Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The Pregnancy He Never Knew
The first rays of morning sunlight spilled across the Grand Alcazar Hotel, bathing its marble façade in gold.
To the guests, it was another beautiful day of luxury.
To Julian Rossi...
It was the beginning of an obsession.
He had spent the entire night replaying every second of his encounter with Elena.
The way she refused to look at him.
The tremble in her voice.
The tears she tried so hard to hide.
Most of all...
The child she carried.
One question refused to leave his mind.
Was he already a father without even knowing it?
Julian stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his suite, coffee untouched beside him.
He pulled a small leather notebook from his briefcase.
Inside were old dates.
Business trips.
Meetings.
Personal anniversaries.
He turned back eight months.
The last night he and Elena had spent together.
He remembered everything.
The dinner she had cooked.
The movie they never finished.
The rain tapping gently against their bedroom windows.
She had fallen asleep in his arms.
The next morning, he had kissed her goodbye before leaving for Zurich.
When he returned...
She was gone.
Julian did the math again.
Seven months pregnant.
Maybe a little more.
The timing was undeniable.
If Elena had conceived before disappearing...
The baby could only be his.
His heart pounded.
Not with doubt.
With certainty.
A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Camila entered wearing an elegant white dress, already prepared for breakfast.
"You missed our reservation."
Julian didn't answer.
Instead, he asked,
"Did you know she was pregnant?"
Camila froze.
"What?"
"When you saw Elena yesterday."
"I asked if you noticed."
Camila folded her arms.
"Of course I noticed."
Julian looked at her.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
She gave a nervous laugh.
"I assumed it wasn't your concern anymore."
"My wife carrying a child isn't my concern?"
The room fell silent.
Camila realized she had made another mistake.
She softened her voice.
"I'm sorry."
"I just..."
"I didn't want to upset you."
Julian picked up his jacket.
"I'm going downstairs."
"To see her?"
"Yes."
Camila watched him leave without another word.
The moment the door closed...
Her pleasant expression disappeared.
She reached for her phone.
Unknown Number
He's looking for her again.
A reply arrived within seconds.
Don't let them talk alone.
Camila stared at the message.
For the first time since meeting Julian...
Fear flickered across her face.
Meanwhile...
Deep inside the housekeeping department, Elena struggled to lift a heavy bag of fresh linens.
A sharp pain shot across her lower back.
She winced.
"Easy."
Maria Alvarez hurried over and took the bag from her hands.
"I told you not to lift anything heavier than five kilos."
"I'm fine."
Maria raised an eyebrow.
"You've said that every day for the last two months."
Elena managed a faint smile.
"If I stop working..."
"I can't pay the hospital."
Maria looked at her with quiet sadness.
"You shouldn't have to worry about money."
"I do."
"The baby needs me."
Maria wanted to say something.
Instead, she simply nodded.
Because she knew Elena would never accept charity.
Elena checked the room assignment list.
Suite 1908.
Suite 1912.
Suite 1918.
Then...
Her smile vanished.
Suite 2001.
The Presidential Suite.
Julian's suite.
She immediately looked toward Maria.
"There has to be a mistake."
Maria frowned.
"I'll change it."
Before either woman could move...
The housekeeping manager appeared.
"Emma."
Elena stiffened at the false name.
"The VIP in Suite 2001 requested immediate service."
"I'll send someone else."
"No."
The manager shook his head.
"You're already assigned."
Elena's heartbeat quickened.
"I can't."
The manager's expression hardened.
"Are you refusing an assignment?"
Maria stepped in.
"She's not feeling well."
"We're all tired."
The manager looked impatient.
"The guest specifically requested the same housekeeper from yesterday."
Elena's hands began to shake.
Julian.
Fifteen minutes later...
She stood outside Suite 2001.
The housekeeping cart felt heavier than ever.
She took a deep breath.
Knocked twice.
"Housekeeping."
Silence.
She knocked again.
"Housekeeping."
The door slowly opened.
Julian stood there.
He had removed his suit jacket.
His sleeves were rolled up.
Dark circles framed his eyes.
He looked like a man who hadn't slept.
Because he hadn't.
For several long seconds...
Neither spoke.
Finally, Julian stepped aside.
"You can come in."
Elena hesitated.
Professional instinct overcame fear.
She slowly pushed the cart inside.
The suite remained untouched.
The bed perfectly made.
Breakfast untouched.
Coffee cold.
"You didn't sleep."
She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth.
Julian looked at her.
"So you still notice."
She lowered her eyes.
"I shouldn't have said that."
"No."
His voice softened.
"I'm glad you did."
Elena quietly began replacing the towels.
Julian watched every movement.
She moved more slowly than before.
Occasionally resting one hand against her back.
Breathing carefully.
Protecting the baby.
Finally...
He spoke.
"How far along are you?"
Silence.
She continued folding towels.
"Elena."
She stopped.
But didn't turn around.
"Thirty-three weeks."
Julian's breath caught.
Thirty-three weeks.
Exactly what he had calculated.
He swallowed hard.
"When were you going to tell me?"
She whispered,
"I wasn't."
He stepped closer.
"Why?"
Still facing away from him, she answered,
"Because knowing would only put you in danger."
Julian frowned.
"What danger?"
She closed her eyes.
"I can't tell you."
"Who is threatening you?"
No answer.
"Is someone forcing you to stay away from me?"
Silence.
He gently reached for her shoulder.
The instant his fingers touched her...
She flinched.
Not from him.
From fear.
Pure fear.
Julian immediately withdrew his hand.
His heart sank.
Who had frightened her this badly?
Suddenly...
Elena gasped.
Her hand flew to her stomach.
She leaned heavily against the table.
Julian rushed forward.
"What happened?"
"The baby..."
Another sharp movement.
She closed her eyes.
Trying to breathe.
Julian instinctively supported her before she could fall.
"Sit down."
"I'm okay."
"No."
His voice became firm.
"Sit."
She reluctantly lowered herself onto the sofa.
Julian knelt beside her.
"What hurts?"
"It's just..."
She smiled weakly.
"He kicks whenever I'm stressed."
Julian looked at her in disbelief.
"He?"
She nodded without thinking.
Another mistake.
A tiny smile escaped Julian.
"So..."
"It's a boy."
Realizing what she'd revealed, Elena quickly looked away.
"I shouldn't have said that."
Julian couldn't stop smiling.
A son.
He might have a son.
Without warning...
The baby kicked again.
Hard.
Elena placed both hands over her belly.
Julian stared.
Almost hypnotized.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
He raised one hand.
"May I?"
Elena looked at him.
For the first time since disappearing...
She saw not the billionaire.
Not the businessman.
Only her husband.
The man who had once spent hours talking to their future children before they even existed.
Tears filled her eyes.
Almost unconsciously...
She nodded.
Julian gently rested his palm against her stomach.
For a moment...
Nothing happened.
Then—
A tiny kick pressed against his hand.
Julian froze.
Another followed.
Then another.
His eyes widened.
Emotion overwhelmed him.
His voice barely emerged.
"He's..."
He laughed softly through tears.
"He's saying hello."
Elena looked away, unable to hide her own tears.
For one beautiful, heartbreaking moment...
They looked like a family again.
The moment shattered.
The suite door swung open.
Camila stood in the doorway.
She had been smiling.
Until she saw Julian kneeling before Elena.
His hand resting on her pregnant stomach.
The smile disappeared.
"What..."
Her voice trembled.
"...is going on?"
Julian slowly stood.
Camila stared between them.
Then at Elena.
Finally, her eyes settled on the unborn child.
She whispered,
"Oh my God..."
Realization hit her.
The dates.
The timing.
The disappearance.
Everything.
She looked directly at Elena.
"That's his baby."
It wasn't a question.
Elena said nothing.
Julian answered instead.
"Yes."
Camila stepped backward as if someone had struck her.
Her face twisted into something far darker than jealousy.
It was panic.
Without another word, she turned and hurried out of the suite.
Julian called after her.
"Camila!"
She didn't stop.
Minutes later...
Camila locked herself inside an empty conference room on the hotel's executive floor.
Her hands trembled as she dialed a familiar number.
The call connected immediately.
"He knows," she whispered.
A cold male voice answered.
"How much?"
"He touched her stomach."
"He knows the child is his."
Several seconds of silence followed.
Then the man spoke.
"So..."
"The baby is still alive."
Camila closed her eyes.
"What do we do now?"
The answer came without hesitation.
"This has gone on long enough."
Another pause.
Then five words that made the color drain from Camila's face.
"Get rid of them both."
The call ended.
Camila slowly lowered the phone.
Outside the conference room window, dark clouds rolled across the sky.
A storm was coming.
And this time...
May you like
It wasn't the weather that anyone should fear.
End of Chapter 3
