Chapter 1 — The Secret I Carried
The rain fell heavily that night, covering the city in a cold, endless storm.
Ella Carter stood outside the grand entrance of the Knight Hotel, her fingers tightly holding the small envelope inside her handbag.
A pregnancy test.
Two lines.
Her whole world had changed in seconds.
She had imagined this moment so many times.
She imagined Lucas Knight’s surprised face when she told him he was going to be a father. She imagined his arms around her, promising they would face everything together.
Because Lucas wasn’t just any man.
He was the man she loved.
The powerful CEO of Knight International. The billionaire everyone admired and feared.
But to Ella, he was just Lucas.
The man who made her feel safe.
Until tonight.
She walked inside the hotel, her heart beating faster with every step.
“Excuse me, miss, the engagement celebration is private,” the receptionist said politely.
Ella froze.
“Engagement?”
Her smile slowly disappeared.
“Yes. Mr Knight’s engagement party. Everyone from the business world is here tonight.”
Her stomach twisted.
Engagement?
No.
That couldn’t be true.
She rushed towards the ballroom, ignoring the strange looks from people around her.
Then she saw him.
Lucas.
Standing under the golden lights, wearing a perfect black suit.
He looked exactly like the man she loved.
But the woman beside him wasn’t her.
A beautiful woman held his arm.
Amelia Brooks.
The room filled with applause as someone announced:
“Congratulations to Lucas Knight and Amelia Brooks on their engagement.”
Ella felt like the entire world stopped.
Her hand slowly moved to her stomach.
Their baby.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Lucas smiled for the cameras.
A smile she used to believe belonged only to her.
She wanted to walk away.
But then Lucas looked up.
Their eyes met.
For one second, everything disappeared.
His expression changed.
“Ella?”
Her heart broke hearing her name from his lips.
She wanted to ask why.
Why did you promise me forever?
Why did you choose someone else?
Why did you let me love you?
But she couldn’t say anything.
Because suddenly she realised something…
If she told him about the baby, he would never let her go.
And she didn’t know if she could survive losing him again.
Ella turned around.
“Wait!” Lucas called.
She stopped.
But she didn’t look back.
“I hope you’re happy, Lucas,” she whispered.
Then she walked away.
Out of his life.
Carrying the biggest secret he would never know.
Five years later…
Lucas Knight would discover that the woman he lost had been carrying his child all along.
