Chapter 40- I Love You

Three Weeks Later - Twenty-One Weeks PregnantElara woke in the middle of the night to movement.But it wasn't her own. It was the baby.She pressed her hand to her stomach and felt it again, a gentle movement, but it was stronger than before.Ellie kicked. Like she actually kicked.“Sebastian,” she whispered, turning to face him in the darkness.He stirred. “Mm? What's wrong?”“Nothing's wrong. She kicked. The baby kicked.Sebastian was instantly awake. “What?”“Here.” Elara grabbed his hand and pressed it to her stomach. “Wait. Just wait.”They lay there in silence, both barely breathing.Then…A flutter against his palm.Sebastian's eyes went wide. “Was that…”“That was her.” Elara's voice caught. “That was Ellie.”Another flutter. Stronger this time.“Oh my god,” Sebastian breathed. “I can feel her.”They stayed like that for long minutes, his hand on her stomach, both of them mesmerized by the tiny movements of their daughter.“She's real,” Sebastian whispered. “I mean, I knew sh

Chapter 41-Fake Redemption

One Week After Parenting ClassThe letter arrived on a Tuesday.Elara found it on the kitchen counter where Helen had left the mail, a cream colored envelope with her name written in elegant script.No return address.She opened it carefully.Inside was a single handwritten page.Dear Elara,I know I have no right to reach out to you. I know that after everything I have done, you probably hate me. And you have every reason to.I'm writing this from a rehabilitation facility in Connecticut where I've been receiving treatment for the past month. My lawyer arranged it as part of my bail conditions. At first, I was furious. I thought I didn't need help. That everyone else was wrong and I was justified in my actions.But therapy has opened my eyes to things I didn't want to see. My obsession with Sebastian. My inability to accept rejection. The cruel and bad things I did to you because I couldn't handle the fact that he chose you over me.I was wrong. About everything.I'm not asking for f

Chapter 42- The Trap Set

Elara couldn't stop thinking about Friday.Two days.In two days, she would be sitting across from Cassandra Whitmore, the woman who had traumatized her for months.And she still hadn't told Sebastian.She knew she should. That he would want to know. He would probably forbid it or insist on coming with her or call the whole thing off.Which was exactly why she hadn't told him.Because a small part of her, the part that remembered being judged for her father's crimes, and knew what it felt like to want a second chance, believed Cassandra deserved to be heard.“You're quiet tonight,” Sebastian said, settling onto the couch beside her.Elara looked up from her book. “I'm just thinking.”“About?”She hesitated. “About forgiveness. And second chances.”Sebastian's eyebrows rose. “That's very serious for a Wednesday night.”“I'm serious.” Elara set down her book. “Do you think people can really change? Like, actually change who they are?”“Some people, yes. Why?”“What about people who have

Chapter 43- Lunch

Friday - NoonCafé Luxembourg was exactly what Elara had hoped for bright, busy, full of witnesses.She sat at a corner table, Marco positioned three tables away with clear sight lines to her and both exits. He had arrived an hour early to check the space, just like he had promised.Elara checked her phone. 12:03.Cassandra was late.Maybe she wouldn't show. Maybe this whole thing had been…“Elara.”She looked up.Cassandra stood beside the table, and Elara barely recognized her.Gone was the perfectly styled hair and designer clothes. Instead, Cassandra wore simple jeans, a plain sweater, minimal makeup. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looked... normal and tired.“Thank you for coming,” Cassandra said quietly. “May I sit?”Elara nodded, not trusting her voice.Cassandra sat, setting her purse carefully on the table. “I wasn't sure you would actually show up.”“I almost didn't.”“I wouldn't have blamed you.” Cassandra's hands twisted in her lap. “After everything I did, it

Alle Kapitel von Carrying The Billionaire's Child : Kapitel 41 – Kapitel 44

Chapter 40- I Love You

Chapter 41-Fake Redemption

Chapter 42- The Trap Set

Chapter 43- Lunch