Chapter 1 Three Months Pregnant Chapter 1

Three MonthsPregnant.

ElaraWinterfell.

"How dare you?" His voice thundered across the large living room. "How dare you accuse me of being responsiblefor that thing that is inside you?" He spat out in fury.

Tears welled at the corners of my eyes as I clutched the scan results tighter in my hands. My hands were shaking in shock from his thunderous voice.

"But, Connor..." I was at a loss for words at what to say, a searing pain in my heart. I couldn't understand his behavior.

"But what, Lara? You pranced around like a virgin the whole time we were dating, and suddenly, you're pregnant with my child?" His voice bore that of disbelief. "If you are so desperate to marry into my family, there are many ways you could do that and not pin some pregnancy on me!"

"You're the only one who has ever touched me!" I cried out inpain in my current situation. My lips quivered and my voice shook. "You're the one who took my virginity. You're the one..."

"Don't you dare!" His eyes shone in anger as he roared at my small frame. "Don't you just dare to do that, Lara. Make that accusation one more time, and you will find yourself cooling your head in a jail cell!"

To say I was stunned by his reaction was an understatement, my heart threatened to tear out in pain from my rib cage. Wasn't he the one who spoke about having children with me? Didn't we talk about it every day? Why was he acting this way? Was he just as excited as I was?

"Connor, I know it's scary as a first-time dad. I understand that." My voice shook as the tears spilled out from my eyes, and I stood up to sink my knees in the ground, in a pleading manner. "But, I can give you more time to think about it and come to your senses! We talked about having children before, why are you acting this way? I wouldn't be able to raise a child alone, I need you with me. I need you for our child. I ..."

"You're pushing this too far, Lara!" He walked abruptly to where I knelt, startling me, and looked at me dead in the eye. "Yes, we talked about marriage. We talked about children. We talked about having children, Lara, but I sure as hell didn't talk about raising someone else's child with you!" His eyes bore hatred for me.

I searched his eyes to find the traces of the man who had always doted on me and taken good care of me, but that man was gone. The man in front of me had only eyes of disdain and disgust, which greatly bothered me. Where had all the love gone? All these because I was pregnant? My mind did not even register what he was going on about.

"What's going on here?" A soft voice filled the room and our heads snapped to the curvy figure that just entered the room.

"Isabel." I breathed out, both surprised and relieved at the presence of my best friend in my boyfriend's house. That latter didn't quite bother me as I began to explain things to her. "Isabel, Connor doesn't want to believe me." I quickly stood up and rushed to Isabel's side.

"What's the issue, Lara?" Isabel stared at me with softness in her eyes, hervoice soft and calming. "What's wrong?"

"I'm pregnant." I managed to say, pulling my black hair behind my ears. Her eyes widened slightly and something I could not quite place shone in them, but I shoved it off and continued. "I'm pregnant for Connor, and he doesn't want to accept it."

"Is that true?" Isabel was surprised as she turned to stare at Connor who raked his hands through his blonde hair in frustration. "Why not? Why are you disregarding her? Why are you disregarding her feelings? She is your girlfriend! Why would you reject your child!"

"I'm a man of honor, Isabel. Don't think so lowly of me!" Connor furrowed his brows in a deep frown and spoke with gritted teeth. "I will never reject my child. Never! But I am certain that the thing in her stomach does not belong to me."

"How dare you?" Isabel suddenly blew up in anger, her gold bracelets and banglesjingling in sync with her anger. She was the hotheaded friend between us. "How dare you, Connor?" Isabel started by dropping the things she came with on the table.

Starting with her bag, shoes, bangles, wristwatch, and even earrings. She was prepared for a fight with Connor, and my eyes flew wide in surprise. No, she couldn't do this!

"Isabel!" I panicked when I saw her sudden reaction. I didn't want her picking a fight with Connor, she just had to talkto him and he would come around. "Isabel, you need to calm down. I just need to talk to him. He would understand. I just sprang it on him. It's normal to be skeptical at first." I tried to calm my friend, but Isabel was not having any of it.

"No, leave me, Lara! Why do you keep making excuses for his actions? He slept with you, took your virginity, now he is denying ever touching you? How dare him? Why is he talking like you cheated on him with another man? Leave me alone, let me teach him a lesson that he will never forget!" She tried advancing towards Connor who stood stock still, vibrating in anger, but I tried my best to hold her back by firmly grasping her waist.

This would only makethings worse, and she was not getting it!

"Isabel, please, stop all this nonsense! Connor loves me! He is just in shock about the turn of events." I snapped angrily. I was very certain that Connor'sreaction was because he was going to be a father for the first time in his life.

Many men got cold feet, and I was sure Connor was also experiencing the same thing. Connor would not leave me alone because he loves me so much.

"I. Did. Not. Sleep. With. Her." He said the words bitingly slowly and his jaw hardened, eyes darkening in anger. "Ask her who she sold herself out to get that thing inside her because it surely wasn't me." He paused. "You know what? Lara, I need you to get out of my house forever, and never dream of coming back inside here."

I was suddenly stunned as I paused at where I stood, not believing my ears. Had it gotten to this? I thought we were just talking to hear each other out. Wait, did he really believe that I cheated on him? Why would he even think that way? Why would it even cross his mind?

"Connor, you can't! What about our child?" My chest suddenly felt heavy and the pain that was already there washed over my entire self. "Why are you doing this, babe? No, babe. The child is yours. I didn't sell myself to anyone. You're the only one who has ever had access to my body. Only you..." I let the tears fall from my eyes in torrents as I ran to hold him, to plead with him to take me back.

But Connor gave me a dirty look, and without thinking, he kicked me away from him witha lot of force. I found my body flying towards the glass table. I fell on my back, with my head making a lot of contact with the table, and everything went black in my head.

Chapter 2 She Cheated On Me Chapter 2.

She Cheated On Me.

ElaraWinterfell.

A cold compress over the back of my head andmy vision began to regain its focus. My body was so heavy that I could barely move my legs.

"You're awake." A sharpvoice said beside me which jolted me wide awake.

"Kenna!" I voiced out in surprise at the tone of the maid that my boyfriend had assigned to me. "What happened?" I was still a little disoriented about my surroundings.

"It's a good thing that you are finally awake!" The sharp voice came again until my eyes focused on the maid who was packing her bags up to leave. "My job here is done with you! I'm going back to my boss' house."

"I don't understand." I was confused. "What's happening,Kenna? Why are you leaving suddenly?" The numbness in my legs had subsided now, and I could move my hands and legs.

I struggled to sit up, and a splitting headache filled me with so much pain as soon asI did that, almost causing another blackout.

"I have always respected you, Lara. As my future lady boss, I have always held you in a high regard. But you don't see all that my boss has done for you, you disregard it like it's all nonsense and go ahead to whore yourself around with any man you can find, now you're pinning a pregnancy on him. Have you no shame, Lara?"

I shook my head in denial, memories of the past few hours filling my head. Why was everyone saying this? I did not cheat on Connor, I would never do that. I loved him so much that no other man could hold a candle to him. How could I possibly cheat on Connor?

"I think you have it all wrong!" I tried to explain slowly, unsure of the next words that would come out of my mouth. "I have never cheated on him before, I swear. Kenna, you know me. You know the things I'm capable of. You know I would never do that to Connor, right? You know I love him so much..."

"You never truly know anyone," Kenna said with a pity filled voice. "I thought I knew you, Lara. But I didn't. None of us did. Not even your best friend did!"

"Isabel?" My brows furrowed in a frown of confusion. "What about Isabel? Why is she in the matter now? She believed me! She stood up for me! Even if the whole world doesn't believe me, Isabel does!"

A sad smile came over Kenna's face. "Does she really? Why was she so quick to say yes to Connor's marriage proposal yesterday? Why did shesuddenly agree to be his bride and walk down the aisle with him today?"

It was like a switch had gone off in my head, and nothing else made sense to me. I could feel a sense of fear begin to engulf my entire being. I wouldn't believe that. Isabel would never do that to me. We've been through so much as best friends for her to betray me like that.

"Isabel wouldn't do that!" I said firmly and Kenna's lips only curved into a mocking smile.

"Alright, if you say so. The marriage is happening live on TV, and you can check it out yourself. Meanwhile, I will see myself out of the house. I hope you have a smooth pregnancy journey, and that's if you decide to keep the child." And with that, Kenna rolled her box out of the house.

I was still in disbelief, it wasn't true. Isabel was like a sister to me. She wouldn't... But, I found my hands shakily moving on their own towards my side where the remote lay and turned on the TV. Finding the entertainment channel, I stared at the headlines for a few seconds, and my heart suddenly dropped to my stomach.

"N...no...no... It can't be possible!" The tears started pouring freshly from my eyes. "Why would Isabel do this to me? Why would she? She's supposed to be with me! She's supposed to side with me!" I let out an anguished wail as I cried into my pillow.

Connor's voice came in, and my eyes snapped towards the television. His face filled the screen as a reporter came up to ask him some questions. It seemed like the wedding was over and everyone was focused on the entertainment.

"Mr. Connor, your marriage with Isabel Reeds has taken the world by surprise." The female reporter said as she smiled at him. "Everyone was believing that once your marriage is announced, we will be expecting to see Elara Winterfell. Why? What happened? Why the change of heart?"

I held my breath to listen to what he had to say. To hear the explanation, he had for the world. To listen to the reason for this immense betrayal! My heart began to race as soon as his mouth opened.

"It's quite simple." Connor said as a matter of fact, unconsciously touching his clean and shaved jaw. "Elara made us believe she was something pure and good, until we found out in the dirtiest manner possible that she isn't who she says she is."

"Oh?" The frown on the reporter's head deepened as she kept on asking. "How so?"

"Well, shefirst cheated on me."

There were gasps of surprise on the faces of everyone there, even Isabel's well painted facewas downcast as if she were sad about the revelation. She came up beside Connor immediatelyand tried to hold his hand, whispering something into his ears with a slight frown on her face.

Connor gave her a soft smile, the same smile he used to give me when he was trying to reassure me about something. "It's alright, my love. Everyone needs to know the truth about her. I know she was your best friend, and you want to cover up for her, but the whole world has to know who she is so no one else will fall victim to her plans."

The reporter seemed to agree with Connor. "Yes, Isabel. Allow him to speak. Everyone is entitled to know what happened. I mean, we were all rooting for the relationship between both of them to work out, only for this to be thrown on our faces. We need to know the truth."

Isabel gave a look of defeat and turned away from the camera.

"I will talk to her." Connor said, referring to Isabel. "She is still sensitive to these things." His face suddenly turned grim. "Elara first cheated on me, then pinned the pregnancy on me."

"How despicable!" The reporter suddenlyspat out in deep resentment. "After you've treated her very well over the years?"

Connor just shook his head with a small smile."That's just what she is."

I could not believe my ears! I just couldn't! This was not happening to me. I had to talk to Connor. I had to explainthings to him. I had to explain to him that I didn't cheat. He took my virginity during his best friend's birthday. Maybe he just didn't remember the details because we were all drunk, but I had to explain. I had to also clear my name.

Throwing on a weird combination of clothes, I ran and hopped into my car, racing to Connor's house. I wasn't concerned with the headache that threatened to knock me out. My mind was fixated on Connor.

"I need to speak to him. You have toopen the gate, Clyde." I yelled with tears in my eyes at Connor's gate man.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we have orders not to let you into this house." He said in a plain voice and advanced towards the car. "Also, please, you need to step out of the car. Our boss will like to have his car back."

"What?" Iexclaimed in shock.

Why was everything happening so fast to me? Why wasn't I able to wrap my mind about what was going on? But, I wasn't able to coordinate my thoughts even as the door opened. I was pulled out of the car with a lot of force which made me hit my stomach on the edge of a slab.

The pain quickly radiated throughout my entire body, and I struggled to find something around her to grip. My skin was covered in scratches at the impact of being thrown to the ground. The pain in my lower belly intensified, and I felt something trickling down my legs.

Was that... blood?

Chapter 3 Why Did You Save Me Chapter 3

Why Did You Save Me?

ElaraWinterfell.

"Be careful, ma'am," I heard a warm voice filter through my hazy senses, and my blurry vision cleared for a few seconds to see an old man in white coat peering over me.

"Who are you?" I tried to ask. My body was so numb that I could barely feel my limbs.

"I'm Dr. Colton, and you're in the hospital..." He said slowly in his calm tone which strangely comforted me.

"H–hospital?" I stuttered confused. "What happened? How did I get here?"

"Whatever it is you went through, you're one lucky woman that you haven't lost the children..." He continued while checking my pulse. "Your vitals are strong, and you will be discharged anytime soon."

Then, the memories started rushing back into my head and I unconsciously gripped the sheets of the hospital bed tightly, a stinging pain in my chest. Connor had really removed me from his life? Was it that easy to let me go? I remembered passing out after I fell, who could have brought me to the hospital?

"Doctor...?" My voice was scratchy as I called out to the doctor, she had forgotten his name.

"Colton. Dr. Colton," His eyes were as warm as his voice and I wondered why he was soft and easygoing with me.

"Dr. Colton, I'm sorry. But, I have a question," I paused for a few seconds while trying to wet my dry mouth. "Who brought me to the hospital? And which hospital is this?"

"Oh, about that!" He chuckled ever so slightly. "Your husband brought you in this afternoon in a rush. He said you had a nasty fall, and we had to check your wounds immediately."

"My husband?" I was dumbfounded at his reply. When did I get married to have a husband? Or was Connor pranking me all these while?

"Yes..." The doctor nodded, his eyes shining this time. "I always thought theboss was single with his harsh and fierce demeanor. We didn't know he had someone as beautiful as you by his side. And he dotes on you so much, it's sweet."

"Huh?" I was further stunned as Istruggled to sit up. "I'm not following your explanations, doctor."

"Oh, silly me!" His eyes shone as he smacked his forehead. "You had a terrible concussion, so it's easy for things to skip your mind. You're in the Nightshade hospital..."

"The Nightshade?" My heartskipped a beat almost immediately. My boss' hospital?

"Yes..." The doctor nodded vigorously. "Your husband, Rowan Nightshade, brought you in not quite long ago. He just stepped out to make a few calls, and he will be back soon. I know you're worried too. But, ma'am, you need to take care of yourself. You're three months gone already, and your babies are strong and kicking..."

"Babies?"

"You didn't know?" Dr. Colton leaned in closer to her. "You are carrying twins. Don't worry, I wouldn't tell Rowan. You can keep it a secret from him until you're ready to surprise him."

"Is everything done here?" A cold voice came in from behind them, and the doctor's back stiffened.

The atmosphere in the room had changed almost instantly as Rowan Nightshade made his way into the VIP hospital room, his gait tall and poised with an expressionless face.

"Y-y-yes... Everything is done. S-sh-she is fine..."The doctor stuttered and bent low towards Rowan whose eyes had settled on my small and frightened figure.

"Get out." His voice was deep and hard, and he did not even look at the doctor as his eyes still held me in place.

The doctor knew he was the one referred to as he scurried out of the office in a jiffy, and the room was filled with a tense silence as Rowan's brown made cautious steps towards me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Are you ready to leave?" He asked without any emotion in his voice. "If you're well, you should talk so you can get discharged immediately. Every single minute in this hospital should be adding money to my pocket. This place is not a charity case."

I gulped in fear under the deep gaze of my boss. He stood tall and menacing as he paused a few feet away from my bed, his strong and manly perfume filling my nose.

"I understand, sir..." I managed to breathe out. My heart was hammering, and my hands were shaking as I bowed my head and started taking off the needles that were attached to my skin.

"Did I ask you to do that?" There was anger in his voice and I shivered at its intensity, my eyes snapping to meet his almost instantly."The question I asked you was basic. Is this how you behave at work?"

"No, sir. I'm sorry, sir." I bowed my head again in shame. Rowan Nightshade scared me, with his brooding brown eyes. Hell, he scared everyone. This was a delicate period in my life, and I wouldn't want to lose my jobfor any reason at this point. I had to obey him as if my life depended on it– my life actually depended on it.

"I will have the doctors dischargeyou and give you the bill..." He said simply and turned to walk away.

"Bill?" I was stunned at that. "What bill?" My heart had begun racing. How would I pay off the bill in the Nightshade's hospital? Everyone who came here to get treated was either a top politician or the wealthiest people in the country. The bills here cost more than an arm and leg.

Rowan turned slightly towards me, his muscles tensing his expensive suit. "You didn't hear what I said clearly? Is that how you work with your clients? Perhaps, is it a part of what I said that you don't understand? We don't do charity here, Elara."

His deep voice calling my name sent shivers down my spine as it even reverberated in my bones. I gulped and tried to focus on the issue in front of me.

"But..." I struggled to say. "I didn'task to be put here. You could have just dropped me off at a general hospital."

This time, Rowan Nightshade turned to fully face me. "Really? The owner of the Nightshade's hospital being seen in a general hospital? How will that look on my reputation?"

That shut me up, but I quickly spoke again.

"How much are we talking about?" I asked, this time in a small voice and Rowan's eyes snapped to me withhumor dancing in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking.

How was I going to be able to pay him back? I did not even have any money at all, for all he knew, I never kept any savings and was directly depending on Connor for survival.

Rowan shrugged. "That's roughly a quarter of a million dollars."

"A what?" My voice rang out in thequiet ward, almost startling Rowan, but he was able to keep his cool.

"That's just for the hospital bills. There are other bills you would have to pay." He said quietly as he trained his eyes on me. "For my empathy, fuelling the car and driving you down here, that would be another hundred thousand dollars."

"That's absurd!" I could not help but counter in frustration. Was he trying to rip me off my whole life? Where would I slave away to get that amount of money? Even my salary was justfive thousand dollars a month, how would I get three hundred and fifty dollars to pay him off?

"Is it?" His eyes never left mine as the corner of his mouth curled up into a cold and cruel smile. "Everything about the Nightshades is quality, I hope you didn't expect any less."

"How will I get such a huge amount of money to pay you off?"

"Your problem, not mine..."

Suddenly, my eyes widened in realization. Was he doing this for revenge?

"Are you doing this as revenge?"

Rowan's brows raised confused, and he leaned against the door of the ward, his annoyingly handsome face being as expressionless as ever. "I don't do things as petty as revenge. I'm a businessman, Elara. You should know that by now."

I shook my head, trying to calm my beating heart that had started racing. "You want revenge because you think I cheated on your best friend. But, I did not cheat on him at all! He is the father of my children!"

"Children?" Rowan's eyes flew slightly open in surprise."You're having more than one?"

"That's beside the point! It's not like it actually matters, does it?" I was suddenly overwhelmed by countless emotions as I felt the tears prickle at the corner of her eyes.

"How long is thepregnancy?"

"Three months gone..." I replied ina small voice, silently cleaning the stray tear that fell from my eyes.

"In the next six months, after the children have been born, I will personally have aDNA test conducted. If the children belong to Connor, then, I'll forgive you of your debt. But, if not, you would have to refund everything plus a high monthly interest."

I was silent for a few seconds, but I nodded. This was much more relieving. "No problem. No problem!" I wasn't scared, in fact, I was more than certain my children belonged to Connor.

My children...

"Good." Rowan finally said and turned to go when a question jumped out of my mouth.

"Why did you stop to save me?"

It wasn't clear to me why I asked, but something about his compassion nagged me. Rowan Nightshade was cold-hearted to care about anyone else but himself...

There was a tense silence for a fewseconds before Rowan finally replied in a raw voice. "I don't even know."

Chapter 4 Aborting The Pregnancy Chapter 4

Aborting The Pregnancy.

ElaraWinterfell.

I was woken up from sleep by a continuous banging on my door. My heart dropped to my stomach instantly. Was Connor already here to chase me out of the house?

I tiptoed and viewed from the peepholeof the door, and the person I saw behind it was much worse than Connor himself.

"Open the door, Elara Winterfell!" The voice thundered in serious anger. "I know you're in there, and you better open upbecause if I do it myself, all hell will be let loose on you."

I gulped in fear as my hands shook when I tried opening the door.

"Father, you're..."

I didn't complete my statement when a heavy slap landed across my face. The stench of booze hit me as the slap made contact with my eyes as well.

"Who is your father, huh?" His voice shook the walls of the house. "Is this what your mother did to me because the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.Are you really my child or just a pinned pregnancy on me by your stupid mother?"

His words cut deep into my heart as the tears flowed freely from my eyes. The stinging pain on my cheeks radiated throughout my face that I suddenly had a headache. But the pain did not compare to the one that threatened to tear out my heart.

"Dad, why would you..."

"Shut up!" He shouted back at me immediately, landing the second slap on my face and I found my body flung to one side of the room. "I did not getmy daily allowance the day before yesterday and yesterday, why is that so?"

I let the bitter tears fall as I curled myself into a ball on the floor. I knew that Connor had withdrawn it immediately, and my drunkard of a father would try to squeeze it from me.

"Connor and I..." I struggled to say. "We are nolonger... together..." I breathed out the wordsin pain–both from the slap and Connor's betrayal.

"Well, that's not my problem." My father retorted almost immediately. "I need my money! My moneyis the problem! My daily allowance is the problem!"

"B-b-but... I don't have it." I was crying fully this time, sniffling and whimpering. "I don't have anything... I even need money to take care of my children..." I tried to stress out, but my drunk father just let out a mirthless laugh.

"You mean the bastard that is inside you?" He asked menacingly as he raised his heavy boots to kick me directly on the tummy and I screamed in pain.

"Father! Stop!" I was crying and sniffling with tears as I felt my lower body go weak with pain, my breath almost knocked out of me with that kick. "Please, I beg you. Please, stop!"

I was unable to think clearly as the pain was doing the thinking for me.

"I need my money, Elara!" He shouted again and kicked me again and again, repeatedly with no mercy, with each kick increasing in intensity. He kicked me all over my upper body, and I could do nothing but curl up and hide my tummy from him.

All I could do was whimper and hold myself together, taking inevery kick like I had always done since I was a child. "I'm sorry, father." I managed to say as I buried my head to the ground.

"Maybe you should even get rid of that child and go crawling back to Connor.Beg him to be his mistress! I need my daily allowances, Elara!" His voice rang out in frustration as he started scattering the house and breaking things.

I laid on the floor, tears streaming down my eyes, my heart searing in pain. The weight of my grief was crushing me, making it hard for me to breathe.

Suddenly, the ruckus stopped, but I didn't turn to look. Instead, I heard receding footsteps.

"At least I've found this much money..." I heard him grumble, and my body shook in pain and anger.

"That's my... my savings..." I was struggling to breathe out as the pain radiating throughout my body intensified. I could not lift my body up. "It's... It's for the children... Your grandchildren..."

"I don't need a grandchild from you, they will only stain the family's name just like you and your foolish mother did!"

And with that, he was out of thehouse in a second.

"Miss Winterfell!" Doctor Colton gasped the minute he saw me. "What happened to you?"

The doctor was in complete shock as he did not recognize me immediately because of my face that was highly caked with makeup. I couldn't let him see the bruises that littered all over my face.

"I want to just see if my children are doing fine, doctor..." I said in a small voice as I stood in front of the doctor's table.

My body was still aching me all over, but I tried so hard to ignore the pain and focus on what really mattered.

"Let mecall the boss..."

"No... No... No..." I stopped him almost immediately, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of RowanNightshade. "There's no need for that. There's really no need for that. Just a quick check-up, and I'll be on my way. There's no reason to trouble him." My voice was hushed and hurried as I replied to him.

I knew what I was doing was wrong, but once the children were born, and I proved to him that the children actually belonged to Connor, then Rowan would forgive the debts even if I came for free medical checkups.

"Oh..." The doctor nodded. "Right thisway, Miss Winterfell."

"Dr. Colton." A deep voice came inas Dr. Colton was addressing me of the situation, and I froze in place.

Rowan Nightshade pushed the door open and stepped in, clad in a fitting expensive suit and a Rolex wristwatch on his hand. His slender fingers held the door firmly, and he stopped at the sight of me, his eyes betraying no emotion. Wasn't he supposed to be at the company at this time of the day?

"Boss... You're here." The old man's voice shook in a kind of excitement. "Please, sit down. You need to be here to talk to your fiancée." Dr. Colton gestured to me. "I apologize for mistaking her as your wife the other day, now I know she is your fiancée."

Rowan's face completely went as dark as the bottom of a pot, and his jaw clenched in anger. "What did you just say?" He spat out, his eyes darker than any dark thing.

Dr. Colton seemed oblivious of Rowan's rage, thinking he was referring to my current condition. I sat freezing in my chair, my skin deathly pale and my body shaking in trepidation.

"Please, boss, you need to take good care of your fiancée..."

"She is not my fiancé." His voice washard as he emphasized every word he said, and he gave me a look of disgust.

But, Doctor Colton did not seem to hear him as he continued with his rambling. "Your fiancéehas just narrowly escaped losing the children. The blood loss this time was too much, and I'm afraid she would have to be admitted once again so she could regain the blood she has lost."

The temperature of the room seemed to drop, and I tried to glance at Rowan Nightshade. But, he was already looking at me with an expression that I could not decipher.

"Can I have a moment with Miss Winterfell?" Rowan paced his words as he opened the door wider, not giving the doctor any chance to respond.

The moment they were alone, I tried to open my mouth to speak, but the shooting pain in my head stopped me almost immediately, and I unconsciously leaned back into her chair to attempt to soothe the pain.

"Where will you get the money to clear your bills, Miss Winterfell?"

"Huh?" I muttered slowly with a small voice. "I... I... I thought we made a deal. When I give birth..."

Rowan's jaw ticked at that, and he narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't play dumb with me, Elara. Loosing blood? We both know you are trying to abort the pregnancy..."

"I just had a little accident..." I tried to defend myself, but Rowan was not having any of it.

"Do you take my hospitality as a joke, Miss Winterfell?" Rowan started taking small and calculated steps towards me."Fine, let me humor you. What kind of accident were you in?"

"I fell..." I said as quickly as I had rehearsed it earlier in case anyone askedme. "I lost a step on the stairs and fell."

Rowan gave me a long look before he replied with a calculating gaze. "Then, why is your face caked with so much make up?"

Chapter 5 Not His Children Chapter 5

Not His Children

ElaraWinterfell.

My hands shook as I picked up my phone to call Isabel. Isabel picked the call on the first ring.

"What do you want, Lara?" Her voice was that of irritation. "To get Connorback? I'm sorry that's not possible..."

"But, why would you do this to me?" I was already tearing up as I listened to the heartless voice of my best friend. "You know the truth. You know me, Isabel. You know that I would never cheat on Connor. I love him!"

There was a loud laugh on the other end of the call.

"Lara?" Isabel called sweetly. "Are you that dense to think that Connor is actually the father of your child?"

"Yes, Isabel! I'm very sure.I would never..."

"You don't get this, Lara." Isabel sighed. "Alright, tell me what you remember from the night you slept with him."

"I know it happened during my boss' party– Rowan Nightshade's birthday party."

"Okay? What else do you remember?"

I struggled to remember the details of the party,but I kept coming up at blanks, but I could vividly remember my first sexual experience with Connor.

"I don't remember everything, but I know that Connor and I had sex that night."

This time, Isabel giggled on the call. "You think the man you slept with was Connor Reece? Your boyfriend?"

My heart dropped to my stomach at that. "What do you mean, Isabel? Ofcourse, it was Connor! I know I was a little drunk, but I'm certain I was with Connor." My voice was shaky, and my palms began to get sweaty.

Isabel snorted. "You mean you've dated Connor for years now, and you don't even know what his body feels like?"

"What are you trying to say, Isabel?"

"Well, I was sleeping with Connor throughout the whole night, and I wasn't drunk, so..." She trailed off.

"What?" Isabel's words sounded likea thick explosion in my ears, and I felt disoriented for a few seconds.

"Oh, come on, Lara..." Isabel scoffed. "You've been keeping your body from himfor years now. A man has needs, you know."

"You...you...you...!" My voice tightened as I was trying to find the perfect words to curse at Isabel. "You thief! You snatched him from me! I thought you were my best friend, Isabel. How could you?" My voice had begun to crack, and I was vibrating with anger.

"Only children get snatched because they almost have no will of their own, Lara. Not Connor. Connor made his decision, and he chose me, not you..."

"But..."

"Your pregnancy?" There was a pause, then a wicked chuckle. "I set you up with one of the low life bouncers in the club. You see..." Isabel's voice got lower. "I spiked your drink when you were not watching and sent you off to one of their rooms. Oh, the look on your face after that night..."

"No..." I could not believe my ears as I leaned back on the wall of my room and my feet dragged me down to the floor. "No... You didn't do that... I slept with Connor..."

"The three different men who took turns with you were Connor? Were you that drunk that you don't remember that youserviced more than one man? There are videos, you know..."

"No..." My voice shook heavily this time as the weight of what Isabel said hit me. This couldn't be true. "That's not true..." My voice was filled with disbelief. "Why? Why? Why would you do that to me, Isabel?" My voice broke.

"Isn't that simple enough for you to decipher?" Isabel replied nonchalantly. "I hate you. It's that simple."

"But..." I was still in disbelief. "You stood up for me when I told Connor about the pregnancy. You..."

"It was all an act, Lara! Are you that dumb?" Irritation filled Isabel's voice this time. "If I acted any different, Connor would just think I'm just like the other girls. I had to make sure my act was that of a friend who genuinely cared for you, like I always did."

"Isabel..." I could all but whisper. I could not understand why this was happening to me, why Isabel would do this evil thing to me.

"And, oh," Isabel continued, "Thank you for the car, we received it. It's mine now. And the house is next. I hope you're done packing the little things that belong to you because I am coming for the house within this week, and after all is done and settled, Connor and I will go for our honeymoon in the Maldives..."

"Maldives...?"

"Oh yeah..." Isabel chuckled. "That was always your dream, right? Now it's my reality." The mocking tone did not escape my ears. "I'm taking everything from you one by one until you have no one and nothing to turn to, Lara." There was a sinister edge in Isabel's voice.

"Why do you hate me so much? What have I done to even deserve this from you? Why, Isabel? I trusted you with my whole life. You were my best friend. I told you the deepest things about me and I..." I started choking on my tears as I spoke with the pain that threatened to claw out my heart. "Why, Isabel? Why are you this wicked? How long have you been..."

"Shhh..." Isabel quickly shushed me. "I don't have time for this, Lara. Connor is having his evening shower, and he will be done anytime from now, okay? I need to be in my best mood for him, and I don't want thoughts about you muddling with my mind." She paused for a few seconds before she continued. "And the reason I hate you? Well, I just do. There doesn't have to be a reason. Or maybe there is... You've always been so pure, and I got tired of it and decided to take everything you consider pure..."

"I will tell Connor everything you've just said to me! I will..." My voice deepened in agony as the tears streamed down her eyes in torrents. "I will make sure you go to jail for this! I will make sure..."

"You will make sure of nothing, honey..." Isabel shushed me in a sickly sweet voice. "Besides, who will believe you? Connor? The press? Who will? I would easily turn tables on you, Lara"Then a wicked chuckle escaped Isabel's mouth and the cruelty of it sent shivers down my spine.

"People will believe me..." I tried to retort weakly, but I knew Isabel was right.

Being married to Connor Watson had its perks, and this was one of them. Isabel could turn everyone against me because of the power she now wielded as a Watson.

"Goodnight, Lara."

The phone slipped from my hand as soon as Isabel ended the call, the tears still spilling from myeyes, and I remembered the earlier conversation I had with Rowan Nightshade. Those deep brown eyes had stared into the depths of my soul and gave me a threat that had shaken me down to my core...

And now? My children didn't evenbelong to Connor...

My life was about to bedestroyed both by Isabel, and Rowan Nightshade...

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The slap echoes through the empty apartment, snapping my head sideways. I taste blood. My father looms over me, reeking of whiskey, his boot raised again. "Get rid of that bastard inside you," he snarls. "Go beg Connor to take you back as his mistress!" I curl around my stomach, tears mixing with sweat and makeup. Three months pregnant. Alone. Betrayed by my lover, my best friend, even my blood.

I barely hear the knock at first. Then it comes again—sharp, authoritative. Not Connor. No one from my old life would come here now. I drag myself up, peering through the cracked door.

Rowan Nightshade stands there, drenched in rain, his black coat clinging to broad shoulders. His eyes—cold, calculating—bore into mine. "You're bleeding," he says flatly. "And you owe me a quarter of a million dollars."

I try to shut the door, but he stops it with one hand. "I know you didn’t fall down the stairs, Elara. I saw the bruises before. This wasn’t an accident. You were trying to lose the baby."