Pregnant by a ruthless CEO のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

Richard's POV"I don't trust a single word that just came out of your mouth," she says, making my heart ache.Melissa is standing in front of me, the most exceptionally beautiful woman in the world. After all these years, having her so close and not being able to touch her is still the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure.The first time I saw little Ryan, I knew immediately that he was mine. All night long, I tossed and turned, trying to make sense of everything, trying to understand how and why we’d reached a point where she felt the need to hide a child from me.She never let me explain my situation, but after all this time — and after finding out she kept a child from me — I guess that’s the least important thing between us now. And yet, even after deciding last night that I was going to hate her...Hearing everything she said made me feel like driving a knife into my own chest. I wanted to punch myself, scream at myself to have more sensitivity. All she ever wanted was to protect

Ryan hesitated for a moment, perhaps not fully understanding what was happening, but the connection was instant. I could see it in his eyes, small, curious, and cautious. He stretched out his hand toward Richard, not knowing why he was doing it, but seeming to follow some kind of instinct that I couldn’t control.Richard extended his hand carefully, as if afraid to break something delicate between them. Then, with a soft touch, they greeted each other, Ryan’s tiny finger brushing against the tip of Richard’s finger.“Are you a friend?” My son asked, his voice sweet and childlike.Richard looked at me with a furrowed brow. “He still can’t form complete sentences.”I laughed. “He’s only two.”Richard nodded, clearing his throat as he looked back at our son. Nervousness spread in my chest.The connection was immediate. Richard’s smile widened the moment Ryan took a step toward him, though his expression was filled with emotions I couldn’t quite

SIDNEY'S POVThe hatred burned inside me, spreading like an insatiable flame. I could feel the heat on my cheeks, the anger consuming me as I left Richard’s apartment, slamming the door of my car with enough force to have shattered it. My heart was racing, but it wasn’t just anger that controlled me — it was a sense of revenge waiting to be carried out."What the hell!" I screamed into the empty street, pounding the steering wheel in fury. "That woman... that snake!"Melissa had come back into my life, and not only that — she was slithering her way back into Richard's life. I knew she wouldn’t give up so easily, but the truth was, I couldn’t let her destroy everything I’d built. Everything Richard and I had. I wouldn’t allow her to be the only one to get what she wanted.I took a deep breath, trying to control the rage that threatened to consume me. I still had control of the situation. I always would. Richard didn’t love me yet, but he would learn to. The time we spent together, our r

POV MELISSA Richard had been persistent. Since that breakfast at his house, since the moment Ryan stretched out his arms asking to be held as if he had known him his whole life, he had been using that. Using every smile, every innocent gesture from our son to build a bridge between the two of us that I wasn’t ready to cross. Today, he messaged me before eight o’clock. Asked if he could spend the day with Ryan. Said he wanted to take him to the park, buy ice cream, do “father and son stuff.” I hesitated. Thought about saying no. Thought about making up some excuse, but Ryan’s face, lit up by the idea of going out with Richard, left me no choice. Now I’m sitting on a wooden bench, watching the two of them run around a slide. Richard looks at ease, and Ryan laughs out loud, his laughter echoing through the park like music. It’s impossible not to smile. But it’s also impossible not to feel that weight on my chest, that doubt that pounds like a muffled siren: what does he really want?

POV MELISSAI sat by the window, looking out at the empty street, trying to organize the thoughts that kept jumbling in my mind. That’s when the phone rang. The number wasn’t saved, an unknown code that made my heart race nervously. I answered cautiously."Hello?""Melissa?"I recognized the voice immediately. It was Sidney. Just the mention of her name hit me like a punch in the stomach, a chill running down my spine. She sounded so calm, so controlled, which only made me more alert."What do you want?" I asked, trying not to let fear show, but my voice faltered a little.She gave a short, low laugh, almost cruel."I just wanted to make sure you’re getting my messages. The ones you insist on ignoring, of course."My mind immediately went back to those anonymous messages, the veiled threats, the feeling of danger growing every day. Sidney had done more than just show up; she was scheming something, and I was in the middle of it."Sidney, if you want something, say it," I replied, grip