Pregnant After Divorcing the Cold CEO

Chapter 2: The Woman Who Disappeared

Emily sat on the cold bathroom floor long after the television broadcast had ended.

The shattered pregnancy test lay beside her, while tears continued to stream down her face. Her mind replayed the image of Adrian slipping the engagement ring onto Sophia Bennett's finger. Every smile, every flash of the cameras, every round of applause felt like another knife twisting in her chest.

She gently placed a trembling hand over her flat stomach.

"I'm sorry..."

"I thought your father would be happy."

Her voice cracked.

"But... I was wrong."

A sob escaped her lips as she hugged herself tightly. She had imagined countless times how she would tell Adrian she was pregnant. Maybe over dinner. Maybe after one of his rare smiles. She had dreamed he would finally look at her with warmth.

Instead...

He had announced another woman as his fiancée.

Emily wiped away her tears.

"No."

"I'm not going to cry anymore."

She took a deep breath.

"My babies deserve a strong mother."

For the first time in years, she made a decision entirely for herself.

She picked up her phone and dialed one number.

It was answered almost immediately.

"Emily?" a cheerful female voice said. "I was just about to call you. How did everything go?"

Emily closed her eyes.

"It's over, Lily."

There was silence.

Then Lily Morgan spoke softly.

"You signed the papers?"

"Yes."

"And Adrian?"

Emily laughed bitterly.

"He's engaged."

"What?"

Lily almost shouted.

"That's impossible! You just got divorced today!"

Emily looked at the dark television screen.

"It happened."

"I saw it myself."

Lily was silent for several seconds.

Then she sighed.

"Where are you?"

"At the apartment."

"I'm coming."

"You don't have to."

"I'm already grabbing my keys."

The call ended.

Emily smiled weakly.

Lily had always been like this.

Loud.

Impulsive.

Protective.

Exactly the kind of friend Emily needed.

...

An hour later.

The apartment door burst open.

Lily rushed inside carrying several shopping bags.

The moment she saw Emily's swollen eyes, she threw her arms around her.

"You idiot."

"You should've called me sooner."

Emily finally broke down again.

The two women stood there quietly until Emily's breathing steadied.

Lily guided her to the sofa.

"Now tell me everything."

Emily hesitated.

Then she slowly reached into her pocket.

She placed the pregnancy test on the table.

Lily stared at it.

Her mouth slowly fell open.

"No way..."

Emily nodded.

"I'm pregnant."

Lily looked from the test to Emily.

Then back again.

"Oh my God..."

"Does Adrian know?"

Emily shook her head.

"I was about to tell him."

"But then..."

Her eyes drifted toward the television.

"I saw the announcement."

Lily clenched her fists.

"That jerk."

Emily immediately corrected her.

"Don't."

"He doesn't even know."

"That doesn't excuse him."

Lily stood and paced across the room.

"What kind of man gets engaged on the same day he divorces his wife?"

Emily remained silent.

She couldn't answer.

Because she didn't understand it either.

Lily suddenly stopped pacing.

"What are you going to do?"

Emily instinctively placed both hands over her stomach.

"I'm keeping my babies."

There wasn't even the slightest hesitation.

Lily smiled proudly.

"I knew you'd say that."

Emily looked down.

"They're innocent."

"They didn't ask to be born into this."

"I'll protect them."

"No matter what."

Lily squeezed her shoulder.

"And I'll help you."

Emily smiled gratefully.

"Thank you."

...

Across the city.

The annual Kingston Charity Gala was finally coming to an end.

Reporters crowded around Adrian as camera flashes illuminated the ballroom.

"Mr. Kingston!"

"Congratulations on your engagement!"

"When is the wedding?"

"Miss Bennett, how do you feel?"

Sophia Bennett smiled gracefully as she slipped her arm around Adrian's.

"We're both very happy."

Adrian remained expressionless.

His assistant, Ethan Cole, leaned close enough that only Adrian could hear.

"Sir."

"The board members are satisfied."

Adrian nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Good."

Sophia maintained her perfect smile.

"Adrian."

"We should thank the guests."

"You go ahead."

She frowned slightly.

"You aren't coming?"

"I have work."

Without waiting for her response, Adrian walked away.

Sophia watched him disappear through a private hallway.

Her elegant smile faded.

"He still keeps his distance..."

she murmured.

Meanwhile...

Inside a quiet office on the top floor of Kingston Group Headquarters...

Adrian loosened his tie and stared through the glass wall overlooking the city.

Ethan entered carrying a stack of documents.

"The media response is positive."

"The board has suspended tomorrow's emergency vote."

Adrian nodded.

"Good."

"The engagement achieved its purpose."

Ethan hesitated.

"Sir..."

"Are you certain this is the only way?"

Adrian's expression darkened.

"If the board loses Sophia Bennett's family's support..."

"The company falls into Victor Hale's hands."

"I won't allow that."

Ethan sighed.

"But Mrs. Kingston..."

Adrian interrupted quietly.

"She's no longer Mrs. Kingston."

The words felt strangely heavy.

For the first time all day...

His chest tightened.

He looked toward the empty wedding ring mark on his finger.

"Has Emily arrived home safely?"

Ethan blinked.

"You want me to check?"

Adrian answered after a brief pause.

"...Yes."

Ethan immediately made a call.

Several moments later, he frowned.

"The mansion's driver says Mrs.—"

He corrected himself.

"Miss Carter refused transportation."

"She left alone."

Adrian's brows knitted together.

"Find out where she is."

"Immediately."

...

Late that night.

A security team arrived at the small apartment Emily had rented.

One of the guards knocked several times.

No answer.

The landlord approached holding a spare key.

"She checked out twenty minutes ago."

The guard frowned.

"Checked out?"

"She paid in cash."

"Said she wouldn't be returning."

Within minutes, Ethan received the report.

He hurried into Adrian's office.

"Sir..."

"We can't find Emily."

Adrian looked up sharply.

"What do you mean?"

"She left the apartment."

"No forwarding address."

"No bank activity."

"No transportation records."

"It's like..."

Ethan swallowed.

"...she vanished."

For the first time in years...

Adrian's calm expression cracked.

"Keep searching."

"I don't care how much it costs."

"I want her found."

"Tonight."

"Yes, sir."

Ethan hurried away.

Adrian remained standing before the window.

His phone suddenly vibrated.

A message from an unknown number.

Attached was a photograph.

Emily stood outside the apartment building in the rain, pulling a suitcase behind her.

Below it was a single sentence.

You let the most important person in your life walk away.

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Who sent this?"

Before he could trace the number, another message arrived.

Some mistakes can never be undone.

The sender disappeared before the message could be tracked.

Miles away, inside the same black sedan parked beneath the cover of darkness, the mysterious man lowered his phone.

He turned toward the shadowed figure sitting in the back seat.

"She's gone."

The figure smiled.

"Excellent."

"And Adrian?"

"He's already looking for her."

The smile widened.

"Let him search."

"He'll never find her..."

"...until I decide it's time."