Chapter 7:
I stared at the two pink lines on the test, my chest tight with emotions I couldn’t name. A part of me wanted to smile because it was our child–mine and Jayson’s. But that part was small, fragile, buned under a mountain of guilt, anger, and regret
It felt wrong to have this baby. But it felt even worse to think of not having it
So, I did what I knew best–1 buried it. Shoved the test to the back of the drawer, buried the truth deep within me, and focused on the only thing I had control over–work.
At the research facility, whispers trailed me like shadows, clinging to the sterile white walls and polished glass panels. They didn’t even try to hide it. The clicks of my heels echoed down the hall, but their voices sliced through the sound like knives.!!
“That’s her the fiancée of Johan
“The one from the news. Must be nice having connections”
“No wonder she’s leading the project. It’s not her qualifications–it’s the ring on her finger“?
“Probably slept her way to the top ”
I clenched my jaw, keeping my gaze fixed ahead. Pretending not to hear was easier than acknowledging the sting of every word. But they landed anyway, sharp and imitating, like tiny splinters embedding themselves under my skin.
The engagement had gone public faster than I expected
Johan’s announcement had been bold, plastered across every news outlet with photos of us together–his arm wrapped around me, that arrogant smirk on his face while I forced a polite smile. The headlines screamed. “Billionaire Heir Johan Declares Engagement to Research Lead Anastacia Gray“X
And with it, the assumptions began They didn’t know me.X
They didn’t know how hard I’d worked, the years I’d spent buried in textbooks, labs, and late nights just to be here. They didn’t know the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the dreams I’d built from scratch
Learned this. But none of that mattered now. All they saw was the diamond on my finger and the man who put it there.
Then one afternoon, as I struggled to steady my breathing, the door creaked open. Johan leaned casually against the doorframe, his signature smirk in place, like nothing in the world could touch him
But this time, his eyes weren’t filled with amusement. They were sharp. I knew that look.
Without saying a word to me he pushed off the doorframe, striding into the open office space. Conversations fell into awkward silence as he stopped right in the middle of the room, his presence commanding attention.
“Isn’t it funny,” Johan’s voice rang out smooth yet laced with steel, “how people with mediocre achievements have the loudest opinions?”
Murmurs rippled through the room. Heads tumed. Some looked away, pretending to be busy.
He continued, “For those of you cunous–Anastacia didn’t sleep her way to the top.” She got here because she’s smarter than half of you combined. Her research proposal was accepted before she even mat me
Silence
Johan’s gaze swept across the room, daring anyone to challenge him. “If anyone has a problem with her position, feel free to work harder. Maybe you’ll catch up someday”
He turned back to me, his smirk retuming with a softer edge. “Lunch?” he asked casually, as if he hadn’t just dismantled the entire office with a few sharp words.
I sat there, stunned, my heart pounding–not from embarrassment, but something else entirely.
Relief because for the first time, there was a man who defended me ¦¦
Later that day, I felt nauseous again and started vomiting Johan had noticed it already as he entered the bathroom.X
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” he said, no hesitation, no sugar–coating.X
I froze, my heart racing
“Yes,” I whispered, not meeting his gaze. “I don’t know what to do.“%
Johan walked in, unbothered, and sat on the edge of my desk. “Well, that’s great news!
My head snapped up. “What?”
baby and a fiancée? Perfect combination.”
He grinned. “Yeah. We can use this for my inheritance. A baby
I glared at him. “It’s not your child.”
Johan shrugged, completely unfazed. “So? I’ll be the father. Doesn’t matter whose it is. It’s a win–win.”
I stared at him, trying to process his words!
Was it really that simple? No. It wasn’t. But maybe it could be.
I didn’t want to kill this baby I didn’t want to carry Jayson’s child alone either
So, I nodded. “Fine”
His smile grew wider “Great We’ll arrange the wedding as soon as possible.”
I blinked “What about the project? I’m not allowed to have outside contact. Remember your rules?”
I blinked. “What about the project? I’m not allowed to have outside contact. Remember your rules?
Johan leaned closer, his voice dropping. ” made that rule so I could keep you all to myself.”
My heart stumbled, “What?”
He chuckled softly, like it was obvious. “You know you’re the head of this project, right? Don’t worry, I really didn’t know it was gonna be you so you earned this spot. It was later on when I knew and I made that rule because I didn’t want Jayson sniffing around. But now that you’re here–mine–there’s no problem”
I stared at him, heart pounding for reasons I couldn’t explain. “What? I don’t understand. Why?”
His smile faded, replaced by something more serious. His gaze locked with mine, sharp and direct. “Do you know why Jayson and aren’t friends anymore?”
I didn’t answer.
He did.X
“Because of you
The air left my lungs.
“I told him I liked you,” Johan continued. “But he said you were off–limits That allowed to touch you. And like an idiot, I agreed. But now. He leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. “Now I realize I was stupid to follow his rules.”
I stared at him, heart racing, mind spinning
All this time, I thought Johan was just another complication, another piece of the mess Jayson and I created.
But he wasn’t
He’d been there all along, hiding behind rivalry, resentment, and rules.
I didn’t know what to say.”
So, I said nothing.
Because for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure what I felt. My heart was just beating so fast
