The knock at the door startled Isabella.
She froze.
Who could it be? She wasn't expecting anyone.
Another knock. Louder this time.
"Miss Laurent, open the door. It's urgent."
Her pulse jumped. Urgent? Who…
She peeked through the peephole and froze.
Sebastian Blackwood.
Her chest tightened. Her stomach flipped.
"He… he's here."
She backed away from the door. "No. Not now. Not—"
Another knock. Louder. Harder.
"Izzy! Open the door. Now." His voice was calm, terrifying.
She swallowed hard. "I can't… I can't let him in."
He didn't wait. He pressed his palm to the door. It creaked under his strength.
"I will not leave until we talk," he said.
Isabella stumbled backward. "I… I don't—"
He pulled back slightly, dark eyes scanning her apartment. "You've been running. Avoiding me. Hiding. Why?"
"I… I—" She tried to form words but couldn't.
"Because you're afraid," he said, voice low, dangerous. "Afraid of me. Afraid of the truth. Afraid of what you've done."
"I haven't—"
"You're pregnant," he said flatly, interrupting her.
Her breath hitched. "I… I…"
"You can't hide it. And you can't hide from me."
Her legs trembled. She dropped onto the couch, covering her face with her hands.
"I… I didn't ask for this!"
He stepped closer. "You didn't ask for me either. But here we are. And neither of us can escape it."