Elara has always believed that love would bring happiness, but when Connor Reece–her boyfriend, denies her pregnancy and betrays her by marrying his best friend, she is left with nothing but heartbreak. Pregnant and constantly ridiculed, Rowan Nightshade, her enigmatic and ruthless boss steps in. But Rowan's help comes with a price, and his intentions aren't as clear as they seem. Rowan is unsure if he hates Elara because of betraying his best friend, or because of her resilience when all odds are against her. Love and Loyalty are tested at every turn. Can Elara find the strength to claim the happiness she deserves while fighting for her children a d their future? Why is the cold hearted Rowan Nightshade suddenly helping her at every turn?
Chapter 1 Three Months Pregnant
Chapter 1
Three Months Pregnant.
Elara Winterfell.
"How dare you?" His voice thundered across the large living room. "How dare you accuse me of being responsible for that thing that is inside you?" He spat out in fury.
Tears welled at the corners of my eyes as I clutched the scan results tighter in my hands. My hands were shaking in shock from his thunderous voice.
"But, Connor..." I was at a loss for words at what to say, a searing pain in my heart. I couldn't understand his behavior.
"But what, Lara? You pranced around like a virgin the whole time we were dating, and suddenly, you're pregnant with my child?" His voice bore that of disbelief. "If you are so desperate to marry into my family, there are many ways you could do that and not pin some pregnancy on me!"
"You're the only one who has ever touched me!" I cried out in pain in my current situation. My lips quivered and my voice shook. "You're the one who took my virginity. You're the one..."
"Don't you dare!" His eyes shone in anger as he roared at my small frame. "Don't you just dare to do that, Lara. Make that accusation one more time, and you will find yourself cooling your head in a jail cell!"
To say I was stunned by his reaction was an understatement, my heart threatened to tear out in pain from my rib cage. Wasn't he the one who spoke about having children with me? Didn't we talk about it every day? Why was he acting this way? Was he just as excited as I was?
"Connor, I know it's scary as a first-time dad. I understand that." My voice shook as the tears spilled out from my eyes, and I stood up to sink my knees in the ground, in a pleading manner. "But, I can give you more time to think about it and come to your senses! We talked about having children before, why are you acting this way? I wouldn't be able to raise a child alone, I need you with me. I need you for our child. I ..."
"You're pushing this too far, Lara!" He walked abruptly to where I knelt, startling me, and looked at me dead in the eye. "Yes, we talked about marriage. We talked about children. We talked about having children, Lara, but I sure as hell didn't talk about raising someone else's child with you!" His eyes bore hatred for me.
I searched his eyes to find the traces of the man who had always doted on me and taken good care of me, but that man was gone. The man in front of me had only eyes of disdain and disgust, which greatly bothered me. Where had all the love gone? All these because I was pregnant? My mind did not even register what he was going on about.
"What's going on here?" A soft voice filled the room and our heads snapped to the curvy figure that just entered the room.
"Isabel." I breathed out, both surprised and relieved at the presence of my best friend in my boyfriend's house. That latter didn't quite bother me as I began to explain things to her. "Isabel, Connor doesn't want to believe me." I quickly stood up and rushed to Isabel's side.
"What's the issue, Lara?" Isabel stared at me with softness in her eyes, her voice soft and calming. "What's wrong?"
"I'm pregnant." I managed to say, pulling my black hair behind my ears. Her eyes widened slightly and something I could not quite place shone in them, but I shoved it off and continued. "I'm pregnant for Connor, and he doesn't want to accept it."
"Is that true?" Isabel was surprised as she turned to stare at Connor who raked his hands through his blonde hair in frustration. "Why not? Why are you disregarding her? Why are you disregarding her feelings? She is your girlfriend! Why would you reject your child!"
"I'm a man of honor, Isabel. Don't think so lowly of me!" Connor furrowed his brows in a deep frown and spoke with gritted teeth. "I will never reject my child. Never! But I am certain that the thing in her stomach does not belong to me."
"How dare you?" Isabel suddenly blew up in anger, her gold bracelets and bangles jingling in sync with her anger. She was the hotheaded friend between us. "How dare you, Connor?" Isabel started by dropping the things she came with on the table.
Starting with her bag, shoes, bangles, wristwatch, and even earrings. She was prepared for a fight with Connor, and my eyes flew wide in surprise. No, she couldn't do this!
"Isabel!" I panicked when I saw her sudden reaction. I didn't want her picking a fight with Connor, she just had to talk to him and he would come around. "Isabel, you need to calm down. I just need to talk to him. He would understand. I just sprang it on him. It's normal to be skeptical at first." I tried to calm my friend, but Isabel was not having any of it.
"No, leave me, Lara! Why do you keep making excuses for his actions? He slept with you, took your virginity, now he is denying ever touching you? How dare him? Why is he talking like you cheated on him with another man? Leave me alone, let me teach him a lesson that he will never forget!" She tried advancing towards Connor who stood stock still, vibrating in anger, but I tried my best to hold her back by firmly grasping her waist.
This would only make things worse, and she was not getting it!
"Isabel, please, stop all this nonsense! Connor loves me! He is just in shock about the turn of events." I snapped angrily. I was very certain that Connor's reaction was because he was going to be a father for the first time in his life.
Many men got cold feet, and I was sure Connor was also experiencing the same thing. Connor would not leave me alone because he loves me so much.
"I. Did. Not. Sleep. With. Her." He said the words bitingly slowly and his jaw hardened, eyes darkening in anger. "Ask her who she sold herself out to get that thing inside her because it surely wasn't me." He paused. "You know what? Lara, I need you to get out of my house forever, and never dream of coming back inside here."
I was suddenly stunned as I paused at where I stood, not believing my ears. Had it gotten to this? I thought we were just talking to hear each other out. Wait, did he really believe that I cheated on him? Why would he even think that way? Why would it even cross his mind?
"Connor, you can't! What about our child?" My chest suddenly felt heavy and the pain that was already there washed over my entire self. "Why are you doing this, babe? No, babe. The child is yours. I didn't sell myself to anyone. You're the only one who has ever had access to my body. Only you..." I let the tears fall from my eyes in torrents as I ran to hold him, to plead with him to take me back.
But Connor gave me a dirty look, and without thinking, he kicked me away from him with a lot of force. I found my body flying towards the glass table. I fell on my back, with my head making a lot of contact with the table, and everything went black in my head.
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