Chapter 2: The Heartbeat That Changed Everything

The first thing I became aware of wasn't a voice, it was a steady, mechanical sound.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Each pulse echoed through the silence until it became impossible to ignore.

As I struggled to lift my eyelids, they felt like they were weighed down by a ton of bricks, but I managed to pry them open. Suddenly, a blast of bright white light filled my vision, and I was hit with the stark sight of the ceiling, the walls, and the crisp, clean sheets that were tightly tucked around my body.

A hospital.

The smell of antiseptic hit me like a punch to the gut, making my lungs burn as I struggled to catch my breath. It felt like my whole body had been put through a wringer, every muscle screaming in agony, as if I'd been flattened by a massive weight.

Then the memories crashed over me.

Our wedding anniversary, the divorce papers, Sophia's tears, the sound of my signature scratching across the page, and blood pooling beneath me.

My heart lurched, and my hands flew to my stomach.

"No..."

My voice was barely above a whisper when fear took over.

The door swung open and in walked a doctor, with a nurse right on their heels.

"You've finally woken up," the doctor said gently.

I grabbed his arm before he could take another step, my fingers shaking as I held onto his sleeve.

"My baby."

My voice cracked.

"I'm really worried about my baby, can you please tell me if everything is alright? Is my baby still with us?"

The doctor looked me up and down for a second, then nodded like everything was okay.

"Yes."

The one word shattered all my fear and a sob came out, my tears made everything blurry.

"The pregnancy survived."

My shoulders sagged with relief.

"Thank God..."

"You experienced what's known as a threatened miscarriage," he continued, "and the baby is safe for now, but the next few weeks will be critical. You need complete rest and must avoid anything that causes excessive stress or emotional shock."

I let out a hollow laugh.

"My husband divorced me yesterday."

The doctor's face, which had been so calm up until then, suddenly changed, and for a moment, we just sat there in silence.

Finally, he cleared his throat.

"I'll leave you to rest."

As he turned to leave, he passed me a tiny envelope, its contents unknown.

"The nurse found this with your medical records."

As soon as they were gone, the room fell silent once more, and without even thinking about it, my gaze automatically shifted towards the ultrasound screen that was sitting next to my bed.

The screen suddenly lit up, and a small figure came into view.

Then I heard it.

A heartbeat.

Fast, steady, and strong.

As I held the envelope, my heart skipped a beat, and I carefully pulled out the ultrasound picture that was tucked away inside, my fingers trembling with anticipation.

This tiny person was almost unnoticeable, but in an instant, they became the most valuable thing to me.

I pressed the picture against my chest.

"I don't know who you'll become," I whispered, and tears slipped down my cheeks.

"But I promise you this..."

My voice trembled.

"No matter what happens... I'll protect you."

I rested a hand over my stomach.

"You'll never have to wonder whether your mother loves you."

The words just came out before I could catch myself, and it was about your dad...

The thought lodged painfully in my chest.

It wasn't just the divorce that hurt, it was the possibility that my child might grow up without knowing a father's love.

A stabbing pain sank deep within me, and the stillness around me became even more oppressive, weighing me down.

Something was missing.

My phone.

I looked all around the room, checking the bedside table, the chair that was sitting next to the bed, and even the drawer, but I couldn't find what I was looking for, no matter where I looked.

A nurse noticed my growing panic.

"Are you looking for something?"

"My phone."

She frowned apologetically.

"I'm sorry. You weren't brought in with one."

A cold feeling spread through me.

Ethan.

He still had the message, and those anonymous warnings were still on his mind.

Who had sent them, and why?

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

The door opened.

"Dad..."

Relief flooded through me, yet the man standing there barely resembled the father I knew.

He looked like he'd been up all night, his suit was all wrinkly, and there were big dark circles under his eyes. His hair, which was always perfectly combed, was now a mess, like he'd been running his hands through it over and over again.

He walked across the room, his eyes locked on mine, and gently wrapped his arms around me, holding me close in a warm hug, the silence between us speaking louder than any words could, as we stood there, frozen in a moment of quiet understanding.

I felt a tiny surge of tension as his arms wrapped around me, and that's when I noticed they were shaking, just a little.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He took a step back and looked at me carefully, like he was making sure I was really awake and not just pretending.

"You scared me."

A weak smile tugged at my lips.

"I've looked worse."

His gaze fell on the divorce papers that were lying on the bedside table, and he felt his jaw clench up tight.

"I warned you."

"I know."

Marrying into the Kingsley family is not going to be a walk in the park, I warned you about that from the start.

I lowered my gaze.

"I loved him."

The truth came out in a soft and straightforward way, it was honest and hurtful to hear.

My dad shut his eyes for a second, then dug into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded-up newspaper, which he put on the bed.

The headline froze me.

KINGSLEY GROUP ANNOUNCES GLOBAL MERGER

CEO ETHAN KINGSLEY TO ADDRESS THE MEDIA THIS MORNING

I stared at the page.

"He has a press conference?"

My father nodded.

"It starts in less than an hour."

I looked up in disbelief.

"The morning after filing for divorce?"

His expression darkened.

"That's exactly why something feels wrong."

"What do you mean?"

He folded his arms.

I've been around guys like Ethan for a long time, and I can tell you, he's a calculated person - everything he does has a reason behind it.

His voice turned thoughtful.

"He didn't choose your anniversary by accident."

A chill crept down my spine.

"You think he wanted everyone watching."

"I think he wanted the world to see something."

My fingers tightened around the newspaper.

But what?

The TV on the wall just turned on by itself, and big red letters popped up that said BREAKING NEWS.

Reporters crowded outside Kingsley Group headquarters, and camera flashes exploded like fireworks.

Ethan showed up, looking like he just stepped out of a magazine, calm and collected, like nothing was wrong.

"Mr. Kingsley!"

"Is it true you've divorced your wife?"

"When will you marry Miss Sophia Blake?"

People were asking questions from all sides, but Ethan just stayed quiet.

For a brief, unsettling moment, his gaze drifted up towards the closest camera, and I felt my breath hitch, as if he was staring directly into my eyes.

Finally, he spoke.

"I'm not discussing my personal life."

He turned to leave, then another reporter shouted,

"Did you ever truly love your wife?"

It was like time stood still, and the whole crowd just froze, waiting to see what would happen next.

Ethan stopped walking and stood still, his back turned away from the cameras.

One second. Two. Three.

His hand slowly clenched into a fist by his side.

He finally said something, but it was really soft, you could barely hear him.

"I hope..."

He paused.

"...one day she'll understand."

He just walked away without saying anything else, and that was the end of the broadcast.

I couldn't move.

Understand...

Understand what?

As I stood there, trying to collect my thoughts, I heard another knock at the door, and before I could even process what was happening, it swung open and a woman walked in.

The woman appeared to be around forty-five years old, and her outfit was a perfect reflection of her composed and professional personality - a beautiful cream-colored suit that seemed to radiate a sense of calmness.

Every movement was deliberate, confident, and measured.

She stood still beside my bed, giving me a gentle smile.

"Mrs. Carter?"

I nodded cautiously.

"Yes?"

She handed me a business card.

Grace Holloway.

Senior Legal Counsel, Kingsley Group.

She put a little box on the table next to my bed, it was wrapped in velvet, before I even had a chance to ask her what she was doing there.

"This belongs to you."

She smiled faintly and nodded politely before turning to leave, her footsteps quiet as she walked towards the door.

"Wait—"

In just a few seconds, she vanished into thin air, leaving everything behind.

As I lifted the lid of the velvet box, my heart started racing and I caught my breath - there, nestled in the softness, was my wedding ring, sparkling and waiting for me.

The diamond sparkled in the morning light, looking like nothing was wrong, and under it was a small, neatly folded white card.

As I slowly unfolded the paper, my fingers shook with anticipation, and to my surprise, there were only five words scribbled across it.

Don't believe everything you see.

I looked at the message, then slowly raised my eyes to the empty doorway.

I had a feeling that Grace Holloway's visit to the hospital wasn't something she had planned herself, it just didn't seem right.

Chapter 3: I Refuse to Be His Weakness

The card slipped from my fingers onto the hospital blanket, and five words stared back at me.

Don't believe everything you see.

I kept reading them over and over, but my heart just wouldn't calm down.

Grace Holloway had introduced herself as Kingsley Group's senior legal counsel, and if she was Ethan's lawyer, then why would she secretly warn me?

Nothing made sense anymore.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

"May I come in?"

I swiftly moved the card under my pillow, then looked up.

The nurse was standing in the doorway, looking sorry for something, and she had a gentle smile on her face.

"Someone is here to see you."

"I don't want visitors."

She hesitated.

"He said it will only take a minute."

Just as I was about to say no again, I heard a voice that sounded really familiar coming from somewhere in the room.

"Ava."

Every muscle in my body stiffened.

Ethan.

He stood in the doorway wearing the same charcoal suit from the previous night, but something about him had changed.

He looked different, his black hair wasn't perfectly styled like it usually was, and there were dark circles under his gray eyes. For the first time, he seemed really tired, not like his usual self where nothing could touch him.

The nurse glanced between us.

"I'll give you some privacy."

She quietly closed the door behind her.

The room fell quiet, and for a moment, neither of us said a word. Then, Ethan slowly moved closer to my bed, his footsteps breaking the silence.

"How are you feeling?"

A bitter smile touched my lips.

You're bringing this up now, after everything we've been through and twelve hours after our divorce was finalized?

"You don't get to ask."

His jaw tightened.

"I heard you fainted."

"So, that's the real reason you're here?" I said, my voice icy. "You're just making sure I don't do something crazy before the divorce is finalized?"

His gaze met mine.

"No."

"No?"

"I came because..."

The words died on his lips.

Because what?

He glanced at the IV in my arm, then quickly shifted his gaze away.

It's probably a good idea to stay in the hospital for a little while, just to make sure everything is okay.

"That's none of your concern."

"It is."

He replied too fast, and for a split second, a strange look crossed his face before he went back to looking calm.

"I mean... until you've recovered."

I folded my arms.

When you decided to be with someone else, you gave up the right to care about what happens to me.

His shoulders stiffened.

"I know."

The quiet admission caught me off guard, and there was no excuse, no denial, only two words.

"Our finance department will cover every hospital expense."

A humorless laugh escaped me.

"There you are."

His brows knitted together.

"What do you mean?"

"The real Ethan Kingsley."

I held his gaze.

"The billionaire who believes money can fix everything."

His lips parted, but no sound came out.

"I don't need your pity," I said, "and I'm not looking for a handout. What I don't want is for you to feel guilty about something that's not your fault."

"It isn't guilt."

"Then what is it?"

For the first time...

He had no answer.

There was a knock at the door, and before we could even say anything, it swung open.

Sophia walked into the room, holding a beautiful bouquet of white lilies in her hands.

Her smile disappeared in an instant when she saw Ethan standing right next to my bed.

"Ethan?"

Relief quickly replaced her surprise.

"I've been looking everywhere for you."

Ethan's eyes met hers for a brief moment as she wrapped her hand around his arm, but he quickly and gently pulled away, his touch soft as he removed her hand from his arm.

It was just a quick moment, but Sophia and I both caught it, and for a split second, her smile slipped.

"I didn't know you were visiting Ava."

"I was just leaving," Ethan replied evenly.

Sophia turned toward me.

"I'm glad you're awake."

She placed the flowers on the table.

"I was really worried."

"Thank you."

My voice remained polite, nothing more.

She hesitated before speaking again.

"I hope everything is alright between us."

I looked directly into her eyes.

"You came to my anniversary dinner."

"You announced your engagement."

You stayed with me the whole time as I signed the papers to end my marriage.

I offered her a small, emotionless smile.

"And now you're asking whether I resent you?"

Her face flushed.

"I never wanted to hurt you."

"No?"

She lowered her eyes.

"I was tired of hiding."

For a second...

I almost believed her.

"Ethan," she said softly.

He interrupted before she could continue.

"We're leaving."

She blinked.

"But—"

"Now."

She put on a fake smile and trailed behind him as he headed for the door. Just as they were about to step out, Ethan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He glanced over his shoulder, our eyes locking for just a brief moment.

Questions flooded my mind.

Who sent those anonymous messages?

Why had his own lawyer warned me?

And why had signing those divorce papers seemed to hurt him almost as much as it hurt me?

I broke the moment first.

"You should go."

Then, just a few seconds passed, and the door closed with a soft click, and suddenly the room was really quiet.

It wasn't until that moment that I felt the tears well up, and it wasn't because I still had feelings for Ethan, but because something deep inside of me had finally been set loose, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

She used to be the kind of woman who would beg for any little bit of love, even if it meant feeling lonely all the time. But that woman doesn't exist anymore, the one who thought being alone was just part of loving someone.

The moment I put my signature on those papers, it was like I had laid her to rest.

A gentle pang spread through me, and without thinking, my hand drifted to my belly.

I wasn't alone anymore.

Now I have someone who needs me, someone who can't defend themselves, someone who makes it all worth it.

I closed my eyes.

"I'm not sure what's ahead of us," I said quietly, "but one thing I can promise is that I'll always be here for you. I'll keep you safe and make sure you never feel like you don't belong or that you're not loved. You deserve to feel wanted and cherished, and I'll do everything in my power to make that happen."

My phone's soft buzz broke the silence, and I guess the nurse had found it and put it next to me on the bed.

The screen lit up.

Unknown Number.

One message appeared.

Leave New York today.

Before I could react, another arrived.

They're already watching the hospital.

As I stood there, a shiver ran down my spine, and I slowly turned to face the window that looked out over the parking lot.

A black SUV was parked across the street from my house, and the man inside was wearing dark sunglasses, staring straight at my window.

I was staring at him, and suddenly he looked up, his eyes locking onto mine as he lifted his phone, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat.

I couldn't help but wonder, was he snapping a photo of me or just checking to see if I was still around?

Either way...

Someone was watching me.

*Chapter 4: The Man in the Black SUV*

Sleep never came, and long after the nurses dimmed the lights, I lay awake staring at the ceiling while the steady beep of the heart monitor echoed through the room. Every time I closed my eyes, the previous night replayed with painful clarity: Ethan's unreadable expression, Sophia Whitmore standing proudly beside him, the divorce papers, and the cold weight of the pen in my trembling hand. And then there was the anonymous text.

I'm heading out of New York today, it seems like they're already keeping an eye on the hospital.

As the first light of dawn crept in, I felt utterly drained, like my body was weighed down by a heavy fatigue. But my mind was wide awake, racing with thoughts that refused to quiet down. I stretched out my hand and grabbed the nightstand, my fingers closing around the business card that Grace Holloway had discreetly handed me before she left.

"Don't believe everything you see."

The words seemed harmless at first, yet beside the text message, they carried an entirely different meaning. Someone was lying, and the question was... who? Grace? The stranger sending the messages? Or Ethan himself?

Just as I was lost in thought, a gentle knock at the door broke the silence, and a nurse walked in with a friendly smile on her face, holding a tray that had all my medication neatly arranged on it.

"Good morning, Ms. Bennett, how are you doing today?"

"Better," I lied.

As the nurse finished taking my blood pressure, she gave me a gentle reminder to try and manage my stress levels, but I just couldn't help thinking that it's easier said than done. Once she was gone, the room fell silent once again. I couldn't stand the idea of spending another minute in bed, so I slowly got up, put on my slippers, and made my way to the window, being careful not to slip or stumble. The stillness of the room was almost palpable, and I felt a strong urge to break free from it, even if it was just for a little while.

The hospital parking lot seemed like any other, with doctors rushing to get to their next appointment and visitors carrying gifts for their loved ones. Ambulances were coming and going, their sirens occasionally piercing the air. For a split second, I thought maybe I had just imagined the whole thing, that it was all just a product of my overactive imagination. But then, I caught sight of something that made my heart skip a beat, and I knew that everything was all too real.

On the other side of the street, under some maple trees, a black SUV was parked. It wasn't going anywhere and it wasn't near the emergency door. It just seemed to be waiting around. There was a guy sitting in the driver's seat, wearing sunglasses even though it was early morning and not very bright. He had his phone in one hand, and the camera was pointing right at my window.

A shiver ran down my spine as I wondered if I was just being paranoid, but then I instinctively ducked behind the curtain. That's when he lowered his phone, and it seemed like he had been waiting for me to make that move. My heart skipped a beat - this was no coincidence. Somebody clearly knew exactly which room I was in, and that realization sent a chill through me. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, and now it seemed like my instincts had been right all along. The fact that he had anticipated my actions made me feel like I was in a precarious situation, and I couldn't help but wonder what his next move would be.

My hand automatically went to my belly, where a tiny life was growing, and it was the one thing I could count on. I wasn't going to let fear take over and make my choices for me, no matter who was trying to scare me or why. I took a deep breath and closed the curtain, shutting out the uncertainty.

A short while later, a different nurse came in to take my temperature, and I tried to sound pretty nonchalant when I asked her, "Do staff members get to park their cars across the street?" But she just scrunched up her face in a frown.

Normally, that parking lot is only for hospital staff, but security can't possibly stop every single vehicle that pulls up and waits there.

She glanced toward the window.

"Did someone bother you?"

I forced a small smile.

"No. I was just curious."

She still seemed unsure, but luckily she decided to let it go. After she was gone, I took another look out the window, and the SUV was no longer there. You'd think I would have felt better, but the empty spot where it had been parked actually made me feel more on edge. It was as if whoever had been watching me wanted to make a point - they could vanish into thin air whenever they felt like it, and that was a pretty unsettling thought.

As the day wore on, that nagging feeling just wouldn't leave me alone, and every time I heard someone walking by my room, my heart would start racing. Even the slightest knock would make me jump. But by the time evening rolled around, I had pretty much talked myself into calming down and not letting my imagination run wild with all sorts of scary scenarios. That's when the door swung open and Grace Holloway walked in. She didn't say a word, just shut the door behind her and locked it, the soft click of the lock seeming really loud in the silence of the room.

She rarely looked nervous, but tonight fear was written across her face.

"We don't have much time," she whispered.

I straightened carefully against the pillows.

"You left the card."

She nodded.

"And the warning?"

Her hesitation answered before she did.

"No."

That one word was all it took to send a shiver down my spine, making me feel uneasy all over again.

"So someone else is trying to contact me?"

"I think so."

The silence between us grew thicker, until Grace got up and walked across the room, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ms. Bennett... I need you to listen carefully."

"I'm listening."

She inhaled slowly.

"The divorce isn't as simple as it looks."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"It looked simple enough."

"It wasn't Ethan's decision."

My eyes narrowed.

"I watched him sign those papers."

"I know."

Don't expect me to think that he didn't have a choice.

I want you to trust that there are individuals out there who have a lot more influence and control than we do.

For the first time since she had walked in, Grace glanced nervously at the door, as if she was worried that someone might be eavesdropping on her.

"There's more to the Kingsley family than meets the eye, and some things are going on behind closed doors that aren't immediately apparent."

"What things?"

"I can't explain everything."

Frustration rose inside me.

"Then why come here?"

"Because you're in danger."

The room suddenly felt colder.

"What kind of danger?"

Grace looked directly into my eyes.

"The fewer people who know about your pregnancy, the safer you'll be."

My fingers instinctively tightened over the blanket.

"How do you know?"

"I handled the medical documents."

My heart skipped.

"So someone else knows?"

She rapidly shook her head, her expression firm, "No, and we have to make sure it stays that way."

A thousand questions crowded my mind.

"Does Ethan know?"

"No."

"Should I tell him?"

Grace didn't answer immediately. Finally, she whispered,

"Not yet."

What she said was scary, but the way she said it was even scarier because she sounded so sure of herself.

"If the wrong person discovers that child exists..."

She stopped herself.

"What?"

"I don't have proof."

"Grace."

"I just need you to trust me."

The sound of three loud knocks filled the room, making me pause before I could say anything. These weren't the soft, gentle knocks you'd expect from a nurse or the uncertain taps of a visitor - they were slow, intentional, and demanding of attention.

Grace froze, and her face drained of color.

"That's him," she whispered.

The door handle turned, first once, then again, but the lock didn't give in. A calm, gentle voice came through the wood, speaking in a soothing tone.

"Ms. Bennett."

A pause.

"My name is Marcus Kingsley."

Another pause.

"I believe it's time we had a conversation."

My face went white as a sheet, and Grace backed away from the bed, her eyes glued to the door. We both just stood there, frozen in time. Then, the door handle turned one last time, and everything seemed to stop.