Chapter 4 — The Secret She Almost Told Him
1428 Words
The bedroom felt suffocatingly quiet. Amelia stared blankly at the pregnancy report in her trembling hands while Sophia’s warning echoed endlessly in her mind.
“I’ll make sure he never believes it’s his.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
She hated that Sophia’s words affected her, but deep down she knew Ethan might truly doubt her. After all, he already believed she married him for money.
Would he think she deliberately got pregnant to secure her position beside him?
The thought alone made her stomach twist painfully.
A soft sound at the doorway startled her.
Amelia looked up instantly.
Ethan had returned. Still dressed in his dark suit, tie slightly loosened, his expression exhausted after a long day at work, but the moment his eyes landed on her face… his gaze sharpened.
She quickly lowered the pregnancy report onto the bed beside her.
Too late.
Ethan noticed immediately. “What’s that?”
His deep voice made her heartbeat quicken instantly.
“Nothing.”
Ethan slowly walked toward her.
The air between them became tense immediately.
Amelia’s fingers instinctively moved toward the paper again, as if protecting it.
That alone made Ethan suspicious.
“What are you hiding?”
“I said it’s nothing.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened slightly. He hated dishonesty, especially after years of betrayal and manipulation from people around him.
Without another word, he reached toward the paper.
Amelia grabbed it first. “No!”
The desperation in her voice froze both of them.
Silence filled the room.
Ethan stared at her intensely now. “What’s wrong with you lately?”
Amelia looked away. “I’m tired.”
“That’s not the answer I asked for.” His tone deepened slightly. Dangerously calm.
Amelia swallowed hard, her heart pounded violently against her chest.
Tell him.
Just tell him.
But then Sophia’s voice echoed again.
“He’ll never believe it’s his.”
Fear spread through her instantly.
Ethan noticed the panic flickering across her face, and something inside him shifted uncomfortably.
She looked afraid.
Not manipulative.
Not calculating.
Just… scared.
His eyes narrowed slightly. “Amelia.”
Her name sounded lower this time.
Softer.
And somehow that almost made everything worse.
Because for one dangerous second, she wanted to trust him.
But before she could speak, his phone rang.
The moment Ethan saw the caller ID, his expression changed slightly.
Sophia.
Amelia noticed instantly.
Of course.
Ethan answered after a brief pause. “What is it?”
Sophia’s voice sounded weak even through the speaker. “Ethan… I don’t feel well again.”
Amelia lowered her gaze immediately, umiliation burned through her chest.
Again.
Always Sophia.
Ethan rubbed his forehead slightly. “I’ll send someone.”
“No.” Sophia’s voice softened. “I just wanted you.”
Silence.
Then Ethan exhaled slowly. “I’ll come.”
The words shattered whatever courage Amelia had left.
Ethan ended the call and grabbed his keys from the bedside table.
Amelia stared at him in disbelief. “You’re leaving?”
“She’s sick.”
Amelia laughed softly, but this time, there was no sadness in the sound, only disappointment.
“Your wife fainted today.”
Ethan’s expression hardened immediately. “That’s different.”
“How?”
“She needs me.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Ethan realized the mistake instantly, because Amelia’s face changed completely. Like something inside her finally died.
The room became painfully quiet.
Then slowly… Amelia nodded. “I understand now.”
Something about her tone unsettled Ethan immediately.
Cold.
Calm.
Too calm.
But before he could say anything else, Amelia suddenly asked, “If Sophia asked you to divorce me… would you?”
Ethan froze.
The question hit harder than expected.
His silence stretched too long, and Amelia smiled bitterly.
“That answers enough.” She stood up slowly and walked toward the window, turning her back to him.
Ethan stared at her silently.
For the first time since this marriage began… guilt pressed heavily against his chest. But he buried it quickly.
Emotions complicated things, and Ethan Black hated complications.
“I’ll be back later,” he said finally.
Amelia didn’t answer.
Ethan lingered for another second, then walked out.
The door closed quietly behind him, and Amelia finally broke down. Tears streamed endlessly down her face as she clutched her stomach protectively.
“How can I bring you into this kind of life?” she whispered painfully.
Her baby deserved love.
Warmth.
A family.
Not a father emotionally chained to another woman.
Amelia closed her eyes tightly, then slowly made a decision.
She wouldn’t tell Ethan.
Not yet.
Meanwhile, across the city, Sophia sat comfortably inside her penthouse drinking wine.
Perfectly healthy.
Perfectly fine.
The moment Ethan entered, she smiled victoriously. “You came.”
Ethan looked irritated immediately. “You said you were sick.”
Sophia shrugged lightly. “I missed you.”
Ethan’s face darkened. “I don’t have time for games.”
Sophia walked closer slowly. “But you still came anyway.”
That silence alone satisfied her. She touched his chest gently. “You’re still wearing your wedding ring.”
Ethan grabbed her wrist instantly. “Enough.”
Sophia studied him carefully, then finally asked the question she truly cared about. “Have you slept with her yet?”
Ethan’s expression turned icy. “That’s none of your business.”
Sophia smiled faintly.
That reaction already told her enough.
Good.
Because if Amelia became emotionally important to Ethan… things would become troublesome.
Sophia had not spent years planning her return just to lose him now. Not to some weak little wife.
She stepped closer. “You still love me.”
Ethan’s gaze darkened dangerously, but before he could answer, his phone vibrated again.
Daniel.
Ethan answered immediately.
“What?”
His assistant sounded nervous. “Sir… there’s an issue.”
Ethan frowned. “What issue?”
“It’s regarding Mrs. Black.”
Ethan straightened instantly. “What happened?”
Daniel hesitated, then finally said, “She left the mansion.”
Silence.
Dead silence.
Sophia noticed the immediate shift in Ethan’s expression. Cold panic flashed across his eyes for the first time.
“When?” Ethan demanded sharply.
“About twenty minutes ago.”
“Why wasn’t I informed immediately?”
“We thought she was just going out briefly, but—”
“Find her.” His voice turned dangerously cold. “Now.”
The call ended.
Sophia stared at him carefully. “You’re overreacting.”
Ethan grabbed his coat immediately. “She’s alone.”
Sophia laughed lightly. “She’s an adult, Ethan.”
But Ethan ignored her completely. Because suddenly a terrible feeling settled heavily in his chest.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
*****
Rain poured heavily outside once again. Amelia sat quietly inside a taxi, clutching her small suitcase tightly.
She hadn’t taken much, just enough for a few days.
The driver glanced at her through the mirror. “Miss, where exactly are we going?”
Amelia looked down silently.
She didn’t know.
That realization hurt more than anything.
She had nowhere.
No home.
No safe place.
And now… a child depending on her.
Her hand slowly rested against her stomach again.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered softly.
The taxi stopped briefly at a red light.
And suddenly, bright headlights flashed beside them.
Amelia turned her head instinctively, then froze.
A black Rolls-Royce.
Ethan’s car.
Her heartbeat stopped completely.
The tinted window slowly lowered. Revealing Ethan’s dangerously dark expression inside.
For several seconds neither moved.
Neither breathed.
Rain poured heavily between them, then Ethan opened his car door and stepped out into the storm. His expensive suit became soaked instantly, but he didn’t seem to care. His eyes stayed locked onto Amelia’s terrified face.
He walked toward the taxi slowly, then opened her door himself.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” His voice was terrifyingly calm.
Amelia gripped her suitcase tighter. “I’m leaving.”
The moment those words left her mouth, something dark flashed across Ethan’s face.
“No,” he said coldly.
Not “don’t.”
Not “please stay.”
Just one dangerously possessive word.
“No.”
Amelia’s chest tightened. “You said you didn’t want this marriage.”
Ethan stared at her intensely through the rain, then his gaze dropped slightly to her trembling hands.
To the suitcase.
To the tears she was desperately trying not to show.
And suddenly, for the first time in years Ethan Black felt fear.
Real fear.
Because something inside him whispered dangerously:
If she leaves tonight, she may never come back.
- Writer
