Elina lay awake in the luxurious but cold bedroom of the penthouse. The silence was deafening, broken only by the ticking of a golden clock on the wall. She stared at the ceiling, wondering how she ended up here—married to a man who didn't love her, and didn't know he was already the father of her child.
Liam hadn't returned after their wedding night conversation. He had walked out with a simple, "I have work to do," leaving her alone to navigate the whirlwind of her new life.
Her fingers gently caressed her stomach under the silky nightdress, the smallest swell of her bump hidden from view. She was barely showing, but she could feel it—him. Her son. Their son.
She closed her eyes, whispering to herself, "You're not alone. I'm here. Mommy's here."
The baby was the only thing that made sense. The only piece of this twisted story that she could hold on to.
---
The next morning, Elina woke up to the sound of footsteps echoing down the marble hallway. Her heart raced. She had barely slept, anxiety sitting like a stone in her chest.
She wrapped a robe around her and stepped out of the bedroom, only to find Liam standing in the dining area, sipping black coffee like a man immune to sleepless nights. His dark suit was crisp, and his presence once again stole the air from the room.
"Good morning," Elina said, her voice barely audible.
Liam looked up. His expression didn't change. "Morning."
Just one word. No softness. No curiosity. He didn't ask if she slept well. He didn't ask how she was. To him, she was still a stranger wearing the label of his wife.
She sat across from him, her hands trembling slightly. A maid brought a tray of breakfast, but Elina couldn't eat. Her appetite had vanished with her sense of peace.
"I'll be away most of the day," Liam said, not looking at her. "There's a merger that needs my attention."
Elina nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. She knew better than to expect affection from him—but this coldness still hurt.
"Liam," she said, hesitantly, "is this how our marriage is going to be? Silent? Distant?"
He finally met her eyes, and she immediately regretted asking. His gaze was piercing.
"This isn't a fairy tale, Elina," he said sharply. "Don't expect me to play the prince."
She looked down, blinking away the sting of tears.
"I never asked for that," she whispered. "I just thought... maybe we could try to at least understand each other."
"You want understanding?" he leaned forward. "Then understand this. I married you to shut your father up. Nothing more. As long as you stay quiet and play your part, I don't care what you do."
Her heart cracked in that moment, a quiet splintering of hope. But she nodded, swallowing the pain. She couldn't tell him—not now. Not like this.
He stood and grabbed his keys. "Don't wait up."
---
The door closed behind him. And with it, the walls of the penthouse felt tighter. Elina sat alone in the silence, cradling her belly, whispering the truth to her child.
"That was your father. He doesn't know you yet, but one day… he will."
---
Later that afternoon, Elina met up with her best friend, Carla, at a discreet café far from the attention of the press. Carla was the only one who knew the truth.
"He still doesn't know?" Carla asked, stunned, sipping her latte. "Elina, you're already married to the guy! You have to tell him!"
"I can't," Elina said, shaking her head. "He'd never believe me. He thinks I trapped him into this marriage for power. If he knew the baby was his, he'd think I planned it all."
Carla leaned forward. "But he is the father. You didn't trap anyone. You're the one suffering in silence."
Elina bit her lip. "I need to find the right moment. He's too angry, too closed off right now."
Carla sighed. "And what if he finds out before you tell him? From someone else?"
The thought made Elina's stomach drop.
"I'll tell him," she whispered. "But not yet. I want him to see me first. The real me. Not the daughter of his enemy. Not the woman forced into his world. Just… me."
Carla looked at her with soft eyes. "You're stronger than you think. But don't wait too long, Elina. Secrets don't stay secrets forever."
---
That night, Liam returned late. Elina was curled up on the sofa, wearing one of his oversized sweaters, her hair tied up messily. For a brief moment, he paused in the doorway, taken aback.
She looked… different. Softer. Peaceful. Like she belonged in this space.
"What are you doing here?" he asked gruffly, dropping his coat.
"I couldn't sleep in that room. It's too cold." She didn't look at him.
"Then turn up the heat."
"It's not that kind of cold."
Silence stretched between them.
She stood slowly, brushing her hands on her clothes. "I'll go now."
He watched her walk past him, and before he could stop himself, he asked, "Why did you agree to marry me?"
She froze.
Elina turned around, meeting his eyes. "Because I didn't want to lose everything. And because deep down, I thought… maybe there was still a piece of the man I met that night left inside you."
Liam's expression tightened. "That night?"
Her breath caught in her throat.
He didn't remember.
He really didn't remember.
"You don't remember me?" she asked, voice trembling.
He frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"That night. Months ago. At the charity gala. In the garden. The rain…"
He blinked. Confused. Silent.
Her heart sank.
He didn't remember.
The night that changed her life forever… meant nothing to him.
She turned away. "Forget it."
"Elina."
She didn't stop.
She walked down the hall, locked the bedroom door behind her, and broke into tears.
---
Liam stood there, stunned. What was she talking about? A charity gala? A garden? The rain?
He tried to think back. He had been drunk that night… furious after a fight with his ex. The only memory he had was a kiss. A woman in the shadows. Soft lips. A whisper.
"Don't fall in love with me."
His eyes widened.
Was it her?
Was Elina that woman?
He ran a hand through his hair, unsure of what to think. If that was true… what else didn't he know?