: Pregnant

Tatiana quickly lay on the bed, pretending to be asleep. Her heart racing, threatening to jump out of its ribcage.

"What are you talking about?" The man’s deep, rich voice sounded, and Tatiana felt a chill run down her spine. Oh heavens, what is she going to do?

She peeked at him just to see how he looked but only saw his back view. A tall, imposing figure, definitely not old or crippled, but incredibly hot. He was speaking with someone on the phone.

"I thought you promised to send someone. What the fuck am I supposed to tell her when she wakes?" he asked the person on the other side.

Tatiana frowned. He had been expecting someone to sleep with last night. He was probably one of those rich men who paid to sleep with women. She clenched her jaw.

‘I’m not a whore,’ she thought to herself.

He ended the call, and Tatiana shut her eyes again. She heard his footsteps fading and the door shutting. He had entered his dressing room.

Tatiana sprang up from the bed, put on her clothes, and stormed out. She took her phone and found many missed calls from Jolene. She called back.

"Tatie? Oh my God, are you alright? Where are you?" Jolene asked hastily.

"At the hotel," Tatiana responded.

"Hotel? I came to check on you, but you weren’t there. I thought Mr. Wallington got you," Jolene sounded worried.

"My father?"

"Yes, a maid called from the mansion twenty minutes ago. Mr. Wallington has sent his men, and they're searching for you everywhere, but I've got this under control," Jolene said over the phone. "Fortunately, I had prepared a flight for you last night."

"Good, let's meet at the hotel parking lot," Tatiana ordered, her voice firm.

Upon reaching the parking lot, Tatiana found Jolene and entered the car.

"So, where were you?" Jolene asked, raising a brow.

"Complicated, annoying, and I don't want to talk about it," Tatiana stated, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

She knew they had to leave quickly, before her father's men caught up. There was no time to stop at the pharmacy, either.

___

[Europe]

Tatiana smiled warmly as her middle-aged aunt, Catelyn, placed a steaming cup of black coffee before her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cat," Tatiana said, grateful.

Catelyn, her father's younger sister, was smart, lovely, and close to Tatiana. After the disastrous wedding, this was the only place Tatiana could find solace.

"I've spoken with your father," Catelyn began. "He's furious about the humiliation he suffered at the wedding."

Tatiana's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did he disown me?"

Catelyn paused before responding. "Something like that. But you don't need to worry. My brother deserved what happened to him. He was trying to control your life, and I'm glad you stood up for yourself."

Tatiana's gaze lifted, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Thank you, Mrs. Cat."

Two months passed quickly as Tatiana found a job to keep herself busy. Catelyn had suggested she pursue acting, a dream she'd abandoned long ago, but Tatiana refused.

One day, while scrolling through social media, Tatiana saw Nathan flirting openly with his slut, Paisley. Her chest tightened, and she dropped her phone.

Her mind drifted to the mysterious man she'd spent a night with, and she sighed. Lately, she'd been feeling sick and tired, but hadn't mentioned it to Catelyn, not wanting to worry her.

Just then, the door opened, and Catelyn walked in with groceries.

"I'm home!" she announced.

Tatiana stood to help, but a sharp headache struck, and her vision blurred. She stumbled, falling to the floor.

"Ta-tie!" Catelyn cried out, rushing to her side.

Tatiana's world went dark.

When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed, Catelyn beside her.

"You're pregnant, ma'am," the nurse announced, and Tatiana's eyes widened in shock, mirroring Catelyn's.

“The doctor will attend to you soon.”

Immediately after the nurse left, Catelyn faced Tatiana with wide eyes.

"Please tell me this baby isn’t Nathan’s."

"It’s not. Nathan and I haven’t slept together for two years," Tatiana responded, and Catelyn frowned harder. She then explained how she ended up in another man’s bed the night she was betrayed.

"I'm stupid, I know. Not only did my marriage not work, now I’m pregnant by a man I know nothing about. I'm sure you probably think I’m a whore…" Tatiana croaked as tears streamed down her face.

"Shh... sweetie, don’t say that. I do not think of you like that. Everything happens for a reason. Everyone makes mistakes, and some mistakes can change one’s life forever," Catelyn assured her, and Tatiana gauged her expression; she didn’t seem mad at her.

"Do you wish to find the father?"

"No, that would be too embarrassing. I don’t want to inconvenience him because of my mistakes," Tatiana replied, and Catelyn nodded in agreement.

"I guess I’m becoming a grandmother soon," Catelyn said, and they both chuckled.

"Jolene will be so mad at me."

"No, I think she’ll be happy."

____

~Six years later~

Tatiana stepped into the apartment, exhausted from a long day. She found her five-year-old son sitting in the living room, swinging his legs while watching a movie and munching on popcorns.

"Mother!" He exlaimed, his head snapping towards her. Tatiana smiled brightly, pulling him into a warm hug.

"How was school, sweetie?" she asked, as Dylan broke the hug.

"I'm not going back to that school. There's no privacy," Dylan complained.

Tatiana's face turned cold, concern etched on her face. "Did someone hurt you?"

Dylan was her top priority, and she was fiercely protective of him. The last time a man had said something harsh about her son, Tatiana had broken his nose with a single punch.

"No. I can't get hurt; I'm a knight, remember? I can protect myself." Dylan flexed his tiny arm, making Tatiana chuckled.

"Then what is wrong?"

"Girls at school won't stop staring at me. It's so uncomfortable; I can't even focus well in class. My teacher called me cute several times, and I feel like she is crushing on me."

Tatiana struggled to contain her laughter.

"That's not funny, Mom. They're distractions—cute, but distractions. I need to focus on my studies and make you proud," Dylan said, and Tatiana pecked his round cheek.

Dylan was cute and brilliant, and Tatiana had long gotten used to the charm her son carried. Especially those blue eyes of his, which he definitely didn’t get from her.

"You're back," Catelyn emerged from the kitchen.

Soon, they all settled down to have dinner.

Catelyn liked Dylan very much, and Dylan considered her his grandmother.

"So, mom, am I changing schools?"

"No."

Dylan made a sad face. "Maybe I'll choose one of them as my girlfriend."

Tatiana almost choked. "Where did you get that side of yours? Eat."

Catelyn let out a secret smile, and they continued eating silently.

"So, mother," Dylan broke the silence again. Both women looked up at him, but his next question made their faces pale.

"When am I going to meet my father?"

: Her return

The room fell silent; one could hear a pin drop. Tatiana forgot how to use her mouth and only stared at her son.

"Is Father a bad man?" Dylan asked innocently. He didn't look upset but worried.

"Dylan," Catelyn cut in.

"No, he is not a bad man. He is a wonderful man that you'll meet someday. But now is not the right time, dear, but I promise, you'll meet your father," Tatiana answered, and Dylan's smile returned.

"I bet he is as handsome as me," he chuckled.

"He sure is," Tatiana agreed, and the room returned to its cheerful atmosphere.

After putting Dylan to sleep, Tatiana went to grab a glass of water, trying to control her breathing.

"Tatie," Catelyn called behind her.

"I just promised him that he'll meet his father soon when I don't even know who he is, what he looks like, or what kind of personality he has. What if he hates me and Dylan? What if Dylan hates me? What if..."

"Relax, Tatie, it's not the end of the world," Catelyn held her hand.

"I don't know what to do," Tatiana whispered.

"You'll have to find him. As far as fate brought you two together that night, fate will do the same again. You just have to follow your instincts. It's your choice, Tatie," Catelyn smiled and left the kitchen.

"Look who's glowing," Jolene and Isabella, Tatiana's younger sisters, teased on the video call.

The first wife of Mr. Wallington bore three daughters: Maya, Tatiana, and Isabella, respectively. She died of a disease after Isabella turned a year old. Mr. Wallington didn't waste time marrying another woman who bore him a pair of male twins.

Maya was married to an influential man in the city; her marriage was the first to add more resources to Mr. Wallington's empire.

The same thing was supposed to happen after Tatiana married Nathan, but she was glad to know the monster lurking behind those charming eyes of that asshole.

"Did you see my movie? It was a hit!" Isabella squealed on the phone.

"I did. You are now a superstar. Your acting skill was awesome, and I'm so proud of you, baby girl," Tatiana complimented.

"Thanks to your manager Jolene, that I borrowed from you. And thanks to the skills you showed me. I'm like the younger version of you. When will you begin to act again? We should make a movie together."

"Ah, right, that would be so awesome," Jolene grinned as she exchanged glances with Isabella.

"I told you guys I'm done with that world. I need to focus on Dylan. He needs me," Tatiana retorted.

"Oh," Isabella's face dropped but lightened up again. "How's Dylan? The cutest kid I've ever seen." Isabella and Jolene both knew how she got Dylan.

"He is good, and he is asleep."

"I can't wait to meet him, for real. You need to come back, Tatiana. The storm has cleared," Jolene said.

"I've missed you, Tatie, and I can't wait to meet Dylan too," Isabella spoke.

The trio chatted over the video call for a while before Tatiana decided to go to bed. She tried to sleep but couldn't; Dylan's words kept ringing in her head.

She took out her phone to read some novels until sleep took her away, but her phone suddenly went off.

Groaning, she tried to charge it, but it didn't turn on. Mumbling to herself, she decided to buy a new one tomorrow. She had wanted to do it a long time ago but never got the time.

She lay on her bed again, and the thought of that night lingered in her head.

She had thought never to set foot in that country again, but it seems her wish is not possible.

___

The next day was the weekend, a day Tatiana spent with Dylan. She took him out to get a new phone, then headed to the park, Dylan's favorite place.

Dylan had been her medicine over the years, and she never once regretted having him. She would walk through fire and water just to make him happy.

"Hello, miss, can I take a photo of your kid?" An elegant woman with her husband asked Tatiana. "He's so adorable. It's fine if you don't want it."

"I don't mind," Tatiana smiled. This wasn't the first time anyway; Dylan attracted a lot of attention.

After the couple took his picture and left, Tatiana bought Dylan's favorite cookies, and they headed home.

"We are home, Mrs. Cat," Tatiana announced as she walked in with her son. A frown settled on her face, spotting Catelyn staring at the television with a shocked expression.

"What's going on?" she asked after sending Dylan upstairs. Tracing Catelyn's gaze, it was now her turn to be shocked.

____

~The famous actress Isabella's indecent photos and videos exposed at the peak of her success~

~Isabella Wallington found dead this morning, seems to have committed suicide by jumping off the bridge and drowning herself~

____

Tatiana felt her world crashing down on her. She stared at her sister's picture on the television, with the word 'RIP' boldly written on it.

Her feet finally moved after being frozen for minutes. She rushed upstairs, grabbed her old phone, and began to do all the necessary things to get her messages, voicemails, and some other important things.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, her body trembling.

In a while, she got back everything, and her heart shattered seeing so many voicemails on the carrier server from Isabella. Taking a seat, she clicked on the first one.

"They are everywhere, Tatie. My nudes are everywhere. I don't know what to do. Your number is the only one I know by heart. I can't even call the police; they are not listening. I don't even know where I am..."

Isabella's voice trembled badly from the speaker. Her fear was intelligible. Tatiana clicked on the next, tears cascading down her face like a waterfall.

"Tatie, why is your phone dead? I'm scared, I'm so fucking scared. People are everywhere. I'm dressed in black like a criminal and hiding. I reek of rotten eggs and gutter. They are calling me names, Tatie, like they are going to kill me. What do I do? Please, I need to talk to you. Please..."

Tatiana trembled more and clicked on the third.

"I... I can't believe this is happening. What did I do wrong? It's definitely someone who knows me. I'm not a whore. They drugged me overnight and took pictures and videos. The whole of Australia hates me. I'm lost... I... I gotta go, someone is here. Please call me back if you get this. Please, Tatie."

Tatiana couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to scream but that would alert Dylan, so she ran outside the house, not minding the rain that poured down heavily, and let out a loud scream.

"Fuck!!!" Tatiana went on her knees, pulling down her hair.

Catelyn stood by the doorstep in tears, watching her helplessly.

___

With a pale face, Tatiana stared outside the airplane window. Yes, she was on her way back to Australia. Isabella's burial was tomorrow, and she needed to be there.

Dylan was still with Catelyn; they would be coming in two days. She didn't want Dylan anywhere near funerals and was glad Catelyn agreed. Catelyn was the only one she could trust at this moment.

Hours later, the plane landed safely. Tatiana stepped off the plane, returning to a country she hadn't set foot in for six years: Australia. Once upon a time, this was home, but not anymore.

___

Clad in a black, expensive suit, a man overlooked the city before him, his gaze sharp like a blade and his aura domineering.

His black-and-white office was adorned with grand architecture. The crystal nameplate on his desk had the word 'MR. KING' boldly written on it.

His phone buzzed, shattering his tranquility. He answered the call and waited for the man on the other side to speak.

"Hello, Mr. King, the woman you had a night with six years ago just returned to the country."

: Don't you think you've run enough?

As Tatiana stood before Isabella's grave, it felt like a nightmare. A nightmare she didn't want to believe. Her desperate voice over her voicemail echoed in her head.

She blamed herself for not being there when Isabella needed her help. She hated herself for leaving this monster den of a country in the first place.

Tatiana wished she had tried to stop Isabella from going into the entertainment industry, but her sister was determined, just like her.

She would find whoever was behind this and make them wish for death. She would destroy each and every one of them.

"Tatiana," a familiar voice snapped her back to reality. She turned to see her older sister Maya. She was dressed in black, just like her.

Only a few people attended Isabella's burial; their father, stepmother, and stepbrother were not among them.

Maya walked to stand beside her, sadness swirling in her gaze. "I'm so sorry."

Tatiana scoffed. "Isabella would never kill herself, you know that. And yet you let Father suppress the news and ask the cops to conclude it was suicide? How could you?"

"I have no power, Tatiana. How am I supposed to face Father?"

Tatiana knew she was right; there was nothing Maya could do even if she wanted to. Tatiana decided to find out the truth herself and avenge Isabella's death.

"Let it go, Tatie," Maya muttered, and Tatiana slowly looked at her, her eyes reddened with anger.

"Are you seriously kidding me? This is our little sister we are talking about. I should let go?" Tatiana asked, and Maya swallowed.

"I'm hurt too, and I badly want to make them pay, but I... I can't lose you too," Maya made to touch her, but Tatiana shifted back.

"Don't ever cross paths with me. You can stay low while I catch those bastards," Tatiana said as she walked towards Jolene, who was waiting for her.

Maya tried to hold her tears. She pulled up her sleeve, and her gaze settled on the red bruise on her wrist. She took a deep breath and watched Tatiana's car leave.

---

"She really said that?" Jolene asked in disbelief.

"I don't need her help anyway," Tatiana mumbled, shutting her eyes. Dylan and Catelyn would be coming to the country soon. She needed to find a good place before they returned.

They both settled in a coffee shop where they could discuss.

"I've checked the CCTV footage around Isabella's area, but they were all malfunctioning. A man told me it wasn't working for a long time. I'm sure the person behind Isabella's incident knows her, but I can't pinpoint who," Jolene explained.

"Those bastards behind it are sure to be in the entertainment industry, and the only way to get them is to be in the same world as them," Tatiana's eyes burned with determination.

"Are you saying..."

"Yes, I'm going back to acting," Tatiana stated firmly.

As they left the coffee shop, Tatiana spotted many reporters swarming around a large building, wanting to take a glimpse of a figure.

"Oh my, that's Mr. King," Jolene squealed, also trying to peek. A man emerged from the building with several guards, his suit screaming wealth.

His chiseled features illuminated by the sunlight—thick eyebrows, sharp nose, full lips, and a muscular figure that would make any woman drool. His hair was styled backward, with a few strands dangling to one side of his face. He carried each step with power, catching the onlookers' breaths, even Tatiana's.

Damn, what a beauty.

Though the reporters were wild at the sight of him, they dared not come closer than six feet. That's if they loved their reputation.

The word mercy wasn't in his dictionary.

"Mr. King?" Tatiana raised a brow.

"They call him 'King of the entertainment industry.' His full name is Cassius King. I heard he is a ruthless type, but fuck, he is so hot," Jolene said, and Tatiana gave her a look. "Sorry."

Returning her gaze to the imposing man called Cassius, Tatiana was stunned to meet his gaze. Even though she was seeing him from a distance, she felt those piercing gazes prickling her skin.

For some reason, his look reminded her of her little boy.

Though it was just for a moment, she couldn't help but wonder how a man held so much intimidating aura. Even after he entered his Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, Tatiana didn't stop staring until he drove out of sight.

"Are you crushing on him?" Jolene's voice snapped her back to reality.

Tatiana cleared her throat. "No way. I don't think he is any different from those powerful men I've met. They're all the same."

One of the female reporters spotted Tatiana and quickly took a picture before she left.

She looked down at the picture and frowned. "Isn't this Isabella's sister? Tatiana Wallington, a famous actress years ago who tarnished her marriage?" she mumbled in disbelief, but then her lips curved up.

---

Getting to her lodge, Tatiana stepped into her dimly lit room tiredly. Jolene would search for a company to get her signed with.

It wouldn't be easy due to her past and also Isabella's incident, but she wanted to give it a try. She wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted.

She went to take a shower, letting the warm water calm her tense muscles and relax her mind. After a few minutes, she emerged with a white towel draped around her chest and barely reaching her knee.

She went to her drawer to pull out nightwear for the night, oblivious to the figure in the room with his intense gaze on her.

Turning to wear it, her eyes settled on a man sitting on the couch around the corner, and she gasped in shock.

"What the fu..." She wanted to curse but recognized him and blinked several times just to make sure he was the one.

"Mr.... K-King?" she stuttered, gripping her towel tightly, afraid it might fall and reveal her forbidden treasure to him.

What the hell is he doing in her room?

His piercing gaze observed her body, face, and down to her smooth thighs.

"Excuse me," Tatiana snapped when the man said nothing.

"Why are you so surprised?" he asked in a deep, rich voice laced with power. He slowly stood and approached her, each step making her skin crawl.

"You barged into my room just like this, years ago," he stated, still stepping forward. Tatiana made to step backward, but her back touched the wall. Shit! She cursed inwardly.

As his height hovered over her, Tatiana got mesmerized by his blue charming eyes, which reminded her of her son.

Why does this man look so much like Dylan? She had asked herself that question when she saw him swarmed with so many reporters. There's no way he is the one, is he?

But his scent... no, it can't be.

He is scary; what is he here for? To kill her? She can't trust powerful men like him. They are devious.

She did the best thing she could think of. Run.

But her luck wasn't on her side as the man caught her and pinned her hands just above her head and glared at her.

"And where do you think you're going, woman? Don't you think you've run enough?" he sneered.