Candice Channing thought she had her life figured out. She worked hard, married the man she loved, and was ready to start a family. But her perfect world crumbled when she caught her husband cheating—with her best friend. Heartbroken and lost, she decided to take control of her own future. But a shocking mistake changed everything. A hospital mix-up left Candice pregnant with a stranger’s child. And not just any stranger—Dorian Anderson, the cold, ruthless rich and power gang leader who secretly runs the city’s most powerful crime family. He wanted an heir without complications, not an unexpected connection with the fiery woman now carrying his baby. Dorian doesn’t trust easily. Candice doesn’t back down. And when dangerous enemies start circling, neither of them can walk away. She never planned to be a mother like this. He never planned to fall for her. But some mistakes come with unexpected surprises… and maybe even love.
View MoreCandice’s POV
“You’re pregnant, Candice.”
For a second, I couldn’t breathe. Dr. Ruby’s words hit me like a train.
Pregnant.
I stared at her, my heart hammering wildly in my chest as she handed me a small sheet of black-and-white images. My fingers trembled as I took it, my eyes dropping to the blurry shapes on the screen.
Two.
Two tiny shapes. Side by side.
“Twins,” Dr. Ruby added, her voice soft and almost reverent, as if she knew this moment would change my life forever.
I blinked rapidly, my mouth opening and closing like a fool, trying to find my voice. “Twins?” I croaked, almost afraid I’d misheard her.
She nodded, her brown eyes sparkling with something close to pride. “Yes, sweetheart. Two little miracles. And from everything we can see, they’re both healthy. Your numbers look good.”
Healthy. Twins.
The words swirled around me, too big, too beautiful to hold all at once. My throat tightened, and before I knew it, my vision blurred with tears. I clutched the ultrasound photos to my chest, as if by holding them closer, I could make it feel real.
“I… I can’t believe this,” I whispered, my voice breaking apart under the weight of it all.
I wasn’t dreaming. I wasn’t imagining it. After all the appointments, the endless waiting, the miscarriages that ripped holes in my heart I thought would never heal—this was happening.
I was pregnant.
With twins.
Dr. Ruby reached out and squeezed my hand gently. “Believe it, Candice. After everything you’ve fought through… this is your moment. Congratulations.”
A ragged sob tore from my throat before I could stop it. I slapped a hand over my mouth, but the tears kept coming anyway, spilling hot and fast down my cheeks. I nodded frantically, too overwhelmed to find the right words.
“Thank you,” I gasped out, my whole body shaking. “Thank you so much.”
Her smile softened even more, if that was possible. “I’m so happy for you. I know how much this means to you.”
She didn’t know the half of it.
She didn’t know about the nights I curled up on the bathroom floor, begging a God I wasn’t even sure I believed in to just let me have one chance.
She didn’t know how Joshua would pull me into his arms, whispering that it didn’t matter, that we had each other—but I saw it. I saw the ache he tried to hide every time he thought I wasn’t looking.
She didn’t know about the secret appointments. The blood tests. The tears.
But I knew. And now, it had all been worth it.
“I can’t wait to tell Joshua,” I said, my voice breaking again, but this time with pure, dazzling joy. “He’s going to be so happy.”
Dr. Ruby smiled warmly. “He will. He’s going to be over the moon.”
I wiped at my eyes, trying to pull myself together, but I couldn’t stop smiling. “He always said it didn’t matter if we had kids… but I knew. I knew it mattered to him. And now… now we get to have two.”
I let out a watery laugh, clutching the ultrasound tighter, like it was the most precious thing I owned.
But before I could float too far into the clouds, Dr. Ruby’s face grew serious.
“There’s something you need to know, Candice,” she said gently. “Given your medical history, and the natural thinness of your uterine wall… this pregnancy is going to be high-risk.”
I froze,
“If anything happens this time,” she continued carefully, “if there are complications… it might be your last chance.”
The words sliced through my euphoria. I blinked at her, feeling that gnawing, familiar fear start to crawl back into my chest.
“You’re going to need to be extra careful,” she said. “No lifting heavy things, no stress if you can help it. Rest whenever you need to. And you’ll be coming in for more frequent check-ups.”
I nodded shakily, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I understand.”
She squeezed my hand again, reassuring. “You’ve got this, Candice. One day at a time, okay?”
“Okay,” I whispered.
And despite the fear buzzing at the back of my mind, it couldn’t smother the light blazing in my chest. I was pregnant. I was carrying not just one miracle, but two. I was going to do everything—everything—to keep them safe.
Still smiling through my tears, I practically floated out of the office, clutching the ultrasound pictures against my heart like a secret too precious to say out loud.
I couldn’t wait any longer.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Joshua’s number, my fingers shaking with excitement.
It rang once. Twice.
No answer.
Frowning, I tried again. Straight to voicemail.
Disappointment tried to creep in, but I pushed it away. Maybe he was busy. It didn’t matter.
This was good news. The best news. And it deserved more than just a phone call.
I would tell him in person. I would go home, set the table, cook his favorite dinner—something special. Something unforgettable.
Today wasn’t just a normal day.
Today is the best day of our life.
Once I got to my car,I put on my seatbelt and started the car immediately.
If only I could just disappear to where Joshua was so I could tell him the good-news.
The drive home was both a blur and an eternity.
My mind raced with ideas for how to share the news.
Maybe I’d cook his favorite meal—steak and garlic mashed potatoes—and light some candles. I’d wrap the ultrasound images in a small box and watch his face light up when he opened it.
Halfway there, my phone buzzed in the cupholder. Dr. Ruby’s name flashed on the screen.
“Hello?” I answered quickly, putting the call on speaker.
“Candice,” she said, her voice hurried and strained. “I—”
Her words were swallowed by a burst of noise on her end. Shouting, maybe? I couldn’t tell.
“Ruby? I can’t hear you. What’s going on?”
She tried again, but her words were fragmented. “Someone… needs to—”
The line went dead.
I frowned, picking up the phone to check the screen. It was black. Battery Low. Phone Shutting Down.
“Great,” I muttered, tossing the phone back into the cupholder. Whatever she needed could wait. Right now, I had bigger things to focus on.
When I pulled into the driveway, I felt a surge of excitement. Joshua’s car was parked out front, and his shoes were by the door when I stepped inside.
“Joshua?” I called, slipping off my heels. “Honey, are you home?”
The house was quiet at first, but I spotted his jacket draped over the back of a chair.
I smiled to myself. He must’ve been in a hurry to get comfortable.
I wandered into the living room, but something felt off. The coffee table was a mess, papers scattered everywhere. One of the cushions was on the floor, and the throw blanket was crumpled in a heap.
My smile faltered. Joshua hated messes. He was always so particular about keeping everything neat.
“Joshua?” I called again, my voice tinged with unease.
No answer.
That’s when I heard it.
A sound coming from the bedroom. Muffled voices. A low moan.
My heart began to race. I took a step forward, my bare feet silent against the hardwood floor.
The sounds grew louder as I approached the bedroom door and I figured it was a woman’s voice.
And then I heard her.
Violet’s voice.
Laughter, soft and breathy, unmistakable.
My best friend.
Dorian’s POVI stood there at the altar and I smiled A slow, satisfied smile. My work here was done. “Have a great time in jail and see you soon… in court.” I said to them as I turned around and walked out of that cursed wedding hall Alora was screaming something behind me, her voice sharp and ugly. Her mother was sobbing, and her father, well—he was already in handcuffs. I didn’t bother turning around. I’d had enough of their faces to last me a lifetime.“You’ll regret this, Dorian!” Alora shrieked behind me.“Rot in hell, you bastard!” her father shouted.“You ruined our daughter’s life!” her mother wailed like a dying goat.I didn’t reply.What else was there to say? The show was over. The curtain had closed. The clowns had been dragged off stage.I walked out of that chaotic wedding. All I cared about right now was one thing.My Candice.I got into the car, slammed the door, and floored the gas pedal like I had eight extra lives to spare.I couldn’t sit still.My knee was bo
Dorian’s POVThe police officer stepped forward, his voice steady and professional. “We received a report,” he said, loud enough for the entire banquet hall to hear. “It was about a man who had been illegally detained… and beaten.”Whispers started again. Phones came back up. Eyes widened.The officer didn’t stop. “After thorough investigation, we traced the report and gathered evidence. We’re here to arrest the person responsible for the illegal imprisonment and assault.”Then, slowly, the officers turned… and walked straight toward me.I stepped forward, meeting the lead officer halfway. His face softened when he saw me.“Mr. Dorian,” he said quietly. “Can you confirm that you were the one who sent in the report?”I nodded. “Yes,” I replied simply.“Can you walk me through what happened? From your perspective?” he asked, his tone still calm.“I’ll tell you everything,” I said.I told him about the threats. The cover-ups. The silence money. The beatings. The false suicide act. The ma
Dorian’s POVI stood there, watching Alora’s family squirm.Her oh-so-perfect parents looking pale like they’d seen a ghost… or maybe like they’d just realized the mask they wore for years was finally cracking in front of the whole world.And honestly? It was satisfying.I smiled.Finally, everyone was seeing it for what it really was.The crowd inside the hall was still trying to recover from the video. Some were whispering. Some were full-on gossiping. Others just stared at Alora like they’d never really seen her until now.The camera then moved across the guests, searching for something. Or someone.Then, it landed on him.The photographer.The one Alora had panicked about earlier—just before the wedding started. She didn’t want him inside the hall. Said she was “worried” he was from some sketchy media group.Little did she know I invited him over myself and made everything seem like he was part of a media team.He was sitting quietly in the corner, his head slightly lowered. The
Candice’s POVThe video kept playing.Even with Alora screaming her lungs out and begging Dorian to shut it down, the screen stayed bright, and the sound stayed loud. There was no going back now.On-screen, the man finally loosened his grip from Alora’s neck. She coughed, gasping for air, her hands trembling. He stood back, breathing heavily. “I’m not just gonna stand by and let you kill my child, Alora,” the man said, his voice low and broken. “You promised me… and now you wanna erase everything like it never happened?”Alora wiped her tears roughly, shaking her head. “It’s gone,” she said, her voice weak. “The child is gone. I already did it, okay? There’s nothing left. So just… just leave.”The man’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”“I’m not.”“I know you didn’t go through with it,” he snapped. “I know everything, Alora. You think I wouldn’t find out? I’ve seen the clinic records. They said you never showed up. Never took the pills. Never did anything.”Alora looked away, silent.“J
Candice’s POVJust as the vows ended, the priest stepped forward, holding his holy book and smiling like this was the happiest day of his life.“If there is anyone here,” he began in that serious, dramatic voice, “who believes these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony… let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”I blinked at the TV screen. My lips parted a little.Alora immediately turned her head and looked around the hall like a scared rabbit. Her hands tensed around Dorian’s arm. Her eyes filled with fear. I could practically feel her anxiety through the screen.And I couldn’t help it—I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they’d stay that way.“Oh please,” I muttered, half-laughing, half-pissed. “If I wasn’t stuck in this damn hospital bed, I swear I would’ve marched into that wedding in heels and shouted, ‘I OBJECT!’ right in that priest’s wrinkled face.”I threw a pillow across the bed.But of course, no one in that fairy-tale wedding hall said a word.The prie
Candice's POVI was lying in the hospital bed, one hand gently on my stomach, the other holding the TV remote. The screen in front of me showed the wedding live. Or, I suppose I should say the "planned" wedding, since Dorian had made it clear it was all part of a bigger picture. Even knowing that, my chest felt a little tight.The TV showed Dorian standing next to Alora. He was carefully adjusting her white dress and helping her sit comfortably in her wheelchair. He leaned in close, whispering something that made her giggle softly. Then he smiled—that smile, the one that always made my heart flutter.My lips pressed together. "Really?" I mumbled under my breath, pressing the volume button. It wasn't going to change the fact that I was watching this fairytale.There he was again, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face, laughing with her as if they were truly deeply in love. Oh, goodness. I rolled my eyes so much as I took a deep breath. "If I could just wish for something,"
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments