Lara stood still, her heart racing in her chest. Ethan's words hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating her with their weight.
"The truth about your pregnancy... and about me."
She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath. She had been expecting a conversation like this, but hearing him say it out loud was a different story altogether.
Ethan, the powerful CEO who had once seemed so untouchable, now stood before her like a man who had just been stripped of all his layers. There was vulnerability in his eyes, something she had never expected to see.
Lara opened her mouth to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. What truth? she wanted to ask. What could possibly be so important that he had kept it from her all this time?
Instead, she simply said, "What are you talking about, Ethan?"
He took a deep breath, running a hand through his dark hair. His expression was filled with a mix of frustration and guilt. "I didn't want to involve you in this mess. But now... you're already too deep. You have to understand, everything I've done, I did to protect you."
Lara's brows furrowed. "Protect me? From what? From you?" The words slipped out before she could stop them. She didn't mean to sound so accusatory, but the confusion and fear were starting to take over.
"No," Ethan said quickly, his tone softening. "From them." He paused, as though choosing his words carefully. "There are people who want to use you. They know about your pregnancy, and they're not going to stop until they get what they want. And I—" He took a step closer, looking directly into her eyes. "I didn't want you to be caught in the middle of it."
Lara felt her pulse quicken. Who were these people? Her mind was spinning, trying to make sense of the pieces that didn't fit together.
"I don't understand," she said quietly. "What does my pregnancy have to do with all of this?"
Ethan looked at her with a heavy sigh, his eyes full of regret. "It's not just about your pregnancy. It's about the child you're carrying." He hesitated, as if struggling with how to say the next part. "Lara, you're not just anyone. Your child... it's important. Very important."
Lara's chest tightened at his words. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, but she couldn't quite comprehend the full extent of what he was implying.
"Important? What do you mean?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Ethan turned away, running a hand over his face. "I should have told you sooner. But it's complicated. Your child isn't just any child. There are people who would do anything to control the child you're carrying, because of who its father is."
Her heart skipped a beat. "What? Who's the father?"
Ethan's jaw clenched, and for a moment, he looked like a man torn between two worlds. He took a slow, deliberate breath before speaking.
"It's me, Lara. I'm the father."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her mind couldn't process them immediately. She stared at him, not understanding, not believing what he had just said. How could he be the father? They hadn't been together like that. They hadn't even shared a kiss until recently.
"You?" Lara choked out, her voice trembling. "But... we... we never... How could it be you?"
Ethan's expression softened, and he stepped closer to her, his hand hovering near her shoulder as if wanting to comfort her but unsure of how to do so. "I know it doesn't make sense, but I swear to you, I'm telling the truth. The child you're carrying is mine. It's the result of a situation that neither of us had any control over."
Lara shook her head, her thoughts racing in every direction. How could this be happening? How had she not known? How had he kept this secret from her for so long?
"There's more," Ethan continued, his voice urgent now. "You need to understand that there are people watching you. People who have been watching you for a long time. They know about the pregnancy, and they know it's mine. And they won't stop until they get control of the situation."
Lara felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. The room seemed to spin, and she had to grab the edge of the desk to steady herself. Control? What did he mean by that? And why was this suddenly her problem?
"Ethan, I don't understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? Why keep it a secret?"
Ethan closed his eyes briefly, his face a mask of regret. "I never wanted you to be in danger. I never wanted you to feel like you were part of this world. I thought I could protect you from it all."
Lara felt her chest tighten, the emotions swirling inside her like a storm. Danger. Protection. It was all too much. She wanted answers, but nothing seemed to make sense.
"Lara, please," Ethan said softly, stepping closer. "I know this is a lot to take in, but you need to understand—this child, our child, is going to change everything. And we can't face what's coming alone."
She looked at him, trying to make sense of his words. There was so much she still didn't know, and every piece of the puzzle just raised more questions. But for the first time, she could see the weight of his burden, the conflict in his eyes.
And despite everything, a part of her wanted to believe him.