CHAPTER THREE

“Declan,” she whispered.

A spark of hope suddenly rose in her heart.

It was Declan. Had he come back? Was he going to take her inside and apologize?

Her lips parted, ready to speak. She desperately wanted to tell him, to finally say the words that had been stuck in her throat ever since he chose to push her out of his life.

“I’m pregnant, Declan… with your child.”

But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Not when he was looking at her that way. Cold and expressionless, as though she were a stranger standing in the rain.

“You left your phone and your credit cards behind. They were on the bed,” he said, his tone flat, offering neither comfort nor warmth.

She stared at him, her mouth still open, unable to find her voice. She was trembling, drenched from head to toe, with mascara running down her face.

Declan didn’t spare her another glance. He reached into his pocket and held something out.

Her wedding ring.

The very same ring he had placed on her finger beneath an arch of roses just three years ago.

God, if this was still a nightmare, couldn’t someone just wake her up? It was too much to bear.

He dropped the ring into her palm, and her fingers shook as she curled them around it.

“And send the divorce papers once you’ve signed them,” he added, turning his back on her, unwilling to look her in the eye.

Sophia stood on the balcony, her arms folded across her chest.

“Declan…” she murmured. “What happened all of a sudden? We were happy just this morning…”

He stopped at the doorway and released a chilly sigh.

“Security, I don’t want to see her here the next time I come back.”

That was all he said before slamming the door shut behind him, cutting off the last tiny thread of hope she had been desperately holding on to.

She clutched the ring in her hand and pressed it tightly against her chest.

A scream rose in her throat, but she forced herself to hold it back.

Inside, Sophia rested against the wall, her arms folded as a wicked smile curled on her red lips.

The moment Declan turned around, she walked up to him, moving with slow, seductive steps.

“You made the right choice,” she whispered, running her fingers over his chest. “She was never the right woman for you, Declan.”

He didn’t say anything. He simply exhaled and took a sip of his drink.

Sophia cupped his cheeks, pulling his face closer to hers as she seductively bit her lip.

“Declan,” he began, as though he wanted to say something.

“I’m right here now…” she whispered, brushing her lips against his. “I’ve always been here for you, Declan.”

“I know, sweetheart, but where will she go?” he asked.

A sly smile tugged at Sophia’s lips.

Then she leaned in and kissed him, while his hands clasped her waist possessively.

He returned her kiss, gently at first, then with greater passion and intensity. She kissed him as though she believed he was hers alone.

She smiled when he kissed her more eagerly before suddenly pulling away.

“Let her cry out in the rain. You deserve someone far better than her.”

“Someone like you, Sophia. You make me feel alive. You’ve always stood by my side, baby,” he murmured before giving her another brief kiss.

“We’re finally together, you, me, and our baby. That’s what matters most from now on,” she whispered.

He nodded in agreement.

Tessa turned around and slowly made her way down the steps, her heels sinking into the muddy ground. The wind lashed against her face, sticking her soaked hair to her cheeks.

She continued walking away from the house, away from the life she had built.

Just then, a Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop in front of her. The driver’s window slid down.

“Tessa,” a man called gently.

He stepped out of the car with an umbrella in his hand.

Tears clouded her vision, and before she could even react, she collapsed. But he caught her in his arms before she could hit the ground.

“I’m here, Tessa,” the man whispered once more, tightening his arms around her as the rain poured down relentlessly.

His umbrella could barely withstand the strong wind, but he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was the fragile woman in his arms. Her skin was pale, her lips quivered, her clothes were completely drenched, and her body trembled with cold.

He carried her into the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, holding her as gently as someone cradling something precious.

The door to the luxurious penthouse swung open, and the warmth inside contrasted sharply with the icy numbness that clung to Tessa’s drenched body.

He carried her inside, laid her down on the plush couch, and knelt beside her, breathing heavily.

He inhaled deeply, then removed his soaked blazer and reached for his phone before placing a call.

“Dr. Jenny, this is an emergency. Please get here as quickly as possible.”

After ending the call, his eyes fell on Tessa’s hand, which was curled into a tight fist and trembling slightly.

He carried her to his bedroom and gently laid her on his bed.

Then he carefully unfolded her fingers, and the wedding ring slipped onto the floor.

“Mr. Richard, the maids have arrived,” his manager informed him.

Mr. Richard was a billionaire who rarely appeared in public. His name sent shivers down the spines of his competitors.

Richard was the mastermind behind more than a dozen corporate empires spanning the continents of Eldoria and Valtherra. He was powerful, sharp-minded, and secretive.

The maids arrived moments later. He stepped out of the bedroom while they helped Tessa change out of her drenched clothes.

Dr. Jenny arrived shortly afterward and began examining Tessa under Richard’s watchful eyes.

“She’s freezing and completely exhausted,” the doctor told him. “And there’s something else…”

“What is it?” Richard asked, turning toward her sharply.

“She’s pregnant,” Dr. Jenny replied.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

The word struck the air like a clap of thunder. He stared at the doctor in shock, falling silent for a moment. Then he nodded and let out a sigh.

“Based on her condition, she’s about five months pregnant. She must avoid stress completely. It could put her baby at risk.”

“Is there anything she needs?” he asked, the worry evident on his face.

“She needs plenty of rest. Please make sure she doesn’t worry about anything. She should eat well, especially fruits. I’ll prescribe some medication for her, and you can get it for her.”

Richard’s expression grew serious.

If Tessa was suffering this badly, it wouldn’t be good for her baby.

The doctor bowed politely and left the room.

He sat down beside Tessa on the bed, wondering what could have happened to her.

Why had she been out in the rain?

He sighed.

Whatever the reason, he was ready to stand by her and repay her for what she had done for him five years ago.