MADAM CEO IS NO ONE’S PAWN

Louisa traced invisible patterns on the tablecloth with her finger. Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears, and each beat reminded her how nervous she was. She stood in the middle of their softly lit dining room, fluffing the same cushion for what felt like the hundredth time. She had to make sure every detail was perfect for tonight. Everything had to be just right - Sebastian's reaction, his shock, his joy, all of it. She had scattered rose petals from their front door all the way to the dining table, which she'd set with shaking hands just an hour ago. In the center sat a cake with white frosting and the words "Happy 5th Anniversary" written in delicate red letters. She'd even made all his favorite foods - grilled sea bass, ginger chicken, and spicy tofu. She could still smell the garlic in the air. She let out a tired sigh. The sound was heavy with exhaustion. Walking to the window, she stared down at the empty street. Her phone shook in her hand, the screen still dark. She rubbed her temples in gentle circles, trying to get rid of the headache pounding behind her eyes. Sebastian promised he'd be home by seven. She'd reminded him over and over because tonight really mattered to both of them. She couldn't sit still. Her hands were shaking from all the nervous energy running through her body. Maybe Sebastian got stuck at work. Maybe it was traffic, or he forgot his phone somewhere. She called his number again. Straight to voicemail. Again. For the hundredth time. Her stomach twisted with a sick mix of dread and hope. The clock's ticking echoed in her ears. Each second that passed reminded her that time was slipping away, and her mind raced with thoughts of what could have happened to him. She tried to calm her breathing while smoothing down her dress and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear with trembling hands. Sweat beaded on her forehead even though the room was cool. She felt clumsy and unsteady, not like her usual self. She forced herself to move toward the door. Maybe she should go to his office and check on him. But she'd barely taken two steps when the front door handle turned and Sebastian walked in like a stranger. No smile, no apology. Just cold, narrow eyes she couldn't read. She smiled, trying to hide how worried she was, and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Sebastian?" Her voice shook. "Where have you been? I was worried. You didn't answer any of my calls. I... I cooked your favorite dishes, and I made a cake. Did you see the..." She kept rambling. "I was busy," he mumbled, cutting her off. His voice was so quiet it seemed like he was talking to himself instead of her. She gripped the hem of her dress tightly, bunching the fabric in her hands. "I cooked. Your favorites. Won't you say anything?" Her voice cracked. "I don't really care about the food, Louisa." He muttered angrily. His words were flat and lifeless, like he had no interest in what she was saying. Her smile faded, and her voice shook like a scared bird trying to fly. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling. "We need to talk." He trailed off. His eyes looked flat when he looked at her. There was no warmth or depth there. It was disturbing. He looked distant, like he was looking through her instead of at her. She ran her fingers through her hair with shaking hands. A hard knot formed in her throat, making it hard to breathe. "Sure. What's going on? You're scaring me. Is it the company?" she asked quietly. He walked past her and tossed a folder onto the table. The usual warmth in his voice was gone, replaced by cold distance. "I need you to sign these," he said coldly. Her thoughts spun in anxious circles, drowning out any logical thinking. She felt helpless and scared, and her voice cracked even more. "What... what is this?" she choked out. He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows in a mocking way. "Divorce papers," he sneered. Her breath caught in her throat. She clutched at her chest, her fingers trembling like she was trying to keep her racing heart from jumping out of her body. "Sebastian... what are you saying?" she asked, her voice breaking. Her voice felt like a thin thread about to snap under the weight of her panic. Her skin felt clammy and cold, giving her goosebumps. His eyes narrowed and his face twisted into a disgusted sneer. "I'm saying I want a divorce." His lip curled up with disgust the more he looked at her. It was like looking at a complete stranger. All the color drained from her face. She tried to cover her face to hide the terrified scream trying to escape her mouth. Her chest felt so tight she could barely breathe. "But... but yesterday... you made me sign my company over to you." Her eyes filled with tears. Her heart hammered against her ribs like thunder echoing through her body. "You said it was to help me, that I was too sick to manage it. You told me we were partners for life and that nothing would change," she whispered as tears ran down her face. Her legs felt like jelly. Her knees buckled as fear ran through her veins, making her weaker with every passing second. Her hands shook uncontrollably, betraying how terrified she was. Sebastian wrinkled his nose and furrowed his brows with disgust. He turned his head to the side, refusing to look at her. "And what do you expect? For me to stay married to you? That's laughable." His gaze grew even harder. She took a step back, her face pale. She grabbed the nearest chair for support, digging her fingers into the hard surface, desperate for something to hold onto in this storm of panic. "No. I won't sign it. Not after what I gave you... what we built." Her lips trembled. His mouth twisted into a sneer and he slammed his hands down hard on the table. She flinched back. "You didn't build anything. You inherited that company. I just took what was always meant to be mine." His eyes were hard as ice. The light in her eyes dimmed, becoming hollow and distant. She felt disconnected, like she wasn't fully present anymore. "You married me for the company," she said, her lips quivering. "Finally catching up, Louisa? Yes. That company was the only thing I ever wanted. You? You were just the key to getting it," he said, glaring at her. She flinched. Her thoughts felt sluggish, like they were moving through mud. She felt like she was floating on a cloud, disconnected from the world below, numb to the emotions flooding through her. Her stomach clenched into a tight ball. She could feel acid rising in her belly as sharp pain shot through her chest. "But I loved you. I still do," she said, her voice breaking. "That was your mistake," he bit out, making her flinch again. The way he looked at her made her sink deeper into despair. The contempt in his eyes made her breath catch. "You made me believe you loved me, Sebastian." Her voice caught in her throat - a strangled whisper that revealed the fear coiling inside her. "And you made it so easy. You were so desperate for love." His eyes twitched with disgust. Her vision blurred. The edges of everything around her warped as fear and panic clouded her sight. She leaned on the table, pressing her hands to her heart, trying to ease the pain shooting through her chest. She covered her mouth as a cough shook her body. She was shocked to see blood bloom across her pale skin. "Please, Sebastian... I made everything perfect tonight. I wanted to surprise you. I... I was going to tell you..." She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again, blinking hard. She pressed a shaking hand to her still-flat stomach. "I'm pregnant," she confessed, biting her lip hard.