RUTHLESS DEVOTION: THE EMPIRE BETWEEN US

THE CONFESSION

Inside the private ward, Amilah stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Annah had outdone herself with the wardrobe choice. Amilah looked absolutely stunning in a long-sleeved, white crop top that subtly showed off her flawless skin, paired with high-waisted jeans that hugged her hourglass curves perfectly. She chose to leave her thick hair down, letting it cascade over her shoulders to hide the healing wound on her scalp.

Exhausted from the morning's emotional rollercoaster, she walked over to the plush sofa in the room's private sitting area and sat down.

Annah stepped out of the room, dusting her hands. "Mom! I thought you were setting up the food?"

Out in the lounge, Daniella slapped her forehead in sudden realization. She had been so consumed by the terrifying threat to Amilah's safety that she had completely forgotten about the premium catering bags resting on the counter.

"Oh, goodness, I forgot!" Daniella murmured, quickly grabbing the bags and hurrying into the room to set the dining table. The men followed slowly behind her, their heavy boots thudding against the floor.

Amilah had just picked up the remote and turned on the television when the quiet room suddenly filled with people. Her hand froze.

The space felt instantly smaller, dominated by tall, powerful figures who moved with an aura of wealth and danger. Who on earth are they? she thought, her heart giving a nervous flutter.

Seeing her wide-eyed confusion, Dominic stepped forward smoothly, breaking the ice. He ushered the group into the spacious indoor lounge area of the massive VIP suite, creating a polite barrier.

Dane was the first to break formation. He stepped right up to the sofa, a highly playful, charming smile plastered across his face as he extended his hand toward her.

"You must be the famous Amilah," Dane said, his eyes gleaming with genuine curiosity.

Amilah blinked, swallowed her nerves, and reached up to take his hand, shaking it gently.

"Yes," Amilah murmured, offering a small, polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I am."

"Nice to finally meet you, Amilah," Dane grinned, his gaze sharp despite his easygoing posture. "I'm Dane. Your boyfriend's best friend."

The word boyfriend made her chest tighten, but Amilah didn't protest. She was quickly learning that in Lowin Vance's world, what he claimed became law, and everyone already treated her like his permanent fixture.

Damien stepped up next. He introduced himself with a terse, formal nod, his dark eyes observing her with an intense, analytical scrutiny. But it was the third brother who made the hairs on her arms stand up.

Debrin didn't speak immediately. He just stared. Amilah's survival instincts screamed that this man was entirely different from the others, lethal, calculating, and capable of seeing right through her skin. Her entire body went rigid as he finally extended a hand.

"I'm Debrin," he said, his handshake firm, his touch holding an underlying power.

"Amilah. Amilah Miles."

Debrin's lips twitched into a slow chuckle, noting the flicker of pure panic in her eyes. "Oh, I know exactly who you are, beautiful."

"Oh, stop it, all of you!" Daniella stepped in, swatting Debrin's arm and shooing the men away. "You're scaring the poor girl half to death. Sit down already."

Before Amilah could breathe a sigh of relief, the heavy scent of cedarwood and expensive cologne filled her senses. Lowin walked into the lounge area and sat directly next to her, his massive frame instantly blocking out the rest of the room. He picked up a plate of fresh vegetables, lifted a forkful, and brought it directly to her lips.

Amilah's cheeks burned crimson as the entire Salvatore family and the Vance patriarch watched the intimate display.

"I can feed myself, Lowin," she whispered, leaning back slightly.

"Don't be stubborn. Eat," Lowin commanded. His voice was low, authoritative, and completely unyielding.

Recognizing the dominant edge in his tone, Amilah opened her mouth and took the bite. Protesting in front of his family would only lead to a battle of wills she was too exhausted to win.

Lowin watched her swallow, his expression softening just a fraction. "Everyone in this room is my family, Amy. They are the only people in this world you can completely trust. If you ever find yourself in trouble, and you can't reach me, you reach out to any of them. Understand, little bird?"

Amilah nodded softly, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her nails. Looking around the room, the puzzle pieces of Lowin's life finally started to click. She finally understood why a powerful man like him had absolutely zero social media footprint. His inner circle wasn't made of ordinary businessmen; they were a fortress of dangerous, brooding alphas who radiated power.

Daniella leaned forward, her expression warm. "How are you feeling now, Amilah? Your skin is absolutely glowing, dear."

"I'm feeling much more energetic, Auntie. Thank you."

Lowin's gaze swept over her face, a possessive smirk playing on his lips. "I agree with Mom. You've gotten even prettier, sweetheart."

Amilah scoffed, a tiny pout forming on her lips as she defensively shot back, "What is that supposed to mean? Was I not pretty before?"

"That's not what I meant," Lowin murmured, his eyes darkening with amusement as he leaned in closer. "I mean you're somehow becoming more beautiful by the second."

Amilah rolled her eyes to hide her fluttering heart. Reaching across the table, she grabbed the heavy insulated flask of nourishing soup Daniella had brought. She unscrewed the cap and poured the steaming liquid into a glass.

But the moment she lifted the glass to her lips, the thick, aromatic scent hit her like a physical blow to the chest.

A violent, catastrophic wave of nausea instantly rose in her throat.

Amilah gasped, slamming the glass back onto the table so hard the liquid splashed over the rim. She bolted from the sofa, clamping a frantic hand over her mouth, and sprinted blindly toward the bathroom.

The room erupted into shocked, worried murmurs. Lowin was on his feet in a heartbeat, as he stormed after her.

Dominic rubbed his forehead, his vision literally spinning as a cold dread settled over him. The soup.

"What exactly is in that soup, Aunt Daniella?" Dominic asked, his voice strained.

Daniella blinked, thoroughly confused. "Just some traditional fish soup with healing herbs. Why? What's wrong?"

Dominic didn't answer. He slumped back against the sofa, letting his head fall against the cushions as he let out a string of silent, violent curses.

"Dominic, talk to me," Daniella pressed, her maternal anxiety spiking. "Is there something in there she's not supposed to eat? She drank the exact same soup yesterday without any issues!"

Dominic felt like he was losing his mind. The secret was officially tearing its way out. His unborn niece or nephew was already demanding to be noticed, and the clock had just run out.

Inside the steam-fogged bathroom, Amilah dropped to her knees in front of the toilet, vomiting violently until her ribs ached and her throat burned. Tears scalded her eyes.

A heavy, warm hand landed on her back, rubbing in soothing circles, while another large hand gently gathered her thick hair, keeping it out of her face. Lowin was right there, his chest pressed against her back, his own breathing ragged with panic.

He can't find out. Not like this. Not right now, Amilah's mind screamed over the sound of her own retching.

"Amy," Lowin rasped, his voice tight with an agonizing mixture of fear and helplessness. "You have to tell me what the hell is going on with you."

Amilah shook her head violently, fresh tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

Lowin's composure completely fractured. "Does it hurt? Amy, tell me where it hurts!"

Unable to speak, Amilah merely shook her head again. She weakly pushed herself up, flushed the toilet, and dragged herself over to the marble sink to rinse her mouth with cold water.

Lowin's restlessness turned into a volatile flame. He couldn't take the silence anymore. Stepping into her space, he grabbed her upper arms, his grip firm but careful, forcing her body around until she had no choice but to look into his piercing, desperate eyes.

"Talk to me, Amy," he demanded, his chest heaving.

"I-I told you, it's nothing!" she cried, her voice cracking. "I just... the smell of the soup disgusted me. That's all."

"Something is wrong, Amy. You don't just violently eject your breakfast because of a smell. We are getting Dominic in here right now to run a full panel."

"I'm fine, Lowin!" Amilah yelled, her voice echoing off the bathroom tiles. "We need to just go back outside. Please."

Lowin's jaw set, his eyes flashing with a dangerous, dark fury. "Amy, you are pushing me to my limit right now."

Spurred by pure panic and raging hormones, Amilah furiously wrenched her arms out of his grip, stepping back against the wall. "I told you it is nothing! Why do you keep prying into my personal matters, Lowin? Just back off and let me be!"

Lowin froze, his chest boiling with an explosive, lethal rage. Personal matters?

"Your personal matters, Amilah?" Lowin repeated, his voice dropping into a terrifyingly quiet, lethal register. "Is that what this is now? After everything? I'm a goddamn stranger to you again?"

"I'm just... I'm not ready to talk to you about what's bothering me," Amilah sobbed, her defenses crumbling even as she tried to stand her ground. "I still don't trust you!"

Lowin let out a harsh, mocking scoff, running a hand through his hair as he stared at her like he didn't even recognize her.

"I don't give a damn if you're ready or not, Amilah," he growled, stepping back. "What matters to me is your health. What matters is keeping you alive."

"I said I'm fine! Don't worry about me!" she screamed angrily.

Lowin stared at her for one long, agonizing second, wondering how a single woman could be so profoundly, maddeningly stubborn. Without another word, he turned on his heel, threw the bathroom door open, and stormed out, slamming it shut behind him with a deafening bang that shook the walls.

The moment the door latched, Amilah broke.

She slid down the bathroom wall, burying her face in her knees as a river of hot tears finally spilled over. Why is he so angry? Why can't he just let me breathe? She clutched her chest, a suffocating, heavy grief wrapping around her heart. She loved him so much it terrified her, and the weight of the lie was crushing her soul.

---

Out in the lounge, the slam of the bathroom door silenced the family. Lowin marched over to the sofa and threw himself down, turning a murderous, unhinged gaze directly onto Dominic.

"Are you f*****g going to tell me what is going on with her," Lowin hissed, his voice vibrating with a terrifying, low-frequency rage, "or am I going to turn this entire hospital inside out and find out myself?"

Dominic slowly lifted his head, his eyes shifting from his cousin's explosive posture to the heavily shut bathroom door. Judging by the sheer, unbridled fury radiating off Lowin, Amilah hadn't confessed. She was still fighting the battle alone.

Dominic rubbed the bridge of his nose, letting out a long, heavy sigh. He was done being caught in the crossfire.

"Lowin, look... I understand you're losing your mind with concern," Dominic started, trying to keep his voice level. "But I promise you, from a medical standpoint, her health is perfectly fine-"

"Cut the medical crap, Dom!" Lowin roared, leaning across the table, his fists clenching. "She doesn't look fine! She looks like she's wasting away. How the hell am I supposed to protect her and take care of her if I don't know what is attacking her body?"

"I have patient-doctor confidentiality, Lowin!" Dominic snapped back, finally losing his own temper. "I am bound by law! Only she has the right to tell you what's going on!"

Lowin let out a dark, breathless chuckle, leaning back against the sofa, though his eyes remained entirely lethal. "To hell with your confidentiality, Dom. If you don't start talking in the next three seconds, I will tear this f*****g citadel down stone by stone until I hold her medical file in my hands."

A soft click broke the heavy silence of the room.

Everyone whipped their heads around.

Amilah stood in the bathroom doorway. Her nose was red, her eyes were swollen from crying, and she looked incredibly small yet completely resolute. She had heard every word of the shouting match. She refused to be the wedge that drove these two cousins to bloodshed.

Biting her lower lip, she gathered every single ounce of courage left in her trembling body. She looked directly into Lowin's furious, panicked eyes, and squeezed her eyelids shut.

"You don't have to do that," Amilah whispered into the dead silence.

The entire room held its breath, stunned by her sudden appearance. Before anyone could utter a word, Amilah opened her eyes, looked straight at the man who ruled the city, and broke the secret wide open.

"I'm pregnant."