Chapter 4 Two Titans, One War

I wasn't ready for him.

But there he was, Declan Moore, standing in my doorway like the storm he was. I hadn't even heard him knock.

His sharp eyes flicked over my apartment, taking in every detail in that quiet, calculating way of his. His presence filled the room like smoke, suffocating the air between us. He looked calm-too calm-but the tension in his jaw gave him away.

"You saw the blogs?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

He nodded, his voice smooth but laced with something I couldn't quite place. "I saw the headlines. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

His words didn't reach me the way I expected. I had imagined that if I saw Declan again, it would feel like something out of a dream-a magnetic pull, the rush of excitement. But here he was, standing in front of me, and it felt more like a chess game, one I didn't even know I was playing.

"I'm fine," I lied, crossing my arms. "It's not the first time my life's been turned upside down. I'll deal with it."

Declan didn't flinch. He just watched me, his gaze steady as steel. "This isn't something you can handle on your own, Lila."

I wanted to argue, to tell him I didn't need his pity, but the words stuck in my throat. He wasn't offering pity. He was offering something I wasn't ready to acknowledge: support.

The door to my apartment opened with a sharp creak, and my heart skipped in my chest. Of course, it would be him.

Jordan.

His eyes flicked between us, narrowing when he saw Declan standing there. The air thickened, charged with the kind of tension you feel when two men who own the world have just entered the same room-and both of them want me.

"This is what I get for trusting you?" Jordan's voice was a low growl, each word dripping with frustration. "I leave for five minutes, and you're already moving in with him?"

Declan's expression remained neutral, but his eyes sharpened, an almost predatory gleam lighting them up. "You're mistaken. I'm just here to make sure Lila is alright."

I could see the irritation in Jordan's eyes as he moved forward, the unmistakable arrogance of a man used to getting his way. "And what does that mean? You're offering to help her now? I thought you had your own agenda, Moore."

Declan didn't back down. "I'm not offering anything but support. No strings attached."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Jordan cut me off. "I don't need you to tell me what's best for Lila. I'm here because I care about her. You're just some guy who thinks he can step in because of a few headlines."

The words hit me like a slap, the weight of them cutting through the fragile calm I had been trying to maintain. Declan and Jordan, both billionaires, both so sure of themselves, both battling for something I didn't even know how to fight for.

I turned away, pacing the room, trying to gather my thoughts, but the heat between them was suffocating. Declan's calm was an oasis in a storm, while Jordan's anger was a wildfire, and I was standing in the middle.

"You don't have to do this alone, Lila," Declan said, his voice soft but firm. "You don't have to choose. I'm offering you help. No pressure."

I barely heard him over the pounding in my head. My emotions were like a whirlwind, and I didn't know which way to face. How had I gotten here? How had everything gotten so complicated so quickly?

But then Jordan stepped forward again, his expression dark and desperate. "You think I'll let you raise my child, Lila? I'm not walking away from this."

I stiffened, my heart clenching. "This isn't about you, Jordan. It's about me and my baby."

There. I said it. The words were out, raw and unrefined, but the truth had never felt more final.

Both men froze.

I could see the gears turning in their heads-calculating, strategizing. They saw this child as leverage. Declan might offer support, but I knew that for Jordan, this was a game of possession.

It wasn't just about who was the father. It was about who would control my future-and, more importantly, my baby's.

I exhaled slowly, my hands trembling. I wasn't ready for this battle. Hell, I wasn't ready for any of it.

Declan's eyes softened, but only for a split second. "We'll figure this out," he said, but I could tell it wasn't a promise. It was a declaration of war.

Jordan, on the other hand, just stood there, his jaw tight. "You think you can walk away from me? You think I'll just let you move on like nothing happened?"

My chest tightened. "I'm not your possession, Jordan. Not anymore."

For a moment, all I could hear was the ticking of the clock on the wall, the tension so thick I could almost taste it.

Then, I did something I never thought I would. I slammed the door in both of their faces. I didn't care what their plans were, what their intentions were, or how much money they had. This wasn't their war. It was mine.

"This isn't about you," I shouted through the door. "It's about me and my baby."

I stood there for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest, the weight of my decision settling over me. The two of them could fight it out, but I was done being a pawn in their game.

For the first time in a long while, I felt in control.