Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Shattered‌

‌Regret slammed into me harder than Henry's shove. Stupid pride. I'd actually dared to call him.‌

‌Two rings. Decline.‌

‌Three rings. Decline.‌

‌Fourth ring? Phone switched off.‌

‌Cold reality hit as the pain in my abdomen sharpened, tearing like barbed wire unspooling inside me.‌

‌No choice. Teeth gritted against the white-hot agony, I clawed at the wall, dragging myself out the door.‌

‌The rain outside was a solid wall.‌

‌I made it ten steps before the world dissolved into grey static. My knees buckled. Wet asphalt met my cheek.‌

‌Tires screeched.Doors slammed. Strong arms scooped me from the freezing concrete.‌Henry? Did he come back?

‌Hope, treacherous and weak, flickered. I curled instinctively into the warmth, a broken whisper escaping me,‌ ‌"Henry... it hurts..."‌

‌The body holding me went rigid. Tense. Resistant. But... he didn't drop me. After a suspended moment, his hand settled cautiously on my waist.‌

‌-‌

‌The sterile scent of antiseptic woke me. Blinking against fluorescent lights, I found a nurse checking monitors.‌

‌"The man."‌ ‌My voice was a rasp.‌ ‌"Who brought me in?"‌

‌She hurried over, pressing a gentle hand on my shoulder.‌ ‌"Easy. You lost significant blood. Almost lost the baby. You need rest. Your husband stayed all night-just stepped out to handle billing. He'll be back soon."‌

‌Panic detonated.‌The baby? He knows?

‌"He knows?!"‌ ‌I clutched her sleeve, terror shaking me.‌ ‌"He knows I'm pregnant?"‌He'll force the procedure. He'll end this.

‌Her eyes widened slightly.‌ ‌"Don't distress yourself! Pregnancy is joyful news. Rest. I'll fetch the doctor."‌ ‌She slipped out, avoiding my question.‌

‌Joyful? My breath hitched. Rest was impossible.‌

‌Fingers fumbling, I ripped the IV needle from my hand. Ignoring the bloom of crimson, I shoved off the bed.‌

‌Run.‌

‌Blind with fear, I bolted from the room-and collided hard with a solid chest.‌

‌I stumbled. A firm arm snagged my waist, steadying me.‌

‌My gaze flew up. Not Henry. A stranger. Dark eyes, sharp jaw, an unsettling calm.‌Who?

‌He released me, a wry smile touching his lips.‌ ‌"Relax, Miss Johnson. No hospital bills for heroes. No need to flee."‌

‌Relief washed through me, cold and sudden. Not Henry. The fragile hope I hadn't acknowledged-that he'd returned-crumbled to dust.‌

‌He helped me back to bed, unfazed by my trembling.‌ ‌"Disappointing, isn't it?"‌ ‌His voice was mild.‌ ‌"Rescued by the wrong man."‌

‌My guard snapped up like steel shutters.‌ ‌"Who are you?"‌

‌"Xander Lewis."‌ ‌He offered a polite, practiced smile that didn't reach his eyes.‌ ‌"Not a stalker. Merely. intrigued by you. Did some background. Last night's encounter? Genuine coincidence."‌

‌"You tell a woman you're 'intrigued' after digging into her life,"‌ ‌I countered, voice tight,‌ ‌"and expect me to feel safe?"‌

‌Without further preamble, he slid a crisp business card onto the blanket beside me.‌ ‌CEO – QY Group.‌

‌My breath caught. QY? Henry's fiercest competitor. And this guy, looking barely older than me, was its CEO?‌

‌His pitch was direct: ditch my current internship. Join QY after graduation. The offer? Ludicrously generous.‌

‌Temptation warred with suspicion. QY rivaled Henry's empire. Why would its CEO target an unknown intern? Unless. this was about Henry. Leverage. A pawn.‌

‌Too good. Too targeted. Dangerous.‌

‌I pocketed the card, noncommittal.‌ ‌"I'll consider it."‌ ‌Polite, but distant. He had saved me. Outright refusal felt churlish.‌

‌Discharged hours later, Xander insisted on driving me "home." Resistance was useless. I followed him to the sleek, black sedan in the visitor lot.‌

‌We hadn't taken three steps when an icy voice sliced through the humid air.‌

‌"Found a replacement sponsor quickly, I see."‌

‌I froze. Slowly turned.‌

‌Henry Smith leaned against his own luxury car, sunlight glinting off the chrome. His face was shadowed, but the contempt in his voice cut like shrapnel.

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