"You're pregnant," the nurse said.
The words landed like a bomb, shattering the silence in the small examination room. Aurora's knees turned jelly.
Aurora stared blankly, her breath caught in her throat. She swallowed, once, twice, but the dryness in her mouth remained. Her body refused to move, her mind refusing to register what had just been said.
Pregnant.
Beside her, Liam stiffened. "Pregnant?" he questioned, his voice laced with disbelief. If possible, he looked even more shocked than she felt.
Aurora's fingers curled into the fabric of her coat, gripping it tightly as her stomach hurt.
The past week had been a blur—walking away from Tim, the persistent nausea, the unbearable headaches. She had come to the hospital for answers, but not this.
Not this.
"In the marriage agreement, I was forbidden from getting pregnant," she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else. The words trembled on her lips, fear sinking its claws deep into her chest.
She had endangered her life. And worse, she had endangered her unborn child.
Tim would kill her.
The nurse, glanced at her clipboard. "You're six weeks long," she confirmed, her tone gentle, as if sensing the growing panic in the room.
Six weeks.
Aurora's pulse drummed in her ears. That meant it had happened before she left Tim. Before he walked out on her for that supposed business trip. Before she turned her back on their cold, empty marriage.
Liam's hand found hers, squeezing her lightly. A silent promise. But Aurora barely felt it. Her world had turned upside down, leaving her breathless.
Tim would find out.
When he did, there would be no mercy. He had warned her—repeatedly, made sure she took her pills. He asked her never to carry his baby.
Aurora swallowed hard, fighting her tears, and trying to steady her voice. "Is there… any way to…" The words refused to form.
Her lips trembled, and her throat tightened. She couldn't even bring herself to say the words.
The nurse hesitated, her gaze softening. "You have options," she said carefully. "But I'd advise you to take some time to process this."
Time.
The one thing Aurora didn't have.
Liam stepped closer. "You're not alone in this," he murmured, his voice steady, and reassuring.
Aurora turned to him, pity flickering in her eyes. He didn't understand. He didn't know what Tim was capable of. He didn't realize that by standing beside her, he was making himself a target.
She had to leave. Now.
If Tim discovered the truth, he would never let her go.
Summoning the last of her strength, Aurora forced herself to her feet. Her legs trembled, her entire body rebelling against the weight of reality.
The nurse watched them with concern. "Do you need a moment?"
"No," Aurora croaked, her voice foreign, detached. "I need to go."
Liam's brows furrowed. "Go where?"
Aurora didn't answer. The only thing she knew was that she had to get as far away as possible. But would anywhere ever truly be far enough?
She barely managed to thank the nurse before turning sharply, dragging Liam with her. Their hurried steps echoed through the quiet hallway.
The moment they stepped outside, the cold air bit at her skin, shocking her back into the present.
"I need to leave the city," she whispered.
Liam tensed beside her. "What?"
"You heard me." Her voice was firmer now, steel beneath the panic. "If Tim finds out, he'll—"
She couldn't finish. The words caught in her throat, suffocating her.
Liam's jaw clenched. "I won't let him hurt you."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "You don't understand, Liam. You can't stop him."
His expression darkened, frustration flickering in his eyes. Before he could argue, a sudden vibration shattered the tense silence.
Aurora froze.
Her fingers trembled as she reached into her bag, pulling out her phone. One glance at the screen sent a chill racing down her spine.
Tim.
She knew before she even saw the name.
Her breath came in shallow gasps, her chest tightening. Did he already know?
Liam stepped in front of her. "Don't answer it," he said firmly.
Aurora's thumb hovered over the screen, her entire body became rigid. The call rang until it went to voicemail, but she knew better than to feel relief.
Tim never called twice.
He didn't need to. He'd appear. He gave her a week off the hook, and not again.
Liam exhaled sharply. "We need to get you out of here. Now."
Aurora nodded numbly, gripping her coat tighter. The hospital parking lot suddenly felt too open, too exposed. Someone could be watching.
"Where can we go?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
Liam's jaw set in slight anger. "I have a place outside the city. No one knows about it."
A flicker of hope raised in her chest. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "But we have to move now."
Aurora hesitated only for a moment before silencing her phone completely. If she wanted to survive, she couldn't afford to hesitate.
Liam took her hand and led her to his car. The second she slid into the passenger seat, she exhaled shakily.
She wasn't safe yet.
Aurora couldn't believe Tim was the man she once wanted. He turned into the man who had thrown her away like she was nothing, only to return to her sister without a shred of respect for her.
The memories clawed at her, but she shoved them down. None of that mattered anymore. What mattered was the child growing inside her.
Her baby.
Not Tim's.
And she would do everything in her power to protect it.
Liam's voice cut through her thoughts. "Are you okay?"
Aurora turned to him, seeing the concern in his eyes. His hands gripped the wheel so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
"No," she admitted quietly. "But I don't have a choice, do I?"
Liam didn't answer.
Then, just as the car rumbled to life, his phone buzzed.
Aurora's stomach twisted violently. A terrible feeling coiled in her chest as she reached for the device.
Her heart stopped.
The message was from an unknown number.
But she knew.
One glance was enough.
Tim.
Her breath hitched. He knew.
Her blood ran cold.
"Stop the car," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then louder—more urgent.
"Stop the car. Now."