Chapter 3

There was an uproar in the room. They were in disbelief, knowing no girl would ever come this far with a man of his status, only to reject him on the altar. What a mess I'd created with my own hands! My parents were disappointed as always, giving me the terrible look that gave me sleepless nights. No one wanted that to happen, definitely; it wasn't supposed to happen if I had given in to their will.

"I am sorry, I just can't marry someone I don't know," I said, throwing his ring at him before leaving the event center with tears in my eyes. My parents followed suit, but I was faster, taking out the car keys I had hidden and driving away.

I clasped my hands as I rushed into my room, taking all my valuables and loading them into the car. The letters weren't an exception since they were my most prized possession. Loading it all into the car, I took a quick look at the house I had lived in for years and the horrible memories that came with it before taking my position behind the wheel.

No one is ever going to stop me from doing what I want now. I am never going to be a burden to be sold off, nor am I going to be in the dark ever again.

The hotel wasn't the best option for me, judging they had connections with every hotel in the city. My only resource to live in silence was to get myself a small house where I could live in the shadows and not be found. Avery was going to help them look either way, judging that he wanted me for either himself or for the damage I just caused.

All the housing agents claimed small buildings were quite expensive due to the number of immigrants coming in. I had to get one just good enough to fit me, and the only perfect one available was a little bit above my total budget. Paying for it would mean choosing housing over food.

The only way to do both was to get another means today. My parents definitely couldn't help me out; I was all alone in this. The only solution I had now was to sell off my car, which I just got a few months ago.

The car seller was quite mysterious, but he helped. I got to sell the car at a perfect rate and was able to get the perfect apartment I needed. However after I had sold the car to him, he was arrested for some illegal transactions, which was scary seeing the way he was pulled into their vehicle.

After a while, I met Jordan Lane, a man of very few words. He was hot and charming at the same time. The perfect definition of a hot CEO. He had made me his assistant in the textile industry and had kept me by his side throughout work. Though I heard men were pretty petty, this man was the complete opposite. We were both single, which is amusing.

Though he was feared in the office as a hard-core CEO, he was pretty nice. His back story is a pretty terrible one, judging by the way he became CEO at the age of 15 and had been left to manage it up until now.

Days passed, and I could finally feel the pressure of being independent. The bills just kept coming, and my earnings moved along with them. It wasn't what I expected, but it was perfect. I had more determination to earn more and be the best at what I was doing.

I needed to be the best at work while hiding from my parents and Avery Brooks. A potential risk, as I'd call it, was what made it fun. My time working with Jordan was fun; he was a cool guy and gave the impression of being perfect, which my father wanted. My thoughts kept rolling on bringing him home as my husband, but each time I recalled that we were just workers, I'd call it a day.

One business morning, I woke up ready to go to work. As I reached for my bag, I felt a certain surge in my stomach, making me run to the toilet at full speed. My meal came pouring out with every mouth-opening I made. I was sure I was healthy since no symptoms of sickness appeared throughout my stay in my apartment.

My eyes began to go awry on me, getting blurry all of a sudden. I managed to get to the living room, reaching for my phone and calling Jordan, before falling to the ground unconscious. Jordan sensed danger coming after several unreturned phone calls. He reached my apartment, clogged up in fear and he threw the door open. He rushes towards me after seeing me unconscious on the floor. With a breath, he lifts me up and into his car, locking my apartment and then driving towards the hospital.

The doctors, in their dire perception, took me in on a stretcher and rushed me to a ward. They knew who Jordan Lane was, and they showed their respect to the fullest, trying to revive me and taking tests on me.

I opened my eyes to the caring glance Jordan sent to me. I could see the change in his face from being bothered to happy when I woke up. The bond of an employee to her employer, he called it.

The doctor came in with a short book in his hands. He had a more worried face than a happy one. From his looks, I could tell he had something bad to report.

"Uhm, are you her guardian?" he asks, looking at Jordan.

"Yes, yes, I am," Jordan says, not caring about the impression he was about to give out.

"I just want to say congratulations to both of you.

Mrs. Taylor Reed here is a month and one week pregnant."