribs. She wasn’t supposed to know, wasn’t supposed to follow. I forced myself to appear casual, slowing my pace, taking a detour through side streets, heart hammering with every footstep.

It was futile. She was there, quiet and calculating, watching everything I did.

I reached the hotel where Ryan waited. The lobby lights were dim, almost sultry, and I felt my pulse quicken despite my fear. I knew this was reckless—absurdly reckless—but the thought of his hands, his mouth, his presence made me forget every rule I had imposed on myself.

He was there, leaning against the reception desk, shirt slightly unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up. When he saw me, his expression softened, then hardened with desire.

Before I could think, he closed the space between us. The kiss was slow, teasing, deliberate. Every inch of restraint melted away in the heat of his embrace. My hands found his chest, tracing the planes of muscle, memorizing the warmth, the tension, the certainty that we shouldn’t be here—yet couldn’t stop ourselves.

The hotel room was private, dimly lit, and dangerous. Every movement, every sigh, every whispered word was a rebellion against morality, against Sophie, against the life I had tried to keep intact. But I had surrendered. Completely.

And then—suddenly—I froze. A wave of nausea swept over me stronger than before. I gripped the edge of the dresser, feeling dizzy and terrified. My mind spun. Could it be? Could the faint queasiness, the exhaustion, the subtle nausea actually mean…?

Ryan noticed immediately. “Claire?” he asked, a look of genuine worry softening his attractive features.

He stepped closer, hands gently on my shoulders. “Are you okay?”

“ I don’t… I really don’t know,” I said quietly, voice fragile.

The room seemed to tilt, the air thick with tension and fear. “Something feels… wrong. Different.”

His expression softened, worry replacing desire, but the intensity in his gaze didn’t fade. “We’ll figure it out. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”

And yet, even as he spoke, I knew the real danger wasn’t just what might be happening in my body—it was Margaret. She was watching, always watching. Her suspicions had grown sharper with every one of our encounters, every stolen glance, every late-night whisper in empty hallways. I had been careless. Too careless.

Margaret’s first confrontation came sooner than I expected. I returned home the next evening, exhausted, trembling from desire and anxiety, and found her standing in the kitchen, arms crossed, eyes sharp. She didn’t greet me. She didn’t need to.

“You’ve been hiding something,” she said, voice calm but laced with steel. “I don’t know what, exactly. But I’ve been watching. And I will find out.”

I swallowed hard, gripping the counter for support. My mind raced, panic threatening to take over. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I answered, carefully maintaining composure.

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t lie to me, Claire. I know more than you think. I’ve been patient, watching. But patience isn’t infinite.”

The words hit me like a hammer. She was not just suspicious—she was actively investigating, waiting for me to slip. And I had already slipped. Ryan. Our encounters. The stolen nights, the desire that refused to be quelled. Everything

“I’m not… I’m not concealing anything,” I said, with a slight shake in my voice.

“I’m just… tired, stressed, overwhelmed with… life.”

Her eyes bored into me. “Be careful, Claire. Because one misstep… one wrong choice… and the consequences won’t just touch you. They will ripple through this entire family.”

I nodded, knowing she was right. The weight of what I had done, and what I might be carrying, pressed down on me harder than any secret before. I felt trapped, cornered, a predator circling unseen yet aware of my every move.

That night, alone in my apartment, I couldn’t sleep. My mind replayed the hotel room, the kiss, the heat, and the fire that consumed me. But the worry, the fear of Margaret discovering the truth, and the gnawing suspicion that something else—something terrifying—was happening inside me, made sleep impossible.

I pressed my hand to my stomach, a mix of fear and hope flooding me. The small nausea, the faint dizziness—was it possible? Could Ryan’s child be growing inside me? The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying, dangerous and impossible.

And through it all, Margaret’s gaze, sharp and relentless, haunted me. She was patient. She was precise. And I knew that sooner or later, she would uncover everything.