THE BABY CONTRACT

The walls of the hospital were too white, too silent—like they were mocking her. Aisha sat stiffly on the examination bed, her fingers twisting the hem of her blouse until the fabric wrinkled. The smell of antiseptic clung to the air, sharp enough to sting her nose. Her heart hammered so loudly she swore the doctor could hear it. She didn’t want to know. She wanted to run, to pretend the last few weeks had been nothing but a blur of late nights and exhaustion. But denial was a fragile shield, and the doctor’s calm, professional voice shattered it in one clean blow. “Miss Daniels,” the woman said gently, sliding the file shut, “you’re pregnant. Approximately eight weeks along.” Pregnant. The word echoed like a curse. Her ears rang, her throat locked up, and her eyes blurred with tears she hadn’t realized were gathering. She pressed her trembling hands against her stomach, as though the gesture could erase the truth. Eight weeks. It lined up perfectly. Her mind betrayed her with the memory of him. The man with cold, calculating eyes. The man whose kiss had burned her like fire and ice that night, whose touch had both terrified and consumed her. The man she had sworn never to see again. Her pulse spiked. How could this be happening? It had been a mistake. She told herself that every time the memory clawed its way back into her thoughts. A charity gala, her father’s desperate plea for her to attend, the too-many glasses of champagne that loosened her guard. And then him. Damian Cole. Billionaire CEO. Ruthless, untouchable, the kind of man whispered about in boardrooms and splashed across tabloids. She had never believed the rumors until she saw the way people parted for him as he entered the ballroom, like shadows fleeing from fire. His gaze had landed on her once, sharp and devastating, and she had felt it all the way to her toes. Later, when he cornered her on the balcony, the city glittering below them, she should have walked away. But there was something in his silence, in the way he studied her, as though he already knew her fears. One kiss. That was all it took to ruin her. Aisha squeezed her eyes shut now, gripping her stomach tighter. That single mistake had carved a permanent mark on her life. And Damian Cole would never forgive her for it. Her phone buzzed violently in her purse, yanking her out of the nightmare replay. She fumbled for it, hoping—stupidly—that it was good news. It wasn’t. Landlord: Final warning. Pay your rent or leave by Friday. Her chest caved. Another blow. Her job barely covered groceries, and with her father’s debts piling higher each week, she was already stretched thin. On top of that, her mother’s hospital bills were bleeding her dry. Now… a baby? A bitter laugh escaped her lips, sharp and hollow. How was she supposed to raise a child when she couldn’t even hold her own life together? She was drowning already. But when her palm brushed against her belly again, her laughter died. Something fierce bloomed in her chest—fear, yes, but also defiance. This wasn’t just about her anymore. For the first time in weeks, her tears slowed. She whispered under her breath, barely audible even to herself: “I’ll protect you. No matter what it takes.” Aisha left the hospital, the afternoon sun blinding as it bounced off the glass buildings. People rushed around her, cars honked, life moved on as though the ground beneath her hadn’t just cracked open. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she walked, but her thoughts spiraled faster than her steps. There was no hiding this forever. Not from the world. Not from him. Damian Cole. She could already imagine the way he’d react. His cold glare, that voice dripping with disdain. He would accuse her of scheming, of trying to trap him. He would never believe this was fate’s cruel trick. Her hand shook as she dug her phone out of her purse. She had his number saved, though she had sworn never to use it. Her thumb hovered over the screen, her pulse thunderous in her ears. She could stay silent… but what if he found out on his own? The consequences would be worse. Her reflection in the glass window of a*****e caught her eye. Pale, frightened, but with a spark of determination in her gaze she hadn’t seen in years. She clenched her jaw and shoved the phone back into her purse. One thing was certain: she couldn’t avoid him forever. Because sooner or later, Damian Cole would find out the truth. And when he did… Her world would never be the same.