Semua Bab Beneath the Surface : Bab 21 - Bab 30

Sunday. A day that was supposed to be bright and cheerful but instead it came with pain that I wasn't expecting. The ache started off dull. A slight pull low in my belly, like the stretching of something fragile. I shifted under the covers, pressing a palm against my stomach, hoping the warmth of my hand would somehow make it go away. It didn’t. Instead, the pain deepened tight and sharp and wrong. I sat up, breath catching. My room was still cloaked in early morning shadows, the faint sound of birds breaking the quiet. Sunday. It was supposed to be rest. Peace. But peace was the last thing in the room. The pain twisted again, and this time it brought a heat to my spine, curling me forward as I gasped. My heart pounded against my ribs. I clutched my stomach, fear rising like a wave about to break. Please no. I moved to get out of bed, and that’s when I felt it. Wetness. A warmth that didn’t belong. I looked down and everything stopped. Blood. It trickled down my

The next morning, I noticed some new changes as I stood in front of the mirror while dressing for work.My blouse pulled tighter across my stomach than it did the week before. The soft curve of my baby bump had begun to show, still small, still subtle, but no longer invisible. I stood in front of the mirror, pressing my palm gently against the swell beneath my navel.A wave of emotions washed over me; fear, awe, protectiveness. Everything felt so real now. Not just a flutter or a faint change but something I could see. Something I couldn’t deny.I stepped back, twisting slightly to the side, observing the change. If I noticed it, then soon others would too. And I wasn’t ready for that, not here, not in this office.I couldn’t imagine the whispers, the stares, the assumptions. Especially not from Drew.My fingers tightened around the fabric as I took a deep breath and turned away to change into a loose blouse that would conceal the recent development. Three more months. That’s all I h

The meeting ended with a final slide click and a few murmured exchanges among the team. As the room gradually emptied, chairs scraping softly against the floor and murmurs fading into the hallway, I remained frozen in my seat. My fingers gripped the edge of my notepad as if letting go would cause me to crumble right there. The adrenaline that had been pulsing through my veins ever since Drew began addressing the team was finally beginning to fade out, leaving my limbs weak and my mind spinning.Miriam passed by, lightly tapping my shoulder with a smile that held more warmth than words could offer. It was the kind of reassurance that anchored me for a brief moment. I gave a slight nod, grateful, even if my voice failed me in that instant.I waited until everyone had filed out and until the room was now very quiet before gathering the courage to approach Drew’s desk. He was still seated, reviewing some notes, the lines of his jaw sharp in the overhead lighting. His expression was unre

The shrill ring of my phone sliced through the quiet hum of the morning as I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting the loose curls that framed my face. My hands froze mid-air, the flat iron suspended while the screen of my phone lit up with Max’s name.I had only just started preparing for work, my blouse already picked out, loose, flowy, just enough to conceal the gentle swell of my belly. I still had time before it became obvious, but each passing day chipped away at that illusion.I reached for the phone and answered the call.“Hey,” I said, trying to sound light.“Good morning, Lila. Did I wake you?” His voice came through warm and smooth.“No, I was just getting ready for work.”“Perfect timing then.” There was a brief pause, like he was gauging my mood. “I wanted to ask you something. I’ve been invited to a charity gala tonight, it’s one of those networking things, lots of important people, media, that sort of crowd and I thought maybe you could come as my plus one?”My finger

The silence in Max’s car was suffocating.Not the calm, peaceful kind but the heavy, stifling type that swells with things unspoken. Things you’re too afraid to ask. Too angry to voice.I kept my eyes fixed on the road ahead, my fingers clenched tightly in my lap. Max hadn’t said a word since we pulled away from the venue. The quiet between us felt charged, almost like we were holding our breath, waiting to see who would break first.I could feel him glance at me every now and then, like he was trying to read my mood, gauge just how upset I was. But I didn’t give him anything. Not a look. Not a word. I had no idea what I would say that wouldn’t come out in flames.Because now I knew.This wasn’t about kindness.It wasn’t about responsibility.It was about power.About winning.And somewhere along the line, I had become the prize.Max’s phone buzzed once on the dashboard. He tapped the screen quickly to silence it before I could see the caller ID. My eyes flicked to him, and for the br