MasukEmily's POVI couldn't explain it. It was a feeling at the back of my neck, a chill down my spine. As if there were eyes on me, fixed, following every movement.I turned my head, looked around, but only saw unfamiliar faces, people talking, laughing, ignoring my presence.And still, the gaze was there.I took a deep breath. Tried to ignore it. I walked through the hall, greeting some people I recognized from the agency. I gave polite smiles. Answered questions about the pregnancy, about how I was doing, about work."Everything's fine," I said. "I'm fine, yes. Thank you for asking."But everything wasn't fine. And everyone knew it.That's when I saw him.Sebastian was in the middle of the hall, surrounded by some important people. He wore a dark blue suit, well-tailored, that accentuated his broad shoulders.His hair was combed back. His eyes shone under the hall's lights.He saw me before I could look away. His face lit up with a smile. He excused himself from the group, said goodbye
Emily's POVTwo months.Two months since that day in Sebastian's office. Two months since I saw Marcus being led away by the police.Two months since I cried in Chloe's lap until I couldn't anymore.Life had gone on. I had gone on.I didn't know anything about Marcus. I didn't want to know. I completely disconnected myself from the Sterlings. I no longer answered Arthur's calls. I didn't reply to his messages. I didn't want to know about any of them.I just wanted to live.Try to live.My belly was already big. Five months, the doctor had said. Or maybe six, I had already lost count. I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to keep counting the days. I just wanted to let it happen.Nathalie was still missing. No one knew where she was. I had tried calling a few times, at first, but her number was disconnected.Then I stopped trying. I didn't have the strength for anything else.Sebastian didn't fire me. On the contrary, he seemed to like me even more. Every day he showed up with
Emily's POVMy chest tightened when I saw the scene in front of me.Sebastian was on the floor, his hand on his bruised face. He was trying to get up, but he seemed dizzy, disoriented.Chloe was beside him, her eyes wide.And then I saw Marcus. He was standing, a few steps away from them.A gun in his hand. His arm outstretched, the barrel pointed straight at Sebastian. His face was red with rage, his breathing heavy, his eyes fixed on his target.I felt my heart stop for a second. I couldn't breathe properly."He's not Jason!" I screamed.My voice came out louder than I expected. Cutting through the sound of Marcus's heavy breathing and Chloe's sobs.Marcus didn't lower the gun. He turned his head slowly to look at me. His eyes were wild. I had never seen him like that."Emily, what are you saying?" His voice came out hoarse, confused, as if I had spoken another language."Put that gun down, Marcus!" I screamed again. I stepped forward. My legs were trembling, but I didn't stop. "Put
Marcus's POV"You son of a bitch!"The word still echoed through the office while Sebastian dragged himself on the floor, his hand pressed against his face.His eyes were wide, confused, full of fear. Good. Let him feel fear. Let him learn not to mess with what's mine.I stepped forward. My shadow covered him completely."Get up."He didn't move. Just lay there, looking at me, gasping, his chest rising and falling fast."I said get up!"I grabbed him by the collar again. Pulled him up. His body was limp, trembling. His legs could barely hold him."You..." he tried to speak, but his voice came out dragged, as if the words were stuck in his throat."Shut up." My voice came out low. "Don't say my name. You don't have that right.""I didn't do anything..." he whispered."You didn't?" I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Still sticking to that story?""I swear I didn't...""Lying piece of shit!"My fist closed again. The punch hit him in the stomach. The air left his lungs in a jet, a
Marcus's POV"What do you mean, how?" Her voice rose. "Do you think I'm lying? Marcus, I'm pregnant! I took the test, it came back positive! I went to the doctor, he confirmed it!""Jesus Christ, Claire." I ran my hand over my face. "Cut the stupid games. It's not funny.""Marcus, it's not a joke!" She was desperate now, almost crying. "It's not a joke! I would never lie about something like this!""Claire, I know you well...""Marcus, please, believe me!" Her voice choked. "I'm not making it up, I swear! It's yours! It's your child!"I closed my eyes for a second. Took a deep breath. "Look, Claire, now is not the time for this. I have something to take care of. We'll talk later.""Marcus, don't hang up! Marcus!"I hung up."Another idiot," I muttered, putting the phone away. "She comes up with the craziest things. She really outdid herself this time. I'm not falling for it."The receptionist was staring at me, her face confused, her professional smile completely gone.She blinked sev
Marcus's POVThe limousine moved slowly through the streets of New York. I sat in the back seat, staring out the window.I didn't see much from there. My mind was somewhere else. On Sebastian Cross. On his face when I arrived.My phone vibrated in my pocket. The buzz cut through the silence of the car. I took it out slowly, looked at the screen.Detective.I sighed. I already knew I wasn't going to like what he had to say. I answered."Talk," I said, my voice dry, direct. I didn't have time for small talk."Mr. Sterling, I have news about Jason." The detective's voice sounded strange. Hesitant, as if he was afraid to speak. As if he knew the news wasn't good."Not necessary," I answered, cutting him off before he could continue."What do you mean, sir?""I've already found out who it is." My hand tightened on the phone. "Sebastian Cross. A photographer or aspiring businessman. Works with my wife."On the other end, simply silence. Then he spoke, his voice lower. "Mr. Sterling, I'm cer
Emily's POV The room was dark. It wasn't the darkness of night. It was something else. Something dense, heavy, clinging to the walls like something sticky. My feet didn't reach the floor. I was sitting on a wooden chair, the varnish worn, the smell of mold and old things. I was small. Very small
Emily's POVThe hotel room felt smaller now.The walls were closing in around me, the floor seemed to have grown colder beneath my bare feet.Marcus stood by the window, his back to me, a dark silhouette against the Tokyo skyline. The morning sun painted everything gold, but inside I felt only gray
Arthur's POVThe phone rang for the tenth time in the last hour. Maybe the fifteenth. I had lost count. Each unanswered call was a punch to the gut, a cold fist tightening around my chest.Straight to voicemail.Every time."Emily, where are you?" I muttered, ending the call and immediately dialing
Marcus's POV"No," she said. Her voice came out in a thread of strength that broke and died before reaching me. I squeezed her arm tighter. She whimpered. "No, Marcus. I'm not going. I'm not going anywhere with you.""Yes, you are.""Let go of me.""No.""Don't force me…""Force you to what?" My th







