Chapter 3

The atmosphere in the car instantly dropped to freezing after what Edward said.

The driver, maybe hearing something from the back seat, or just picking up on the heavy tension between us, sensibly raised the partition between the front and back.

In the enclosed space, Edward and I were the only ones left.

His breathing and my heartbeat were both loud and clear in the silence.

His grip on my chin loosened a bit, but his gaze was like a blade forged in ice, slicing at me again and again.

I could feel his body tense, like a bow pulled taut, ready to fire a deadly arrow at any moment.

I was wearing pajamas, the kind you could wear outside, but the material was so thin that it barely offered any protection.

He was still in that sharp suit, the custom-tailored fabric almost slippery to the touch.

Instinctively, I tried to shift away, wanting to put some distance between us.

Just as I started to get up, the car must've hit a pothole or something, and I was jolted hard.

I lost my balance and crashed right back down onto his lap, dead center, right where it hurt most.

"Ugh—" Edward grunted, his brows instantly knotting in pain.

I could feel something in his body change in an instant, and my face went up in flames, burning all the way to my ears.

"It's all your fault for insisting on holding me," I shot back, my voice barely audible.

He looked up, his gaze deep and intense, his large hand tightening around my waist, locking me even closer in his arms.

My face was forced right up against his, so close I could count the fine lashes on his eyelids.

His deep, raspy voice, laced with barely contained anger, ground out through clenched teeth. "Are you trying to cripple me?"

I tried to wriggle free, but it was no use.

I just turned my head to the side, not wanting to see that stormy look on his face.

The car went dead silent again.

After a moment, I felt a sudden weight on my shoulder. He actually leaned his head against the curve of my neck.

His warm breath fanned over my ear and neck, making me squirm. It was ticklish and sent tingling sensations all over me.

I felt all kinds of uncomfortable, and was just about to ask him what he was up to, when I realized his eyes were closed, his breathing slow and heavy, like he'd actually fallen asleep.

Only then did I really notice the heavy shadows under his eyes, and the stubble on his chin looked even more obvious than it had at the door earlier.

There was an indescribable exhaustion about him, like he hadn't closed his eyes for several nights in a row.

He really looked so tired.

Before I knew it, my hand lifted, wanting to smooth out the deep furrow between his brows, as if I could ease some of that tension.

But just as my fingertips were about to touch his skin, my senses snapped me back to reality.

Was I feeling sorry for him? No, I had to get a grip. What did any of this have to do with me? He was surrounded by all those pretty girls. Why would he ever need me to worry about him?

I yanked my hand back like I'd been shocked, my nails digging deep into my palm.

After what felt like forever, the car finally rolled to a stop.

"Mr. Pierce, we've arrived at the airport." The driver's voice drifted in from the front seat.

Edward snapped awake like a startled beast, his eyes momentarily clouded with confusion before turning sharp and icy again.

He straightened up, took off his jacket, and draped it over my shoulders without asking. Then he flung open the car door and practically dragged me out with him.

I had barely found my balance when I heard my brother Michael call out anxiously, "Sophia?"

Not far off, Michael was striding toward us, his face twisted with anger, followed by a few burly guys who looked like bodyguards.

Edward yanked me behind him, blocking Michael's view of me.

Michael stormed up, his chest heaving, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "Edward, give me back my sister."

But Edward just let out a cold laugh, full of disdain and mockery. "Michael, someone who uses his sister as collateral? Do you even deserve to have a sister?"

Those words hit Michael like a poisoned dagger, stabbing deep into his heart.

I saw Michael's face turn pale, his fists shaking from how hard he was clenching them.

"Edward, cut the crap," Michael snapped.

He was so provoked he blurted out, "Back then, if Sophia hadn't—"

"Michael, enough." My heart skipped a beat, and I cut him off on reflex.

Edward's brow furrowed, and he glanced at me with a hint of confusion.

I lowered my head, guilt creeping up on me, not daring to meet his eyes.

He turned back to Michael, his gaze razor-sharp. "What is it? What's wrong with Sophia?"

Michael seemed to realize he'd almost let something slip. He gave a cold snort and shot back, "Whatever's up with Sophia, it's got nothing to do with you."

Then he turned to me, trying to soften his tone. "Come on, Sophia. Let's go home."

I tried to pull my hand out of Edward's, but he just gripped me even tighter. For some reason, his hold only grew stronger.

His burning gaze was fixed on my face, like he wanted to strip away every layer and see straight into my soul.

With him looking at me like that, my resistance faltered. I couldn't bring myself to keep struggling.

Just then, his phone rang, slicing through the tension like a knife. He frowned and pulled out his phone.

The moment the screen lit up, I saw the caller ID clear as day, Emily.

In that instant, it felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head, chilling me to the bone.

All my hesitation and wavering vanished in a heartbeat.

I took a deep breath, lifted my head, and met his gaze, each word clear and resolute.

"Edward, let me go. Michael and I will pay back every cent we owe you, no matter how long it takes. Just don't make me despise you," I said.

Those last words came out barely above a whisper, but they landed on Edward like a heavy blow, slamming straight into his heart.

I saw his hand, which had been gripping mine so tightly, suddenly loosen, like he couldn't help himself.

The light in his eyes scattered, like stars blown apart by a raging wind, faint and shattered.

Seizing the moment, I slowly slipped my hand free, never looking back at him as I walked straight to Michael.

Behind me, I thought I caught the faintest, self-mocking laugh.

I really just heard a trace of sadness and pain in that laugh, almost not believing it myself.

I must've misheard. He deserved it.

The car was silent the whole way back.

Michael tried to say something a few times, but my silence kept him quiet every time.

The scenery outside the window sped by, blurring past like my messed-up thoughts.

After a long, long time—so long I thought he'd stay silent forever—Michael finally asked, a little hesitant, "Do you really like him that much?"

I slowly turned my head, staring out at the unfamiliar streets. The streetlights stretched into long, hazy trails across the glass.

My throat felt painfully dry. "Not anymore. I just don't want to like him now."

A few days later, Michael told me he'd heard from a friend that Edward hadn't flown back home. He was still in Omerice.

Michael was still worried about me and insisted on hiring a couple of bodyguards, just for my safety.

I just laughed it off and told him no.

I knew Edward too well. There was no way he'd pull something that crazy, like snatching me off the street, in broad daylight, ever again, especially now that I'd turned him down so clearly.

With his pride, he'd never set himself up for that kind of humiliation twice.

Michael must've seen how determined I was, and he finally gave in.

A few days later, I got a call from Vivian. Her voice sounded a little frantic.

"Sophia, where the hell are you? I just heard from Jason about everything that's been going on with you. Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm at my brother's place. I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me." I tried to make my voice sound light and easy.

On the other end, Vivian was silent for a moment, and for the first time ever, I heard a trace of envy in her voice. "Sophia, good for you. You can finally start living for yourself now."

I could hear the loneliness and weariness in her voice.

Over the past three years, we went from being guarded around each other to truly understanding and appreciating one another. By now, there was nothing we couldn't talk about. We were best friends.

I knew she was tangled up in her mess, one she just couldn't seem to break free from.

"Vivian," I paused, then said softly, "if you want to leave Jason, I can help you."

When she heard what I said, Vivian went quiet for a long time, so long I thought she might never answer. At last, her voice came through, choked with emotion. "Sophia, Jason's family is arranging a marriage for him."

At that moment, it was like I was staring at another version of myself.

"Vivian," I said softly, "when you got together with Jason, you hadn't even finished college, right? D-Do you want to go abroad and finish your studies?"

There was a pause on the other end, and then I heard her voice, shaky, but more determined than ever. "Yes."

"Okay." I took a deep breath. "Leave the rest to me."

As soon as I hung up, I started reaching out to Michael's friends overseas, helping Vivian look for the right school and major.

Half a year ago, Vivian's mom passed away in an accident.

Vivian had no other family left in this city.

So once everything was arranged, Vivian set off on her journey to study abroad without a second thought.

The day after I sent Vivian off, Michael wasn't home.

I was curled up on the couch, lost in a book, when the doorbell rang.

When I opened the door, the sight of who was standing there made me frown.

It was Jason.

Behind him, with a blank expression, was Edward.

Compared to Jason's angry, impatient look, Edward seemed even more desolate and exhausted.

Jason must've known Michael wasn't home, so he swaggered right in with his guys, taking advantage of the empty house.

The usual smirking, devil-may-care man was nowhere to be seen. Right now, Jason looked like a lion on the verge of losing it.

But with Edward standing there, Jason was clearly forcing himself to keep it together, though his charming eyes were wide and glued to me.

"Sophia," he shouted through clenched teeth, "Where's Vivian? Where are you hiding her?"

I lounged back on the couch, looking at them with a bored, almost indifferent gaze, my tone so casual it was like I was just chatting about the weather. "She's gone."

Jason started to lunge forward, but Edward, standing behind him, reached out and held him back, so subtly that one would almost miss it.

Edward spoke up, his voice hoarse and carrying a weariness that was hard to miss. "Jason, get a grip."

Jason jerked his arm free, bristling like a cat whose tail just got stomped. "Get a grip? Yeah, right, when you couldn't find Sophia and yanked me out of bed in the middle of the night, were you keeping it together then?"

Edward's expression stiffened for a split second. He shot me a quick, uneasy glance, his eyes flickering away, then barked in a low voice, "Jason, enough."

I shot Edward a questioning look, but the second our eyes met, he immediately averted his gaze.

Jason looked like he wouldn't rest until he got Vivian's whereabouts out of me.

I glanced up at him, the corners of my mouth lifting in a barely-there smirk as I let out a quiet chuckle.

"Jason," I said lazily, "Vivian told me your family's arranging a marriage for you?"

Jason's anger froze. He stared at me, caught off guard, his voice suddenly flustered. "I-Is that why she left?"

I swept a cool gaze over the two men, my voice low but every word clear as day. "Or are you planning to keep things proper at home while having a whole parade of girls on the side, just like he does?"

"I never wanted any arranged marriage. That was all my family's doing. I never agreed to any of it," Jason protested anxiously.

"So then, what is Vivian to you?" I pressed, refusing to back down.

Jason looked uneasy, his eyes flickering as he stammered, "I-I just want to explain things to her in person."

"I'll ask Vivian if she's willing to meet you face-to-face," I replied calmly.

I picked up the glass of water from the coffee table and took a slow sip.

Jason looked like he wanted to say more, but Edward held him back again.

Just then, the smell of food cooking drifted in from the kitchen.

Honestly, the smell wasn't even that strong, but ever since I got pregnant, my sense of smell had become ridiculously sensitive.

The scent of oil and food all mixed together went straight up my nose.

My stomach churned, and a wave of nausea rolled over me.

I slapped a hand over my mouth, my face turning very pale. I couldn't care about them anymore. I stumbled straight for the bathroom.

I hunched over the toilet, but nothing would come out.

I hadn't eaten much that morning, so my stomach was already empty. All I could do was keep dry heaving.

The moment I rushed into the bathroom, Edward hurried in right after me.

Seeing me doubled over, my face pale as a sheet, he looked genuinely anxious, and there was a barely concealed panic in his voice. "Sophia, what's wrong?"

I felt too awful to say a word, so I just gestured weakly for him to leave.

But the nausea only got worse, and I doubled over, dry heaving again, completely out of control.

*****

The next second, the world spun around me. Edward suddenly swept me up into his arms, holding me across his chest.

I let out a startled cry, instinctively clutching his neck to keep myself from falling.

"Edward, put me down," I protested. I struggled in his hold, my voice coming out rough and hoarse from all the dry heaving.

Edward's face was dark and stormy, but his arms around me were steady as a rock. "Is this how Michael takes care of you? We're going to the hospital."

"What does this have to do with Michael?" I shot back, frowning.

"You've only been back from my place for a few days, yet you were already skin and bones, and now you're even throwing up all over the place." His voice was sharp, full of irritation.

"That really has nothing to do with Michael," I retorted.

"How could it not?" he shot back.

I struggled to get him to put me down, but he was way too strong. There was no way I could fight him off.

When we came out of the bathroom, both of us looking rumpled, the maid and Jason standing outside were completely stunned.

Jason's eyes went wide as he glanced between me and Edward, a knowing smirk spreading across his face as he'd just cracked the code. He even winked at Edward and lowered his voice, teasing, "Nice one, Edward. Just carry Sophia home like that, and make it official. Maybe you two will have a baby soon."

Edward shot him a glare sharp enough to kill, his voice cold and commanding. "Enough. Drive. We're going to the hospital."

Jason froze, totally thrown by the outburst. "Huh?" he blurted, but quickly snapped to attention, nodding over and over. "Right away."

The maid tried to step forward, but one icy look from Edward made her shrink back a few steps. All she could do was call out in a panic, "Quick, call Mr. Linley."

And just like that, Edward practically bundled me into the car again.

He slid in right next to me, boxing me in between himself and the car door.

Jason darted into the driver's seat without missing a beat.

I tried to slip out the other side, but Edward was faster. His hand shot out and pinned my shoulder, keeping me firmly in place.

"Edward, this is kidnapping," I yelled, totally losing it.

Then I heard Edward let out a cold, low laugh, his voice laced with teasing and a hint of threat. "If you don't behave, I'll kiss you."

I slapped my hand over my mouth, my eyes going wide. "D-Do you even have any shame?"

"Nope," he shot back, quick as a flash.

Before I could say another word, Jason couldn't help but snicker from the driver's seat.

Edward and I both whipped our heads around at the same time, shouting in unison, "What are you laughing at?"

Well, of course, the two of us spoke in perfect unison, which only made Jason burst out laughing even harder, his shoulders shaking as he tried and failed to hold it in.

Meanwhile, I was secretly scheming how to shake off Edward once we got to the hospital. The last thing I wanted was for him to find out about the baby, at least for now.

But every time I tried to think, Jason kept pestering me with question after question, refusing to let up.

He just kept grilling me about where Vivian was, and I dodged every single one of his questions with vague replies.

Soon, the car stopped in front of a private hospital.

As soon as I pushed the car door open, before my feet even touched the ground, Edward scooped me up again.

He moved with such practiced ease, like he'd done this a thousand times before.

People passing by couldn't help but stare, whispering and pointing at us.

My face flushed uncontrollably with embarrassment and annoyance as I said, "Put me down. I can walk."

But Edward acted like he didn't hear me, striding into the hospital with me in his arms.

He looked down at me, an unreadable smile tugging at his lips. "Sophia, you know, whenever you're nervous or hiding something, you start picking at your fingers."

"What?" I blurted out, caught off guard.

Following his gaze, I realized that, without even noticing, I'd started picking at my nails again.

I quickly pulled my hands behind my back and shot back defensively, "I-I wasn't nervous."

Edward didn't say anything else. He just kept carrying me forward.

His words hung in the air, light but carrying an unmistakable authority. "If you don't behave and let me carry you, I don't mind throwing you over my shoulder and taking you in."

"How could you—" I blurted, so furious I couldn't even finish my sentence.

Soon, Edward marched me straight into the hospital's VIP suite.

Edward owned shares in this hospital.

So, within ten minutes, I was already sitting in front of the doctor.

The doctor smiled kindly and asked what was bothering me.

I turned my head away, staying silent.

The doctor glanced at Edward, looking a bit helpless.

Edward spoke up for me, his tone brooking no argument. "She's been feeling really nauseous, and it's pretty serious."

The doctor fired off questions about my diet, sleep schedule, and menstrual cycle.

I kept my mouth shut, but Edward answered everything smoothly, except when it came to what I'd been eating lately.

After all, we'd been apart for almost half a month.

The doctor handed me a whole checklist of tests I had to get done.

I really didn't want to go, but it was not like I had a say in it.

Edward followed me every step of the way, hovering over me like a prison guard.

I took blood tests, urine samples, ultrasounds, and so on. By the end of it all, I felt like I was about to pass out.

The test reports were handed to the doctor one after another until she had them all in front of her.

The doctor studied the ultrasound and lab reports carefully, her brow furrowing slightly before smoothing out into a knowing smile.

She looked up at me, then at Edward, who was standing next to me, looking tense.

"Congratulations to you both," the doctor said with a smile. "Miss Linley, you're pregnant. You're almost two months along now."

Edward's gaze froze, as if he'd been hit with a freeze spell, and slowly, almost inch by inch, dropped to my belly.

Then, just as slowly, his eyes traveled up to meet mine.

Jason, who'd been standing at the door watching the whole scene unfold, suddenly had his eyes go as wide as saucers, and his jaw dropped so far one could've fit an egg in there.

He glanced at me, then at Edward, and sneakily shot Edward a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration as if to say, "Edward, you're amazing."

Even after we walked out of the exam room, Edward was still completely stunned, practically stumbling as he walked.

He stood beside me for a long moment, not saying a word, before finally speaking, his voice rough with disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me? If I hadn't brought you to the hospital, would you have never told me at all?"

I looked at him, my expression calm, but inside, my emotions were in complete turmoil.

"Edward," I said softly, my voice steady and emotionless. "Tell you? And then what? What would you have done?"

"I—" He opened his mouth, as if he had something to say.

But before he could get a word out, I cut him off, my voice laced with tired sarcasm. "You told me before. You don't like kids, especially kids born out of wedlock. That's just even more trouble, isn't it?"

Edward froze for a second, his gaze complicated as he looked at me.

I didn't want to say anything else to him, so I turned to leave.

But Edward instinctively reached out to grab me.

Just then, I heard Michael's anxious and furious voice echo from down the hallway. "Sophia?" he called out.

"I'm here," I shouted back, feeling like I'd just grabbed onto a lifeline.

In no time, Michael rushed over and pulled me behind him protectively, shielding me from Edward.

Standing beside him was a tall, refined-looking man.

It took me a moment to realize that this was Ryan Woods, Michael's best friend from high school. His family was in business, too.

He gently touched my shoulder, giving me a reassuring look that told me not to be afraid.

Michael glared at Edward, his voice trembling with anger. "Edward, what right do you have to take my sister away?"

But Edward's eyes stayed fixed on me, as if he hadn't even heard Michael.

Then, his gaze slowly shifted to Ryan, who was standing next to me, and his eyes instantly turned cold, sharp, and venomous, like a poisoned blade.

At that moment, the pressure around Edward was so intense it was almost suffocating, as if the very air had frozen solid.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally heard him speak, his voice calm but every word forced out through clenched teeth. "Sophia, I'm going to answer your question now," he said.

He paused, took a deep breath, and fixed me with a gaze that burned with intensity.

"First," he said, his voice unwavering, "I will marry you."