CLAIMED THEN CAST ASIDE

🌑 Chapter Seven: The Things We Hide

Selene woke up before the light even touched the curtains.

Her eyes blinked open slowly, her mouth dry. Her throat ached from how tightly she'd held her breath all night. She didn't move at first. Just lay there, flat on her back in Richard's massive bed, staring at the ceiling.

The memories from yesterday hit her all at once.

The ache in her stomach.

The wave of nausea.

The six positive pregnancy tests lying crooked on the bathroom counter.

All of them screaming one thing.

She was pregnant.

Her hand went to her belly.

It didn’t feel real yet.

Her body didn’t look different, not yet. But it was changing. She could feel it. Her skin was too hot. Her chest felt swollen. Her emotions were barely holding together. She couldn’t sleep last night, too afraid she’d roll over and Richard would notice something was wrong.

She turned her head slowly.

He was still sleeping, chest rising and falling, sheets kicked halfway off his body. His hair was messy. His lips slightly parted. A shadow of stubble covered his jaw. He looked peaceful.

But Selene knew better.

He wasn't peaceful.

He was just silent before the next storm.

Carefully, she slipped out of bed.

She tiptoed to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. The mirror was foggy from her breath. Her hair was wild, eyes tired. She turned and opened the cabinet under the sink.

The pregnancy tests were still there—wrapped in toilet paper, stuffed behind some extra towels.

She grabbed them and counted.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

Still there.

Still positive.

Selene dropped to the edge of the bathtub and just sat there, elbows on her knees, fingers pressed against her forehead.

“What do I do now?” she whispered.

No one answered.

Not the walls.

Not the mirror.

Not the Goddess.

She thought about Kael for a brief second—then shoved the thought away so hard it hurt.

This wasn’t about him.

He was gone. Out of the picture. Just a mistake burned into her skin.

This baby had nothing to do with him anymore.

This baby was hers.

And Richard will think it was his.

Her stomach twisted with guilt. She swallowed hard.

Maybe… maybe she should tell him.

No. Not yet. Not until she figured out what he really wanted.

She stood up fast, wrapping the tests again. But instead of hiding them under the sink, she carried them to the closet in the hallway. Tucked them deep inside a purse she hadn’t used in weeks. Buried it beneath a pile of old sweaters Richard told her to throw out.

She backed away, heart pounding.

Then she picked up her phone, slid into the guest bathroom, and sat on the toilet lid.

She dialed.

It rang once. Twice.

Then—

“Selene?”

Her voice broke. “Maya…”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Maya’s voice softened. “Oh my God. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Selene tried to keep her voice low. “I need to tell you something. And you can’t freak out.”

“I’m already freaking out. Just tell me.”

Selene stared at the floor. “I’m pregnant.”

Silence.

Not even a breath on the other end.

“Maya?” she whispered.

“I’m here,” Maya said quickly. “I’m here. Are you sure?”

“Six tests,” Selene said. “I took six.”

“Oh my God…”

Selene closed her eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Does he know?”

“No.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

Selene’s voice cracked. “I don’t know. Maya… he’s not like other people. He keeps me here like I’m some kind of possession. I don’t think he actually wants a child. And I definitely don’t think he wants the truth.”

“Is it… is it Kael’s?”

Selene didn’t answer.

“Selene,” Maya said softly. “You have to think long term. This isn’t just about keeping a secret. This is a child.”

“I know.”

“Are you… are you safe there?”

Selene hesitated. “I’m not in danger. But I’m not free either.”

There was a long pause.

Maya sighed. “Okay. We’ll take this one step at a time. Do you have any money?”

“No.”

“Do you need me to send you something?”

“No. Maya…” Selene hesitated. “Actually… do you need help?”

Maya was quiet for a second too long.

“What’s wrong?” Selene asked.

Maya gave a small laugh. “It’s nothing.”

Selene straightened. “Tell me.”

“I just…” Maya exhaled. “My little brother’s in the hospital again. I’m behind on rent. My job barely covers food. I wasn’t going to say anything because you’ve got your own stuff going on, but—”

“I can help.”

“No—”

“Maya, please. Let me. You’ve done everything for me. If I have even a little bit of money, I want to send it to you.”

Maya’s voice cracked. “Thank you. I mean it. But be careful. Don’t let him see you transfer anything. Don’t let him see you stress.”

“I won’t,” Selene said. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“You’re not alone,” Maya whispered. “Even if it feels like it.”

Selene nodded, wiping her face. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

They hung up.

Selene sat there in the dark bathroom, holding the phone against her chest.

She didn’t cry.

She couldn’t afford to.

Not when things were already falling apart.

She stood up and flushed the toilet for cover. Washed her face. Stepped out quietly.

The bed was empty.

Richard was gone.

Selene checked the time. Just past nine.

She walked into the kitchen. No sign of him. No sign of breakfast either.

Just silence.

Then she heard a knock.

She froze.

Another knock—sharper this time.

Selene opened the door slowly.

A man stood there in a dark gray suit, eyes cold behind silver glasses.

He looked her over once—head to toe.

“Tell Mr. Russell I’m here,” he said.

Selene blinked. “Who are you?”

“Victor,” he said. “Family business.”

Selene stepped back automatically.

Victor walked past her like he owned the place.

She didn’t follow. Just stood frozen as he vanished into Richard’s office and shut the door behind him.

Selene didn’t move from the hallway.

She stood frozen, her bare feet cold against the marble, her breath shallow.

Victor.

Something about that man sent a shiver down her spine. He hadn’t even looked at her like a person—just a thing. Something in the way he walked, straight-backed and smooth, made her wolf retreat.

He didn’t just work for Richard.

He had power.

Real power.

She stepped closer to the office door—just a little. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But the walls weren’t thick. The door wasn’t sealed. And Victor didn’t lower his voice.

---

Inside the office:

“I gave you a timeline, Richard,” Victor said coldly. “Your father is running out of patience.”

Richard’s voice was sharp. “I told you. I’m handling it.”

“You’ve been saying that for a year.”

“Because this isn’t something I can force.”

“You think the board cares about excuses? You are the only Russell without a legacy. No heir. No official partner. No clean record. You’re still covering up that mess in Marseille—”

“Careful,” Richard growled.

Victor ignored the warning. “If the board votes you out, your father won’t protect you this time. His hands are tied.”

“I don’t want a child,” Richard snapped. “Not now.”

“Well, someone in this family better produce one,” Victor said. “Or your throne goes to the next eligible bastard. And trust me, Richard—there are others.”

There was a pause.

Victor’s voice dropped, low and sharp.

“That girl upstairs… the one with the pretty eyes. She looks fertile.”

Selene’s blood turned to ice.

Richard didn’t respond.

The silence said more than words.

Selene backed away from the door slowly. Her legs trembled.

She rushed to the bedroom and shut the door behind her.

Her breathing was loud. Shaky. Her fingers dug into the edge of the dresser.

So that was it.

They needed a baby.

A legacy.

And Richard didn’t want one.

But Victor had seen her.

He had looked at her.

She wasn’t safe.

She wasn’t just some woman Richard picked up anymore.

She was something they could use.

Her hand flew to her stomach again, protective and desperate.

You’re not taking my baby, she thought.

You’re not using me.

But then she heard footsteps.

She straightened quickly, tried to look normal, casual.

Richard walked into the room, jaw tight, his phone in one hand.

He stopped when he saw her.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

Selene nodded quickly. “Yeah. Just tired.”

He watched her a moment too long.

Then he smiled.

“You should rest,” he said. “I’m having dinner brought in tonight. Something quiet. Just you and me.”

She nodded again, throat dry.

“Good girl,” he said softly.

Selene didn’t answer.

He stepped closer. Kissed her forehead.

And walked into the bathroom.

She stood perfectly still until the door clicked shut.

Then she dropped onto the bed and curled up, arms tight around herself.

---

That night, the dinner was quiet—too quiet.

They sat on the private balcony of his penthouse, high above the city.

He poured wine for himself. Water for her.

She barely touched the food.

Richard watched her. Carefully. Thoughtfully.

He said nice things.

Complimented her hair. Her dress. The way she carried herself.

But something was off in his eyes.

She knew it now.

He didn’t just want her.

He wanted control.

And the worst part?

She had none.

After dinner, he pulled her gently into his lap.

Kissed her neck.

Held her like a man pretending he cared.

And when he took her to bed, it wasn’t slow or romantic.

It was rough.

Unfiltered.

Unprotected.

---

He didn’t ask if she wanted him to use protection.

He didn’t slow down when she winced.

His hands were everywhere—gripping her hips, pinning her wrists, pressing into the bruise on her shoulder he’d left the night before.

The sheets were a mess.

Her legs shook.

And still, she didn’t stop him.

Because this was how he loved.

This was how he claimed.

And Selene was too tired to fight anymore.

Her body obeyed, even as her mind screamed.

---

After, he kissed her again. Softly this time.

Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn’t used her like something he owned.

“I like it when you don’t talk,” he whispered into her hair.

Selene lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling.

Her hand drifted to her belly.

And she whispered something so low, he didn’t hear it.

“I won’t let them have you.”

---

The next morning, she woke early.

Alone again.

She sat up slowly, her body aching, her eyes burning.

She needed to check the tests again. Just to see them. Just to remind herself it was real.

She pulled open the closet.

Reached for the old purse.

Froze.

It was gone.

She dug through the sweaters. The coats. The drawers.

Nothing.

Her hands trembled.

She stumbled into the hallway.

Down the stairs.

Into the kitchen.

And stopped cold.

Richard was there.

Sitting at the island, in a black robe, drinking coffee.

Her phone sat on the counter beside him.

And next to it… the tests.

All six.

Lined up in a neat, perfect row.

He didn’t say a word.

He just looked at her.

Green eyes sharp.

Dead calm.

“You’re pregnant,” he said.

The words cut through the air like glass.

Selene didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

Richard set his coffee down.

“And you were going to hide that from me?”