The Billionaire's Reluctant Wife

ChapterFour

Rick’s POV

I stared at her mother for a few seconds.

My mind was not fully processing what she just said.

Pregnant?

My child?

I leaned back slowly in my chair.

“Ma’am,” I said calmly, “I think there is a mistake somewhere.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“There is no mistake,” she replied sharply. “My daughter is Star. She met you. She told me everything.”

Star.

The name sounded familiar… but I couldn’t place it immediately.

I have met many women.

Too many, if I am honest.

I don’t remember all of them.

And I don’t try to.

I stood up slowly.

“I am sorry,” I said again. “But I don’t know who your daughter is.”

That was the truth.

At least… I thought it was.

Her face turned angry immediately.

“You are lying,” she said. “You rich men always do this. Use women and deny children.”

I frowned slightly.

“Calm down,” I said. “I don’t deny things I don’t know.”

She stepped closer.

“Her name is Star,” she repeated. “She is 26 years old. Brown skin. Short. She met you at a party one night when she was drunk.”

That last part… made me pause.

A party.

Drunk.

One night.

Something clicked in my head.

I turned slowly toward the window.

My memory started coming back.

That night.

The rain.

The girl outside the club.

Tears on her face.

The way she looked broken… like the world had crushed her.

I caught her.

I took her home.

And that was it.

I turned back to her mother.

“… Star?” I repeated slowly.

She nodded immediately. “Yes.”

My jaw tightened.

I walked back to my desk and sat down.

Now I remember.

That girl.

The one-night stand.

I thought it was just… a mistake.

A moment.

Nothing important.

I rubbed my forehead.

“So you are telling me…” I said slowly, “that she is pregnant for me?”

“Yes,” she replied strongly.

I was silent for a moment.

Then I asked, “Is she sure it is mine?”

That question made her mother angry again.

“She has never been with any man after that night!” she snapped. “Only you!”

I leaned back again.

My mind was heavy.

This was not part of my plan.

I don’t do relationships.

I don’t do responsibility.

And I definitely don’t do babies.

I looked at her mother again.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

She didn’t hesitate.

“Marriage,” she said.

I frowned.

“No.”

She didn’t move.

“Then I will destroy your name,” she said coldly. “I will tell the world that Rick Hernando is irresponsible and careless. I will take this to the media.”

I stayed quiet.

My life.

My company.

My reputation.

All built carefully.

One wrong story can destroy everything.

I stood up again.

“This is not a simple matter,” I said.

She crossed her arms.

“It is simple,” she replied. “You made my daughter pregnant. You will take responsibility.”

Silence filled the room.

My phone vibrated on the table.

I didn’t look at it.

Because for the first time in a long time…

I felt trapped.

And I hate that feeling.

Star’s POV

I was sitting at home when Phoebe called me.

“Star!” she shouted. “Your mother went to see him!”

My heart dropped.

“What?!” I stood up immediately.

“She went to Rick’s office!” she continued. “I think she threatened him!”

My hands started shaking.

“No… no… this is not what I wanted,” I whispered.

Phoebe sighed.

“Star, this is getting serious now.”

I dropped the phone slowly.

My life was no longer in my control.

Because now…

Rick knows.

And my mother has involved herself.

And everything I tried to hide…

Is now standing in front of me.

Becca’s POV

“What did you just say?”

My voice came out sharp.

The assistant standing in front of me shifted uncomfortably.

“I… I said it is confirmed, Miss Becca,” she repeated slowly. “Rick Hernando has gotten a woman pregnant.”

For a second, I didn’t move, I laughed.

A short, cold laugh.

“That is impossible,” I said immediately. “Rick does not make mistakes like that.”

The assistant lowered her head.

“It is true,” she said quietly. “The woman’s name is Star.”

That name hit something inside me.

Star.

I repeated it slowly in my mind.

Who is this girl?

My fingers tightened around my phone.

“Where did this come from?” I asked.

“Office gossip… and it is spreading fast,” she replied. “People are saying his mother was involved too.”

My blood started boiling.

So it is true.

Rick Hernando… the man I have been chasing, waiting for, planning for… has gotten some random girl pregnant?

No.

Not acceptable.

I stood up immediately.

“Find everything about her,” I ordered. “Everything.”

That night, I got the information.

Star, 26 years old, nobody important.

No status, no power, just some ordinary girl who had the luck to sleep with the wrong man.

My lips curled into a smile.

“So this is her,” I said slowly, looking at her picture on my phone.

Pretty.

But not special.

Not enough.

Never enough for Rick.

I sat back on my couch and crossed my legs.

“She thinks she can just appear and take my place?” I muttered.

No.

That is not how this works.

I picked up my phone and dialed a number.

The call connected.

A rough male voice answered.

“I want you to find her,” I said coldly. “Star.”

A pause.

Then he replied, “And what should I do when I find her?”

My smile deepened.

“Scare her,” I said simply. “Make her understand she made a mistake by getting pregnant.”

Another pause.

Then I added softly…

“If she refuses to remove it…”

My eyes darkened.

“Make her regret ever meeting Rick Hernando.”

I ended the call.

Silence filled my room.

Then I stood up and walked to the mirror.

I looked at myself.

Perfect. Beautiful. Powerful.

“I am the only woman for Rick,” I whispered to myself.

No one else.

Not even her.

Star’s POV

(Unknown Number Message)

My phone buzzed on the table.

I picked it up.

Unknown Number.

I opened the message.

“I heard about your pregnancy.”

“You don’t know who you are dealing with.”

My hands started shaking.

Another message came in.

“If you don’t remove it quietly…”

“Your life will become a nightmare.”

My heart stopped.

Then another message arrived.

A picture.

It was me.

Taken outside my house.

I froz

e.

My breathing became heavy.

Phoebe called my name from the background, but I couldn’t hear her properly.

Because one thought filled my head…

Someone is watching me.

And I don’t know who.