Stepmom by surprise: The Billionaire's Seductress

Eve's POV

First, I discovered that the parents I had grown up with all these years were just my adoptive parents. Then, after finally returning to my biological family, I ended up in a drunken one-night stand at a party.

I thought I was healing from the trauma, trying to piece my life back together, but then-BOOM!-pregnancy happened.

And now, here I was, standing in the hospital for my routine check-up, my body burning like volcano. My hands trembled slightly as I held onto the counter, my vision blurring for a moment. The only one who could save me now-the man I foolishly believed to be mine-was the same man who had barely reacted when I told him I was carrying his child.

I clenched my fists, pushing away the lingering thoughts as I pressed my back against the cold hospital wall, trying to regain my strength.

"Hey, wake up... It's cold here, you could catch a cold."

A soft voice, accompanied by a gentle shake on my shoulder, pulled me from my haze. My disoriented gaze met the concerned eyes of the nurse standing before me.

Heat crawled up my neck. My guilty conscience made me look away in shame. I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole.

Gracious! It had already been months since that night, yet the memories of what happened with Joel still haunted my dreams. But no matter how many times the scene replayed in my mind, I could never fully grasp it. My drunkenness had erased most of it, leaving behind only blurred images and a deep, lingering regret.

Thanks to being drunk to the point of unconsciousness, I did not have much memory of that night, otherwise I would not know how to face him.

"Here, you forgot to take your pregnancy health results." The nurse extended a set of papers toward me. "Dr. James wants you to come back next week for another check-up."

I nodded, offering a weak smile as I took the report and carefully placed it in my purse. As I made my way toward the exit, a single thought dominated my mind-Joel was coming back today.

Or perhaps, he was already back.

My grip tightened around my bag as nervousness washed over me. It had been months since I last spoke to him. In fact, I only contacted him when I reached my seventh month of pregnancy.

I could still remember the silence that followed when I broke the news to him over the phone. There was no excitement, no joy-just stunned disbelief.

Doctor James had reassured me, saying men often struggled to process their first child and that their mentality would take time to change.

It couldn't be that. Even regarding our marriage, was I supposed to be the one to speak up?

Joel wasn't happy.

And if he wasn't happy, did that mean he didn't want the baby? Did that mean he didn't want me?

The sun was blindingly bright as I stepped out of the hospital. I struggled to support my aching waist as I flagged down a taxi. Just as I raised my hand, the roar of an engine filled my ears, followed by the sharp screech of brakes.

I gasped, instinctively stepping back as a dazzling white sports car swerved dangerously close, just barely grazing the hem of my dress before coming to a halt.

My heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

The door swung open, and from the driver's seat, a woman emerged, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders as she adjusted her form-fitting black dress.

My blood ran cold.

Natasha.

"You're crazy, Natasha!" I shouted, my hands still clutching my abdomen protectively.

She laughed-a sound so sharp and mocking that it sent a chill down my spine. Arms crossed, she swayed toward me, her high heels clicking against the pavement with an arrogant rhythm. Using the advantage of her high heels, she arrogantly looked down on my pregnant figure.

"What?" she mused, tilting her head. "Scared I'll kill the bastard growing inside you?"

I took another step back, instinctively shielding my belly from her venomous words.

"Natasha, you're going too far!" My voice wavered with barely restrained anger.

I always knew she despised me, but never had I imagined she could be this ruthless.

"Going too far?" she sneered. "Eve, you're the one who went too far. You got drunk, had fun with some random man, and now you're trying to pin the baby on Joel? Shame on you."

I froze, the air leaving my lungs.

"What nonsense are you saying?" My voice came out weaker than I intended.

Natasha clapped her hands together mockingly. "Don't tell me you actually believe the man you slept with that night was Joel?" She let out a laugh so cruel, it twisted my insides.

My breath hitched. I grew paler as I listened. Despite standing under intense sunlight, my whole body felt cold.

What... what was she saying?

"You claim you've known Joel since childhood, right? That you're childhood sweethearts?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And yet, you couldn't even recognize his body?"

A horrifying chill spread through me.

No. No, that couldn't be true.

But as her words echoed in my mind, my memories of that night suddenly became sharper. I thought back to the blurred silhouette, to the broad frame pressing against me, to the unfamiliar sensation of his touch.

Joel had been... different.

Too different.

Natasha smirked, reveling in my horror. "Shall I tell you the truth? That night, I spiked your drink. Out of the kindness of my heart, I even prepared two burly men for you. Who knew that you would be so insensible? You actually entered some wild man's room, that even unceremoniously..." Natasha's tone was full of disgust. "Joel only took the blame because he felt sorry for you."

My hands shook violently.

"You..." My voice cracked with rage.

I grabbed her wrist, my nails digging into her skin. "Why would you do this to me? Haven't you done enough?!"

EVE'S POV

I grabbed her wrist, my nails digging into her skin. "Why would you do this to me? Haven't you done enough?!"

Natasha had her eyebrows raised in anger at first, and was about to push me away, but then she softened all of a sudden. And began speaking calmly, showing off a delicate and pitiful expression.

"Sister, I know I was wrong. If you want to beat and scold someone, then do it to me, don't blame Joel... I beg of you",

A perfect act.

I froze, and in the next second, I watched as Natasha suddenly fall to the ground. That pose.. was as if I had pushed her.

"Eve!!", a loud voice rang out from behind me.

I turned sharply, and my blood turned to ice.

Joel.

My eyes widened in disbelief. I hadn't even seen him coming. He stood there, his expression cold, his fists clenched.

He brushed past me without a second glance and rushed to Natasha's side.

"Are you okay?" His voice was soft, concerned-so unlike the way he spoke to me.

Natasha clung to him, her body pressed against his as she sniffled dramatically.

"Joel... I didn't mean to upset Eve," she whimpered. "I was just trying to explain, but she got angry and pushed me..."

"That's enough. I'll settle everything! I will explain everything to Eve" Joel patted Natasha's shoulders, as he guilded her into the car before turning to face me.

I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

My mind was completely blank as I watched Joel walk towards me. I watched as his lips movef, but I barely registered his words.

He spoke of our childhood, of his struggle with his feelings, of how Natasha had confessed to him, of his anger when he found out what she had done, of his guilt when he discovered I was pregnant. He even spoke of how he had accepted Natasha's apology

Then, finally, he spoke the words that shattered me completely.

"Eve, I'm sorry. I can't marry you. Not because of that night or the child, but because... I can't let Natasha down, and I don't want to keep deceiving myself and my feelings."

My world crumbled.

I was practically drowning inside of me. What exactly was going on?.

These few months, he had been taking Natasha with him overseas. And after getting along together day and night, it was hard for him to let go?.

Even though he had admitted that he was the one who had an affair with me that night just for the sake of covering up my pain. In his heart, he had already chosen Natasha.

He was just being pitiful. All this while, I had been a victim of mere pity.

After knowing that I was pregnant, he could not bear it any longer and immediately went to the my family to explain everything to my parents, the Edwards .

And now he thought it right to reveal the truth to me?.

"You knew all along that it was Natasha who drugged me to ruin my innocence? And for the sake of protecting her, you told me that it was you that night?" I spoke after I had finally recovered my voice, my words cold and calm as if my soul has left my body.

"Eve, Natasha did not do it on purpose, she's still young, and impulsive...."

"Then what about me?" I raised my head to look at Joel, my face full of despair. "Did you ever think of me? Even for a little bit?".

Joel said nothing, and after a long while, he reached out to touch me.

"The sun is too bright here, let's go home first...".

"Don't touch me. Don't even dare", I pushed away his hands

I staggered back, laughter bubbling from my lips, though there was nothing funny about it.

My whole life had been a joke.

In order to live in the same city as Joel, I had put all her strength in my studies so I could get into the Bangkok University.

In order to please Joel, I had given my dream of acting.

In order to match his upbringing and family background, I had abandoned my adoptive parents to return to the Edwards family, clumsily trying to please those so-called distinguished figures..

And in the end, what did I get?. All I received in return was one sentence.

"I can't let Natasha down."

Natasha Edwards, had stolen not only my identity, and my biological parents, but now...she had even stolen away my childhood sweetheart!

Natasha was still young, so her mistakes could be forgiven?

Then-who would take responsibility for my life?

I..i don't even know who the man from that night was!.

Heartbroken I covered my face will my palms, my body shaking fiercely as I began taking steps away. I was already in the depths of despair. Tears blurred my vision as I turned and stepped onto the road.

Joel watched me walk towards the road unthinkingly, as if in a trance. He threw away the key he was grasping between his fingers, and was about to chase after me, but was held back by Natasha, who held onto his sleeve from behind.

"Joel, where are you going?. Just let her be. She needs some time alone".

And in the instant, Joel was hesitating until a loud noise rang out.

I had been thrown into the air by an upcoming vehicle, landing heavily on the ground.

"Help-help-A pregnant woman was hit–!!", some stranger's voice rang out.

In the glaring light, I saw shaking silhouettes and the two faces that made me nauseous.

The cramping pain that came from my belly was making me to lose consciousness bit by bit. I only blinked my eyes once, and a fresh blood on her forehead flowed into her eyes....

The world fell into darkness...and I fell with it.

EVE'S POV

It had been five years. Five years since I lost my child.

The ache never truly faded. It lingered like a shadow, hidden behind forced smiles and buried beneath an ever-growing list of responsibilities. Some days, it was a dull throb at the back of my mind; on others, it came crashing down like a tidal wave, threatening to consume me whole.

Tonight was one of those nights.

I had been drinking-not for pleasure, not even for escapism, but for business. Negotiating with investors meant playing by their rules, and if that required sitting through hours of insufferable toasts and empty flattery, so be it. My head pounded, my throat burned from the alcohol, and I needed a moment of peace.

But the last thing I expected was for Katherine to follow me.

She was my manager, but she acted more like my handler. And right now, she had that all-too-familiar condescending glint in her eyes.

"Katherine, is there something you want to say to me?" I asked, rubbing my temples, trying to stave off the impending migraine.

"Eve, I just wanted to ask you a question," she said smoothly, though I could already sense the accusation laced within her tone. "Did you register to audition for the female lead in the upcoming movie?"

I barely blinked. "Yes. Why?"

Her lips curled into a smirk-one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're not allowed to go for that audition tomorrow."

Ah. I should have known.

Although I was an actress under Moonlight Entertainment, I was painfully aware of the invisible chains Natasha Edwards had wrapped around the company. Katherine was no different-just another pawn in Natasha's pocket.

I arched a brow. "Reason?"

Katherine scoffed. "You went behind my back and acted on your own, and you still dare ask why? The company has already arranged for Natasha Edwards to audition."

"This doesn't seem to conflict with the company's arrangements." My lips curled into a faint smile.

"Don't tell me Natasha made you come to me? Is she afraid that I, a small-time actress whose name isn't even widely known, will snatch her role?" I mused, tilting my head slightly.

Katherine let out a cold, mocking laugh. "You think you have the ability to take Natasha's role? That must be in your dreams! Let me tell you something, darling-Natasha's role is secured. The Edwards family has invested 30 million into this movie. Do you really think they'd risk losing their golden child's moment in the spotlight?"

I met her gaze, unflinching. "Then why are you so anxious?"

Her expression darkened. "Enough of this argument, Eve. You're my artist, and you have to listen to my arrangements!"

"Oh? So now you remember that I'm an artist under you?" I retorted with a slow, amused blink.

Katherine sighed impatiently. "I don't have time for this. Since you're refusing to comply, don't blame me for resorting to force."

Before I could react, something hard slammed into my back. Pain exploded along my spine as I stumbled forward, my phone slipping from my grasp and skidding across the corridor floor. My body crashed into a cold, dark space-a storeroom by the bar's corner.

The door slammed shut behind me with a deafening bang.

I stumbled in the darkness, my breath coming out in sharp, unsteady gasps. The sharp scent of dust and stale wood filled my nostrils.

I rushed to the door, banging on it with both fists.

"Katherine! Open this door!" I screamed, my voice raw with frustration.

Silence.

I slammed my palms against the wood again. "You can't do this! Let me out!"

But there was no response.

My heartbeat pounded against my ribs. I pressed my forehead against the door, my breaths coming out in short, heavy bursts. The alcohol was still in my system, and combined with the exhaustion creeping into my bones, my strength was rapidly fading.

After what felt like an eternity, I slid down to the floor, resting my head against the doorframe. The fight had drained out of me.

My hands curled into fists on my lap. Natasha... Katherine... they would do anything to keep me out of this industry.

I exhaled slowly, letting the silence settle around me. But then-

A noise.

A small, almost imperceptible sound.

My head snapped up.

At first, I thought it was a mouse. But then it came again-a faint shuffle, followed by a sharp intake of breath.

Cautiously, I turned my gaze toward the farthest corner of the room.

There-hidden behind a stack of worn-out boxes-was a child.

A little boy.

He looked to be around four, maybe five years old. His delicate features were carved with an almost porcelain-like precision, his skin a soft, milky white. His dark lashes were long and curled slightly at the tips, framing a pair of wide, glassy eyes that held an innocence so pure it was almost heartbreaking. His small nose was slightly upturned, and his lips, plump and rosy, quivered slightly.

But it was his hair that caught my attention the most-jet-black and slightly tousled, giving him the appearance of a lost angel.

He was shivering, curled into himself like a frightened kitten, his tiny hands clutching the fabric of his oversized sweater.

My heart clenched.

Uh, why would there be a child in a storeroom of a bar? There shouldn't be a customer so crazy as to bring their child to a bar, right?.