Chapter 2 The secret she cannot hide

Amelia could barely sleep that night

Every time she closed her eyes, the image appeared again...those two pink lines, glowing in her memory like a cruel punishment she could not escape.

Pregnant. With her sister's fiancé's child.

The words repeated over and over in her mind. Each time she tried to breathe, it felt like drowning.

By the time the first pale light of dawn filtered through her curtains, Amelia's eyes were swollen from crying.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, startling her so much that she jumped. With shaky hands, she reached for it. The name flashing on the screen made her stomach twist into knots.

Serena.

She unlocked it with trembling fingers.

> "Don't be late today. Adrian is coming to brunch with us. And wear something nice, Amelia. Don't embarrass me."

The words stabbed deeper than usual. Normally, Amelia would simply sigh and do what her sister demanded. But now, the thought of sitting across from Adrian, of pretending nothing had happened between them... it was unbearable.

She pressed her phone to her chest, her heart racing. For a moment she thought about making an excuse, faking an illness. But Serena would never believe her. Serena always got what she wanted, and Amelia was the sister who never said no.

Swallowing back tears, Amelia forced herself up. She showered quickly, trying to scrub away the shame that clung to her skin, but it stayed with her. When she dressed in a soft blue dress and tied her hair back with trembling fingers, she stared at her reflection and hardly recognized herself.

Her eyes were rimmed red. Her lips trembled even when she tried to smile.

"You have to hide it," she whispered to the girl in the mirror. Her voice cracked. "Hide it, Amelia. No one can know."

By the time she arrived at the café Serena had chosen, the morning sun was bright, spilling through the wide windows. The air was filled with chatter, clinking cups, and the smell of fresh coffee.

Serena sat at a window table, glowing as always. Her golden hair caught the light, her polished nails gleamed as her hand rested possessively on Adrian's arm.

Amelia froze in the doorway.

Adrian looked impossibly sharp in a black suit, his presence commanding even in the casual setting. His dark eyes lifted, and for the briefest moment, they met hers. That single glance made her chest tighten.

She looked away quickly, forcing her lips into a polite smile as she approached. "Sorry I'm late."

Serena waved a dismissive hand, not even hiding her irritation. "You're always late. Sit down before people start staring."

Amelia slid into the chair across from them. The smell of coffee surrounded her, but her stomach turned. She couldn't imagine swallowing a single bite.

Serena launched into a stream of chatter about the wedding....flowers, dress fittings, the guest list. She sparkled with excitement, her laughter loud and perfect. Adrian nodded occasionally, his expression unreadable. But Amelia noticed, just once, his eyes looked toward her.

Her heart skipped. She dropped her gaze to the untouched cup of tea in front of her.

Her hands trembled under the table. She folded them together so tightly her knuckles turned white. She prayed Serena wouldn't notice.

But Adrian did.

"Are you alright?" His voice was low, his attention fixed on her.

Amelia's throat tightened painfully. "I...I'm fine. Just tired."

Serena laughed sharply. "She's always tired. Always so fragile."

Amelia forced a weak smile, the same one she had worn her whole life. She never argued. She never defended herself.

The brunch dragged on like an endless punishment. Every moment Serena leaned into Adrian, Amelia's chest burned with guilt. Every laugh, every soft touch between them twisted like a knife inside her. And every time Adrian's gaze brushed over her, even for half a second, her heart raced with a mix of shame and longing she couldn't control.

She tried to drown out the memories of that night....the heat of his hands, the roughness of his kiss, the sound of her own voice betraying her. But they came back, stronger each time, until she could hardly breathe.

When at last Serena pushed back her chair, announcing she had to meet the wedding planner, Amelia almost sagged with relief. She rose quickly. "I should go too. I have errands to run."

Serena barely looked up. "Fine. Don't forget to pick up my dress from the boutique later. Don't ruin it like last time."

Amelia swallowed her pride and nodded. "I won't."

She hurried outside, the sunlight harsh in her eyes, the cool air hitting her lungs like a release. She walked fast, clutching her bag to her chest, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of what had just happened.

But a voice stopped her.

"Amelia."

Her heart froze. She turned slowly.

Adrian.

He had followed her out. His tall frame blocked the sun, his presence dominating the busy street. His eyes locked onto hers, dark and unyielding.

The sounds of the city seemed to fade as he stepped closer.

"Why are you avoiding me?" His voice was low, controlled, but she could hear the sharp edge beneath it.

Amelia's lips parted, but no words came out. She shook her head quickly. "I'm not.."

"Yes, you are." His gaze swept over her face, searching, probing. "Since that night..."

Her breath caught. Panic surged. She glanced around, terrified someone might hear. "Stop," she whispered, her voice breaking. "We can't talk about it. It was a mistake."

Adrian's jaw clenched. His hand brushed her arm lightly, a touch that sent heat rushing through her veins despite herself. "A mistake?" His voice was rough, dangerous. "Is that what you call it?"

Her chest rose and fell rapidly. She blinked back tears, shaking her head. "Please, Adrian. Forget it ever happened. For Serena's sake."

At the mention of her sister, something flickered in his eyes...a storm of emotions she couldn't read. But then his face hardened, turning cold again, the mask of the untouchable billionaire slipping back into place.

"Fine," he said quietly, his voice like ice. "If that's what you want."

Amelia's heart cracked at the sound of his tone. She turned quickly, forcing herself to walk away before he could see the tears that threatened to fall.

Each step felt heavier than the last. Her hands clutched her bag, but unconsciously, one drifted down to press against her flat stomach.

The secret inside her beat like a drum, refusing to be ignored.

It was only a matter of time before Adrian will discovered the truth.

And when he did, Amelia knew her sister's future, Adrian's control, and her own fragile life..would explode into pieces she could never put back together.