PREGNANT BY MY BILLIONAIRE ENEMY

Ava Carter looked at herself in the mirror one last time. The white gown fit perfectly. The soft lace hugged her waist, and the tiny pearls sewn into the veil shimmered under the dressing room lights. She had imagined this moment for years. Today, she was supposed to marry the man she loved. A knock sounded on the door. “The ceremony starts in ten minutes,” the wedding planner said with a bright smile. “Are you ready?” Ava smiled back, but something didn’t feel right. “I just need to find Daniel first.” “He isn’t with his groomsmen?” “I thought he was.” She picked up her phone and frowned. Six missed calls from her father. None from Daniel. She dialed his number. It rang once. Twice. Then went to voicemail. A strange feeling settled in her chest. Daniel always answered her calls. Always. “It’s probably wedding nerves,” she whispered to herself. Even she didn’t believe it. Holding up the skirt of her dress, Ava stepped into the hallway. The hotel buzzed with excitement. Guests laughed. Staff hurried from one room to another carrying flowers and champagne. Everything looked perfect. Everything except the growing fear inside her. When she reached the groom’s suite, she noticed the door wasn’t fully closed. She was about to knock when she heard Daniel’s voice. “I deserve an award for pretending to love her this long.” Ava froze. A woman’s laugh followed. “You almost had me fooled too.” Her heart skipped. That laugh… No. Not Emily. Anyone but Emily. Daniel laughed again. “After today, her father’s shares become mine. Once the paperwork is done, Ava won’t matter anymore.” Ava’s fingers tightened around her bouquet. Her breathing became uneven. Emily spoke again, her voice light and playful. “Then we won’t have to hide anymore.” The bouquet slipped from Ava’s hand. White roses scattered across the floor. The sound made the room go quiet. Slowly, Ava pushed the door open. Daniel looked up first. Emily turned a second later. For a long moment, no one spoke. Her fiancé’s tie hung loosely around his neck. Emily’s lipstick was smudged. The necklace around her sister’s neck caught Ava’s eye. It was their mother’s necklace. The one her mother had asked Ava to wear on her wedding day. “You…” Ava whispered. Emily didn’t even look embarrassed. “I guess you know now.” Ava looked at Daniel, praying he would deny it. Tell me she’s lying. Tell me I’m dreaming. Instead, he sighed. “I didn’t want you to find out like this.” A small laugh escaped Ava’s lips. It sounded nothing like laughter. “You didn’t want me to find out?” she asked. “You were going to marry me in twenty minutes.” Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. “It was never personal.” Those words hit harder than anything else. Never personal. Three years together. Hundreds of promises. Plans for a home. Children. Growing old together. Never personal. Tears blurred her vision. She turned to Emily. “How long?” Emily didn’t hesitate. “Almost two years.” Ava felt her knees weaken. Her own sister. The little girl she’d protected since childhood. The person she’d defended every time their parents argued with her. Emily had smiled in her face while stealing the man she loved. Daniel stepped closer. “You’ll be okay.” She stared at him in disbelief. “Is that really all you have to say?” “It’s better this way.” Ava slowly slipped the engagement ring off her finger. Her hands shook so badly that she almost dropped it. She looked at the ring for one last second before placing it on the table between them. “I hope,” she said quietly, “one day you both know what it feels like to lose everything.” Neither of them stopped her as she walked away. Outside, rain had started to fall. Within seconds, her dress was soaked. Guests called her name from behind, but she kept walking. She didn’t know where she was going. She only knew she couldn’t stay. Her phone vibrated. It was another message from an unknown number. She almost ignored it. Then she read the words. Don’t trust anyone not even your family. If you want to know why Daniel really chose you, come to the Grand Regent Hotel. Room 2708. Come alone. Ava stopped walking. The rain ran down her face as she stared at the screen. Who knew about Daniel? Who was watching her? And why did they know exactly where she was? With her heart pounding, she looked across the street. The Grand Regent Hotel stood there, its golden lights glowing through the rain. Someone was waiting for her. And somehow… They already knew her life had just fallen apart.