Pregnant After The Contract Ended

**Naomi’s POV**I walked into the house, the familiar scent of polished wood and cold marble hitting me like a punch. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could slip in quietly, pretend nothing had happened, and go straight to my room. My stomach twisted as I held my coat close. But I knew I was wrong the second I saw her. Evelyn Ashford ,my mother-in-law, stood by the doorway, arms crossed, eyes sharp as knives. She didn’t even blink when she saw me. Just tilted her head slightly, and said in that thin, cutting voice of hers: “Look who finally returns from God knows where. Hope you know your days are numbered in this house.” My chest tightened. My hands went clammy. I forced myself to ignore her, to walk past her. But she wasn’t done. Her eyes followed me as if I were a rat trying to sneak by. Then came Charlotte. Lucas’ younger sister. She was a handful of trouble in human form. Ugly, sharp-tongued, and cruel. And she hated me for… being alive, I guess. Before I could even take a

I didn’t sleep well that night. My mind kept running in circles, thinking about Valentina, the way everyone looked at me, the way they whispered behind my back. Evelyn’s eyes full of disgust. Charlotte laughing like I was a joke. Lucas pretending not to care. I couldn’t take it anymore. I hugged my bag tight, packed only what I could carry, and waited for the house to get quiet. I had to get out. Not just for me… for my baby. The moon was low when I slipped out of the side door. My heart pounded in my chest like a drum. I ran as fast as I could, through the back garden, past the guard house, and onto the quiet streets. The cold night air hit my face and it felt… freeing. I didn’t know where I would go, but I knew I had to keep moving. Every step away from that house was a step toward life. Toward safety. Toward protecting my baby. I stopped only when the mansion was far behind me, its bright lights shrinking into the darkness. I pressed my hands to my belly, feeling the ba