The morning sun filtered through the windows as Sophie set the breakfast table. Aiden sat across from her, sipping his coffee and scrolling through his phone. Sophie pushed her food around her plate, her mind elsewhere.
"You're unusually quiet this morning," Aiden commented, looking up from his screen.
Sophie forced a smile. "Just tired. Long week."
As she reached for her juice, a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She stood abruptly, muttering, "Excuse me," before rushing to the bathroom.
Aiden frowned, watching her retreat. When she returned, her face pale, he asked, "Are you sure you're okay? You don't look fine."
"I'm fine," Sophie replied quickly, avoiding his gaze.
Aiden studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, but if something's wrong, promise me you'll let me know."
"I promise," she said softly.
With that, Aiden stood, grabbed his jacket, and kissed her forehead. "I'll see you later. Don't overwork yourself, okay?"
Sophie nodded, watching him leave. She placed a hand on her stomach, her thoughts swirling.
Zara Bennett was heading to her photoshoot when she bumped into Kai Roberts near the corner café.
"Kai! What are you doing here?" Zara asked, surprised.
Kai grinned. "Just grabbing coffee. You?"
"Heading to a shoot," she replied.
Kai gestured to his car. "Need a ride?"
Zara hesitated but eventually nodded. "Sure, thanks."
As they drove, Zara felt a sense of ease with Kai's presence. But her mood shifted when they stopped at a red light, and Finn Walker appeared on the sidewalk. He spotted them and approached with his usual smugness.
"Well, well, Zara," Finn drawled, leaning against the car window. "Didn't take you long to find a replacement."
Zara's face hardened. "What do you want, Finn?"
"Just thought I'd remind you why things didn't work out. Maybe if you weren't so uptight, we'd still be together," Finn sneered.
Kai's jaw tightened. "Back off, Finn. Zara doesn't need your nonsense."
Finn chuckled, his tone mocking. "And who are you to defend her?"
Kai leaned closer, his voice steady. "A friend who knows how to treat her better than you ever could."
The light turned green, and Kai drove off, leaving Finn behind. Zara glanced at Kai, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Always, Zara," Kai replied with a reassuring smile.
Later that afternoon, Sophie decided to head to work after taking the morning off. As she stepped out of her apartment building, a van screeched to a halt beside her. Before she could react, two men grabbed her, covering her mouth and dragging her inside.
At his office, Aiden noticed Sophie hadn't replied to his texts. Concerned, he tried calling her, but her phone went straight to voicemail. His worry deepened when he checked the tracking app connected to her phone and saw her location at a hospital.
Grabbing his keys, he rushed out, his heart pounding.
At the hospital, Sophie was strapped to a bed, tears streaming down her face. Celeste Rivers, a doctor under Mason Wilson's payroll, loomed over her.
"Stay still," Celeste commanded, her tone icy.
"Please, don't do this!" Sophie cried, struggling against the restraints.
"It's already done," Celeste replied, her voice devoid of emotion.
Sophie's heart shattered as the realization sank in. She felt a void inside her—a piece of her stolen without consent.
The door opened, and Mason Wilson entered, his expression cold.
"Sophie," Mason began, his voice dripping with menace, "consider this a warning. You don't get to bear Aiden's child. Not now, not ever."
Tears streamed down Sophie's face as Mason leaned closer. "If you ever try this again, I'll make sure it's not just the child you lose."
With that, he turned and left, leaving Sophie sobbing on the hospital bed.
Aiden burst into the hospital, his heart racing. He followed the tracker's signal to Sophie's room and froze at the sight before him.
"Sophie!" he exclaimed, rushing to her side.
Sophie turned away, tears streaking her face.
"What happened?" Aiden asked, his voice trembling. "Why are you here?"
Sophie shook her head, unable to speak.
"Sophie, talk to me!" Aiden pressed, his frustration growing.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with anguish. "I can't," she whispered.
"Why not?" Aiden demanded. "Sophie, you're scaring me. Tell me what's going on!"
But Sophie remained silent, her fear of Mason's threats keeping her from revealing the truth.
Aiden clenched his fists, his mind racing with questions. "Fine. If you won't tell me, I'll find out myself."
Sophie reached for his hand, her voice breaking. "Please, Aiden, just let it go."
"I can't," Aiden said firmly. "Not when it comes to you."
As he held her, his heart broke at the sight of her pain. He vowed to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.
....