BOUGHT BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

TWO PINK LINES

CHAPTER 12: Two Pink Lines

I stared at the pregnancy test in my shaking hand.

Two pink lines.

Pregnant.

I was pregnant for Ethan Blackwood.

My mind went back to that night. Three weeks ago. The night Valentina came back. The night he said he had only three months left to save his empire. The night we broke every rule in the contract.

He had been so desperate. So possessive. So gentle after.

And now... this.

A baby was growing inside me. His heir. The very thing that would save his entire billionaire empire.

I should have been happy. This was what the contract wanted. This was what would give him everything.

But tears burned my eyes.

Because yesterday I heard his secretary on the phone.

"Yes, sir, Valentina's offer still stands. If Miss Amara fails to produce an heir in time, Miss Valentina is willing to..."

His secretary saw me and quickly hung up.

Was Ethan going back to Valentina? Was he planning to replace me if I didn't get pregnant fast enough?

My hand went to my flat stomach.

No. I couldn't tell him. Not yet.

If he knew I was pregnant, he would keep me just for the baby. Not because he wanted me.

I grabbed my phone and called my best friend.

"Chioma, I need to leave the mansion. Today. Can I come stay with you?"

"Amara, what happened? Did he hurt you?"

"No," I whispered, looking at the test again. "He gave me exactly what he wanted. And now I have to protect it from him and from Valentina."

I packed a small bag. I left my wedding ring on the bedside table. And I left a note.

Ethan,

You said the contract ends in 10 months. Let's make it end now. I can't be something you bought anymore.

Thank you for saving my mother.

- Amara

I walked out of the billionaire's mansion, with his baby inside me, and no plan where to go.

Behind me, I didn't see the black car parked across the street.

Valentina was inside it, smiling. On the phone she said, "She left just as you planned. Now, go tell Ethan his little wife ran away with another man."

The game was just beginning.