Elion stood silently near the tall glass window of his mansion, the moonlight shining on his face. His hands were clasped loosely behind his back, his posture rigid, though it was clear he had a lot on his mind. The large garden stretched before him, quiet and calm, totally different from the mess in his head.
His mind replayed the scene from earlier, like a record stuck on repeat. Raelynn had barged into his office and announced she was pregnant. At first, he'd barely reacted, dismissing her claim as just another desperate attempt by a woman seeking to tie herself to him.
But then the doctor's confirmation had followed.
Pregnant. She was pregnant.
Elion's grip tightened slightly behind his back. He didn't understand why the news had flustered him so much. He prided himself on his unshakable composure, yet in that moment, he'd been left momentarily speechless. But as quickly as the shock had come, he'd pushed it aside. He'd reminded himself that it couldn't possibly be true. She might be carrying a child, but it wasn't his. It couldn't be his.
His lips pressed into a thin line as he sipped from the crystal glass in his hand. The liquid within was deep crimson, rich and velvety. It slid down his throat smoothly, leaving a warmth in its wake. He moaned softly, the pleasure of the drink momentarily distracting him from his thoughts.
But then, the faintest shift in the air brought him back to the present. He realized he wasn't alone anymore.
"Elion," came a familiar voice from behind. "She's home. Safe and sound."
Elion didn't turn around. He didn't need to. He already knew who it was.
"Good," he replied shortly. He raised the glass to his lips again, savoring another sip, but his focus stayed on the scene outside the window.
He could sense Kade moving closer until the man was standing beside him. Kade stood there with an effortless confidence, as always, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he glanced at Elion.
"So," Kade began, his voice light with teasing. "Should I congratulate you now?"
Elion's eyes narrowed slightly, though he still didn't look at Kade. He took one last sip of his drink before lowering the glass, his fingers tightening subtly around its base. "I'm not becoming a father," he said coldly.
Kade chuckled softly, his laughter carrying a note of mischief. "Oh? Are you sure about that?"
Elion finally turned his head, his sharp glare cutting through the dimly lit room like a blade. Kade's smirk only widened in response, and Elion let out a slow, controlled breath before walking toward the couch. He moved carefully, every step as if trying to get his calm back after Kade's words had shaken him.
He sank into the plush leather couch, setting the glass down on the table in front of him with a soft clink. Leaning back, he rested his elbows on the armrests, his steely gaze locking onto Kade, who was now following him and casually taking a seat in the chair across from him.
"I hope you won't have a heart attack," Kade said, his tone light but pointed, "if the result… well, you know, comes back positive."
Elion's jaw tightened, his lips pressing into a thin, grim line. "Think carefully, Kade," he said, his voice like ice. "We both know that's impossible."
Kade leaned back in his chair, resting one ankle casually on the opposite knee. He shrugged, his eyes still full of that amused look. "Do we?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "You ever believe in miracles?"
Elion raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of disbelief and irritation. "Stop," he said flatly. "Just stop with the nonsense."
But Kade didn't stop. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his thighs, eyeing Elion with a mix of interest and challenge. "I'm just saying," he continued, "sometimes the impossible happens. You've seen it yourself, haven't you?"
Elion's eyes darkened, the muscles in his jaw tensing as he stared at Kade. "This isn't some miracle," he said sharply. "It's a misunderstanding. Or a lie. It has to be."
Kade shrugged again, his expression calm, almost indifferent. "Maybe," he said simply. "But we'll know soon enough."
Elion didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the window once more, his expression unreadable. The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the faint ticking of the clock on the far wall. His head was spinning, but he kept it together on the outside.
Kade studied him for a moment, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "You're worried," he said finally, breaking the silence.
Elion's gaze snapped back to Kade, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "I'm not worried," he said firmly.
But the sharpness in his tone betrayed him. Kade said nothing more, simply leaning back in his seat and watching Elion with a knowing look.
Elion clenched his fists briefly before forcing himself to relax. He told himself there was no reason to be concerned. He was certain the child wasn't his. It couldn't be. The very idea was absurd. And yet…
But there was this nagging doubt inside him that he didn't want to admit, even though it was starting to grow.
"I'll handle this," Elion said finally, his voice low but resolute. He wasn't sure if he was speaking to Kade or to himself. "There's nothing to worry about."
Kade rose to his feet, taking his time with each step. "If you say so," he said, his tone light but his eyes lingering on Elion for a moment longer than necessary. "Good night, boss."
Without another word, Kade turned and walked toward the door, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. Elion didn't watch him leave. His gaze had already returned to the window, lost in the dark view outside.
He sat there for a long while after Kade had gone, the room silent around him. The glass of red liquid sat untouched on the table, forgotten. He couldn't stop his mind from racing, no matter how hard he tried to push them away.
It couldn't be his child. It wasn't possible. He repeated the words to himself like a mantra, his gaze sharp and unyielding as he stared into the darkness.
But no matter how many times he tried to convince himself, the doubt was still there.