The first time my wealthy parents found me, I was pregnant. And I didn't even know who the father was. They were furious, declaring that the baby had to be aborted immediately to prevent it from staining the family's reputation. But a thrill shot through me. So, my family was that powerful. Powerful enough to casually order the termination of a child belonging to the heir of the Thorne dynasty. This was… perfect. 1 "Amelia, darling, go get your sister a glass of water." My mother squeezed my hand, her voice earnest as she addressed the girl who had been raised in my place. "From now on, you two must be like real sisters. No fighting, you hear me? We can't have outsiders laughing at the Devereaux family." Amelia nodded obediently, her expression perfectly demure. My father and brother watched the scene with satisfied smiles. She hurried to the kitchen and returned with a glass of ice water. "Here you go, sister." My fingers brushed against the frosty glass, and I flinched, pulling my hand back with a touch of embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Amelia… I'm pregnant. I can't have anything cold." Amelia froze, her gaze dropping to my stomach with a strange, unreadable expression. In an instant, the air in the room went dead. My mother's warm hand slipped away from mine, and a familiar sense of loss washed over me. 2 "You—you're married?" "No." "You have a boyfriend, then." "No." "You just graduated from high school." "Yes." "Who is the father?" "He's… I don't know." 3 After the interrogation, a heavy, suffocating silence descended. The atmosphere was terrifying. All the warmth and excitement of our reunion had vanished. My parents and my brother stared at me, their eyes picking me apart, making my skin crawl. Amelia, meanwhile, sat quietly to the side, fiddling with her fingers in a way that was surprisingly hypnotic. After watching her for a while, I started doing it too. It actually helped calm my nerves. I was so absorbed that I didn't notice the storm clouds gathering on the faces of the other three. Finally, my father broke the silence, his face a mask of thunder. "What the hell does that mean, you know but you don't know?" 4 An image of a man immediately flashed into my mind. Proud, quiet, domineering… All I knew was that his last name was Thorne. I honestly had no idea what his first name was. Our meeting, according to him, was an accident. To me, it was the perfect cliché: the humble barmaid and the handsome billionaire. I remember looking down at him, drunk and devastatingly beautiful in my arms, his face a masterpiece of sharp lines and dark brows. When his hands started to wander, I lost all control and dragged him into the staff bathroom. I thought that would be it. A one-time thing. We’d go our separate ways and never see each other again. But he was like a ghost. He started appearing on my walk home from work. Inside my tiny rental apartment. In places I never expected. And each time, he would leave the wild marks of his possession on my skin. At first, I was lost in the thrill of it. But as time went on, I grew scared. I started avoiding him, hiding from him. It never worked. He always found me. "Why are you running?" he’d ask. "Aren't you tired of me yet?" I’d shoot back. He would just laugh, a cold, humorless sound, before flipping me onto my back and pinning me beneath him once more. Then, about two weeks ago, he disappeared. I was ecstatic. I’m not an idiot. I’d seen his cars—the Rolls-Royce, the Bentley, and a whole collection of supercars I couldn't even name. I think one of them was a Bugatti… His aura, the way he spoke, the power he carried… he was from a world I couldn't even imagine, let alone aspire to. I had been lucky enough to have a taste of a man that beautiful. I was satisfied with that. Besides, he never gave me any money, so what else was I supposed to do? But then he was gone. And I was pregnant. I can't deny that for a fleeting moment, I considered keeping it. Boy or girl, I knew my child would be beautiful. How could they not be, with a father that handsome? But I crushed the thought immediately. The baby was not an option. The grandmother who had raised me was gone. I was all alone. How was a single mother with a baby supposed to build a life, let alone find a husband? My future was a long, open road, and I didn't want to spend it struggling. Still, I thought of his domineering nature, his raw power, his untamed temper. I was afraid that if I got rid of his child without his permission, he would find out and unleash his fury on me. That would be the end of me. I was trapped. Finally, I worked up the courage to send him a text. "I'm pregnant." If I couldn't decide, he would have to. Whatever the outcome, he couldn't blame me. Three days passed. He never replied. I cursed him out for the scumbag he was, and then, in a fit of rage, I blocked him on everything. It was a little reckless, but damn, it felt good. Just as I was about to schedule an appointment at the clinic, my wealthy biological parents found me. They told me I was their long-lost daughter. It felt like a miracle. My life was finally looking up. Which brought me to this moment. As for the pregnancy, I never thought to hide it. Seeing the Mercedes they picked me up in, the opulent mansion they called home… I knew they had power. I figured that after I took care of the baby, if that Mr. Thorne ever came looking for me, my family could protect me. 5 I glanced nervously at my father, preparing to tell him the truth. "Dad, all I know is that his last name is Thorne." You don't even know his name? The look in their eyes shifted from disappointment to disgust. I lowered my head in shame, my hands twisting in my lap. My mother took a deep, steadying breath. "What are your plans?" "I want to get rid of it," I said quickly, looking up. A collective sigh of relief went through the room. The tension in their shoulders eased. "But…" "But what?" my brother snapped, his patience wearing thin. "But he's a very intimidating man," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "I'm scared…" My brother cut me off with a derisive snort. "In the backwater town you came from? How intimidating could anyone possibly be?" My mother joined in, her voice laced with arrogance. "You've just returned, so you may not understand the Devereaux family's standing. In this city, aside from a few old dynasties, we fear no one. Even if they're richer than us, as long as they aren't under the Thorne's protection, we can handle them. Thorne, you say? It couldn't possibly be…" She trailed off, looking at me, and then let out a small, dismissive laugh. A girl from the countryside and the heir to the Thorne dynasty? The idea was absurd. I could feel their contempt, but it didn't sting as much as it should have. I was used to it. Growing up, my grandmother was the only one who ever stood up for me. No one else gave me a second glance. As long as this new family cared enough about their reputation not to abuse me openly, and maybe gave me some money, it was already a thousand times better than my old life. My father made the final decision. "Three days from now, your brother will take you to the clinic. You are a Devereaux by blood. To return to us unwed and pregnant is an utter disgrace." I nodded. "Can't we go tomorrow?" He turned away from me, as if he couldn't bear the sight of me any longer. "We have an important family event in the coming days. You will attend with us. You'll understand then." "Okay, Dad." A wave of relief washed over me. Three days wasn't so long to wait. 6 "Brother, how many cars do we have?" I asked, running my hand over the sleek lines of a sports car in the garage, my eyes wide with wonder. My brother, sensing my awe, preened. "This is my Porsche 718. Pretty cool, right? Mom doesn't like to drive. Dad has a Maybach, and your sister has a Porsche Panamera. All together, our cars are worth a few million." "Wow," I breathed, my voice filled with genuine admiration. "We're so rich." My praise seemed to please him. "You've been behaving yourself these last couple of days. If it weren't for…" His eyes flicked to my stomach, and his tone cooled. "Tell you what. When Amelia gets tired of her car and wants a new one, I'll have her give the old one to you. You are my sister, after all. Can't have you embarrassing me when you go out." My heart pounded with excitement. "Thank you, brother! You're the best!" But deep down, a seed of unease was planted. I thought back to the man's cars. They seemed… a lot more impressive than these. No. I shook the thought away. Stop thinking about that heartbreaker. Once the baby was gone and I had recovered, I would just be quiet, be good, and pick up the scraps this family offered me. It was still better than before. As for Mr. Thorne? We were in different cities, in different worlds. He was in Havenport; I was in the capital. He was probably just some local rich kid. Even if his family was wealthier than mine, what could he do to me now? 7 On the third day, I was dressed in one of Amelia's old gowns and driven in her Panamera to the family's five-star hotel. Amelia herself was a vision. She wore a stunning red dress, her makeup was flawless, and she was the center of attention everywhere she went. I was just a drab shadow at her side. "Sister, you really shouldn't be at an event like this," she whispered, her voice a mix of concern and condescension. "You'll be nervous. Making a fool of yourself is one thing, but embarrassing the Devereaux family is another. Just remember to smile and keep quiet. The less you say, the fewer mistakes you make. Do you understand?" I nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, sister. I'll do exactly as you say." Amelia offered a faint, satisfied smile, her eyes sweeping over me with disdain. She had clearly been preparing for a battle with me, but it turned out to be unnecessary. The "real" daughter had conveniently shown up pregnant with some nobody's child, instantly ruining her standing with the family. Yesterday, our parents had hinted that I wouldn't be seeing a penny of the family fortune. They would keep me around for a few years to maintain appearances, then marry me off to a business partner with a modest dowry. That would be the end of it. This outcome was perfect for Amelia, so she had no reason to make my life difficult. What was my name again? she thought. Ah, yes. Chloe. Chloe Devereaux. She continued to brief me on the evening's dos and don'ts, and I listened intently, memorizing every detail.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "393891", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel