Chapter 1

Nine months pregnant‚ and my due date any day now.

But my husband Zane locked me in the wine cellar.

"Chloe‚ you almost caused Elena to go into early labor. You need to think about what you've done."

Elena.

Always Elena.

The widowed executive‚ overseeing a multi-million dollar merger. Zane had pursued her for months—sending flowers‚ taking her to dinners‚ claiming it was all for business.

But I saw how she looked at him‚ how she touched his arm a beat too long‚ and the smirk she thought I didn't notice.

A sharp cramp tore through my abdomen like a blade‚ stealing my breath.

"Zane!" I cried out‚ voice shaking with desperation. "Zane‚ please! I need to get to the hospital!"

"Enough with the lies. Your due date isn't now." His gaze turned cold as ice. "You really think I don't know what you're doing? Playing the victim just to keep me from taking care of Elena?"

"Zane—no... The baby—I think it's coming now. Really."

"You expect me to believe that? I'm not falling for it again." He shoved open the heavy door and gestured toward the stone steps leading down into darkness.

Before I could react‚ he pushed me inside and slammed it shut behind me.

The lock clicked loudly through the chilled chamber.

A damp cold seeped into my skin as I leaned against the door‚ pounding weakly with fading strength while another contraction ripped through me.

I screamed until my throat felt raw — but in that stone room it only echoed back at me‚ useless and small.

Time blurred into pain after pain.

Wave after wave of contractions hit harder each time while the stale air burned in my lungs making every breath sting like acid on glass shards scraping down inside until black spots flickered across what little light remained above…

My legs gave out beneath me—they could no longer hold my weight.

I could feel the baby shifting lower—the pressure was unbearable. Each ragged breath made my chest tighten and my vision blur.

"Please," I whispered to my unborn child, tears streaming down my face. "Just hold on a little longer..."

Gathering the last of my strength, I dragged myself up the stone steps between contractions, frantically grabbing at the door handle.

Door didn't budge even an inch—but I kept struggling, refusing to give up. I couldn't let my child be born like this.

Finally, I heard footsteps on the other side.

"Help me," I murmured, barely able to speak above a whisper. "Please... help me. The baby's coming..."

The door swung open and I stumbled forward—right into Jake, Zane's younger brother.

He caught me by the shoulders, his eyes wide with shock.

"Jake," I gasped, "thank God... It's time—I need to get to the hospital."

But instead of helping me up, he shoved me backward. I lost my balance and tumbled down the stone steps, my shoulder hitting the wall with a sharp crack.

"Yo perfect timing actually," Jake said as he pulled out his phone and dialed. "Zane? You're not gonna believe this. Guess who just caught wife trying steal that bottle of '47 Lafite? Yep, the one you've been saving for the merger celebration..."

"No, that's not true..." I whispered, but Zane couldn't hear me.

Through the phone speaker, I could hear a soft trembling voice. Elena. "Zane, don't be too hard on her. I don't want to cause trouble between you two..."

"No, Elena," Zane's voice was firm and protective. "You're too kind. She knew exactly what she was doing when she upset you today. You were right—she'll do anything for attention. Don't let her leave, Jake."

As the call ended, I could still hear Elena sighing softly through the phone. "Zane, I'm so worried... handling everything during pregnancy... I really don't know if I can manage."

"Don't worry," Zane's voice softened instantly. "I'll take care of everything. You just focus on yourself and the baby."

Of course he will.

Weeks ago, Zane had already reserved the entire maternity wing for Elena—the best doctors, top facilities, round-the-clock care, all ready for when she gives birth.

The call ended. Jake stuffed his phone in his pocket and glared down at me, clearly annoyed while I writhed in pain on the stone floor.

"Just great," he muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I was supposed to have a date tonight. Now I'm stuck here babysitting your dramatic ass."