CHAPTER FIVE - HIDDEN HEARTBEAT.

Three weeks later I was on my knees in the bathroom bawling out my gut for the fourth morning in a row.

My hands gripped the cold porcelain and my whole body shook as another wave of nausea hit me. Sweat covered my forehead. I squeezed my eyes shut.

This wasn't stress anymore.

This was something else.

I stared at my flushed skin as I sat back against the wall. My hand moved to my stomach without thinking.

“No fucking way.” I gasped.

It couldn't be.

But the signs were all there. The exhaustion that hit me like a truck every afternoon. The dizziness when I stood too fast. The way my breasts had been tender and swollen for over a week.

That night three weeks ago when I let rage turn into something else and we'd torn each other's clothes off like the world was ending.

We'd been careless.

Too caught up in anger and need to think about consequences.

My phone buzzed on the counter.

Kaid. “Board dinner tonight. Black dress. Car at seven.”

No please. No asking. Just orders.

“Bastard,” I muttered. I typed okay and deleted the message. Pulled myself up using the sink and stared at my reflection. I looked pale. Empty like I was disappearing from the inside out.

I needed to know for sure.

Twenty minutes later I stood in a pharmacy three blocks away staring at rows of pregnancy tests.

My heart thundered hard against my chest, that I could hear it.

I grabbed three different boxes and paid without making eye contact with the cashier. Shoved them in my bag and practically ran back to the penthouse.

Slamming the bathroom door behind me with a click that sounded too loud, I pulled out the first test with shaking hands and read the instructions twice even though they were simple.

“Pee on the stick. Wait three minutes. Find out if your life was about to implode.”

I took all three tests and lined them up on the counter. Set a timer on my phone and sat on the edge of the tub with my head in my hands, and legs bouncing.

A baby would trap me here forever. Would tie me to Kaid in a way worse than contracts and revenge. Would give the asshole even more power over me than he already had.

“That's if he wants a child. The jerk is too cruel to be a father.”

The timer went off and I couldn't make myself look.

My legs shook as I stood and walked to the counter.

Three tests. Three positive results staring back at me.

“Holy hell!”

The room spun. I grabbed the counter to steady myself.

This wasn't real.

This couldn't be happening.

But the evidence was right there in neat pink lines.

I slid down to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest. My whole body trembled and I couldn't get enough air. Tears burned behind my eyes but I wouldn't let them fall.

What was I supposed to do?

Tell Kaid?

Keep it secret?

If I told him he'd see it as another tool. Another way to control me. Another piece in his sick game.

But if I kept it secret he'd figure it out eventually. And then what?

My hand moved to my stomach again. To the tiny cluster of cells that was already changing everything.

I couldn't tell him.

Not yet.

I needed time to think.

I wrapped the tests with tissue, shoved it into the bottom of the trash. Splashed water on my face and tried to make myself look normal.

My makeup was neatly done. Like I didn't have anything weighing on me. Curled my hair. Squeezed myself into the black sequined dress. Became the perfect wife he required me to be.

By seven I looked flawless.

Inside I was a mess.

The board dinner was at some exclusive restaurant where rich people went to be seen. I walked in on Kaid's arm with the smile I'd perfected over three weeks.

"You look beautiful," Kaid murmured. His hand was warm on my lower back.

"Thanks." I couldn't look at him. Couldn't let him see whatever was showing in my eyes.

Dinner was torture. Course after course while old men talked about stock prices. Smiling when they asked about our romance. Letting Kaid's hand rest on my thigh under the table.

Every touch reminded me of the secret growing inside me.

"You're quiet tonight," one of the board members said. Gerald something. He had a round face and mean eyes.

"Usually you're more animated."

"Just tired." I forced a smile. "Busy week."

"I'm sure." He studied me. "Marriage to this one must keep you on your toes."

"Every day is an adventure," I said and meant it in ways he'd never understand.

Kaid's hand tightened on my leg. Warning or a well-done.

I couldn't tell.

I didn't care.

When dinner ended I felt like I'd run a marathon. My whole body ached and the nausea was back.

"You okay?" Kaid asked as we walked to the car.

"Fine."

"You barely ate."

"I wasn't hungry."

He studied me and I thought he might push. But he just nodded and helped me into the car.

The drive home was silent. Kaid spent it on his phone handling some crisis. I stared out the window and tried to figure out what the hell I was going to do.

We made it back and I headed straight for my room. I needed space. Needed to breathe.

"Sage."

I stopped with my hand on the doorknob.

"Come here."

Not a request.

I turned. Kaid stood in the middle of the living room. He'd taken off his jacket and loosened his tie. He looked tired. Almost human.

"What do you want."

"I want to know what's wrong." He moved closer. "You've been off all night. Pale. Distracted. Are you sick?"

"I'm fine."

"You're lying." His hand pressed against my forehead. Checking for fever. The gesture was surprisingly gentle.

"You feel warm."

"I said I'm fine." I pulled away. "I'm just tired."

"Then go to bed." He studied me with those sharp eyes. "But tomorrow we're talking. Whatever's going on ends now. I need you focused."

Of course. It was always about what he wanted.

"Fine," I said and turned toward my room.

"Sage."

I looked back.

“What?”

He watched me with an expression I couldn't read.

Maybe concern. Whatever it was, disappeared too fast.

"Sleep well," he said quietly.

I must have fallen asleep on the floor because the next thing I knew sunlight pierced through the windows and someone was knocking.

"Sage." Kaid's voice. "Open up."

I dragged myself upright. My whole body ached. The nausea was already starting.

I opened the door and Kaid stood there holding a tray with coffee and pastries.

"Breakfast," he said and walked past me.

"I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat." He set the tray down and turned to face me. "You barely touched dinner."

"I told you I'm fine."

"And I told you I don't believe you." He crossed his arms.

"What's going on?"

“Dont act like you care. It's not a good look on you.” I spat. "I'm just a tool for your revenge. Why does it matter if I'm feeling off."

His jaw tightened. "It matters because you're my wife. If something's wrong I need to know."

"So you can use it against me?"

"So I can fix it." He moved closer. "Talk to me, Sage."

I wanted to tell him everything. About the tests. About the fear. About being terrified of being tied to him forever.

But before I could say anything, his phone rang.

He pulled it out of pocket. His mouth curved into a half smile.

"I have to take this," he said, holding up his index finger.

"Vivian."