登入Henry’s foot slammed harder on the accelerator.The Mercedes car surged forward like a rocket, tires screaming as they tore down the dimly lit side street. Behind them, the police cruiser’s red and blue lights flashed wildly, the siren cutting through the quiet evening like a blade.“Henry!” Andrea gasped, gripping the dashboard with one hand, but her voice was filled with wild laughter rather than fear.“I know!” he shouted back, eyes locked on the road. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest. “What the hell are we doing?”He swerved sharply onto a wider avenue, cutting off a slow-moving truck. The driver laid on the horn — HONK! HONK! HONK! — but Henry didn’t even flinch. Andrea’s hand was still on his thigh, squeezing tighter every time he accelerated.Another sharp turn. The back of the car fishtailed slightly. Andrea let out a thrilled squeal, half terror, half pure exhilaration.“Geez, slow down a little!” she laughed, even as she leaned over
Henry barely had time to pull the car fully onto the quiet side street before Andrea unbuckled her seatbelt.“Baby, what are you…”But Andrea was already moving. She reached over and found the lever on the side of his seat, yanking it back. The driver’s seat slid backward with a smooth mechanical whir, giving her more room. Without another word, Andrea climbed over the center console with surprising determination, her growing bump making the movement slightly awkward. Her head bumped hard against the roof of the car.“Ow!” she yelped, but she didn’t stop. She kept moving until she straddled his lap, facing him, her knees pressing into the leather seat on either side of his thighs.Henry’s hands instinctively went to her hips to steady her. “Andrea wait…”She answered by cupping his face with both hands and kissing him hard.It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t sweet. It was hungry.Her mouth moved against his with raw need, lips parting, tongue sliding in to taste him. Henry groaned low in his
One month had passed since they went for the last ultrasound.Life in the penthouse had settled into a new rhythm–one filled with baby books, pastel paint swatches, and endless lists. Henry had thrown himself into preparation with the same intensity he brought to boardroom battles. He attended every antenatal appointment with Andrea, sitting beside her with a focused expression while doctors explained fetal development and nutrition. He had even joined three different parenting communities online, reading late into the night about swaddling techniques, sleep schedules, and something called “the fourth trimester.”The nursery was nearly complete. It was a beautiful room painted in soft cream and sage green, with a custom crib, a rocking chair by the window, and shelves already filled with tiny clothes. Henry had insisted on doing most of the work himself, rolling up his sleeves after long days at Crestview just to assemble the furniture.But nothing had prepared him for Andrea’s cravin
Henry drove back to the penthouse in complete silence.His hands gripped the steering wheel, his mind was churning. Serena. His childhood friend. Someone he had trusted his entire life, and she had tried to take Andrea from him. She had tried to hurt their baby.The betrayal sat heavy in his chest.When he got home he found Andrea on the couch where he had left her. She looked small and fragile against the cushions, but her eyes were alert, waiting for him.She immediately sat up straighter. "Was it her?"Henry nodded slowly. "It was Serena."Andrea's face went pale but she wasn't surprised. They had both suspected it, but confirmation was different."She hired the men," Henry continued, sitting down beside her. "She said she just wanted to scare you away. She thought if you were gone I would... that I would be available for her."Andrea felt anger rising in her chest. Anger and betrayal and shock all mixed together. But underneath it was relief. At least they knew. At least the uncer
Henry stared at Serena, waiting for her answer. She stared back at him, her pale face telling him everything he needed to know."What?" she said finally, her voice small. "What are you talking about, Henry?""Don't lie to me, Serena." Henry stepped closer. His voice was steady but there was a deadly edge underneath it. "I know it was you. I don't want to believe it but I need you to tell me the truth. Right now."Serena's hands were shaking. "I don't know what you're talking about.""The men who took Andrea," Henry said, his voice getting colder. "One of them confessed, he said someone rich hired them, paid them thirty thousand dollars to get rid of Andrea. And there's only one person I can think of."Serena's face crumpled slightly. She looked away."Tell me, Serena," Henry said quietly. "Tell me you didn't do this. Tell me you didn't try to take Andrea from me. Tell me you didn't try to kill her so you could have me."Serena opened her mouth and closed it then opened it again."I...
Henry sat on the edge of Andrea’s hospital bed, the sterile scent of antiseptic and fresh linen filling the quiet room. His mind kept replaying the injured man’s words like a broken record: A rich lady… paid us to take her.Serena.The name settled heavily in his chest. It had to be her. But even as the thought formed, disbelief twisted through him. Serena had been his closest friend since childhood. They had grown up together, shared secrets, laughter, and years of memories. She was practically family. She wouldn’t… she couldn’t go this far. Not even after everything that had happened between them.Could she?“Henry.” Andrea’s voice was quiet but steady, pulling him back. She reached for his hand, her fingers cool against his skin. “You should go talk to her.”He looked at her, searching her face. The bruises on her cheek and the exhaustion in her eyes made something protective and furious rise in his chest. “But what if I’m wrong?”“Then at least you’ll know for sure,” she said gent
Andrea couldn't sleep. She'd spent the whole night tossing and turning her mind replaying the email from HR over and over until the words were burned into her brain.By the time her alarm went off at 6 AM, Andrea was already awake and absolutely livid. She got dressed with sharp, angry movements; p
In the afternoon, Henry had back-to-back meetings. The last one was a department presentation on Q4 projections, normally something he'd send Marcus to handle. But when he saw Andrea's name on the attendee list, he cleared his schedule. He told himself it was because he wanted to see how she handle
Monday morning hit Andrea like a freight train. She'd spent the entire weekend trying and failing not to think about the elevator incident and now she had to face him at work.Andrea arrived at 8:55 AM, clutching her coffee like a lifeline. She'd finished the Hillcrest analysis on Sunday night, pri
Saturday MorningAndrea woke up to sunlight streaming through her bedroom window and the sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand.She reached for it, squinting at the screen.Mindy: Morning! Picking you up in an hour. Grandma's expecting us at noon. Don't be late!Andrea groaned as she sat up,







