The morning light was cruel. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, highlighting the chaos inside Mimi's mind. She sat on the edge of the bed, arms wrapped around her stomach, trying to make sense of what had happened the night before.
The room smelled faintly of alcohol and perfume, a bitter reminder of the forbidden. She remembered the kiss… the way Rian had looked at her… the heat between them. And then the panic hit—what if the contract had been broken?
Her phone vibrated. A message from Rian. Her heart leapt and sank at the same time. She didn't want to read it, didn't want to face him. Yet… she couldn't resist.
"Are you okay?"
Her fingers hovered over the screen. How could she answer? How could she tell him about the forbidden desire she'd felt, or worse… the truth she hadn't yet discovered about the consequences of that night?
Mimi tried to focus on work during the day, but every glance at Rian sent shivers down her spine. He didn't mention the night, didn't act differently, yet the tension was thick between them, unspoken but unbearable. Every smile, every accidental touch, felt like walking on shattered glass.
By the second day of the trip, Mimi began feeling… different. A faint nausea, a strange heaviness she couldn't explain. Panic surged. She fled to the restroom, hands pressed to her mouth, trying to hold back the sudden wave of fear.
Could it… be? No. It couldn't. She couldn't be… pregnant. Not after what the contract demanded. Not now.
Her mind raced with questions. How could she tell anyone? How could she tell him? The clause was clear: if they were physically involved, the marriage would be voided, memories erased. And yet, a part of her selfishly hoped he'd remember. That he'd care.
Rian found her later that day by the lake, tossing stones into the water. He didn't speak at first, just watched her approach, sensing her unease.
"Mimi… you've been quiet," he said, carefully, softly, as if afraid a wrong word would break her.
She wanted to scream, to cry, to confess everything. But the fear was stronger. Instead, she forced a smile.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice trembling despite her effort.
He studied her, golden eyes searching, as if he could see through her carefully constructed mask. For a long moment, they just stood there, the lake reflecting the sky, calm and unjudging.
But inside, Mimi knew calm was a lie. Her world had shifted in ways she couldn't undo. That night, the office trip would no longer be just a memory—it was the beginning of a storm. A secret growing inside her. A truth she couldn't yet share.
And Rian… he was closer than ever, yet more untouchable than she had ever feared.