Isabella Laurent sat on the edge of her bed, her hands clutching the edges of the mattress. She stared at the calendar on her phone.
Nothing.
Her period was late.
"No… no, no, no," she whispered, her voice trembling.
She jumped when her phone buzzed. Unknown number. She didn't recognize it. She pressed ignore.
Her apartment door clicked, but she didn't hear anyone enter. Olivia Sinclair's cheerful voice broke the silence.
"Izzy, breakfast?"
"I'm fine," Isabella said quickly, forcing herself to stand. "Just… tired."
Olivia's footsteps stopped behind her. "You're lying. Big time. You've been off for days. Spill it, Izzy. What's wrong?"
Isabella shook her head. "Nothing. Really."
Olivia wasn't convinced, but she let it go. "Fine. But don't ghost me forever. Call me if you need—"
Isabella cut her off with a forced smile. "I'll be fine. Thanks, Liv."
Later, Isabella moved silently through the small grocery store. Her hands shook slightly as she reached for the box of pregnancy tests. She tried to act casual, but her pulse was racing. Every pair of eyes felt like they were staring at her.
She dropped the box into her basket and paid without looking at the cashier.
Back in her apartment, she locked the door and sank onto the floor. The box sat on the counter. She stared at it.
Just one test, she muttered. One. And I'll know.
She followed the instructions, heart hammering. The minutes stretched unbearably long.
Finally, the screen blinked:
Two pink lines.
Isabella froze.
Her mind went blank.
"No… no…" she whispered, voice cracking.
She pressed her palms against her face, trying to breathe. Her thoughts scrambled, each memory of that night flashing unbidden. The tall man. The suit. The money. The card.
He had been so cold. So calculated. So… ruthless.
And now… this.
She sank lower, wrapping her arms around her knees. Her mind screamed at her, told her to run, to hide, to disappear.
But deep down, she knew… she couldn't escape this.
Her phone buzzed again. Another unknown number.
"I know."
Her chest tightened. She pressed the phone against her forehead, heart hammering.
The next day, Isabella tried to focus at work. Olivia noticed immediately.
"You've been acting weird," Olivia said, leaning on her desk. "What's going on?"
Isabella shook her head. "Nothing. Just tired. Busy."
Olivia frowned. "Izzy… you can trust me. I can help."
"I can handle it," Isabella said softly, avoiding eye contact. "Really."
Olivia sighed, clearly unsatisfied, but she left.
Later, Isabella sat in a small, quiet café. She sipped her coffee slowly, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
She couldn't stop thinking about him.
Sebastian Blackwood.
The man from that night. The cold, ruthless billionaire. The one who treated her like she didn't exist.
He didn't even know her name. He didn't care. He had left her with nothing but an envelope of money and a card.
And now… she might be carrying his child.
She shivered, gripping her coffee cup tightly.
That evening, she finally went to the doctor. She kept her head down, avoided the receptionist's gaze, and moved quickly through the sterile halls.
The nurse handed her a test kit. She went into a small private room and waited.
The result appeared: positive.
Isabella stared at it. Her hands shook. She pressed them against her face.
Her mind raced. She couldn't go to him. She couldn't tell anyone. She had to do this alone.
"I… I'll handle this myself," she whispered, voice barely audible.
Outside, the rain began to fall. It tapped against the windowpane as if mocking her.
Her phone buzzed again. Unknown number.
"You can't hide from me."
Her breath caught.
She dropped the phone onto the bed, her heart racing.
Somewhere, across the city, a sleek black car idled in the shadows. Inside, Sebastian Blackwood watched the streets silently.
"She's mine," he murmured.
The next morning, Isabella walked to work, trying to appear normal. She avoided eye contact, ignored people's greetings, and kept her steps quick.
Olivia caught up to her outside the building.
"Izzy… you're pale. You're shaking. What's going on?"
"I said I'm fine," Isabella snapped, her patience fraying.
Olivia raised her hands. "Hey, hey… I'm just trying to help."
"I don't need help," Isabella said, moving past her.
Olivia watched her go, worry etched into her face.
At the same time, Sebastian sat in his office, Marcus Hayes beside him.
"Sir, we've traced her movements," Marcus said carefully. "She's changed apartments twice in the last week. Applied for jobs elsewhere."
Sebastian's jaw tightened. "She thinks she can hide from me?"
Marcus hesitated. "Sir… she might be pregnant."
Sebastian's expression darkened. His hand clenched around a glass of water. "Find her," he said, voice low and dangerous. "Every trace. Every corner. She cannot escape."
Marcus swallowed. "Yes, sir."
Isabella returned home, exhausted. She sank onto the couch, hugging a pillow to her chest.
She couldn't go back. She couldn't tell anyone. She couldn't let him find her.
And yet…
She knew. Deep down, she knew he wouldn't stop.
Her phone buzzed again. Another unknown number.
"I will find you."
Her heart raced.
Somewhere across the city, Sebastian Blackwood smiled faintly, dark and dangerous.
"She's mine," he muttered again.