The air in Alaric's war room turned electric the moment he said it.
"Someone inside your circle. Someone you trust."
Arabella's heart pounded. Her mind flipped through the names of everyone close to her—Elina, Alaric himself, even some of Nathaniel's most loyal men. The idea that someone she relied on was part of the syndicate's rot made her stomach twist.
"Who is it?" Nathaniel demanded, stepping forward, voice like steel.
Alaric didn't flinch. "The encryption on that section is deeper than the others. I need another twelve hours to crack it properly." He met Arabella's eyes. "But when I do, you'll know the truth. And it won't be easy."
Arabella's fists clenched at her sides. "Nothing ever is."
---
Back in their private villa outside Geneva, Arabella paced the length of the living room as Nathaniel poured himself a glass of whiskey. The silence between them was not hostile, but it was heavy. It carried the weight of everything they'd been through—and everything that was yet to come.
"I don't like waiting," she murmured, finally breaking the silence.
Nathaniel gave a quiet huff of agreement. "Neither do I. But we've learned that rushing things costs more than it gains."
Arabella stopped pacing and turned to him. "You're still thinking about what Alaric said, aren't you?"
He set the glass down without taking a sip. "Of course I am. If there's a traitor… it changes everything. It means the fight isn't just out there—it's in here, in our home, in our people."
Arabella sat down beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. For a moment, the world quieted. No battles, no threats—just them.
Then she pulled away slowly, reaching into the pocket of her coat and handing him a small envelope.
He frowned. "What's this?"
She didn't say anything.
Nathaniel opened it and pulled out a folded piece of paper. It was a medical report.
He read through it once. Then again. Then a third time.
Arabella watched him carefully, heart pounding.
Finally, he looked up at her, stunned.
"You're… pregnant?"
She nodded slowly, her voice soft. "Eight weeks."
Nathaniel sat back, the full impact of the revelation hitting him like a wave. "A baby…"
Arabella smiled faintly. "A secret I've been holding onto. I wanted to be sure before I told you."
He stared at the report, then at her. "And you're sure it's safe? After everything—"
"I've seen a specialist. It's early, but everything looks normal. I've been careful." Her voice trembled slightly. "I know this isn't ideal. There's so much danger still—"
Nathaniel pulled her into a tight embrace, cutting her off. "This child… is a symbol of everything we've survived. Of hope."
Arabella let out a shaky breath as his warmth enveloped her. For the first time in weeks, she felt a flicker of light in the dark storm they'd been weathering.
But that light was fleeting.
---
The next morning, Alaric summoned them with a grim look on his face.
"I decrypted the file," he said, sliding a tablet across the table to Arabella. "Take a look."
She hesitated only a moment before tapping the screen. As the data loaded, her breath caught in her throat.
Photos. Transactions. Communications.
At the center of it all… Elina Wade.
Arabella's best friend.
"No," she whispered. "No, this can't be right."
Nathaniel took the tablet, scanning the information with narrowing eyes. "She was paid to report on Arabella. Her phone was bugged—her apartment was used to monitor our movements."
Arabella's chest tightened. "But Elina saved me. She risked her life to help me escape. She stood by me when no one else did."
Alaric crossed his arms. "That's why she was perfect. Her loyalty was believable… because she believed it herself."
Nathaniel set the tablet down. "There's only one way to know the truth. We confront her."
---
Arabella didn't call ahead. She needed to see Elina without giving her time to prepare.
She arrived at Elina's apartment in Paris with Nathaniel and two of Alaric's men. The city bustled with its usual rhythm, but for Arabella, the world had narrowed to one corridor, one door, one truth.
Elina opened the door with a wide smile that faded as soon as she saw the look on Arabella's face.
"Ella… what's going on?"
"We need to talk," Arabella said, walking past her into the apartment.
Nathaniel followed, and Elina's eyes flicked between them nervously.
Arabella turned, holding up the tablet. "You were working for them. Don't lie to me."
Elina paled. "What… what are you talking about?"
Arabella tapped the screen, showing her the evidence. "They used you. You let them in. You gave them access to my life."
"I didn't know," Elina whispered, her voice breaking. "I swear, Arabella, I didn't know. They said it was a private security job, that they needed access to monitor threats against you. I thought… I thought I was helping you."
Arabella's eyes filled with tears. "And when they tried to kill me? When I nearly died? What then?"
Elina fell to her knees. "I tried to fix it! I destroyed the files when I found out! I cut them off. That's why I disappeared for a while—I was hiding, running. They came after me too."
Nathaniel looked at Arabella. "She's telling the truth. Look at her."
Arabella hesitated. The pain in Elina's eyes wasn't fake. The fear in her trembling hands was real.
She dropped to her knees beside her friend. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was ashamed," Elina whispered. "And scared. But I never stopped loving you, Arabella. You're my sister. I would die before I let anything happen to you again."
Arabella hugged her tightly, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"I believe you."
---
That night, Arabella stood by the window in her villa, one hand resting lightly on her stomach. Nathaniel approached, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"What are you thinking?" he asked softly.
She leaned into him. "That everything is changing. A baby. A betrayal. A new fight on the horizon."
He rested his hand over hers. "We'll face it all. Together."
Arabella turned to face him. "Promise me something."
"Anything."
"If I ever become a target again… if our baby is in danger… you won't hesitate. You'll protect us, no matter the cost."
Nathaniel kissed her forehead. "I swear it."
Outside, the wind carried the whispers of coming storms.
But inside, in that fragile moment, they found peace.
Even if it was only temporary.
Arabella stared at the test result in her trembling hands. The bold, unmistakable line confirming her pregnancy wasn't just ink on paper—it was a revelation that could shatter everything she had built so far.
She paced the bathroom in silence, her heartbeat echoing louder than her footsteps. Her fingers curled tightly around the result as a wave of panic crashed over her. The image of Nathaniel's cold eyes filled her mind. Would he see this child as another betrayal? Another manipulation? Or worse… would he see it as leverage?
"No," she whispered to herself. "I won't let this child become a pawn."
She slid to the floor, her back resting against the cold marble wall. The realization weighed heavily on her—she was going to be a mother. And she was more alone than ever.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Arabella?" It was Elina's voice, gentle but concerned. "You've been in there a while."
Arabella didn't answer immediately. She wiped her tears, stood slowly, and opened the door. Elina's eyes widened when she saw her face.
"You're pale," Elina said, gently guiding her to the bed. "What's wrong?"
Arabella couldn't speak. She handed Elina the test result.
Elina's lips parted in shock. "Arabella… you're…"
Arabella nodded slowly. "I'm pregnant."
A moment of silence passed between them. Elina finally pulled her into a tight embrace, her hand rubbing Arabella's back in comfort.
"We'll figure this out," she said quietly. "You're not alone."
Arabella wished she could believe that. But with each passing moment, the web of secrets around her seemed to grow more complex.
"I can't tell Nathaniel," she murmured. "Not yet. Not until I understand what this means."
"You think he'd react badly?" Elina asked, pulling back slightly.
Arabella hesitated. "He's… complicated. We still barely trust each other. And with the way things have been, I can't risk giving him something else to hold over me."
Elina nodded in understanding. "Then you keep it quiet until you're ready. But don't bear this weight alone."
Arabella smiled faintly, but inside, a storm raged. Because deep down, she wasn't sure she'd ever be ready.
---
Later that night, Arabella sat in the dimly lit garden behind the estate, staring up at the stars. The wind was crisp, brushing against her skin like a whisper from fate. Her hands instinctively cradled her flat stomach.
A baby.
Not just any child—but his child.
Nathaniel's.
She hadn't expected this. Not in the middle of all their emotional chaos. Not when she still didn't know where she stood in his heart—or if she stood there at all.
She heard footsteps behind her and stiffened.
"Thought I'd find you here," came Nathaniel's voice, smooth but edged with curiosity.
She quickly dropped her hands from her stomach and forced a smile. "Just needed some air."
He stepped closer, looking at her with an unreadable expression. "You've been quiet all day."
"Just tired," she replied.
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he stared at the night sky, his jaw tense. "There's something I need to tell you."
Arabella's breath caught. Not now. Not when I have my own secret. But she braced herself anyway.
"I saw Daniel again," Nathaniel said. "He's been digging."
"Digging?" she echoed, alarm spreading across her face.
"Into your past. Into everything about you. I had someone follow him," Nathaniel added. "He's trying to find a weakness."
Arabella's stomach twisted. "And did he?"
"No. But that doesn't mean he'll stop."
Arabella's heart raced. Daniel was the last person she needed involved—especially now.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked.
Nathaniel turned to her, his voice low. "Because I want to protect you."
She blinked. "Even after everything?"
"You're still my wife," he said. "For better or worse."
The sincerity in his voice made something flutter in her chest. But she couldn't let herself be swayed. Not yet.
"Thank you," she said softly, forcing a small smile. "I appreciate it."
Nathaniel studied her for a long moment. "There's something else," he said. "You've changed lately. Is there something you're not telling me?"
Arabella froze. Her eyes darted to the ground. "I—no, nothing important."
A lie.
But one she had to tell.
For now.
He nodded slowly, though the look in his eyes said he didn't believe her.
"I'll be in my study," he said after a pause. "If you need me."
She waited until he was gone before releasing a long, shaky breath.
Her world was shifting faster than she could hold on. And the truth inside her was growing—literally and figuratively.
---
The next morning, Arabella made an appointment with a private doctor under a fake name. She needed confirmation—she needed a plan. She couldn't make decisions based on a single test in a panic.
But what she didn't know was that Nathaniel had already instructed one of his men to follow her. Not because he didn't trust her—but because his instincts told him something was wrong.
When he received the report later that evening—that she had gone to a private clinic, under a false identity—his stomach dropped.
"What the hell are you hiding from me, Arabella?" he muttered, gripping the edge of his desk.
And just like that, the seed of suspicion was planted.
Meanwhile, Arabella sat on her bed, staring at the ultrasound photo the doctor had handed her.
A tiny heartbeat.
Proof of life.
Tears filled her eyes again—this time not from fear, but from a strange, overwhelming love she hadn't anticipated.
"I don't know what's going to happen," she whispered, "but I promise you… I'll protect you. No matter what."
What she didn't know was that Nathaniel was already piecing together the puzzle—and the secret she thought she could keep would soon threaten to explode everything.