Chapter 4

The next morning, Marco was already waiting in the lobby when I arrived at the office.

Earlier, he had messaged me, telling me he wouldn't be able to drive me there. I thought that meant he would simply see me at work later.

I was wrong.

He stood near the reception area with a thermos of tea in one hand and a small paper bag of breakfast in the other.

He looked exactly the way he always did. dependable and calm.

As if he knew what I needed before I even had the chance to ask for it.

Marco had always been like that.

Before work, he would often stop by with something warm to drink or something he knew I liked to eat. Small gestures that most people might not notice.

But I did.

Especially now.

“Good morning,” he said softly when he saw me. He lifted the paper bag slightly. “I brought your favorites.”

I forced a small smile and lowered my eyes.

“Thanks… Marco. Really.”

He studied my face for a moment before taking a careful step closer.

There was something different about the way he moved around me lately.

Slow.

Careful.

As if one wrong movement might make me fall apart.

“Do you have any cravings?” he asked gently. “Anything you want? I can get it for you.”

I hugged my arms around myself.

The kindness in his voice made the guilt inside me worse.

“You shouldn't care,” I whispered.

His brows pulled together.

“Why would you say that?”

“I…” My voice caught. “I made a mistake, Marco. You should be angry with me.”

Instead of getting angry, he only looked at me with concern.

“I always care about you.”

His voice was quiet, but certain.

“You're scared. I can see that.”

I looked away.

“You don't have to face everything alone, Katya. I'll be here.”

My chest tightened.

“I understand why you're acting this way.”

For one fragile second, I wanted to believe him.

I wanted to fall into his arms and cry until the fear inside me disappeared.

But another part of me wanted to push him away.

I didn't want him to see how broken I was.

Somehow, I did both.

I stepped closer to him, but when his hand reached for mine, I instinctively pulled back.

And then—

I felt it.

A presence behind the glass wall.

A stare so intense that the blood seemed to drain from my face.

Ethan.

He stood near the boardroom window, one shoulder resting casually against the glass.

He wasn't doing anything.

He didn't have to.

He was simply watching.

His expression was unreadable, his arms loosely crossed over his chest.

But his eyes—

They were fixed on me.

He had seen everything.

The way I flinched when Marco touched my hand.

The way my palm instinctively moved toward my stomach.

The way I refused to look directly at him.

My breathing became shallow.

I tried to focus on Marco instead.

On his familiar voice.

His warmth.

The quiet sense of safety he had always given me.

But Ethan's gaze felt like a blade against my skin.

He knew something was wrong.

I could feel it.

“Katya.”

Marco's voice pulled me back.

“Look at me.”

Slowly, I lifted my eyes to his.

There was so much worry in them.

So much patience.

So much love.

And somehow, that hurt more than anger ever could.

“I…” My voice trembled.

“I can't.”

Marco didn't argue.

He simply nodded.

Then, after a moment, he spoke.

“Even if the baby isn't mine…”

My heart stopped.

He swallowed hard before continuing.

“I'll still take care of you.”

I stared at him.

“Marco…”

“I mean it.”

His voice was firm now.

“I don't know what happened. I don't know what you're afraid of. But I'm not going anywhere just because things became complicated.”

My eyes burned.

“I messed everything up.”

“You didn't have to do this alone.”

“I don't even know how to look at you.”

His expression softened.

“Then don't.”

I looked at him.

“You don't have to explain everything today.”

That almost broke me.

“Just… go to work,” I whispered.

He hesitated.

Then he nodded.

“Okay.”

He placed the breakfast and tea on my desk.

“I just wanted to make sure you ate something.”

He gave me a small, reassuring smile.

“I'll pick you up later.”

Then he walked away.

I watched him disappear through the office doors.

Only when he was gone did I allow myself to breathe.

But the relief didn't last.

Because when I looked toward the glass wall again—

Ethan was still there.

By midday, my hands wouldn't stop trembling.

My stomach churned, and I couldn't tell whether it was because of the pregnancy, the fear, or the way Ethan's presence seemed to occupy every corner of the office.

Every time I glanced toward the glass, I noticed the slightest movement from him.

A shift of his shoulders.

A turn of his head.

A change in his posture.

And every little movement made my heart pound.

Then, finally, he stood.

He walked toward the elevator with slow, confident steps.

He didn't look at me.

But somehow, I felt as though every step was meant to remind me that he knew I was there.

That he was watching.

That he was waiting.

The elevator doors opened.

Ethan stepped inside.

Before the doors closed, his eyes finally met mine.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

My stomach twisted.

Then the doors shut.

I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

I thought I was safe.

I was wrong.

A few hours later, Marco returned for lunch.

Exactly the kind of person I needed—and exactly the kind of person I didn't deserve right now.

He approached my desk and gently squeezed my hand.

“Something's bothering you?”

“No.”

The lie came too quickly.

Marco studied me.

“You're pale.”

“I'm just tired.”

He seemed to believe I was overworked.

Exhausted from deadlines.

He didn't know the truth.

He didn't know that the life growing inside me belonged to Ethan.

He didn't know that one secret was slowly destroying everything around me.

He didn't know that every time I looked at him, guilt tightened around my throat.

Marco poured tea into the cup and placed it in front of me.

“Drink.”

Then he opened the food he brought.

“And eat.”

He pushed the plate toward me.

“You need your strength.”

I picked at the salad, barely managing to swallow.

Marco watched me for a moment.

“I don't think it's appropriate for you to keep coming here,” I said quietly.

He frowned.

“Why?”

“You've already done enough.”

“I'm here all the time.”His voice remained gentle.

“What's different now?” he added

I didn't answer.

He lowered himself slightly so he could meet my eyes.

“Are you sure you're okay?”His gaze moved over my face.

“You look really pale.”

My throat tightened.

I wanted to tell him.

For one terrible second, I almost did.

I almost said the words.

The baby is Ethan's.

But I couldn't.

It wasn't Marco's fault.

He didn't deserve to be dragged into the mess I had created.

“I just have a lot on my mind,” I whispered. “Deadlines. Work.”

I forced myself to look at him.

“You should go back. We have a new boss now. It's not appropriate for you to keep coming here.”

Marco gave me a faint smile.

“I already asked Mr. Dawson before.”

My heart skipped.

“He allowed me to check on you.”

“His son runs the company now.” I saw shock in his face as he heard what I said like he was afraid and he was worried.

The words came out sharper than I intended.

I pushed his hand away when he tried to touch mine.

“I can't do this right now.”

Marco looked hurt, but he didn't become angry.

He simply nodded.

“Okay.”

He squeezed my hand one last time.

“If you need me,just call my no.”

I couldn't look at him.

Through the glass wall, I caught a reflection.

Ethan.

He was standing farther down the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest.

Watching.

His face was calm.

Too calm.

I couldn't read what he was thinking.

But I knew one thing.

He had seen Marco.

He had seen the way Marco cared for me.

And he had seen the way I reacted.

The air around me suddenly felt too heavy.

Marco looked at me again.

“Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?”

“I'm fine.”

My voice cracked.

“You don't have to worry.”

But inside, fear was twisting tighter and tighter.

What if Ethan finds out?

What would he do?

Would he accept the baby?

Would he demand answers?

Would he believe me?

Or would he try to take my child away?

I'd heard the rumors surrounding Ethan Dawson.

He didn't form attachments.

He didn't make promises.

And he certainly didn't tolerate women trying to force their way into his life by claiming they carried his child.

I didn't know which rumors were true.

But fear didn't need proof.

It only needed possibilities.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

What if Ethan discovered the truth?

What if he decided the baby belonged to him more than it belonged to me?

What if he took everything from me?

My future.

My child.

My choice.

I lowered my head until my forehead rested against the desk.

“No one can know,” I whispered.

My voice trembled.

“Not Ethan.”

I closed my eyes.

“Not anyone.”

Marco didn't push me for answers.

He didn't demand an explanation.

He simply stood there for another moment, looking at me with concern.

Then he picked up his things.

“I have to go now.”

He gave me one last worried look.

“Take care of yourself, okay?”

I nodded without lifting my head.

“Okay.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

Then he left.

The sound of his footsteps slowly disappeared down the hallway.

And suddenly, I was alone.

Or at least, I thought I was.

I slowly lifted my head.

Through the glass, I saw Ethan.

He hadn't left.

He stood several feet away, silent and completely still.

Watching me.

His expression gave nothing away.

But there was something in his eyes that made my heart race.

He looked like a man who had just discovered that a piece of the puzzle was missing.

And he intended to find it.

I looked away.

My hand moved instinctively to my stomach.

A tiny life was growing inside me.

A life connected to the one man I had spent years trying to forget.

I was trapped between two men.

One who loved me enough to stay even when I couldn't give him the truth.

And one who could destroy everything I had built with a single discovery.

Marco was my safety.

Ethan was my fear.

And yet, as I closed my eyes, the most terrifying truth wasn't either of them.

It was the feeling I couldn't control.

The feeling I had been fighting since the moment Ethan walked back into my life.

Because beneath the fear…

beneath the anger…

beneath all the reasons I should have hated him—

a part of me still wanted him.

And that was the one truth I was most afraid to admit.

Strengthen the chapter’s opening hook

Reduce repeated fear and watching beats

Clarify Marco’s relationship and knowledge