My CEO Husband Chose His Pregnant Mistress and Cast Me Aside

Claras POV

It was supposed to be our ninth anniversary, a celebration of nine years we had promised each other.

Instead, Mark walked through the penthouse doors with another womanhis arm wrapped around her, her dress stretched over a belly that belonged to him.

For nearly a decade, he had made me feel untouchable. He sent rare roses flown in from Italy, kissed my hand in front of guests, and swore that I was the only woman he would ever love.

And now?

Now he stood there, proud, beside a woman carrying his child, parading her like a trophy in the heart of our home.

Shes sensitive to changes, he said casually, his hand possessive around the other womans waist as she leaned into him with infuriating confidence. No repeated meals, and she cant sleep alone. Youll move your things to the guest suite.

I froze.

Move? My voice cracked. Mark, are you serious? You cheat on me, get her pregnant, and now you expect me to pack up and disappear into a guest suite like like Im nothing?

His eyes hardened. This isnt a request, Clara. You will do it.

No. My hands trembled as I gestured at her. You impregnated her and brought her here to celebrate our anniversary? Do you even hear yourself? The audacity, Mark. Absolutely not.

I said move, Clara!

His presence was overwhelming, radiating power that pressed down on me like a physical weight. Years of shared life, of marriage, of expectation, tried to chain me in place.

But I refused to kneel to a man who had shattered everything we had built.

Im leaving, I said firmly. Im done. Happy? Goodbye, Mark.

Did he think I would bow to her, the other woman? Never. I had packed weeks ago, after a shocking video arrived on my phonea video of him with her. I had been ready for this night long before it arrived.

Marks lips curled into a smirk as he stepped toward me, pointing at me once, dismissively, like swatting a fly.

Leave, then, he said. Throw your little tantrum. Youll be back in days, begging like the spoiled wife who thought she had it all.

Laughter floated behind me. Guests, friends, familypeople who had once bowed when I entered a roomwere whispering and smirking at my humiliation.

Too bad for them, I wasnt staying to play the humiliated wife.

The car my cousin had sent was already waiting outside.

Mark thought Id return crawling? I didnt even glance back as I retrieved my luggage from the bedroom.

But just as I reached the door, his voice cut through the room.

Leave the Moonstone bracelet. Give it to her.

My chest tightened.

The bracelet. My grandmothers gift. The only thing that had kept me grounded through weeks of heartbreak and betrayal. And now he wanted me to hand it to her? To the woman carrying his child?

No, I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks. Not this. Anything but this.

Mark snorted, drawing her closer. Dont make this harder than it has to be. She needs it.

I could have screamed. I could have thrown it. I could have fought.

But my body trembled. My hands shook. And the weight of his presence threatened to make me submit.

So I walked over to her, slowly.

I unclasped the bracelet and fastened it around her wrist.

May your child be safe and happy, I said softly.

The moment the silver clasp clicked, a thin red line appeared across her pale skin. She gasped and fell to her knees, clutching her wrist.

W-What did you do to me? she cried. Did you hurt me on purpose?

What? No! I stared at her wrist, horrified.

Mark reacted instantly. He moved as if every muscle in his body had tensed. He swept her into his arms, holding her as if she were made of glass, before turning his sharp gaze on me.

What did you do? he demanded. Are you so bitter that she carries my child that you would curse her?

I dont know! I said, my hands still suspended midair, trembling.

Call a doctor. Now! He barked, then turned his gaze back to me. Youclean up the mess. Every shard. Do it now.

I looked down at the shattered bracelet on the marble floor.

Glass and metal pierced my palms, but I didnt care. Pain was better than weakness.

Im sorry, I whispered.

Once.

Then again.

And again.

My knees burned as I pushed myself upright, bloodied hands pressing against the cold floor. I brushed hair from my face and met his eyes.

Is that enough, Mark?

There was no softness in his gaze. No flicker of affection.

The man who once protected you is gone. Who do you think youre pretending for now?

I stared at him, the man I had loved. Why dont you just reject me, Mark? If you despise me, end it. Break the bond.

He laughedlow, amused, cruel. Why would I? Youll come back. You always do. And rejection thats painful. Not worth it.

I gathered the remaining pieces of the bracelet and tossed them into the trash. I washed the blood from my hands, picked up my bag, and walked out.

This time, I didnt look back.

Claras POV

I really thought I had made it out.

For one fragile moment, I believed I was free.

Turns out the universe had a twisted sense of humor when it came to me, because I hadnt even reached the edge of the estate when two men appeared out of nowhere. Black suits. Cold expressions. Private security. I barely had time to register their faces before they grabbed meone hand clamped around each armdragging me back like I was a fugitive instead of the woman who once owned this place beside him.

Mrs. Hale, you need to come back, one of them said, already pulling me toward the main building. Mr. Hale requested you immediately. He needs your blood.

My chest seized.

What? Nolet go of me! I fought against them with everything I had, panic flooding my veinsnot for myself, but for the tiny heartbeat inside me. My own heart was pounding so violently it felt like it was warning me. Begging me. Why would he need my blood?

Why him?

Why this marriage?

Why this punishment disguised as fate?

I gave him everything. My body. My loyalty. My name. My future. I stood beside him through scandals, hostile board meetings, whispered rumors that couldve destroyed his empire. Wasnt that enough? What kind of cruel joke was it that I ended up bound to a man who saw me as nothing more than something usefulsomething disposable?

And still, he wanted more.

He always wanted more.

I didnt know which terrified me morethat he might find out about the baby or that he already knew and simply didnt care.

The next thing I knew, icy metal pressed into my back.

I was strapped into a steel medical chair inside the private infirmary reserved for the Hale family. Thick restraints dug into my wrists. I forced my head up and saw Mark standing across from me, arms crossed, gaze cold and distantlike I was beneath his notice.

So you dragged me back for this? I laughed bitterly. To drain me like some lab experiment?

He didnt even blink.

Stop exaggerating, he said flatly. Youre contributing. Try to be useful.

Something shattered in my chest.

Useful? I scoffed. Is that all I ever was to you? A convenient blood donor with a marriage certificate?

Youre emotional, he replied without missing a beat. You always have been. You enjoy dramatics.

Thats rich, I shot back. Says the man bleeding his wife dry while the woman he cheated with sleeps wrapped in silk.

In two steps, he was in front of me. His hand closed around my jaw, fingers biting just enough to hurt.

Be careful, he warned.

Or what? I whispered fiercely. Youll humiliate me again? Strip whatever dignity I have left?

His mouth twisted into a cruel smile.

Youre still alive. You should be grateful.

You already have her, I snapped. You have the child you wanted. So why am I still sitting in this chair?

The irony nearly crushed me.

She rested comfortably in another room, surrounded by doctors and luxury, while I sat here bleeding for her sake. For the baby she carriedwhile my own child stayed hidden, clinging to me in silence.

I didnt tell him.

I couldnt.

He would use it. He would twist it into leverage the same way he twisted everything else about me.

So I swallowed the truth and stared up at the ceiling, letting the sterile lights blur through the tears I refused to shed.

This is what loving you gets me? I said quietly. Defending your name in every boardroom? Standing between you and every scandal? Taking care of you like a partner, not a servant? I shouldve run the moment I realized you didnt love meyou just owned me.

Then why didnt you? he snapped. Because you needed me. You always did.

And you, I whispered, were too much of a coward to ever let me go.

A slow smirk curved his lips.

Why would I? You never stay gone.

That was when the needle went in.

It was far too thickmore like a blade than medical equipment. The pain hit sharp and immediate, then burned as it slid deeper into my vein. I didnt cry out. I refused to give him that satisfaction. But sweat broke across my neck, and my fingers shook violently against the restraints.

As the blood drained, memories went with it.

Our first public appearance as a married couple.

The night I stepped in front of danger meant for him.

All those sleepless nights waiting by the door, convincing myself it was love.

He watched the entire timesilent, detachedas if I were nothing more than a container being emptied.

Mr. Hale, one of the doctors said hesitantly, her heart rate is unstable. Taking too much could

Continue, Mark snapped. Shes stubborn. Shell survive.

My vision dimmed.

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood just to stay conscious.

Eight hundred milliliters.

Thats how much they took.

I thought it was over.

Then someone cleared their throat behind the privacy curtain.

Mark straightened instantly.

Double it, he said. She needs more.

My breath hitched painfully.

So this is for her? I whispered hoarsely. Youre draining your own wife to save the woman who destroyed our marriage?

She needs it, he replied coldly, as if that explained everything.

I laughed weakly, tears burning my eyes.

And what about me? Your wife? Youd bleed me dry before lifting a finger for me.

His expression never changed.

From behind the curtain, her voice drifted outsoft, weak, perfectly timed.

Mark

He moved immediately. I was barely conscious, strapped down, fadingand he was already gone.

The doctor hesitated.

Sir if we continue, the pregnancy

Do it, Mark barked. Or find another job.

I wanted to scream. To beg. But the darkness swallowed me whole.

---

When I woke again, everything felt distant and wrong.

I was lying on a narrow cot, covered by a thin blanket. A doctor sat beside me, eyes rimmed red.

Youre stable now, he said quietly. Physically.

Thats supposed to be good news, I whispered. So why do you look like youre about to apologize?

He swallowed.

Because there was a complication.

My hand flew to my stomach.

No, I whispered. No please

Im so sorry, he said softly. When the blood draw was increased the pregnancy couldnt be sustained.

The scream ripped out of me before I could stop it. I thrashed, knocking equipment to the floor, sobbing so violently I couldnt breathe. I forced myself upright, dizziness crashing over me as I staggered toward the door.

Mark! I screamed. YOU KILLED MY BABY!

He wasnt there.

Of course he wasnt.

I collapsed to the floor, grief hollowing me out until something else took its place.

Cold.

Focused.

Sharp.

No more begging.

No more hoping.

I looked up at the doctor.

Prepare my discharge papers, I said hoarsely. And every medical record. I want copies of everything.

Because I was done surviving.

Now, I was planning my revenge.

Claras POV

I was still confined to a hospital bed, my body weak and unsteady, as if it hadnt quite caught up with everything that had been taken from me. My arms throbbed constantly, sore from the blood loss, and even sitting up for more than a few minutes made the room spin. But none of that compared to the ache lodged deep in my chestthe kind of pain no medication could touch.

I was mourning my baby.

While I lay there, trapped between white sheets and beeping monitors, the world seemed determined to remind me how little my suffering mattered. News of Mark and Nina reached me without mercy. A former acquaintance forwarded a video from a high?profile charity galaMark in a tailored tuxedo, laughing easily, his hand resting possessively on Ninas waist. She leaned into him, glowing, triumphant.

Another clip followed not long after. A private dinner party. Mark feeding her cake with a fork, bending close to murmur something in her ear. Nina laughed, tilting her head back, utterly unashamed.

He looked relaxed. Unburdened.

Like a man who had lost nothing at all.

When I was finally cleared for discharge, I left the hospital alone. No car waiting. No driver. No assistant. Not even a courtesy check?in. I walked out clutching a flimsy hospital bag, confronted with the brutal realization that I had been erased from their priorities completely.

The thought of returning to the estate made my stomach knot. Every hallway, every room felt contaminated by memory. But all my personal documents were still therepassports, legal papers, everything I needed to leave. I didnt have a choice.

And then, because the universe apparently wasnt finished with me, I saw them.

They stood just outside the maternity wing. Nina looked radiant, already basking in attention like this was her moment to claim. Mark hovered close, one hand resting at the small of her back, guiding her like a prized possession.

A nurse passed by, smiling brightly. Mr. Hale, your wife looks wonderful today.

My throat tightened, but I didnt correct her. I didnt have the energy.

I turned away, ready to disappear.

Clara.

Marks voice sliced through the hallway. I froze mid?step. My shoulders stiffened, but I didnt turn right away. Of course he noticed me. Of course he couldnt let me fade quietly.

I finally faced him across the polished floor. I wasnt following you, I said flatly. I was discharged today. I didnt know youd be here.

Before he could respond, Nina slipped her arm through his, clinging to him like she belonged there.

Babe, she said softly, fake concern dripping from every word, maybe she should ride with us. I feel kind of bad. She donated blood for me, remember? The least we can do is help her get home.

I almost laughed at the audacity.

Mark brushed his thumb against Ninas cheek. Youre too generous, he said, then glanced at me. Fine.

So I got into the car. Not because I wanted tobut because I needed my papers before I could disappear for good.

I slid into the backseat and stared straight ahead.

Then I saw it.

A pair of womens underwear lay crumpled beside me, stained unmistakably white. The sight punched the air from my lungs.

Nina twisted around in her seat, her lips curling into a smug smile. Oh wow, she giggled, I cant believe I left those here. Remember, babe? After what we did in the backseat last week?

Mark laughed casually, eyes still on the road. You nearly wrecked the upholstery.

She hummed happily. You didnt seem to mind when I was on your lap outside the estate. Or when I unzipped you during that long drive and kept you entertained.

Traffics more bearable with you around, he replied easily.

And that time you had to pull over because I wouldnt stop? she added, grinning. You were practically shaking.

My stomach churned. I turned my face toward the window, jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. My hands curled into fists in my lap, nails digging into my skin.

While they carried on like I didnt exist, I quietly pulled out my phone and opened an email from my cousin, Nico. My heart fluttered when I saw the flight confirmation.

Below the details, hed added a message:

Heres another flight option. It leaves tonight at 9 PM. I really hope you make this one.

A small smile touched my lips.

I typed back quickly:

Thank you. Im sorry I missed the last flight.

Almost immediately, his reply came through:

What actually happened that day? You dont have to protect me.

My fingers hovered. Nico had always been my shield. If he knew the truth, hed start a legal warand I didnt want more destruction on my conscience.

So I answered instead:

Ill explain soon. I just need to leave first.

Leaving was all that mattered now.

Up front, Mark laughed softly, apologizing to Nina for something trivial, playing the attentive partner. Yet I could feel his gaze flicking toward me, searching for a reaction.

I gave him nothing.

That same irritation Id seen in his eyes before surfaced again. He hated being ignored.

Youve been glued to your phone since we got in, he snapped. Who are you talking to?

Just reading the news, I replied calmly, eyes fixed on my digital boarding pass.

He didnt believe me.

Without warning, he reached back and ripped the phone from my hands. Anger surged through menot fear, just pure, burning rage.

Whats the passcode? he demanded.

I laughed softly. The day we met. You knowthe day I made the biggest mistake of my life. Shouldnt be hard to remember. You were charming for about five minutes before becoming unbearable.

He scowled and tried once. Twice. Three times.

Locked.

Nina leaned over, voice dripping with mock sympathy. Just drop it, babe. Its not like she has anyone left to talk to. Or any pride. Who else would bother replying to her now?

She winked at me.

I stared back at her, silent.

And for the first time, I realized something important.

They thought I was broken.

They had no idea I was already planning my escape.

Claras POV

When we arrived at the estate, he guided his nauseated, morning-sick mistress up to the master suite, his hand firm on her lower back. He instructed the chef to prepare her favorite dishes, then lingered in the doorway for a moment as if savoring her approval.

On his way back downstairs, he caught sight of me trudging toward the guest wing, dragging my suitcase behind me like it contained everything I had left in the world.

He paused mid-step and muttered over his shoulder to the chef, Prepare two more platesthe ones Clara likes. Set three places.

That snapped my attention. Did I imagine it, or was that the faintest hint of regret? A pathetic attempt to show he cared, even just enough to set a table for me while his mistress rested in our bedroom?

I didnt know whether to laugh at the absurdity or scream at the nerve. He couldnt even remember the exact day we met, yet now he expected the chef to prepare my favorite roasted lamb with rosemary as if a dish could erase betrayal.

I clenched my teeth, said nothing, and kept moving.

The guest room door closed quietly behind me, the click of the lock sounding heavier than any insult. The silence was suffocating, as if the walls themselves acknowledged I didnt belong here anymore.

I set my bag on the edge of the bed and knelt to unzip it. The moment the zipper slid open, my stomach dropped.

Every single item of clothingtorn. Shredded into neat, deliberate strips. Whoever did this wanted to make a statement. My heart sank.

Then I noticed what remained: tucked deep in the lining, my passport, my plane tickets, and every other document I couldnt afford to lose. Untouched. Protected.

I sat back for a moment, stunned, anger and disbelief warring for dominance. And of course, I didnt have to guess who was responsible. Nina. Only she would be petty enough to mutilate my belongings while leaving the things that mattered most. But there was no time for confrontationnot yet. I had to focus on leaving this place in one piece.

I crouched by the bed, shoving the remaining salvageable items into my bag, when the door creaked open behind me.

Nina appeared, one hand dangling a small black bottle. Her eyes swept the room as if she were critiquing an art gallery, nose wrinkling like she had just smelled something offensive. Then her gaze landed on meand if looks could kill, Id already be nothing but ash.

Well, Clara, she purred, tilting her head with that fake sweetness that always made my skin crawl, you really are something. After everything Ive humiliated you with in front of every socialite, every investor, every influential person in the city, you still cling to this place like its your lifeline.

Her voice dripped mockery.

Oh, right. Your grandmother passed last month, didnt she? Now that your only family is gone, I suppose it makes sense. Youre desperate, clinging to Mark like hes the only anchor left in your life.

Then she giggled. Light, cruel, infuriating.

Remember how you begged him to fly you out to see her one last time? You want to know why he didnt?

She waved her phone like a weapon.

Because he promised to take me to the coast that day. We watched the sunset together. That kiss photo? Thats when it was taken.

Her words sank into me slowly, spreading like cracks across glass. The more I processed, the hotter my blood became.

She had done this deliberately. She had known. She had flaunted that photo, reminded me of the helicopter, reminded me of the one day Id fallen to my knees, begging him to let me see my grandmother one last time. And he had chosen her.

The weight of it pressed down on me, jaw tightening, fists clenching at my sides. My control snapped.

You think this is funny? I hissed, voice low and sharp. You think destroying what little I have left makes you something? Like you could ever be his equal?

Nina raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a predatory smile. I dont need to be his equal. I already have everything.

You have nothing, I spat back, teeth bared. Youre a parasite. A leech sucking scraps from his life, from mine!

Clara's POV

She shrugged, lips curling with satisfaction. Still more than youll ever have.

That did it.

I knocked the phone out of her hand. It skidded across the floor and cracked loudly against the marble.

Before my mind could catch up, my body moved. I surged forward, fingers closing around her throat, rage roaring through me so fast it stole my breath.

The small black bottle slipped from Ninas grip and struck the floor with a dull, hollow sound. The cap rolled. And then

The smell hit.

Gasoline.

Sharp. Acrid. Violent. It flooded the air in an instant, searing my nose, burning my throat as it spread across the room like a living thing.

We struggledhands shoving, nails clawing, bodies crashing into furniture. She kicked wildly, heel striking something metallic. Maybe it was a lighter. Maybe it was a spark from metal scraping stone.

Either way, the fire didnt hesitate.

Flames exploded outward, hungry and fast, licking the curtains, racing along the walls like theyd been waiting for permission. Heat slammed into my skin. Smoke poured in, thick and black, swallowing the room whole.

My bodystill weak, still recoveringbetrayed me. My lungs seized. I collapsed, coughing so hard it felt like my chest might split open. The world tilted, spinning through fire and shadow.

The last thing I saw before everything went dark was the ceiling igniting, flames crawling across it like something alive.

Clara!

A voice tore through the smoke.

Sir, its not safe! Security is on the wayyou cant go in there!

Move! Mark shouted. Shes still inside!

I tried to open my eyes. Was it real? Or was my mind playing cruel tricks on me? Had he really said my name? Had he actually come for me?

N-Mark, Nina cried weakly. Im here too. Pleasesave me. Save our baby.

For a heartbeat, hope flared inside me. Pathetic. Fragile. Dangerous. I wanted to believejust for a secondthat hed fight for me. That I still mattered enough to run into fire for.

Then reality crashed down.

He hadnt charged in because of me. He hadnt come because he cared. He came because people were watching. Because the press would hear about it. Because a billionaire CEO couldnt afford to look like a coward.

And the moment Nina called out?

He didnt hesitate.

He lifted her like she was priceless, shielding her from the smoke, carrying her out while I lay choking on the floor, fire and darkness closing in.

Time blurred. Minutesor maybe longerpassed.

After ensuring she was safe, he tore through the estate, shouting my name, searching every wing.

But I was already gone.

I still dont know how I made it out.

The fire was everywhere, roaring in my ears, stealing the air from my lungs. Smoke shredded my throat, dizziness crashing over me in brutal waves. But something raw and desperate took overpure instinct.

I crawled. Dragged myself. My fingers brushed against my bag. I grabbed it with shaking hands, clutching it to my chest like it was the last thing tethering me to life.

I stumbled toward a window already cracked from the heat and threw myself through it.

Glass tore at my skin as I hit the lawn outside, rolling hard, gasping. My legs collapsed beneath me. My chest burned. But I was alive.

I didnt look back.

One of the service corridors mustve been untouchedor maybe the fire just hadnt reached it yet. I dont remember much. Just staggering through smoke-free darkness, barely upright, until I found the rear exit.

Cold night air hit my face as I fell outside, coughing violently, body shaking uncontrollably.

No one saw me.

No one followed.

And I didnt stop.

Not when my knees buckled. Not when I had to grip street signs, lean against parked cars, drag myself forward inch by inch. I kept going because I knewdeep downthat if I stopped, if I let myself be found again, I wouldnt survive a second time.

I disappeared into the city.

Hours later, I boarded a flight bound for the Northern Territories.

Just before takeoff, my phone vibrated.

A message from Mark.

[Stop playing games, Clara. I dont have time for this.]

I stared at the screen, feeling nothing.

Then I powered the phone off and leaned back in my seat as the plane began to movefinally, mercifully, carrying me away.

Marks POV

[Tomorrow at 10 AM, Nina has her prenatal check-up. Youll go with her. Get your annual health screening while youre at it.]

There was no reply. Not that I expected one. I didnt know it at the time, but Clara had already removed her SIM card, powered down her phone, and disappeared completely. Just like that, she had vanished from my world, leaving me with the unmistakable finality of a door slammed shutone that might never open again.

---

The next morning, the private clinic hummed quietly, the soft scent of antiseptic mixing with the faint aroma of fresh flowers. Nina clung to my arm as if I were her only anchor.

Mark, is the baby okay? she whispered, panic threading through her voice.

I kept my tone calm, steady. The doctor said the babys fine. No complications from the incident at the estate.

Relief flooded her features. Thank the stars. Youve been so quiet since we arrived. I was worried something went wrong.

Something had.

I couldnt shake the image of Clara from my mindthe way she had looked at me amid the chaos, not pleading, not begging, just quiet and resigned, as if she already knew I wouldnt come for her. And the cruelest truth? She was right. I hadnt carried her out. I had carried Nina.

---

After lunch with Nina, I dropped her off at the Sterling estate and went straight to the council hall.

Thats when my assistant caught up with me.

Mr. Mark, Mr. Kirkland has returned from Europe. Hes requested a full executive briefing with the board.

I nodded, continuing my stride, but beneath the practiced calm, something sharp twisted in my chest. Clara was nowhere to be found. She hadnt gone to the clinic. She hadnt returned to the estate. None of the staff had seen her leave. No one had any idea where she could be. She had vanished completelyand I had no clue when or how she had slipped out of my life.

Where the hell had she gone?

I quickened my pace, then spoke over my shoulder to my assistant. Send someone to retrieve a few of the newest designer handbags and that custom jewelry set.

For Nina?

I paused, teeth clenched. Send it to the Sterling estate.

If Clara was anywhere, that would be her destination.

And if she wasnt?

I didnt want to finish the thought. My chest tightened, unease gnawing at me relentlessly.

What if she was hurt? Still recovering somewhere, alone?

What if shed truly left for good?

---

A week later, just past midnight, I returned home, bone-deep exhausted after a marathon strategy session. The estate was silent, moonlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows.

A soft figure curled on the couch caught my eye, swathed in silk, as though a memory had been left behind in my absence.

I exhaled, a low chuckle escaping me. Clara I told you. Once Im done with work, I always come back. You dont need to

I stopped mid-sentence.

It wasnt Clara.

Ninas face fell as she looked up at me, a hint of fear in her wide eyes. Mark she hasnt returned. Not once. Ive sent her so many messagesapologies, explanationsnothing. Maybe I should leave I dont know what else to do. She sniffled, on the verge of tears.

I let out a long breath and lowered myself beside her, pressing a hand to her forehead. Not tenderness, not affectionmore routine than anythingbut it offered reassurance. Dont overthink it. The baby needs stability. Calm surroundings. This this is your home now. Yours and the babys. Whether Clara agrees or not.

---

Later, I stood alone on the terrace, robe loosely tied around my shoulders, the city lights stretching endlessly before me. I lit a cigarettesomething I hadnt done in yearsbut tonight, I didnt care. The craving wasnt for nicotine; it was for the restless tension gnawing at me from inside.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled, fingers pausing over the last name at the very bottom of my contacts. Clara. I hovered over the call button, my chest tight with everything I wanted to saybut didnt. In the end, I didnt dial.

I sent a message instead.

[Clara, tomorrow is Mr. Kirklands 80th birthday. Dont cause a scene. Keep your distance from Nina and the baby.]

I stared at the screen, chest constricting. For a moment, I wasnt sure if it was the cold night air, or something else entirely. No. Not panic. Something sharper. Something heavier.

Marks POV

Mr. Kirklands 80th birthday was the sort of event that demanded perfection: flawless appearances, polite smiles, discreet nods of deference, and an ironclad control over ones image. The kind of gathering where any slip could echo for years.

I arrived at the grand ballroom with Nina at my side, her rounded belly now impossible to miss. Eyes followed us as we walked in, whispers circling like small, invisible currents through the crowd, but I ignored them. My face stayed neutral, a mask of detachment, while every instinct screamed that something was wrong.

It wasnt until my grandfather himself entered the room that I released Ninas hand. Not just a patriarch of the family, Mr. Kirkland was a living legend in the business worlda man who had built an empire and demanded loyalty, but who had always treated me with the same careful, almost fatherly affection he reserved for family.

Where is Clara? he asked directly, his eyes locking onto mine.

I swallowed, keeping my voice steady despite the gnawing anxiety in my chest. Shes busy. She wanted to prepare something special for your birthday, I said, forcing a confidence I didnt feel. Shell be here later.

He studied me for a long moment, his gaze sharp and searching, and yet he said nothing more.

Two hours passed. The room was filled with the hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the polite applause of guests greeting one another. But still, Clara hadnt appeared. I kept my eyes on the doors, pretending not to care, but inside, my stomach knotted tighter with every passing minute. Where the hell was she?

Just as I was about to excuse myself and make a call, a young courier appeared in the doorway, carrying three carefully wrapped packages. His hands trembled slightly, either from the weight or the tension in the room, and his gaze flitted between me and my grandfather as if unsure whom to address first.

Delivery for Mr. Kirkland, he announced, voice polite but firm. From Ms. Clara.

My chest tightened. The mention of her name stopped every thought for a second.

I cleared my throat and said, Give them to me.

He hesitated. I was instructed to deliver these directly to the Mr., sir. Her instructions were very specific.

Of course they were.

I stepped aside, gesturing toward my grandfather. Then do as she requested.

Mr. Kirkland was midway through a quiet conversation with another board member when the courier approached. He nodded respectfully and said, These are from Ms. Clara, sir. She sends her birthday wishes.

The Mr. blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. Why didnt she deliver them herself? Where is she?

The courier shook his head apologetically. Im only tasked with delivering these, sir. Nothing more.

My grandfathers brow furrowed, his expression heavy with disappointment. Still, he accepted the gifts with his usual measured grace, placing them carefully on the table beside him. His fingers lingered on one of the boxes, as though expecting it to speak for her, to offer an explanation she hadnt given in person.

I stepped closer, trying to control the whirlwind of emotions swirling in my chest. Do you want me to open them for you? I asked, voice quiet.

No. Ill do it myself, he replied, his tone gentle but firm.

The first package revealed an exquisitely embroidered tapestry. The craftsmanship was extraordinarymonths of painstaking work, every thread chosen and placed with precision. I knew how much effort shed poured into it; I had watched her fingers bleed as she labored over every stitch. The design was a celebration of longevity and legacy, a quiet, heartfelt gift meant to honor my grandfather. His eyes glistened as he lifted it out, tracing the delicate details with trembling hands.

The second package came next, wrapped in soft velvet. Inside was a set of heirloom jewelrypieces that had belonged to my grandfathers late wife, the very same set Clara had worn on our wedding day. My throat constricted as I stared at them. Why would she return something so personal? The weight of it pressed against me, and my palms began to sweat.

Then the third box sat there, silent and heavy. I couldnt wait any longer. My hands moved before I could think, snatching it roughly from the couriers arms. My grandfather gave me a sharp glance but didnt stop me.

I tore the wrapping away, heart pounding, and froze.

The contents were unlike anything I could have expected. My face went pale, and my breath caught in my throat. My fingers trembled as I held the box, unable to process the sheer audacity and heartbreak in what Clara had sent.

It was impossible to look away.