Chapter 4

“What the hell is this? A resignation letter?” Ethan’s eyes went wide with shock, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “First, tell me the real reason you want to resign so I can even consider it, Selina.”

My heart slammed against my ribs, each thud echoing in my ears. My stomach twisted, a sick knot of dread forming as if some hidden part of me already knew he had begun to suspect the truth I was desperate to keep buried.

I forced myself to stand tall, even as my knees trembled, and handed him the envelope.

My decision was final. I couldn’t stay here, not when my body was betraying me day by day, changing in ways I could no longer disguise.

“I won’t open your resignation letter or approve it, not until you tell me the truth,” he said firmly, his tone sharper than the steel of a knife.

“What do you mean? If you won’t even open it, then you’ll never know my reason. Just read it,” I snapped, irritation slipping into my voice no matter how hard I tried to stay calm.

“I know it’s just lies written there anyway.”

Before I could even react, his hand darted out. He snatched the letter from me and tore it in two, the sound of ripping paper loud and merciless in the heavy air.

My jaw fell open. I stared at him, the shredded pieces fluttering to the floor like fallen hope.

“B-But why… why did you tear it? And what do you mean, lies?” My voice cracked as my chest tightened painfully. “Do you even realize how much courage it took for me to write that and hand it to you, and you just—” My words choked into a sob. “—you just tear it up without even reading it?!” The tears came without warning, spilling freely down my cheeks.

“If you won’t accept my resignation, then maybe I should just leave without saying goodbye!” My voice rose, brittle and broken. “If all you want is to be cruel, you could’ve just told me straight to my face instead of humiliating me like this!” Anger burned hot in my chest, and with trembling steps, I spun around and stormed toward the door. My only thought was escape.

“Are you pregnant?”

The question slammed into me. My body went rigid, my breath hitching in my throat. I forced myself to shake my head. “N-No,” I whispered, denial slipping out automatically.

His eyes hardened. “Don’t lie to me, Selina. I saw the pregnancy test in your drawer.”

My blood ran cold, but desperation clawed at me to find an excuse. “So what if I’m pregnant?” I spat, my voice trembling with false defiance. “I’m turning 29 by next year. That’s the right age to get pregnant. There’s nothing wrong if I want to have a child.”

His gaze pierced straight through me. “Is it mine?”

I froze, panic flashing across my face. “Of course not! Mr. Blake, please don’t talk nonsense. You’re engaged, getting married next week. If anyone hears what you say, it’ll be a big scandal—” My lips parted, ready to deny it again, but before I could speak, he cut me off.

“I remember,” he said, his tone low, unyielding. “That night… when I was drunk. We had sex. Don’t try to tell me otherwise, because I know it happened.”

Tears blurred my vision. My chest heaved as I tried to cling to the last shred of denial. “So what if we did?” My voice broke, laced with bitterness. “It doesn’t mean you’re the father. I’ve been with someone else. He’s the father, not you.”

For a moment, silence suffocated the air between us. Then his words dropped like a hammer.

“I saw the blood on my bed the next morning.” His eyes burned into mine, unwavering. “A virgin’s blood. Don’t tell me lies, Selina. You know the truth as much as I do.”

My legs gave out, and I collapsed to my knees, sobs ripping through my chest. My hands trembled as I clutched at his suit, unable to hold myself together any longer.

“I know you’ll never forgive me,” I cried, my voice breaking apart, “but please… let me raise this child alone. I swear, we’ll disappear from your life and Ingrid’s forever. Please, please…”

The office, once an intimidating place of order and power, now rang with my sobs, my shame laid bare. Fear wrapped around me so tightly I could barely breathe. I didn’t know what his judgment would be, and the unknown terrified me.

Ethan exhaled, long and heavy, before lowering himself to squat in front of me.

“Look at me.”

I couldn’t.

“Selina, I'm asking you to look at me.”

I kept my eyes on the floor, but then his hand was there, warm and steady, tilting my chin upward. I resisted, instinctively turning away, but he was patient.

“Listen to me,” he said quietly, his voice gentler now.

Reluctantly, I obeyed. His handkerchief brushed against my skin as he wiped my tears, and I flinched, not used to his touch being this soft.

“It’s not only you who’s to blame,” he said, steady and calm. “I have a part in this too. And I would never tell you to abort the baby… because that’s my child.”