The rain fell in sheets, drumming softly against the windows of Lara's apartment as she stared out into the grey horizon. It had been days since her appointment at the clinic, but the unease she felt had only grown. The message from "A" haunted her thoughts, the weight of the unknown pressing heavily on her chest.
She had tried to focus on her work, to immerse herself in the chaos of office life, but everything felt off. The whispers. The mysterious texts. The look in Ethan's eyes when they last spoke. It was like she was walking through a fog, and she couldn't see where she was going anymore.
It was late, far too late to be thinking this much, yet sleep eluded her. Her mind spun with thoughts of the pregnancy, of the future, and of the man who seemed to be in the middle of it all.
Ethan Blackwood.
The CEO. The man whose presence could command a room without a single word. The man whose touch lingered even when he wasn't near. And now, the man who seemed to be linked to the mystery surrounding her pregnancy.
Lara shook her head, trying to push the thoughts aside. She couldn't afford to get lost in the chaos. Not now. Not when everything was about to change.
As she stood up to pour herself another cup of tea, her phone buzzed from the coffee table. She hesitated before picking it up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the name on the screen.
It was Ethan.
She stared at the screen for a long moment, uncertain. Why was he calling her so late?
Reluctantly, she answered.
"Lara," Ethan's voice came through the phone, smooth but tinged with something she couldn't quite place. "I need to talk to you. In person. Can we meet tomorrow?"
Lara's breath caught in her throat. What did he want? She didn't know if she was ready to face him, especially with everything that had happened lately. But there was something in his voice that made her heart race, something that made her feel like she had no choice but to agree.
"Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where?"
"Can you meet me at the office? I'll be there at 10 AM."
Lara didn't answer right away. She didn't want to go back to that building, not when every part of her felt exposed. But in the end, she knew she had no other choice.
"I'll be there," she said, hanging up without another word.
---
The next morning, Lara stood in front of the sleek glass building that housed Blackwood Enterprises, her heart pounding in her chest. The familiar scent of the lobby greeted her as she stepped inside, but today it felt different. Every footstep echoed too loudly in the silence, every breath she took seemed too heavy.
When she entered the elevator, the familiar hum of the machine was almost deafening. She pressed the button for the top floor, where Ethan's office was. As the elevator rose, so did the uncertainty within her.
Was this the moment everything would change?
The doors opened, and Lara stepped out into the sleek, modern office lobby. She was greeted by the receptionist, who smiled politely.
"Ms. Daniels, Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."
Lara nodded and followed the receptionist down the hallway to Ethan's office.
When she entered, Ethan was already standing by the window, looking out at the rain-soaked city below. The atmosphere was tense, as if something unspoken hung in the air between them.
"Lara," Ethan said without turning around. "Thank you for coming."
Lara nodded, though she wasn't sure what to say. She had so many questions, but she didn't know where to start.
Finally, Ethan turned to face her. His gaze was intense, and Lara could see the struggle in his eyes.
"I know you've been keeping your distance," he said, his voice soft but firm. "But I need you to know something—there's more going on than you think. I've been trying to protect you from the truth."
Lara's heart skipped a beat. "What truth?"
Ethan hesitated for a moment before speaking, his words careful and measured.
"The truth about your pregnancy... and about me."
Lara's breath caught in her throat. She had no idea what he meant, but she could feel that this conversation was about to change everything.