The truth between them
570 Words
Chapter Ten
Annalise stared at Darius in disbelief.
“My baby?”
Darius nodded slowly.
“That’s what Marcus believes.”
She shook her head.
“But how can you know?”
“I don’t know yet,” he admitted. “We’re going to do a paternity test.”
Annalise lowered her eyes.
The thought of seeing him again had never crossed her mind.
She had spent months trying to forget that night.
Now the man from the hotel was standing beside her hospital bed.
And he was the richest man in Seaside City.
“I didn’t know who you were,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“I thought you were just a hotel guest.”
Darius looked at her.
“And I didn’t know you were a delivery girl.”
Annalise gave a small, nervous laugh.
“Everything that night was a misunderstanding.”
“Yes.”
Silence settled between them.
Then Darius noticed the fear in her eyes.
“What did your aunt and uncle do to you?”
Annalise hesitated.
“They found out I was pregnant.”
“And they brought you here?”
She nodded.
“They wanted me to get rid of the baby.”
Darius’s expression hardened.
“They drugged you.”
“I think so.”
“You were unconscious when they brought you here.”
Annalise nodded again.
Darius clenched his jaw.
He couldn’t understand how anyone could treat a pregnant woman that way.
“You’re not going back with them.”
Annalise immediately looked at him.
“I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Then you’ll stay somewhere safe.”
She frowned.
“Why are you helping me?”
Darius looked at her for a moment.
“Because if that baby is mine, then you’re carrying my child.”
Annalise looked down at her stomach.
She didn’t know why his words made her feel strangely safe.
Then she remembered something.
“You have a fiancée.”
Darius’s expression didn’t change.
“Willa.”
Annalise nodded.
“I’ve heard about her.”
Darius leaned back.
“Willa and I aren’t what people think we are.”
Annalise looked at him.
“You’re engaged.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re not together?”
“No.”
His answer was immediate.
“Willa has always been the one pushing the relationship. Our families have expectations, and she’s determined to keep the engagement.”
Annalise remained quiet.
“I don’t want to be involved in that,” she said.
“You aren’t.”
“But people will blame me.”
“Let them.”
His voice was calm.
“You didn’t know me. You didn’t know about Willa. You didn’t plan any of this.”
Annalise looked at him.
For the first time since waking up, she felt like someone was actually listening to her.
The door opened, and Marcus walked inside.
“The paternity test has been arranged. We’ll have to wait for the results.”
Darius nodded.
“Fine.”
Marcus looked at Annalise.
“And you need to rest.”
She nodded.
As Marcus left, Darius remained beside the bed.
Neither of them spoke.
But something had changed.
Darius had spent months searching for the mysterious woman from the hotel.
Now he had found her.
And she was carrying a child who might be his.
Whatever happened next, neither of them could simply walk away anymore.
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