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

Lucas’s POVThe clock in the grand hallway struck 2:00 AM. The sound echoed through the mansion, deep and heavy, like a heartbeat that shouldn’t be there. Usually, at this time, I would be in my office, buried in spreadsheets or international trade contracts. But tonight, the numbers didn’t make sense. The air in my office felt too thin to breathe.I stood up and walked down the dark hallway. My feet moved on their own, guiding me toward the small room at the very end of the north wing. Naomi’s room.I had never spent much time here. To me, it was just a space—a room for the woman who held the title of my wife for one year. But as I pushed the door open, the silence that hit me was different. It wasn't just quiet; it was empty. It was the kind of emptiness that makes your chest feel tightI didn't turn on the main light. The moonlight through the window was enough to show me how little she had left behind. I sat on the edge of the bed. It was narrow and firm. I frowned. Why was this b

Naomi’s POVThe sun didn't crawl into my hotel room with the golden grace it did at the mansion. Here, it fought its way through a cracked window and a layer of gray dust. I woke up to the sound of a car horn screaming on the street below. For a second, I panicked. I reached out, expecting to feel the high-thread-count silk sheets of the Ashford bed. Instead, my fingers brushed against the scratchy, thin wool of a blanket that smelled faintly of old cigarettes.Then, I remembered. I wasn't there anymore. I was free.I sat up slowly, waiting for the world to stop spinning. My stomach felt like it was doing somersaults. This was the morning sickness the doctor had warned me about. I gripped the edge of the bed until my knuckles turned white."Deep breaths," I whispered to myself. "Just deep breaths."I stood up and walked to the tiny bathroom. The mirror was cracked in the corner, showing me a reflection that looked tired and pale. My hair was a mess, and there were dark circles under m

Abigail’s POVI knew someone was watching me.I didn't see them, but I felt them. It was a cold feeling at the back of my neck. Ever since I left my apartment this morning, a gray sedan had been two cars behind my bus. When I went into the coffee shop, a man in a plain brown jacket had followed me in, but he didn't order anything.Lucas, I thought, gripping my purse tight. You arrogant, cold-hearted snake.I knew he wanted Naomi. But he didn't want her because he loved her. He wanted her because she was his property. He wanted her because he couldn't stand the idea of losing control.I wanted to run to the hotel where Naomi was staying. I wanted to tell her we had to leave the city tonight. But I couldn't. If I went to her now, I would be leading the wolf straight to the lamb.I walked into the office building where I worked as a graphic designer. I sat at my desk and pretended to work, but my mind was racing.How do I help her? How do I get her out of here without being followed?My