Chapter 2

Seeing the state I was in, William hesitated. He walked toward me and reached out as if he actually wanted to help.

I slapped his hand away. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!"

A flicker of shock crossed his eyes.

He grabbed me by the throat and leaned down, his expression turning cold. "Jessica, you haven't worked a single day in three years. I've paid for everything. Where did you get the guts to yell at me?

"You want to leave? Fine. I'd love to see how long you last without me. I'll be waiting for the day you crawl back and beg."

With that, he threw me aside and kicked the door open before storming off.

My body slammed against the wall, and I collapsed again.

The pain in my belly sharpened, turning into something terrifying.

I looked down, and the sight of the blood made my vision blur.

I cried, "My baby... my baby..."

William didn't know. I hadn't told him I was pregnant.

I had wanted to surprise him with the news.

Even after everything he had done to me over the past three years, I still wanted this child.

I thought maybe knowing he had a baby on the way would soften him. Maybe it would ease the guilt I carried every day.

But it turned out his entire story had been a lie.

To William, I was nothing more than entertainment—something he could use and toss aside whenever he felt like it.

But the baby wasn't. I never wanted to give him up.

My hands shook so badly I almost couldn't hold my phone, but I managed to call emergency services.

While waiting for the ambulance, I prayed over and over for a miracle.

But some things didn't happen just because you needed them to.

The doctor let out a quiet sigh and gave a small shake of the head. "He was too little. We did everything we could."

Something inside me cracked open. The pain was bone-deep.

I curled into myself and sobbed until I couldn't make another sound.

Two days later, empty and hollow, I checked out of the hospital and went to the hotel I'd booked.

When I reached my door, William was leaning against the frame, staring at me with a look I couldn't quite read.

In his hand was the ultrasound printout I never got to show him.

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?" he asked.

Why? Because the baby was gone.

I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see his face for even a second longer.

If it weren't for him, my child would still have had a chance to exist.

My fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my skin. "William, I already told you. I don't want to see you again. Stay away from me."

His expression froze for a moment before twisting darkly.

He grabbed my wrist and looked down at me. "Jessica, enough with the games. You're coming with me. The Eaton family's bloodline doesn't get left out in the world."

The words were so absurd I almost laughed.

Even now, he thought he could use the baby to keep me tied to him.

But he had it all wrong. The child he cared so much about had died two days ago because of him.

The thought hit me again, and my eyes stung as the tears rose uncontrollably.

I clenched my teeth and pried William's fingers off me one by one, forcing myself to stay steady even though my whole body was shaking. "Can you stop acting pathetic for once? No matter what you say, I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Oh, really?" William let out a slow, cruel smile, his eyes full of mockery. "Jessica, did you forget who I am? In this city, the Eaton family calls the shots.

"One word from me, and it won't just be you. Even your friends will pay for it. If I'm not done with you, you're not going anywhere. Ever."

My nails dug into my palms as I bit down on my lip hard enough to taste blood. I was furious—so angry I could barely breathe.

William watched me tremble, amused, then unlocked his phone right in front of me.

He sneered, "You've got that friend who works at Skyline Corporation, right? Heard she's about to get promoted. Maybe I should give their CEO a call... just a friendly reminder."

That was the last straw. My hand flew before I even realized it, and my palm cracked against his cheek with a sharp smack. "William, you're disgusting."

His cheek reddened instantly. He glared at me with bloodshot eyes. "I'm disgusting?"

He grabbed my chin hard enough to bruise. His face twisted with something dark and ugly. "When you climbed into my bed crying and begging for me, you didn't think I was disgusting then."

I stared at him, stunned. I didn't think he'd ever throw something like that in my face.

Back then, I only went to him because he lied to me first. Because I was drowning in guilt he manufactured.

And now, somehow, he made it sound like I was the shameless one.

It was so absurd I almost laughed—at him, at myself, at how blind I had been.

His voice slithered back in, cold and low, like a devil whispering at my ear. "So? Have you made up your mind? Come with me or watch your friends go down because of your pointless pride."

I shut my eyes, my chest tight, my whole body drained of strength.

At this point, what choice did I have?

Maybe he sensed I might try to run, because he locked me away in a villa halfway up the mountain.

He took my phone, cut off all internet access, and made sure I couldn't contact anyone.

For seven days straight, I didn't step outside once.

On the eighth day, an unexpected guest arrived.

She was stunning—dressed head to toe in luxury, carrying the same cold arrogance William had in his bones.

One look at her, and anyone could tell she belonged in his world.

Her gaze skimmed over me with lazy disdain, the corners of her lips curling. "So you're Jessica? Figures. You've got that cheap, seductive look—born to cling to men who don't want you."