Chapter 16%
The first thing I heard when I woke up was the steady beeping of a heart monitor. The sterile scent of the hospital surrounded me, sharp and overwhelming. My body felt heavy, my limbs weak. Blinking against the bright overhead lights, I turned my head slightly–and there he was.
Johan.!
He sat beside me, his head bowed, his hands clasped together as if in silent prayer. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and for the first time, I saw something I rarely ever saw in him. Fear
When I shifted slightly, his head snapped up, eyes locking onto mine with such i “Anastacia,” he breathed, his voice filled with relief
I swallowed, my throat dry “What happened?”
intensity that it sent a shiver down my
my spine.
Johan reached for my hand, gripping it tightly as if afraid fd disappear. “You collapsed. You were bleeding. We thought-” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “The doctor said you need to be careful. The baby… we almost lost it.”
My heart clenched. “The baby? I was pregnant”
I didn’t think about it. I forgot about missing my period and didn’t expect this.
His grip tightened. “You’re still pregnant, but you need to rest. No stress, no heavy work. Nothing that could put you or the baby in danger”
A flood of emotions crashed over me–relief, fear, gratitude. I pressed a hand against my stomach, feeling the steady rise and fall of my breath. The baby was safe.
Johan leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against my forehead. “We’re going to be parents, Anastacia.” He said happily. That means no more overworking yourself. No more unnecessary risks. And…” His lips curled into a smirk, though there was still worry in his gaze. “We’re moving up the wedding.”
I blinked. “What?”
Johan chuckled, “You heard me. We’re getting married as soon as possible. I’m not waiting any longer. I want you as my wife, and I want our child to be bom into a family–our family.”
His words sent a warmth through me, but doubt lingered in the back of my mind.
“What about Jack? And Yanna?” I murmured. “This isn’t over, Johan. They won’t stop just because we’re happy.
His expression hardened. “Let me handle them. You focus on our baby!!!
Over the next few days, I was under constant watch. Johan, my mother, and even Johan’s father made sure I followed the doctor’s orders. The house was quieter than usual, filled only with the occasional murmurs of my caretakers fussing over me.
Johan had put a hold on my research project!
At first, I fought him on it, arguing that I could still do:
do some work from home, but he refused to listen. “No discussions, Anastacia.
The research can wait. Our baby comes first
I knew he was right, I had dreamed of leading this project for years, but was it worth the risk? No. Not when my baby’s life was on the line.E
So, with a heavy heart, I agreed
Days passed, and the media buzzed with news of our engagement and pregnancy. Every headline seemed to revolve around us. “The Smith Empire’s Next Heir?”
“Johan Smith and Anastacia Gray–A Power Couple in the Making!”
“Jack Smith Steps Down–Affair Scandal Rocks the Family
I wasn’t surprised by the last one. After the exposure of Yanna’s affair, Jack had no choice but to step down, leaving the company’s future in question. Many assumed Johan would take over, but surprisingly, no announcement had been made yet.
One evening, as we lounged on the terrace, I turned to Johan. “So… are you taking the CEO position?”
Johan sighed, staring at the city skyline. “My father is still deciding. He’s handling the mess Jack left behind before making any final calls.“%
“Do you want it?” I asked.
He hesitated. “I don’t know, I never fought for it because of greed, Anastacia. I only wanted to make sure it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands.“%
I squeezed his hand. “You’d be good at it.“)
He smiled at me, but before he could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and frowned
“I need to handle something,” he said, standing up. “It’s just a business matter, nothing serious. I’ll be back soon.”
I nodded, watching as he left
I spent the next hour reading a book in the living room, absentmindedly rubbing my stomach. Everything was peaceful–until the butler announced a visitor.
“Miss Anastacia, Mr. Smith is here to see you”
I frowned. “Johan’s still out. He should wait for him.”2
The butler hesitated. “He wasn’t looking Mr. Johan. He was looking for you.“!!
My heart skipped a beat.X
Johan’s father?!
I stood, smoothing down my dress before making my way to the entrance. The moment I saw him, I knew this wasn’t a friendly visit James stood tall, his expression unreadable. Unlike Johan’s easygoing demeanor, his father radiated pure authority. His gaze landed on my stomach for a second before flickering back up to meet mine.X
“Mr. Smith” I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady. “What brings you here?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gestured toward the sitting room. “We need to talk.“”
I followed him inside, my nerves on edge. He sat across from me, his piercing gaze making me feel like I was
under
er a microscope.
Then, finally, he spoke.%
“Stay away from Johan.”
The words hit me like a slap
I blinked, certain I had misheard him. “Excuse me?“%
His face remained emotionless. 7 will make all the necessary arrangements. You’ll have everything you need–a new house, financial support. But you will disappear from Johan’s life.”
