Lahat ng Kabanata ng Until The Baby Is Born: CEO's Temporary Fiancee : Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

“This is not your office…” Ivy’s voice was low, almost uncertain, as her gaze swept across the space.They were at the very top of the Red Star building. The penthouse wasn’t what she expected. It wasn’t grand like she imagined the home of the empire’s heir to be. Instead, it was sleek, modern, with polished marble floors and walls of glass that bled into the skyline. The city sprawled below, a constellation of lights against the twilight.Muted greys and blacks filled the space, softened by warm lighting that glowed from sculpted fixtures. A single leather couch faced a glass coffee table, everything neat, untouched, too perfect, too empty.Asher walked inside like he owned not just the penthouse but the city beneath it. He shrugged off his blazer and tossed it on the couch with careless grace. “It’s my penthouse,” he said flatly. “Whenever I don’t return home, just know that I am here.”Ivy’s arms crossed in front of her. She didn’t move past the doorframe. Her voice was sharp, dism

Asher sat behind his desk, running a hand through his hair, the city lights from the glass wall reflecting across his face. The office was quiet except for the faint ticking of the clock. It was already late. Most of the employees had left hours ago, but he stayed behind, lost in thought.His laptop was open, though he hadn’t typed a single thing in the last twenty minutes. His mind was stuck on one person. Ivy.Why did she do that?That was so out of her character to talk out like this.He sighed and leaned back, loosening his tie. He wanted to talk to her, ask her directly, and understand what was going through her head. But every time he thought of her voice saying “No” in front of everyone, it made something twist inside his chest.Then, a soft knock.His head lifted instantly.He didn’t even hesitate. “Come in,” he said, already rehearsing in his mind what he wanted to tell her. His tone was softer than usual, almost careful.The door opened and his face fell the second he saw w

“Well,” Jason’s grin widened, a sly sparkle flashing in his dark eyes. He stepped closer, extending his hand toward Ivy. He spoke up smoothly, “since this is the first time we’ve met, shouldn’t I at least get a handshake? My future sister-in-law deserves a proper welcome.” Ivy froze. Her pulse quickened, her palms suddenly clammy. His gaze, sharp, amused, and intrusive, made her skin crawl. But his eyes seemed to mock her, as if daring her to disobey him. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached out, but the moment his fingers brushed hers, a shiver ran down her spine. Without realizing, she took a small step back, straight into Asher’s side. Asher’s head turned slightly at the movement. He could feel her tremor through the light contact of her shoulder against his arm. His brows drew together, eyes narrowing at Jason’s lingering smirk. Jason’s smirk only deepened. “My future sister-in-law is very shy,” he teased lightly, his tone soaked with mockery. “Where did you find th

Blood.That was all Asher saw when he looked down, bright red splattered across his hands, his suit, the ring Ivy had slid onto his finger only minutes ago. The party’s screams still echoed in his ears, flashes of camera lights now replaced by police sirens and reporters shouting questions that no one dared to answer.He didn’t speak on the way to the hospital. He didn’t flinch. He sat silent beside her as medics worked around him, their voices sharp and quick. His jaw stayed locked, his eyes fixed on the gurney where Ivy lay motionless.When the stretcher doors swung open and they rushed her inside, a nurse tried to stop him. One look from him made her step aside.They cut through hallways, fluorescent lights reflecting off the white floors. Everything smelled of antiseptic and blood. Doctors surrounded her. Someone said she was losing too much. Another barked for units of blood.“Who’s responsible for her?” a doctor demanded.“Asher Cole,” he answered. His tone was flat, steel behin

The drive home was silent. The soft hum of the car engine was the only sound filling the space between them. Ivy sat with her injured arm resting on her lap, her gaze fixed on the passing city lights. The ache in her arm was nothing compared to the ache in her chest, the heaviness of everything that had happened.When they reached the mansion, Asher got out first and came around to her side. Before she could even reach for the door handle, he opened it and scooped her into his arms again.“I can walk,” she muttered, embarrassed.“I didn’t ask,” he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.He carried her up the marble steps, past the grand hallway, and into her room, or perhaps now their room. The quiet luxury of it all felt unreal.When he set her down gently on the edge of the bed, she exhaled softly, her voice small.“Asher… I want to take a shower. I feel… I just need to wash off everything.”His brows furrowed slightly. He didn’t argue. “You can’t lift your arm properly