Chapter 6 Headlines and Heartbeats

The next morning felt different.

The air between them was no longer thick with secrets. Xavier had held her last night without saying much just a quiet, steady presence. It had been the first time Leah had fallen asleep in his arms, not out of obligation, but choice.

When she woke, his side of the bed was already cold, but there was a note on the pillow.

> Meeting at 8. Back before lunch. We're in this together.

She held the note in her hands longer than necessary, rereading those four words again and again.

We're in this together.

Hope flickered in her chest.

She rose, showered, dressed, and made herself a light breakfast that she barely touched. Nausea still came in waves, but today it was manageable.

By ten, she was sitting in the sunroom, wrapped in a blanket, scrolling mindlessly through her phone when her screen lit up with a message.

Clarissa: You might want to avoid the internet today.

Leah blinked, frowning. Her thumb hovered over her browser.

Curious despite herself, she opened the tab.

And her heart sank.

BREAKING: Cold CEO Warms Up Xavier Black Secretly Married?

Her stomach dropped.

Dozens of headlines followed. Paparazzi photos outside the courthouse. A blurry photo of her exiting the car two weeks ago. One grainy shot of her and Xavier at a recent charity event, her hand unconsciously resting on her stomach.

Is she pregnant?

Is this why the secret marriage?

Who is Leah Wren?

Her phone slipped from her fingers.

It had begun.

At that moment, Xavier was in the middle of a boardroom presentation when his assistant, Jonas, entered the room and whispered something in his ear.

His whole body tensed.

"I need a moment," he said to the board members, then strode out of the room with Jonas trailing behind.

"What the hell happened?" he snapped once they were in the hallway.

"The news leaked this morning," Jonas said grimly. "Someone must've tipped off the press. Your courthouse records. The marriage. There's speculation about a pregnancy."

Xavier's eyes darkened.

"How bad is it?"

Jonas hesitated. "It's viral."

Xavier pulled out his phone and saw dozens of missed calls and notifications. One from his mother. Several from shareholders. And one from Leah.

His jaw clenched. "Get legal on the phone. And tighten internal security."

"Yes, sir."

Xavier dialed Leah's number and strode into his private office, slamming the door shut behind him.

She picked up on the second ring.

"I saw it," she said before he could speak. "It's everywhere."

"I'm sorry," he said, the edge in his voice gentler now. "I didn't see it coming this fast."

"Who leaked it?"

"I don't know yet. I'll find out."

There was a pause.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said quietly. "I wasn't ready to be... known."

Xavier sat heavily in his chair. "I know. I should've protected you better."

"I didn't want people to find out like this. Not with rumors."

"I'll release a statement."

"No."

He paused. "No?"

"I don't want a statement. I want the truth. If you're going to say something, tell them we're married. Tell them I'm your wife, not your scandal."

Xavier's silence stretched long.

Then finally: "Okay."

Leah exhaled shakily. "Thank you."

"I'll be home in an hour."

"Okay."

When he hung up, Xavier leaned back, staring at the ceiling. The mess had already begun, and he wasn't just fighting to protect his image anymore he was fighting to protect her.

And the baby

An Hour Later

Xavier found her standing in the living room, staring out the windows, arms wrapped around herself.

She turned as he approached, eyes red-rimmed.

"I didn't leave the apartment."

"Good," he said. "They're circling."

"They don't know anything about me," she murmured. "But they will. They'll dig. They'll find my past."

"Let them dig."

She looked up sharply.

"You're not a secret anymore, Leah. And I'm not ashamed of you."

Her throat tightened.

He came closer, took her hands in his. "I've spent my whole life shutting people out. Keeping control. But I'm done pretending this doesn't matter."

Her heart skipped. "Xavier..."

"I'm going to hold a press conference."

Her eyes widened.

"I'll confirm the marriage. I'll make it clear we're not a tabloid stunt. And if anyone comes near you, I'll bury them in court."

For a second, she saw the cold CEO in him the ruthless power that built an empire.

But then his thumb brushed her knuckles, and she saw the man who had held her last night while she cried.

She nodded slowly. "Okay."

He looked down at her stomach. "Can I...?"

She nodded again.

Gently, his hand settled over the soft curve that had just begun to form.

A moment passed between them. Quiet. Fragile.

"We're going to be a family," he said quietly.

Leah felt her eyes sting.

"I want that," she whispered. "I just didn't expect it to happen like this."

"Neither did I," he murmured. "But now that it has... I'm not walking away."

The press conference was set for the next morning.

Xavier didn't waste time. Within twelve hours, the penthouse was transformed into a media-ready space no hotel ballrooms or neutral venues. He wanted it personal, controlled. He wanted them to see his home, his wife, and the line they would not cross.

Leah sat on the edge of their bed, dressed in a soft cream blouse and fitted navy skirt. Her makeup was light but flawless thanks to a stylist Xavier had insisted on hiring "just for today."

She looked in the mirror.

She barely recognized herself.

Not because of the makeup.

But because she wasn't hiding anymore.

Her hand drifted to her belly. Barely showing. But already life lived there. Already everything had changed.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," she said.

Xavier stepped inside, his charcoal suit sharp, every line perfect. But his eyes his eyes softened the moment they landed on her.

"You're beautiful," he said quietly.

She gave a faint smile. "I feel like I'm about to jump off a cliff."

"You're not alone."

He walked over, took her hand, and placed it over his heart. "Whatever comes, we face it together. You and me."

She nodded, holding his gaze. "Let's do it."

Thirty Minutes Later Press Conference

The room was buzzing with quiet tension.

Reporters sat in neat rows, cameras lined the back wall, flashes already starting. Security stood posted at every entrance.

Xavier entered first, flanked by Jonas and his legal counsel.

Then Leah.

The room rippled with reaction some shock, some recognition, some pure, hungry curiosity.

She walked calmly to the seat beside Xavier, head high.

The microphones were adjusted. A hush fell over the crowd.

Xavier leaned forward.

"Thank you for coming on short notice. I'll be brief."

He paused, eyes scanning the crowd.

"I am confirming the reports. I am married. This is my wife, Leah Wren-Black."

Flashes exploded.

"We were married privately several weeks ago. It was a personal decision, not a corporate one. Not a publicity stunt. Not damage control."

A hand shot up. "Mr. Black, is it true she's pregnant?"

Xavier's jaw tightened. He reached over and gently took Leah's hand in his.

"We are expecting a child," he said without hesitation. "And before any of you speculate or spin that into scandal, let me be clear this is the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Leah's eyes widened slightly, her throat tightening.

Another question flew from the crowd. "Why the secrecy? Why hide her identity?"

Xavier's gaze turned hard. "Because the woman I love is not your headline. She's not for sale. And now that the secret's out, I will protect her and our child by any means necessary."

A murmur swept through the crowd.

"Mr. Black, will this affect your role at Blackwood Industries?"

"No," he replied curtly. "What I do in my personal life has no bearing on my ability to run a company. But if you continue to harass my wife or invade our privacy, I will take legal action."

The message was clear: The cold CEO was back but this time, he had something to lose.

He stood, helping Leah to her feet.

"No further questions."

They exited the room hand-in-hand, the cameras still snapping wildly.

Private Lounge Post Conference

The moment the doors closed behind them, Leah exhaled shakily.

"You okay?" Xavier asked, watching her closely.

She nodded. "You didn't have to say all that. About... it being the best thing."

He looked down at her.

"I meant every word."

She blinked.

"I've built walls my entire life, Leah. This thing between us it broke through them. And this baby?" He touched her stomach again. "This baby made me feel something I didn't know I could."

Her voice cracked. "I was scared you'd push me away."

"Never," he said, deadly serious. "Not now. Not ever."

She leaned into him, and for the first time, she felt safe in a way she never had before not just protected by him, but chosen by him.

Elsewhere in the City Unknown Location

In a dimly lit office, a figure watched the press conference play out on a tablet.

A bitter smile curled on her lips.

"So, he's claiming her now," the woman murmured, swirling her wine.

Her assistant shifted nervously. "Should we back off?"

"No," the woman said coldly. "This is just the beginning. He may have married her, but Xavier Black doesn't love. He uses. And when she falls apart, I'll be waiting."

The assistant hesitated. "You're sure she's the weak link?"

"She's pregnant. Emotional. Inexperienced. She won't survive the spotlight."

The tablet froze on an image of Leah, standing beside Xavier, his hand over hers protectively.

The woman's eyes narrowed.

"She doesn't know what she's stepped into."

That Night Blackwood Penthouse

Leah sat on the couch, curled up beside Xavier, the fire crackling across from them.

The press had calmed. The internet was ablaze with speculation, but for once, she didn't feel the need to check. Xavier had made his position clear.

She was his wife. His partner. His family.

He handed her a cup of chamomile tea and sat down beside her.

"Jonas found the leak," he said quietly.

Her head turned sharply. "Who?"

"A photographer on payroll at the courthouse. Got a tip from someone... familiar."

Her stomach sank. "Familiar?"

"A woman named Celeste."

Leah blinked. "Celeste. As in...?"

"My ex-fiancée."

The air grew cold.

"She works in PR now," Xavier continued. "She still has connections. I wouldn't put it past her to have hired someone to dig."

Leah looked away.

"She hates me," Xavier said flatly. "But now, she'll hate you more."

"Why?"

"Because I never fought for her the way I fight for you."

Leah felt his hand slide over hers, warm and firm.

"She's noise," he said. "Static. And I won't let her or anyone else hurt you."

Leah didn't speak for a long time. Just leaned her head on his shoulder and let the silence stretch.

She knew this was only the beginning.

But she also knew one thing for sure now:

She wasn't alone.