The next morning, Amara stirred awake to the soft glow of sunlight spilling through the curtains. Her eyes fell instantly on Damian's face beside her, peaceful and breathtakingly handsome even in sleep. A smile tugged at her lips.
"Good morning, babe," she whispered, brushing her fingers gently across his cheek.
His eyelids fluttered open, and he caught her gaze with that same intensity that always left her breathless. "Good morning, my queen," he murmured, pulling her into a slow kiss that lingered on her lips.
After a moment, Amara slipped away to the bathroom. But as she stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair back, a strange heaviness swept through her. She leaned against the sink, her hand pressing against her stomach.
I haven't seen my period for almost two months... The thought came like a whisper of panic. Could it be what I'm thinking?
Her chest tightened. Shaking her head quickly, she tried to dismiss the fear. She finished her bath, but when she stepped back into the bedroom, Damian was already gone. Dressing herself in one of the elegant outfits they had bought during last night's shopping spree, she caught her reflection and forced a smile. She looked beautiful, but inside her heart raced with uncertainty.
When she finally made her way downstairs, Damian was waiting for her in the living room. He rose instantly at the sight of her, his eyes brightening.
"There she is," he said warmly. "My queen."
Amara blushed, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Thank you, baby."
He tilted his head, studying her closely. "You okay? You barely touched dinner last night. Do you feel alright?"
"I'm fine, love," Amara replied quickly, not wanting to raise suspicion. "Really. Don't worry about me."
Satisfied for now, Damian nodded and offered his hand. Together, they drove off toward the office.
---
Elsewhere, Clara and Serena were already plotting their next move. Meeting discreetly before entering the building, Clara leaned close, her voice sharp.
"Did you confirm? She was alone this morning?"
"Yes," Serena replied with a smirk. "Our contact followed her. Damian wasn't with her."
Clara's lips twisted into a wicked smile. "Perfect. Then today's the day we make her disappear."
Their sinister plan was simple: set thugs on Amara to beat her until she couldn't survive. Their jealousy and rage had pushed them too far, and this time, they weren't willing to fail.
---
By midday, Amara couldn't shake the gnawing anxiety in her chest. Slipping away quietly during lunch break, she hailed a cab and headed straight to a nearby pharmacy.
Inside the restroom, she clutched the pregnancy test with trembling hands. Seconds dragged like hours until the result finally appeared.
Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened.
She was pregnant.
Tears welled up instantly-not just of fear, but of shock, confusion, and a flicker of something else she couldn't name. Her world tilted in that moment. She pressed a hand to her belly, whispering, "I'm carrying Damian's child..."
But before she could fully process it, everything unraveled.
As Amara left the pharmacy and started walking back toward the office, a black car screeched to a halt beside her. Before she could scream, masked men jumped out.
"Let me go!" she cried, struggling, but her voice was muffled as rough hands pulled her inside. Panic surged, her vision swimming. The last thing she saw before fainting was the blur of the city disappearing behind tinted windows.
---
Back at the office, Damian glanced at the clock. Amara had been gone far too long. His instincts screamed at him. Rising abruptly, he called Eric through the intercom.
"Tell Amara to come to my office immediately."
There was a pause. Then Eric's voice came back, hesitant. "Sir... I haven't seen her return yet."
A chill ran down Damian's spine. His jaw tightened as he stood, his pulse thundering in his ears. Without another word, he stormed out and headed straight to the building's surveillance room.
"Pull up every camera from the front entrance in the last two hours," he ordered the security team.
Footage flickered across the screens. His heart dropped as he saw Amara leaving alone, walking in the direction of the pharmacy. He didn't hesitate. He grabbed his car keys and rushed out.
At the pharmacy, Damian barged through the door, his urgency startling the staff. He pulled out Amara's photo from his phone.
"This woman-was she here?"
The pharmacist blinked, then nodded. "Yes, she came about an hour ago. She bought... a pregnancy test."
Damian froze, the words echoing in his mind. Pregnancy test? Confusion, shock, and something deeper twisted inside him. But now was not the time.
"Where is she now?" he demanded.
"She left right after," the woman said softly.
Damian stood in silence for a moment, fighting the storm of fear building inside him. He turned sharply back to the counter. "Do you have security cameras here?"
"Yes, sir."
"Show me."
Together, they watched the footage. Damian's chest tightened as he saw the scene unfold-Amara stepping out, the black car pulling up, the men forcing her inside.
His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
"They took her..." he whispered, rage burning in his eyes.
Without wasting a second, he dialed Eric. His voice was like steel.
"Trace a black car, plate number 5435. Send me the exact route. Now."
"Yes, sir!" Eric replied quickly.
Damian stormed out of the pharmacy, his blood boiling, his only thought clear: whoever dared to lay a hand on Amara would pay dearly.
Damian's chest tightened as he drove recklessly through the city streets, his mind clouded with panic. Every second felt like an eternity, every red light like a punishment. His knuckles whitened around the steering wheel as he replayed the CCTV footage in his head-the way Amara had been dragged into the car, her small frame disappearing against the strength of the men who took her.
"Hold on, Amara," he muttered through clenched teeth. "No one hurts you. Not while I'm alive."
His phone buzzed, Eric's voice breaking through the static of his fear.
"Sir, I've tracked the car. They're heading out of the city toward the old industrial district."
"Keep following," Damian ordered sharply. "Don't lose them. I'm on my way."
His heart pounded harder with each mile. Clara and Serena's names flashed like daggers in his mind-he had no doubt they were behind this. The thought that they dared touch Amara burned his blood.
Meanwhile, Amara stirred faintly in the kidnappers' car. Her head throbbed, her vision blurry, but the words she had seen on the test earlier echoed in her mind. Pregnant. A life growing inside her. She touched her stomach weakly, whispering a silent prayer that Damian would find her before it was too late.
The car jerked to a stop in front of an abandoned warehouse. One of the men dragged her out roughly, while another muttered, "Boss said make it look like an accident. No mistakes."
Amara's knees trembled, fear crawling through her veins, but deep inside, courage sparked. She wasn't just fighting for herself anymore-she was fighting for her child too.
Unaware of her resolve, Damian's black car screeched to a halt a few blocks away. He stepped out, his eyes sharp, scanning the surroundings. He wasn't just a billionaire anymore-he was a man on a mission, one ready to tear down anyone who dared touch the woman he loved.
"Amara," he whispered under his breath, his jaw tightening. "I'm coming for you."