G3
Ever since the auction, Travis hadn’t left me alone.
Flowers, gifts, incessant calls–I couldn’t escape him. Every day, something new arrived at the estate. Roses with notes pleading for a second chance. Expensive jewelry I didn’t want And phone calls, even after we changed our
numbers multiple times.
At first, I tried to ignore it, but it quickly became suffocating.
Preston didn’t hesitate. He hired bodyguards, refusing to let me go anywhere alone. He even filed a restraining order against Travis.
*Just let me handle this,” he had said one night, his hand brushing against mine as we sat in the study. “You shouldn’t have to deal with him anymore.”
For weeks, Travis stayed quiet. The gifts stopped, the calls ceased, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I
could breathe.
But I knew it wasn’t over.
Despite the temporary peace, I didn’t stop investigating my mother’s case, With Preston’s help, we kept digging into what happened the day she died
One afternoon, Preston came into the room with a folder in hand,
“I’ve got a lead,” he said, sitting beside me.
“Who?” I asked, leaning forward.
“A nurse,” he replied “She was in the operating room the day of your mother’s surgery. She’s been in hiding, living in the suburbs under a different name.”
My heart raced. This could be it A witness.
“I’m coming with you,” I said immediately.
Preston shook his head. “No. You need to stay here. It’s not safe, especially with Travis still out there. And with the baby-”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly.
But Preston wouldn’t budge. He placed a hand on my stomach his gaze softening. “Please. Zoe. Let me handle
This
I hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. Just… be careful.”
“I will,” he said, kissing my forehead before leaving.
With Preston gone, I kept myself busy by organizing the baby’s room.
The walls were painted a soft yellow, and the furniture was simple but elegant. Every detail was chosen with care, and as I moved things around, I couldn’t help but smile.
Even though the baby wasn’t his, Preston treated him as if it was his own. The way he talked about being a father made my chest ache in a way I hadn’t expected.
For the first time, I let myself imagine a future where I could give Preston a child of his own.
I must have fallen asleep while arranging things, because when I woke up, there was a strange pressure in my stomach.
It wasn’t pain exactly, but it was enough to make me worry.
With Preston gone, I called one of the bodyguards.
“I think I need to go to the hospital,” I said.
“We’ll take you,” he assured me
The car ride was tense, though I couldn’t pinpoint why at first.
Then one of the bodyguards spoke up. “We’re being followed
I stiffened. “Who is it?”
The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “It’s him. It’s Travis.”
My stomach twisted. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said grimly. “He’s been tailing us since we left the estate.
I clenched my fists, my breathing shallow.
The driver pressed harder on the accelerator, trying to shake him off. But Travis was relentless, weaving through traffic to stay on our tail.
My phone buzzed, and I hesitated before answering.
“Zoe,” Travis’s voice came through, frantic and desperate. “Just listen to me. I just want to talk”
“No,” I snapped. “Leave me alone.”
“Zoe, please!” he shouted. “I need to see you. I’ll explain everything-”
Thung up, my heart pounding
The car sped up, trying to lose him, but Travis wasn’t giving up. He was too determined.
“Ma’am, stay calm,” the bodyguard said.
But calm was the last thing I felt.
I didn’t see what happened next.
The car swerved sharply, and there was a sickening crunch of metal as we collided with something Everything blurred–the sound of glass shattering, the jolt of impact, the distant echo of voices. Then darkness.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Preston.
“Zoe,” he said softly, his hand brushing against my cheek. “It’s okay. You’re safe.
My throat felt dry, and my head pounded. “What… what happened?”
“You were in an accident,” he said, his voice careful.
I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my stomach stopped me.
My stomach.
I froze, my eyes wide as I met Preston’s gaze. The answer was already there, written in the way he hesitated, the way his lips pressed together
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head
“Zoe
“No,” I said louder, tears streaming down my face
Preston leaned closer, his hands steadying me as I broke apart.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice breaking.
The weight of his words crushed me.
The baby was gone
