The bathroom door slams open with enough force to rattle the mirrors. Chi Cheng stands in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space entirely, blocking any escape. In his hand, he holds the pregnancy test, the two crimson lines glowing accusatorily under the harsh lighting.

His eyes—already darkening to the crimson of his kind—lock onto hers with pinpoint intensity. There's no calm, no measured reaction—just raw, volatile power barely contained beneath his skin. He moves toward her in a blur, too fast for human eyes to track, until he's crowding her against the cold tile wall.

One hand slams against the wall beside her head, the other gripping her chin so hard she winces, forcing her to meet his gaze. "When were you going to tell me?" His voice is a low growl, each word sharpened to a blade. "Did you think you could hide this from me? That I wouldn't sense the change in your blood?"

His thumb brushes roughly over her lower lip, leaving a burning sensation in its wake. "Answer me," he demands, his grip tightening. "How long have you known you're carrying my child?"