Hidden Heirs Of Blackwood

Sophia

I smiled as I stepped out of the taxi, my hand instinctively resting on my stomach.

The evening air brushed against my skin as I looked up at the towering glass facade of the Grand Crescent Hotel. Every window glowed with warm light, making the luxury building shimmer against the city skyline.

My heart fluttered.

Tonight was supposed to be perfect.

I'd spent the entire afternoon debating whether I should tell Ethan the news immediately or make it a surprise. In the end, excitement won.

I couldn't wait any longer.

Inside my purse was a small white envelope containing the ultrasound image that had changed my life forever.

Twins.

I was carrying twins.

Even now, the thought felt unreal.

A soft laugh escaped my lips as I walked into the hotel's marble lobby.

What would Ethan's face look like when he found out?

Shock.

Joy.

Maybe even tears.

Most people knew Ethan Blackwood as a ruthless billionaire CEO, but I knew a different version of him. The man who kissed my forehead when I fell asleep on his shoulder. The man who remembered exactly how I liked my coffee.

The man I loved.

A warm smile spread across my face.

Everything was finally falling into place.

Three years together.

A future ahead of us.

And now, a family.

I crossed the lobby and headed toward the ballroom where Ethan was attending a company celebration.

The event wasn't on my schedule.

I wasn't supposed to be there.

Which made the surprise even better.

As I approached the grand double doors, applause erupted from inside.

Then I heard a reporter's voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ethan Blackwood!"

My smile widened.

Perfect timing.

I adjusted my dress and reached for the door handle.

Before I could open it, another voice spoke.

"Congratulations on your engagement, Mr. Blackwood!"

I froze.

The smile disappeared from my face.

Engagement?

My stomach tightened.

Surely I'd heard wrong.

Then another reporter asked, "When is the wedding to Miss Vanessa Sterling?"

The blood drained from my face.

Vanessa Sterling.

The socialite whose face was constantly splashed across magazine covers.

The woman Ethan had once assured me meant nothing to him.

My pulse began to race.

Slowly, I pushed the door open just enough to peek inside.

The ballroom glittered beneath crystal chandeliers.

Camera flashes lit up every corner.

Executives and reporters crowded around a stage.

And there he was.

Ethan.

Tall.

Powerful.

Devastatingly handsome in a black tuxedo.

For a brief moment, relief flooded through me.

He looked uncomfortable.

Confused, even.

As though he hadn't expected the question.

Then a woman stepped onto the stage beside him.

Vanessa.

Elegant in a silver gown.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

She slipped her hand around Ethan's arm.

The room erupted into applause.

My heart stopped.

A reporter pointed toward her left hand.

"Can we get a closer look at the ring?"

More camera flashes exploded.

Vanessa lifted her hand.

A massive diamond sparkled beneath the lights.

The crowd cheered.

The floor seemed to vanish beneath my feet.

No.

No, no, no.

This couldn't be happening.

My eyes locked onto Ethan.

Say something.

Tell them they're wrong.

Tell them she's not your fiancée.

Tell them you love me.

Tell them—

But Ethan remained silent.

Only for a few seconds.

Yet those few seconds destroyed everything.

His silence felt like confirmation.

The room blurred around me.

The laughter.

The applause.

The flashing cameras.

Everything sounded distant.

Muted.

Like I was underwater.

Another reporter shouted, "How long have you been planning the wedding?"

Vanessa smiled brightly.

"We're very excited about our future."

I felt physically sick.

My hand flew to my mouth.

The ultrasound image inside my purse suddenly felt heavier than stone.

Twins.

Our twins.

The children Ethan would never know about.

Tears burned behind my eyes.

I couldn't breathe.

Couldn't think.

Couldn't stay.

Without another glance, I backed away from the door.

No one noticed me.

No one saw my world collapsing.

I turned and hurried through the lobby.

The heels I'd carefully chosen for tonight suddenly felt impossible to walk in.

People brushed past me.

Hotel staff greeted guests.

Life carried on as if nothing had happened.

As if my future hadn't just shattered into pieces.

By the time I reached the street, tears were streaming down my face.

I didn't even bother wiping them away.

Rain had started falling.

Tiny droplets splashed against the pavement.

I stood beneath the hotel lights, completely numb.

Memories crashed through my mind.

Ethan telling me I was the most important person in his life.

Ethan promising he'd never hurt me.

Ethan talking about forever.

All lies.

Every single one.

My phone vibrated.

I looked down.

Ethan.

Calling.

My chest tightened.

The screen glowed in the darkness.

For one brief moment, I considered answering.

Demanding an explanation.

Screaming.

Crying.

Asking why.

Then I looked back at the hotel.

At the ballroom where Ethan and Vanessa were undoubtedly still celebrating.

And something inside me broke.

The call ended.

A second later, it started again.

Ethan.

Again.

I stared at the screen until the ringing stopped.

Then I switched off my phone completely.

The city lights blurred through my tears.

I placed a trembling hand over my stomach.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

Whether I was apologizing to myself or my babies, I didn't know.

The rain grew heavier.

I turned away from the hotel.

Away from Ethan.

Away from the life I'd believed was mine.

I took one step.

Then another.

Never knowing that behind those ballroom windows, Ethan had finally broken free from the crowd and was desperately searching for someone.

For me.

But I never looked back.

And by the time Ethan realized I was gone...

It was already too late.