The sound of the rain outside was deafening as Elina sat in the living room, staring blankly at the fire flickering in the hearth. Her body felt heavy, the weight of everything she had said to Liam hanging over her like a storm cloud.
Will he leave me?
She couldn't shake the fear that had settled deep in her chest. The moment she had told him about the baby, a part of her had hoped he'd react with anger, disbelief, anything but the cold silence that followed. But Liam… he had just stood there, his face unreadable, and then he'd walked away without saying another word.
The ticking of the clock on the wall was the only sound that filled the room now, each second dragging longer than the last. She looked down at her hands, her fingers tracing the edges of her wedding ring. It felt like a mockery now—something that had once symbolized a promise, but now felt more like a chain, binding her to a man who couldn't even remember the night they shared.
Her phone buzzed, cutting through the silence. She glanced at the screen, her heart jumping in her chest. It was a message from her mother.
From: Mom
Elina, I've been trying to reach you. Your father wants you to meet him at the office today. It's urgent. He's very upset.
Her stomach churned. Her father had always been a man of control, but his anger was something Elina knew all too well. She had hoped to avoid him for a while longer, but now, the weight of everything—Liam's rejection, the truth about the baby, her father's growing expectations—was too much to ignore.
I'll be there.
She stood up and walked to the door, pulling her coat over her shoulders. A few minutes later, she was in the back of a car, heading toward her father's office in the heart of the city. She stared out of the window, lost in thought, until the car came to a stop in front of a sleek glass building.
The familiar feeling of dread settled in her chest as she stepped out of the car. Her father's office was at the top of the building, and every time she entered, she was reminded of the cold, imposing man who ruled her life with an iron fist.
Inside, Elina walked down the long corridor leading to her father's office. The walls were lined with expensive artwork, but none of it ever appealed to her. The only thing that mattered was the man behind the door ahead of her.
Her heart pounded as she knocked, the sound echoing through the quiet space.
"Enter," came the stern voice from the other side.
She opened the door slowly, stepping inside. Her father, Gregory Lanson, was seated behind a large mahogany desk, his sharp gaze fixed on her as she entered. The moment he saw her, his lips curled into a tight, controlled smile that made her skin crawl.
"Elina," he greeted her, his voice cold. "Sit."
She obeyed, taking the chair opposite him. Her father's presence had always been suffocating, and now, with everything else going on, it felt even worse.
"What's this about, Father?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
His eyes narrowed, and he folded his hands in front of him. "You've made quite the mess of things, Elina."
A chill ran down her spine.
"I don't know what you mean," she said, keeping her tone even.
"Don't play coy with me," he snapped. "You've been keeping secrets, and I don't appreciate it. You're married to Liam Collins, and yet you failed to mention that you're pregnant. That's a problem."
Her breath hitched. "What do you want me to say?"
"You're going to fix this, Elina. You'll tell Liam that this marriage was a mistake, that you're not ready to have his child. You'll return to me, and we'll find a way to repair the damage you've done."
Elina recoiled slightly, the words stinging. "You want me to what?"
Her father's eyes hardened. "I want you to end things with Liam. It's not too late to fix this. He's a businessman, not a family man. He doesn't need to be tied down by a child. And you…" He paused, his gaze piercing. "You've always had a better future waiting for you, Elina. Don't waste it on a man who can't even remember your name."
Her chest tightened, the words sinking deep into her heart. She had never been able to live up to her father's expectations. But now, with the baby on the way, things felt different. She couldn't just walk away from Liam—no matter how much he had hurt her with his indifference.
"I'm not going to give up on him," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the flood of emotions rushing through her.
Her father's expression darkened. "You will. And if you don't, I'll make sure this baby never sees the light of day."
Elina's heart stopped. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I have the power to control your future, Elina," Gregory said, his voice low and threatening. "You'll do as I say, or you'll regret it."
Terror coursed through her veins, but she refused to show it. "You can't control my life anymore," she whispered.
Her father leaned back in his chair, studying her for a long moment. "We'll see about that."
Elina left her father's office in a daze, the weight of his threat lingering in the air. The city felt colder than ever as she made her way back to her apartment. She didn't know what to do anymore. Her father's power was something she couldn't easily escape, but neither could she abandon the child growing inside her.
When she returned home, Liam wasn't there. His car was parked outside, but the penthouse felt empty. She went to their bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, her thoughts racing.
How am I supposed to do this alone?
It wasn't long before Liam arrived, his face grim. He walked into the room and stopped when he saw her sitting there, looking so fragile.
"Where were you?" Elina asked, her voice soft but tense.
"I had a meeting," he replied, his eyes cold. "I've been thinking about what you said."
Her heart skipped. "And?"
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with this. I don't remember that night. I don't remember you. And now there's a baby, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to feel."
Elina's eyes filled with tears, but she held them back. "I never asked for this either. But I'm not going to let you or anyone take this child away from me."
His gaze softened for a moment, then hardened again. "I'm not going to abandon you. But we need to figure this out, Elina. We need to know if we can trust each other. And we need to decide what comes next."
As the days passed, the tension between them remained. Elina tried to focus on the baby, on the new life she was bringing into the world, but Liam's confusion and her father's threats made everything seem impossible.