Chapter 1

Astrid's POV

The kitchen of the Woods mansion had always felt too large for one person, but tonight it felt perfect.

Warm light glowed from the chandeliers above, reflecting off the polished marble counters. The scent of roasted herbs and garlic filled the air as I stirred the sauce simmering on the stove.

I smiled to myself.

Dinner was almost ready.

For once, I wasn’t letting the staff cook. I had insisted they take the evening off. Tonight was special, and I wanted to do this myself.

My hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach.

A nervous flutter ran through me.

I still couldn't quite believe it.

Just a few hours ago, I had been sitting in a quiet hospital room, my heart pounding so loudly I thought the doctor could hear it.

Across from me sat my best friend, Miley Perez, who had been squeezing my hand so tightly I thought my fingers might break.

"Relax," Miley had whispered, rolling her eyes. "You're acting like you're waiting for a death sentence."

I laughed softly at the memory.

But when the doctor walked in with the results, my heart had nearly stopped.

The moment still replayed in my mind.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Pierce," the doctor had said gently. "You're pregnant."

Pregnant.

Even thinking the word now made my chest tighten with emotion.

My fingers pressed more firmly against my stomach.

There was a tiny life inside me.

My baby.

For a moment, tears blurred my vision.

My mother had died the day I was born.

It was a story my father rarely spoke about, but I had always known the truth. The woman who gave me life had never even gotten the chance to hold me.

Growing up, it had just been me and my father, Arthur Woods.

The most powerful businessman in the city.

And yet, to me, he had always just been… Dad.

He had raised me alone.

Protected me.

Loved me more fiercely than anyone ever could.

A small smile touched my lips as I plated the food.

Tonight, I was going to tell him he was going to be a grandfather.

I could already imagine the look on his face.

Shock first.

Then disbelief.

And then that rare smile he only showed me.

My chest warmed.

Then there was my husband.

Adam Pierce.

Just thinking about him made my cheeks flush.

Adam and I had met in university seven years ago.

Back then he had been nothing like the powerful CEO he was now. He had been just another student from a middle-class family—smart, charming, stubbornly determined to succeed.

My father had hated him from the beginning.

"He's not the man for you, Astrid," Dad had said more times than I could count.

But I had been young. Stubborn. In love.

I had told my father that if he didn't accept Adam, I would leave home and never come back.

Even now, guilt twisted in my chest when I remembered the hurt in my father's eyes that day.

Eventually, he had agreed.

Reluctantly.

Adam had proven himself over the years. After our marriage three years ago, he had worked tirelessly at my father's company until he became one of its most important executives.

Dad still wasn't overly warm toward him, but things had gotten better.

And tonight…

Tonight I was going to tell them both that our family was growing.

My baby.

Our baby.

A sudden wave of happiness washed over me so strong I had to laugh quietly to myself.

The future felt bright.

Perfect.

I carried the dishes to the dining table and carefully set them down. The long table looked almost comical with only three place settings arranged on it.

Everything was going exactly as planned.

My phone rang.

The sudden sound startled me.

I wiped my hands on a towel and picked it up from the counter.

The screen showed an unfamiliar number.

I frowned but answered anyway.

"Hello?"

There was a pause on the other end.

Then a shaky voice spoke.

"Miss Woods… this is Daniel from Mr. Woods' office."

My stomach tightened.

"Yes? What is it?"

Something about his tone made my pulse quicken.

The man sounded panicked.

Terrified.

"Miss Woods… something happened to Mr. Woods."

The knife I had been holding slipped from my hand and clattered against the marble floor.

"What do you mean?" I whispered.

My heart was suddenly pounding so hard it hurt.

"He collapsed about twenty minutes ago," Daniel said quickly. "We rushed him to St. Catherine's Hospital. The doctors are currently examining him."

Cold fear spread through my chest.

Collapsed?

Dad never got sick.

He was one of the healthiest people I knew.

"Did they say what happened?" My voice trembled.

Another pause.

Then Daniel said the words that shattered my world.

"The doctors suspect… poisoning."

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

Poisoning.

The word echoed in my head like a gunshot.

"No," I whispered.

It couldn't be true.

My father had enemies, of course. Powerful men always did.

But someone poisoning him?

My hands began shaking violently.

"I'll be there immediately," I said, already rushing toward the hallway.

"Yes, Miss Woods."

The call ended.

My mind raced as I hurried toward the staircase.

Dad was in the hospital.

Poisoned.

Fear clawed at my chest so fiercely it felt like I might choke on it.

I needed to get there.

Right now.

I pushed open the door to my bedroom to grab my coat—

And froze.

Standing in the middle of the room was Adam Pierce.

My husband.

Relief flooded through me for half a second.

"Adam!" I rushed toward him. "Something happened to Dad—"

But the words died in my throat.

Because the look on Adam's face wasn't concern.

It wasn't shock.

It wasn't fear.

It was something far worse.

His eyes were cold.

And he was smiling.

Not the warm smile I had fallen in love with.

Something darker.

Something… cruel.

A chill ran down my spine.

Suddenly, the room felt too quiet.

Too still.

And for the first time in four years, looking at my husband…

I felt afraid.