All Chapters of Pregnant For My Brother's Best Friend: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

JADEN. The second the office door slammed shut behind us, I rounded on him.“What the fuck was that, Kellan?” I snapped, “Engaged? Father of her child? What kind of bullshit...”Kellan didn’t flinch.He calmly set his briefcase on the nearest chair and loosened his tie like I was a toddler throwing a tantrum.“Calm. The hell. Down,” he said slowly. “If I hadn’t stepped in, they were five minutes away from voting to suspend you. You think your board will hand an eighteen-billion-dollar security contract to a man who can’t even keep his dick out of the news?”I paced hard across the room, dragging both hands through my hair.“I don’t give a shit about—”“You should,” he cut in sharply. “Because what’s at stake is not just your name. It’s Ravenhold. It’s your father’s empire. It’s the Nexus contract, the IPO, your credibility, your influence — hell, even your ability to walk into the White House without being laughed at.”I slammed my hand on the desk. “Crystal isn’t engaged! S

JADEN. “You don’t read the signs, do you?” I said, stepping forward despite Kellan’s grip on my arm. My patience was hanging by a damn thread. “You really don’t get it.”Noah took one bold step toward me, jaw set, eyes burning with a hatred he hadn’t earned.Despite Kellan's warning to me, I was ready to start a fight here. To hell with the news. To hell with the press. “The only one who can’t read the signs here is you,” he fired back, voice dripping with contempt. “Look at her, Jaden. Barely forty-eight hours with you and she’s already a wreck. A fucking mess. You’re destroying her.”I already knew he wasn’t wrong.But he had no right to say it that way to me. “Watch your mouth,” I warned, stepping into his space.Kellan’s hand clamped down on my arm.“This wasn’t the plan, J,” he muttered under his breath. “We’re here to talk — not blow this up in front of a reporter hiding behind a damn potted plant.”I didn’t even need to look; I’d already clocked the man crouching b

JADEN.The moment we stepped out, waves of shutters exploded in our faces. “Try to smile, honey. You look like you want to strangle someone.”I forced the ghost of a smile.I didn’t want to strangle someone.I wanted to strangle the entire situation.Reporters screamed.“Mrs. Valerie! Over here!”“Mrs. Valerie, how are you handling the heartbreak?”“Mr. Jaden, are you having an affair?”“Is the mystery woman your mistress?”“Are you leaving your wife?”Valerie held onto my arm and guided us toward the podium.I could feel her trembling slightly. But trust me, it wasn't fear. It was sheer excitement.She loved this.She lived for attention like this.As soon as we stopped in front of the Ravenhold entrance, the chaos doubled.Microphones thrust forward. Journalists shouting over each other. Security shouting back.Valerie lifted her hand in a calming gesture she’d practiced a hundred times in front of a mirror.“Alright, alright,” she said sweetly. “We’ll take a few

CRYSTAL.“Why would you agree to any of this?” I snapped the moment the hallway emptied, and it was just the two of us.My voice was trembling. From anger. From embarrassment. From everything.Noah dragged in a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck the way he always did when he thought he was being reasonable. “Crystal… your name is already in the storm,” he said gently. “I’m trying to help. Don’t twist it.”I stared at him, stunned.Jesus. I didn't know what stung the most. Seeing Jaden act so nonchalantly and indifferent around me while his wife spoke to me, whichever way she pleased? Or the fact that it didn't take Valerie five minutes to pull Noah into their scripted circus.And Noah just… agreed? I felt used. I felt controlled. How the hell would I let Jaden and his wife control me that way? Like my life was a prop they could position however they wanted?“I’m not going to that dinner,” I hissed. “I’m leaving New York. Tonight. And that’s final.”I tried to walk

CRYSTAL. I stormed out of Jaden’s presence with the last shred of sanity I had left. My body was shaking so badly I could barely walk straight. My throat burned where his hand had been. My chest felt way too tight that I couldn’t even breath properly after everything he’d said, everything he’d accused me of, and everything he’d admitted. I needed air. I needed space. I needed to get the hell away from him before I collapsed. My phone started ringing. I flinched so hard it nearly fell out of my hand. Right. It had rung earlier, when I was still trapped under Jaden’s jealousy and insanity. I swallowed hard and pulled it out. It might be Noah. Probably calling to tell me the transfusion was done. But the moment I saw the caller ID, my heart slammed into my ribs so violently I thought I’d black out. Dad. For a second, I froze. Years ago, I would have done anything just to see this name displayed on my screen. But right now, it only heightened my anxiety.