Isabella's hands shook as she stared at the test on the bathroom counter.
Two pink lines.
Her heart hammered. Her breath caught in her throat.
"This… can't be happening," she whispered.
Her phone buzzed on the counter. Unknown number. She ignored it, but her hands kept hovering over it.
"Who… who is this?" she muttered.
She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe.
Pregnant.
The word bounced in her mind like a warning bell.
Later that day, Olivia Sinclair cornered her in the office kitchen.
"Izzy! Enough pretending you're fine. Spill it!" Olivia said, placing her coffee cup on the counter.
Isabella backed away. "I'm fine, Liv. Really."
"No! You're not fine! Your hands are shaking, you look pale, and you're avoiding everyone!" Olivia's eyes narrowed. "What's going on?"
"I… I just… I don't want to talk about it," Isabella said, voice tight.
Olivia grabbed her hand. "Izzy. Whatever it is, you can trust me. Okay? You don't have to carry it alone."
Isabella looked into Olivia's concerned eyes. Part of her wanted to spill everything, but another part froze. She couldn't. Not yet.
"I… I need space," she said finally, yanking her hand back. "Please."
Olivia hesitated. "Space… fine. But I'm here if you need me."
That evening, Isabella paced her small apartment.
She couldn't stop thinking about him.
Sebastian Blackwood.
His cold eyes. The suit. The way he had treated her like she didn't exist.
She had to keep this a secret. She couldn't let him know.
Not yet.
The next morning, Isabella went back to the doctor. Alone.
The nurse handed her a form.
"Is this your first pregnancy?" the nurse asked.
"Yes," Isabella whispered. "Yes, it is."
The doctor entered the room and nodded.
"Everything looks normal so far," the doctor said. "But you'll need to come in regularly for checkups."
"I… I'll do that," Isabella said, her voice shaking. "Thank you."
As she left the clinic, she avoided the staff and slipped into a taxi. She couldn't risk anyone seeing her. She couldn't risk Sebastian finding her.
Back in the city, Sebastian sat in his office with Marcus Hayes.
"Sir… we have a lead," Marcus said cautiously. "The woman… she's been seen at a medical clinic this week."
Sebastian's jaw clenched. "Which clinic?"
Marcus hesitated. "I… I have the address."
Sebastian's dark eyes narrowed. "Prepare a car. Quiet. We're going there."
Marcus swallowed. "Sir… are you sure?"
Sebastian didn't answer. He didn't need to. His hand hovered over the glass desk, fingers twitching with impatience.
"She thinks she can hide from me?" he muttered.
That night, Isabella returned home exhausted. She sank onto her couch, hugging a pillow. Her mind refused to stop.
Pregnant.
Sebastian Blackwood.
I'll do this alone.
She repeated the phrase like a mantra. She had to. She had no choice.
Her phone buzzed again. Unknown number.
"I know."
She jumped. Her pulse raced.
Somewhere across the city, a sleek black car sat parked in a shadowed alley. Inside, Sebastian watched. Silent. Cold. Calculating.
"She's mine," he whispered again.
The following day, Olivia showed up at Isabella's office with a lunch bag.
"You need to eat," she said. "Seriously, you look like a ghost."
"I'm fine," Isabella said tightly.
"Fine? Don't lie to me," Olivia said, frowning. "I know something's going on. You can tell me. I won't judge."
"I… I can't," Isabella whispered, shaking her head.
Olivia grabbed her hand. "Izzy. Look at me. You're not alone. Whatever this is… you don't have to face it by yourself."
Isabella forced a small smile and pulled her hand away. "Thank you. I… I appreciate it. Really. But… I have to handle this."
Meanwhile, Sebastian had gone ahead. He arrived at the clinic quietly, scanning the area.
"Where is she?" he demanded quietly to the receptionist.
The receptionist looked startled. "I'm sorry… I can't give patient information."
Sebastian's expression darkened. His lips tightened. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I need her records. I need to know she's okay. This is urgent."
The receptionist shook her head. "I'm sorry, sir. Policies…"
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "Policies won't matter if you try to hide her from me."
The receptionist's eyes widened, but Sebastian turned and left before she could react further.
Back in her apartment, Isabella double-locked the door. She checked the windows, even peering outside.
Nothing.
Her phone buzzed again. Unknown number.
"I will find you."
Her heart raced.
He's looking for me. He knows.
She sank to the floor, wrapping her arms around her knees.
I'll handle this alone. I have to.
Later that night, Isabella tried to sleep. Her mind refused. Every shadow outside her window made her jump. Every passing car made her tense.
She could feel him out there, even without seeing him.
She didn't know what he wanted. She didn't know if he even remembered her. But deep down, she knew…
He would not let this go.
Across the city, Sebastian returned to his penthouse. He stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the streets below.
"She's mine," he muttered again, voice low, dangerous. "No one takes what's mine."
Marcus approached cautiously. "Sir… she doesn't even know you yet. Are you—"
Sebastian turned, his eyes dark and cold. "I will not wait," he said. "I will find her. And when I do…"
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
The next day, Isabella walked to work, heart racing, constantly checking behind her.
Where is he?
She ducked into a coffee shop to collect herself.
Her phone buzzed again. Unknown number.
"You can't hide from me."
Her hands trembled.
She pressed the phone to her chest.
I'll handle this alone. I have to.
That night, she locked herself in, exhausted. But she couldn't sleep.
Somewhere across the city, Sebastian Blackwood watched. Silent. Cold. Calculating.
"She's mine," he whispered, almost to himself.