The CEO's Contracted Heart

"I-I’m carrying our baby..." I mumbled while holding the pregnancy test kit that showed two lines. "What are we going to do?" I slowly lifted my head and looked at Xander, my boyfriend. I swallowed, unsure of how to answer him. I could see the fear in his eyes too, especially when he also saw the result of the pregnancy test kit I was holding. "Your parents are going to kill us if they find out about this," he said as he slowly sat down beside me. I shook my head at him. "They can't find out about this. You're the one I'm worried about. T-they might kill you." My voice broke on the last words I uttered. A brief silence enveloped us. He reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder. Then he hugged me tightly, and that’s when I couldn’t hold back my emotions anymore. I sobbed into his shoulder, pouring out everything I was feeling. “I knew our love for each other was forbidden. I knew I couldn't reach the life you have. You're rich. I'm poor. But I can assure you that I can take responsibility for you and our baby because I love you so much, Rachel. I will do everything for you and for our baby.” But everything he said felt beyond my grasp. Because the truth is, even if we face this together, we know what the result would be if my family finds out. I pulled away from him and looked into his eyes. He wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I will try to talk to them, even though I know it's impossible for them to listen to me. You know how my family hates me. They think so lowly of me, that I'm worthless and useless." "Hey, don't say that. To me, you're the best, the most beautiful, and the most successful child they have. They just can't see that." I didn’t agree with what he said. After a moment, he broke the silence again, "Rachel, I want to keep the baby. Let's just keep this a secret. Come with me. You know how terrible your family's actions can be. Let's be a family together, just the two of us. They won’t be able to find you—" But before he could finish, I interjected and couldn’t help but raise my voice. "Xander, that's not possible! You're underestimating my family too much. They are powerful. They are extremely wealthy. And even if we hide, they can easily find out where we are. Please, I can’t keep the baby. I-I know you love me. I know this is what I wanted, just living with you. But please, Xander, I can’t do this. I will have the baby aborted." He fell silent at my words, and I could see in his eyes that he was hurt. His forehead creased, and his eyebrows almost formed a single line. "Okay. Fine," he said coldly as he stood up and walked away from me. He raised his hands, "If that's what you want, then go ahead. I won't stop you from doing whatever you want. If possible, please leave my apartment. I don't want to talk to you right now. I might do something I’ll regret.” “But, Xander—” “JUST GO!” It hurt my heart and weighed heavily on me, but I started packing my things. Xander and I had just finished having s*x, but it didn’t go as planned; we didn’t finish because I felt pain between my thighs and bled. That’s when we realized there might be consequences. He bought a pregnancy test, and that’s when I found out that I had been pregnant all this time. As soon as I left his apartment, I immediately hailed a taxi. I got in, and while in the car, my mind was in a haze. I couldn’t think clearly. I was thinking about my family, my situation as their daughter, and the life I have with Xander. I know he's not rich and he can't reach what we have, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love him. I love him. But I'm too scared to fight for him. After the taxi stopped and I arrived at our mansion, I paid the driver and stepped out. As I got off, I noticed guards standing outside, all seemingly anticipating my arrival. “Good afternoon, ma’am. Someone is looking for you at your home.” "Who? My parents?" The guard replied, "No, ma’am. They are currently out at the mansion with your twin. It’s a visitor." I was somewhat puzzled by who the guard was referring to, but I had no choice but to enter the mansion. As I walked along the pathway, I noticed there seemed to be more unfamiliar security guards guarding our front porch. I didn’t recognize them. "Who are you?" I asked, and the security guards just looked at me. I asked again politely, "Who are you?" but they didn’t respond. Instead of wasting my time there, I went inside the mansion. Just as I was about to go inside and ask our family butler, I was startled by a voice that suddenly spoke behind me. "So, you’re Rachel Valentine Everhart, am I right?" I was stunned by the voice. Slowly, I turned to face a man who had spoken my full name. I had never met him before in my entire life. I didn’t know him, but his appearance was striking—he was tall, wearing a formal suit as if he had just come from the office. His facial structure was attractive, with a defined jawline, chestnut hair, and gray eyes that seemed to draw me in. I stood frozen for a moment. "W-Who are you? What are you doing here?" I asked. I was about to call my security because I had never seen him visit our home before, and I didn’t know him. Suddenly, he closed the distance between us, and I found myself very close to him. I started hyperventilating, unaware that I had stopped breathing for a moment. "I am the one who is going to buy your family's crumbling business empire."