04

A sharp gasp escaped Adriana’s lips as her eyes fluttered open. She blinked twice, then once more, trying to understand her surroundings.

“You’re up?” came a sharp, husky voice from the far side of the room.

She turned her head slowly and found Eros seated on a grey velvet sofa by the fireplace, with his piercing blue eyes fixed solely on her.

“Where am I?” She croaked, her throat dry like sandpaper.

“Well, it’s late. You’re in one of the guest rooms in my mansion, Riana.” Eros said, smirking and making his way toward her.

“Mansion? How...how did I get here?” Adriana echoed, her brow twitching upward as her gaze flicked toward the high ceilings.

“You passed out,” Eros said calmly and sat on the edge of the bed with a respectful distance.

“Right there at the airway, your legs buckled just as you got out of the plane. I caught you before you hit the ground. You were freezing, unresponsive… I had no choice but to bring you here. My personal doctor came by immediately.” He explained.

“Passed out?” Adriana repeated, her face twisted in confusion.

“But I don’t faint easily. Something must have—”

“You’re pregnant, Adriana.” Eros cut her off, his words hanging in the air like an uninvited guest.

“The cold was too much for your body. The doctor ran a couple of tests and confirmed it,” he emphasised.

Adriana didn’t say anything. Instead, her hand instinctively drifted to her lower abdomen, as her thoughts spiraled in disarray.

“No. No, it can’t be…” she whispered.

“It is what it is, Adriana. And whatever you decide to do with the pregnancy... it won’t affect our plans. That remains the same.” Eros replied in a quieter and almost sympathetic voice before standing abruptly and heading for the door.

“I need to call him; he deserves to know.” Adriana said suddenly, her voice shaky but firm.

Eros stopped mid-stride; his shoulders tensed before he slowly turned to face her again. “What?” he uttered.

“I’ll call Antonio. He’s the father. He has a right to know,” Adriana said, already reaching for her phone on the nightstand.

Eros scoffed softly, his expression hardening. “You really think he’s going to want the baby? Don’t waste your energy, Adriana.”

He said, but Adriana ignored him, her fingers already dialing Antonio’s number. 

The line rang endlessly, and there was no response. She tried again the second time, and the mistress answered.

“Oh, look who it is—Ex-wife,” came Abby’s sweet and venomous voice, all at once.

Adriana felt the frustration surge in her throat, choking her silence.

“Who’s that, baby?” She heard Antonio’s voice faintly from the background.

“Your clingy ex who still doesn’t get it,” Abby said with a mocking giggle.

“Give me the phone,” Antonio said sharply.

Moments later, he was on. “Adriana. You need to get things straight. Stop calling me.”

“I’m pregnant,” Adriana immediately uttered, her breathing wavering.

There was a pause. Then, laughter—light, amused, cruel.

“You’re what?” Antonio repeated with a scoff.

“You’ve got to be joking,” he added.

“I said I’m…” Adriana replied, swallowing down the lump in her throat. “Antonio, I’m—”

“Get rid of it. I want no ties with you. None. Ever again.” Antonio cut her off viciously, and the call ended.

“Get rid of it?” Adriana’s entire body shivered as the words replayed in her ears.

Uncontrollably, tears welled up and trickled silently down her cheek. But instantly she wiped them away angrily, as if to deny him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Then, her chin lifted. “You seem to know him better than I do,” she said, glancing at Eros, who had been silently watching her with his arms folded across his chest.

“It’s okay if you want to keep the baby,” he replied with a sigh.

“I want the plans changed,” she said, her voice suddenly carrying a weight it didn’t before.

Eros blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

“I want to be your acting wife starting now. No delays, no later. I’m keeping the baby, and eventually, the world will want to know who the father is. Why not make it easier now? Let’s start playing our fake roles for real starting now.” She uttered, her face expressionless.

“Are you literally serious?” Eros said, his eyes narrowing.

“Unless you’ve got a better idea?” She challenged, her brows raised, and there was a long pause before Eros finally nodded slowly.

“Fine. But let me make this clear—no strings. No blurred lines. When this revenge business is over, we’re done. You, me, and the child—separate lives.”

“No feelings. Just the plan. It’s a deal.” Adriana agreed flatly, and tried to swing her legs off the bed. But a sudden jolt of pain beneath her abdomen made her wince and sit back down with a soft gasp.

“What’s wrong?” Eros asked, instantly beside her again.

“I think... I just need food,” she said, pressing a hand gently over her stomach.

“Well, since this is now your home,” he said with a teasing smirk, “would you prefer breakfast in bed or in the dining room like a proper lady of the house?”

“My home?” Adriana uttered, giving him a look. “

“Acting wives live with their husbands, don’t they?” Eros questioned, taking a step closer.

“And do acting husbands stand this close while talking?” Adriana asked, while glancing up at him with mild amusement.

“They do when they’re taking care of their acting pregnant wives,” Eros replied, and in a gentle gesture, he pulled the blanket over her legs.

“You’ll have the breakfast in bed,” he added, his voice unusually gentle as he tucked the blanket a little higher over her legs. His fingers lingered there for a second too long, as if reluctant to pull away.

Then he suddenly straightened up, slipping back into the controlled version of himself.

Adriana stared blankly at him as she tried to ignore the storm building in her chest. She wasn't sure if it was the pregnancy pressure, or just the way he had looked at her with a mix of something almost like care.

“From now on, everything has to look real. No slips. No gaps. The world can’t suspect a thing,” Eros muttered, while glancing down at her.

But before Adriana could speak, a sharp knock broke the quiet.

“I’ll get it,” Eros muttered, and turned on his heel.

By the time he flung the door open, his expression shifted from determination to shock. 

“Miss me?” There came the voice of Natalia—his ex-wife, who had divorced him two years ago.