The piercing silence of the morning was the first blow that struck Celina when she woke. It wasn’t just the absence of sound—it was the absence of him. Again. The cold, untouched satin sheet beside her screamed a truth she could no longer ignore: César hadn’t come home. And it had been happening for months. With her eyes still heavy from a restless night, she lay still, staring at the blank white ceiling of the oversized bedroom that now felt like an abandoned stage. The mansion, grand and impressive from the outside, had become a gilded prison on the inside. The lavish furniture, the artwork on the walls, the perfectly arranged flowers replaced daily by the staff—all of it felt meaningless against the hollow ache consuming her chest. Slowly, she sat up, a knot tightening in her throat. Her bare feet touched the icy floor. The echo of her own footsteps as she walked toward the closet seemed to mock the loneliness surrounding her. She stopped before the massive mirror and stared. The

Celina parked the car in the mansion’s garage and stayed there for a moment, taking a deep breath. Her hands were still trembling on the steering wheel, her mind a whirlwind. The previous night felt like a blur—a dream, or maybe a nightmare. She stepped out with unsteady feet and slipped silently into the house. The place was cloaked in darkness, only a few motion-sensor lights casting a faint path toward the bedroom. Climbing the stairs slowly, her heart pounded in her chest. Her head throbbed—a cruel reminder of the alcohol and the long, chaotic night. When she pushed open the bedroom door, the room was pitch-black. She exhaled in relief, thinking she could just collapse in bed and try to forget everything. Then, a soft click broke the silence. The light from the lamp beside the armchair flicked on, and Celina froze when she saw César’s silhouette sitting there, waiting for her. His eyes were dark, his face rigid, his expression pure hatred. “Where were you last night?” His vo

Celina turned and saw a stunning woman walk in without hesitation. Her stomach dropped. “God, I’ve missed you, love!” Celina froze. Her eyes instinctively fell to their hands. There they were — matching gold wedding bands. Thor stood from his chair, his expression dark, brushed past Celina without a word, and followed Isabela into the hallway. Celina stayed seated, her heart racing, a knot tightening in her throat. Outside, Thor’s sharp voice carried through, even as he tried to rein in his irritation: “Isabela, I’ve told you not to interrupt me at work. This is unacceptable.” “You’re taking this way too seriously, love,” she pouted. “I just wanted to see you.” “This isn’t the time. Go home. We’ll talk later.” Isabela rolled her eyes. “Don’t be such a bore, love.” Thor cleared his throat, his voice edged with visible irritation. “For God’s sake, Isabela, I’ve said it once and I won’t say it again — go home. Now.” She huffed, folding her arms, but at the weight of his glar

Celina walked out of the doctor’s office on unsteady legs, her heart pounding violently against her ribs. Every word from the gynecologist echoed in her mind like a hammer shattering fragile glass: “One month and three days.” “We need to schedule your prenatal appointments.” She slid into her car on autopilot, slamming the door shut. Her hands trembled so badly she had to grip the steering wheel just to steady herself. But instead of starting the engine, she lowered her head and pressed her forehead against the cool leather. “No… this can’t be happening…” she whispered, her voice breaking under the weight of the shock. She closed her eyes, desperately searching for a loophole, some chance the doctor had been wrong. But the math was undeniable. There was only one man who could be the father. Thor Miller. Her boss. The man she despised with every fiber of her being. Arrogant. Domineering. Cold and unfeeling. A man who treated her as if she were disposable, as though her existenc

Hearing every word of that conversation, Celina clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling the sob that threatened to escape. She felt her soul shatter. A wave of dizziness hit her hard, and she had to steady herself against the wall. If Thor ever found out about the baby… He’d force her to get rid of it too. Panic flooded her body, choking her breath. She couldn’t tell him. She couldn’t let him find out. Her eyes burned, and the tears came again. She turned and ran down the hallway, heart crumbling inside her chest. Her child could never know who his father was. And in that moment, the decision was made. She would protect her baby. Even if it meant carrying this secret for the rest of her life. Bursting into her office, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it, as if the solid wood was the only thing keeping her from collapsing. Her body trembled. Her chest rose and fell in ragged bursts. Then, like a dam breaking, the tears poured out. She slid to the floor, cov