All Chapters of Lies of a Pregnant Bride: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

In a bar that had shut down early for the night.Sophia lounged on the booth's sofa, her long legs crossed and swaying lightly to the beat of the music, giving off this effortless allure.Her right hand cradled a glass of red wine, her gaze hazy as she stared into the crimson swirl."You seem off tonight." Alyssa slid into the seat across from her.Sophia lifted her head slow, those eyes carrying a tipsy glaze, her lips curving into a half-hearted smile."Can't tell? I'm drowning my sorrows here."Alyssa teased, "Well, look at you, Miss Moneybags with actual problems."Sophia shot her a sidelong glance, half-laughing at herself. "Moneybags? Please. I'm just a pretty little bird begging for scraps with my palm up."Alyssa figured it was all drama and pulled a slim cigarette from her pack, lighting it up and taking a deep drag before blowing out slow."You're moping? Girl, half the world would kill for your setup—kid, cash, and zero hubby duties. Total dream life."Sophia took a sip of

The terrace at the Blackwood estate was hosting a low-key private get-together.Everyone there had grown up alongside Ethan—his ride-or-die crew from way back.Each one loaded, from old money or new.Kevin Newton, heir to Newton Tech Group, six-foot-two, lean and wiry, hooked on extreme sports, total devil-may-care type.Stanley West, whose family ran the powerhouse West Energy Group nationwide, six-foot-three, built like a tank, and a straight-up player through and through.Carson Powell, golden boy of a top-tier auto empire, six-foot-three, mixed-race features, steady as they come.When Ethan stepped into view.Kevin shot up from the sofa like a rocket, lunging over to grab his face."Whoa, you're actually alive? Let me check if this is some plastic surgery imposter."Ethan's brow furrowed, and he snapped Kevin's wrist in a lock, twisting it back hard enough to nearly slam him into the coffee table."Ow—damn it, that hurts!" Kevin winced, face screwed up. "Shit, amnesia and you're s

Early morning light filtered into the bedroom as a chubby little hand shoved the door open with a thud.Buddy clutched his teddy bear, those big round eyes scanning the room until they lit up at the lumpy mound under the covers.Ethan was still deep in sleep, eyelids shut tight, his chest rising and falling steady with each breath.In the next beat, Buddy's tiny legs pumped as he toddled over fast, then flopped right onto that bump."Daddy, time to get up! The sun's gonna bake your butt!"Ethan felt the weight hit him, let out a soft grunt without cracking an eye, but the corner of his mouth quirked up.Buddy had inherited his dad's sharp features, already showing that refined edge and boyish charm even at his age.The kid sprawled across him, hollering in that sweet baby voice, "Daddy, no sleeping in. Teacher says if you do, you'll..."He trailed off, puffing his cheeks as he fished for the words. "The bad guys'll snatch you!"Buddy wasn't in school yet, but he already had pros handl

Sophia wiped the smile off her face the instant Anna turned. "Nah, I wasn't."Anna's eyes went wide. "Liar! I saw you smirking!""Oh, really?" Sophia kept up the innocent act. "Must've been a trick of the light."That slow, steady tone lit a fire in Anna's gut, and she shot to her feet."I know what I saw. You're just gloating. How are you so good at faking it?""Oh, I get it now." She pointed at Sophia like she'd cracked the case, teeth gritted. "You've been trash-talking me to him, stirring the pot. That's why he's shoving me out.""You sneaky witch!""Anna, if you're that worked up, go ask Ethan straight up. No need to sling mud my way."She dropped the 'sister-in-law' bit, going straight for her name."How am I supposed to? He'd never rat you out."Sophia let out a soft laugh, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. "Then what now?""I explain, you don't buy it. He explains, same deal."Her look said she was humoring a bratty kid.Anna choked on her words, second-guessing if she'd

Sophia sank into the sofa like all the fight had drained out of her, tipping her head back and closing her eyes.Men really did love playing hard of hearing.Anna had thrown out that no-marriage-certificate line three times now, and Ethan acted like it went in one ear and out the other.Clearly, he had zero plans to make an honest woman of her.Was he questioning if this so-called lover was even real, or did his heart belong somewhere else?From what she'd pieced together over the past few days, watching and digging, Ethan didn't carry a torch for Anna, and Sunset Island hadn't left him with some secret flame.That left just two options: he didn't like her, or he didn't trust her.Didn't like her?Call her cocky, but she could always tell when a guy was into her.Right now, Ethan sure seemed to be, in that department at least.So yeah, suspicion it was.Not that surprising, really.If the tables turned and she'd lost her memory, only to wake up with some dude claiming undying love, sh