– Ace –
Damn! What the heck?
"How did this even happen? Of all the people in this world it had to be her?" I stepped out of the room banging the door behind me as if shutting it any faster would betray how my heart skipped a beat. Because obviously I wasn't expecting any of this. Who would?
The girl from the hospital is my surrogate.
I knew the second I looked at her —the same ones I had seen at the hospital. The girl who couldn't speak, who didn't even look up when I nearly lost my temper that day. How was I supposed to know she'd been the one?
I stood there and looked at her like our paths never crossed. She thinks I set this up. Well I didn't but whatever she thinks I don't care. She's in my home. Crying, refusing to eat and begging to leave. What was so hard in understanding that her safety is only important to me because she's carrying my child.
I can't afford to go through this again. Not with everything that's happening.
I walked towards my wing and entered my room and I remembered that moment in the hospital. How close we'd been. I remembered how I felt standing next to her, how some unexplainable energy hung in the air between us. I had thought of fucking her and here she was in my house carrying my child.
It doesn't matter if we've met. She's healthy and she's carrying my child already. There's nothing I can do about it. The best I can do is protect the two.
My phone started dropping messages. I pulled it out of my pocket, expecting Kai or maybe Jane. What I saw made my blood freeze.
BREAKING: Billionaire Ace Milan Allegedly Expecting Child with Mistress!
GOSSIPS: Meet the Woman Pregnant with Tech Mogul's Baby — She's Poor.
From Shadows to Spotlights: Who Is Hazel? Inside the Woman Turning the Internet Upside Down.
Fuck! I exclaimed .
I see photos and shots from the hospital. Her face is half visible, and her body doubled over. My name was plastered beneath hers. My jaw locked. Who the hell leaked this?
The screen buzzed again. This time it was a call.
Dad.
Of course.
The phone kept ringing. I ignored it the first time. Then again. And again. By the fourth call, I didn't have a choice. I picked up and braced myself.
"You reckless, entitled little shit!"
My father's voice blasted through the receiver, loud enough to make me hold the phone away.
"You've done so much to embarrass this family. Do you have any idea what you've done? Headlines, Ace! Headlines! People are sending this to your mother!"
"I've seen it," I said, voice flat.
"I told you. I warned you this would happen if you didn't control your life if you let your arrogance run unchecked."
"I said I've seen it."
"No, you haven't," he snapped. "Because if you had, you'd be flying to Switzerland right now with your PR team and a written statement in your hand. Do you have any idea how much we've invested in your image? In your future? And now look at it! Look at what you've done!"
"She fainted," I said coolly. "Because someone sent cameras after her. She could've lost the baby."
"She's pregnant??? So it's true ??" he barks over the call.
"You'll handle this," he said, sternly again. "Quietly" Without dragging our name through another tabloid. If you want to play family man, fine. But better learn how to do it in private. I won't let your mistakes tarnish our legacy."
Then the line went off. I let the phone drop to the nearest table and exhaled through my teeth.
He has always been concerned about his legacy, and mistakes to avoid tarnishing the family name. I had left home and built this for myself from scratch without a penny from him and he still felt like he owned me.
He was always talking like I was one decision away from destruction. I don't feel ruined. I feel pissed.
I opened my contacts and hit Kai's name.
"Sir," he answered on the first ring, sounding breathless.
"Get the social platforms to pull the story," I said. "File temporary injunctions if you have to. I don't care what hoops you have to jump through—get it removed."
"Already started, sir. Working through contacts we have with the press. A few gossip outlets are being more stubborn, but I've flagged it all as private medical exposure and harassment."
"Push harder. Tell them I'll sue every damn one of them if they don't comply."
"Yes, Mr. Ace."
I ended the call and sat down at the edge of the bed in my private quarters, elbows on my knees, head hanging.
She didn't deserve this. Her file spoke well of her. All I see is a little stubbornness which I plan on taming. She wanted some privacy and peace but now the entire country was dissecting her life, her body, and her pregnancy like it was public property. All because she got involved with me.
A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up as Zain, one of the maids, stepped in with her usual grace.
"Mr. Ace," she said quietly. "Dinner is ready, sir."
I nodded. "Thank you."
She hesitated.
"Something else?"
She clasped her hands nervously. "Should I let Miss Hazel know as well?"
I blinked at her.
Miss Hazel.
A strange feeling curled in my chest. Not annoyance. Not confusion. Something closer to guilt.
I stood. Smoothed my sleeves.
"Yes," I said. "Tell her dinner is ready and l insist she comes."
Zain nodded quickly and disappeared through the door.
I stayed there for another long beat, trying to collect myself before heading to the dining room. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't ignore the sinking truth.
This wasn't just a complication. It was personal and Hazel isn't leaving anytime soon.