Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Chapter 26 It happened on an ordinary night. Leo was in a unk–work pressure combined with missing his hockey days had him brooding.

Hoping to lift his spirits, Ariana prepared his favorite comfort meal, complete with that red wine he loved.

The evening felt different–more intimate, the wine loosening their inhibitions and intensifying everything between them. That night, safe sex became an afterthought neither remembered.

One month later, Ariana sat in a sterile hospital hallway, staring at the test results in her hands, emotions colliding inside her.

Pregnant.

Part of her felt that unexpected flutter of joy. She loved Leo; they were building a life together, and a family was always somewhere in the future they’d imagined. But the timing couldn’t be worse. Reed Enterprises had barely stabilized, and Leo had just started talking seriously about a potential return to hockey.

What troubled her more were the subtle changes she’d noticed since moving to America.

Sometimes she’d catch Leo’s eyes going distant, like he was mentally where else–or with someone else. These moments left questions she couldn’t quite form into words.

“Everything good to go, Miss Collins?” The nurse’s cheerful voice yanked her back to reality “Yes, thanks,” she replied, tucking the report away and mentally rehearsing how to tell Leo.

Outside, she spotted him leaning against his car cigarette smoke curling from his fingers. He quickly stubbed it out when he saw her. “Hang on–let that clear first.”

A wave of surreal disorientation washed over her as their eyes met. His gaze was serious, unreadable. Was this how their life would unfold now? Marriage hastened by circumstance, parenthood reshuffling everything they’d planned?

“How’d it go with the baby?” Leo asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Ariana blinked, realizing he was asking about the checkup. She touched her stomach instinctively. “Doctor says everything looks healthy.”

Chapter 26 Leo didn’t even glance at the report, just helped her into the car. His luxury sedan purred to life as they headed into traffic. “Let’s grab dinner. I had Peter order ahead–all that healthy stuff you’re supposed to eat now.”

“Sure.”

His phone rang, the sound filling the car interior. Peter’s voice came through clearly: “Boss, that money transfer just went through.”

Ariana’s heart clenched. “My parents again? They asked for more money?”

Leo hesitated briefly, then shrugged it off. “Yeah something about your brother’s business venture.”

Frustration bubbled up inside her. “I specifically asked you not to send them anything else.”

Leo dismissed her concern with a wave. “It’s pocket change. Don’t worry about it.”

She wanted to push back–this was a pattern now, not an isolated incident–but swallowed her words. This wasn’t just about money; it was about Leo making decisions that affected them both without even a conversation. Since the company had found its footing, he’d slipped back into old habits she couldn’t quite understand.

Not today, though. Today she had bigger news. She touched her stomach gently, hoping this tiny life would bring them closer, not push them further apart.

We pulled up to the restaurant minutes later. Walking through an elaborate garden entrance, we were escorted to our private dining room.

Once seated, Leo brought up another topic. “Those morning sickness symptoms seem pretty rough. You should scale back at work. I’ve already told Peter to bring in someone to lighten your load.”

I managed a noncommittal “Hmm.”

Despite our marriage, I still served as Leo’s executive assistant at Reed Enterprises. Without that alcohol–fueled night three months ago and the surprise pregnancy that followed, we probably wouldn’t have rushed into marriage so quickly. Leo’s reaction to the news hadn’t exactly been enthusiasm–more like a man watching his careful plans derail.

Chapter 26 Leo didn’t even glance at the report, just helped her into the car. His luxury sedan purred to life as they headed into traffic. “Let’s grab dinner. I had Peter order ahead–all that healthy stuff you’re supposed to eat now.”

“Sure.”

His phone rang, the sound filling the car interior. Peter’s voice came through clearly: “Boss, that money transfer just went through.”

Ariana’s heart clenched. “My parents again? They asked for more money?”

Leo hesitated briefly, then shrugged it off. “Yeah, something about your brother’s business.

venture.”

Frustration bubbled up inside her. “I specifically asked you not to send them anything else.”

Leo dismissed her concern with a wave. “It’s pocket change. Don’t worry about it.”

She wanted to push back–this was a pattern now, not an isolated incident–but swallowed her words. This wasn’t just about money; it was about Leo making decisions that affected them both without even a conversation. Since the company had found its footing, he’d slipped back into old habits she couldn’t quite understand.

Not today, though. Today she had bigger news. She touched her stomach gently, hoping this tiny life would bring them closer, not push them further apart.

We pulled up to the restaurant minutes later. Walking through an elaborate garden entrance, we were escorted to our private dining room.

Once seated, Leo brought up another topic. “Those morning sickness symptoms seem pretty rough. You should scale back at work. I’ve already told Peter to bring in someone to lighten your load.”

I managed a noncommittal “Hmm.”

:ཥཾ ཛ༴ སཽ Despite our marriage, I still served as Leo’s executive assistant at Reed Enterprises. Without that alcohol–fueled night three months ago and the surprise pregnancy that followed, we probably wouldn’t have rushed into marriage so quickly. Leo’s reaction to the news hadn’t exactly been enthusiasm–more like a man watching his careful plans derail.

Chapter 28 I snapped back to the present, noticing the table was now filled with dishes. Everything. looked perfectly prepared for optimal prenatal mutrition.

Leo’s phone buzzed again. He motioned for me to start without him and stepped away to take the call.

I forked a piece of fish, but my stomach immediately revolted. Clamping my hand over my mouth, I bolted for the restroom, barely making it before the heaving started. When I emerged, pale and shaky, I pressed a hand against my abdomen and managed a grim smile.

I never imagined pregnancy would kick my ass his hard.

As I rounded the corner, a woman’s voice stopped me cold: “So I heard you finally got married?”

I froze, instinctively stepping back into the shadow of a large potted plant. Through the leaves, I could see Leo standing by a window, facing a woman in a white dress. They stood close–too close for casual acquaintances.

Melody Morgan.

The woman who apparently still owned his heart.

Leo said nothing. I watched Melody straighten her shoulders, her smile containing more. pain than happiness. “Every single day in Switzerland, you were all I thought about.”

“Really?” Leo finally spoke, his tone impossible to read.

Melody held his gaze one last beat before looking away, her voice softening to almost a whisper. “Do you ever still think about us? About what we had?”

My chest tightened until breathing became difficult. I backed away, not wanting to hear whatever came next.

But his response reached me anyway, each word like ice water down my spine.

“It’s always been you.”

Chapter 27 Chapter 27