Married to my Ruthless CEO for one night

Chapter 12: The Lie

"We're doing it," Adrian said.

I stared at him. "A fake pregnancy? Are you insane?"

"They want a scandal? We give them a bigger one." He paced. "We control the narrative before your father does."

"And if people find out it's fake?"

"They won't." He stopped in front of me. "Because for the next 9 months, you are my wife. In every way that matters."

My face burned. "You mean--"

"I mean we sell it," he cut me off. "Doctor visits. Maternity clothes. Nursery."

He paused. "And us. In public."

That night we posted the first photo.

Me, in a flowy dress, his hand on my stomach.

Caption: `Our greatest blessing. Due March 2027.`

It broke the internet. Again.

`COLE HEIR ON THE WAY`

`FROM CONTRACT TO CRADLE`

The comments were insane.

Some called me a gold digger. Others called it a miracle.

My father called too.

"You're playing a dangerous game, daughter," he said. "Pregnant or not, I'll end you."

Click.

Adrian heard it all. He took the phone from me and crushed it.

"No one threatens my wife," he said. "Or my child."

Child.

The word felt so real.

That night, he bought me a pregnancy pillow.

"For the act," he said. But he stayed up googling baby names.

I pretended to sleep and watched him.

This was a lie.

So why did it feel like coming home?

The next morning, the doctor called.

"We have a problem with the test results, Mrs. Cole."