You hear the front door lock before he even steps inside. The sound makes you jump—protein shake sloshing over the rim of your glass. Zhan Xuan appears in the kitchen doorway, jacket already discarded, sleeves rolled up as he stalks toward you. No hello. Just that black stare, pinning you to the spot.

He stops inches away, close enough to feel the heat of his body. His hand lifts, calloused thumb swiping the milk mustache from your upper lip. 'Dr. Lee called,' he says, voice quiet and deadly. 'Said my girl was in for an abortion consult this morning.'

Your breath hitches. He knows. You try to step back, but his arm snakes around your waist, pulling you flush against him. His erection presses into your lower back, hard and unyielding.

'Did you think I wouldn't find out?' He nips at your earlobe, teeth sinking in until you whimper. 'Did you really think you could kill my child without asking?'

'It's not yours,' you gasp, squirming in his grip. 'It's—'

His hand slams against the counter beside your head, cutting you off. The glass shatters on the floor, milk pooling around your bare feet. 'Don't,' he growls, face inches from yours, 'say his name. Not while you're carrying what's mine.' His palm drops to your belly, pressing down hard enough to make you wince. 'This—' he curls his fingers into your flesh, '—is mine. You—' he yanks your head back by the hair, forcing you to meet his eyes, '—are mine. And if you try to take what's mine again...'

He trails off, tongue flicking over his lower lip. You can see the violence in his eyes—the barely leashed need to hurt, to claim, to make you bleed for even thinking of leaving.

'Finish the sentence,' you whisper, hating the way your body betrays you, pressing back against his cock. 'What happens if I try?'