POV Norah
The conference floor felt like it was closing in.
One moment, I was standing beside the refreshments table, nodding politely at some senior partner’s small talk. The next, my stomach turned in a violent, unmistakable twist.
Oh no.
The scent of coffee brewing nearby hit me like a punch, and bile rose in my throat. I mumbled an excuse and bolted for the nearest restroom, heels clicking too loudly against the marble floor.
By the time I shoved open a stall door, my hands were trembling.
I barely got the latch closed before I was on my knees over the toilet, praying no one else came in. The nausea ripped through me in waves, leaving my eyes watering and my chest heaving.
When it finally eased, I slumped against the wall, forehead pressed to the cool metal partition.
It wasn’t the first time I’d felt this way in the past week.
But today… it was stronger. Different.
My bag was hanging from the hook, and without thinking, I reached inside for the little plastic wrapper I’d been carrying for weeks.
The last of the pregnancy tests. I’d been too afraid to waste it until now.
Hands still shaking, I tore it open, followed the instructions on autopilot, and set it on the flat surface of the toilet paper dispenser. I paced the tiny space, counting breaths.
When I finally looked, my heart stuttered.
Positive.
For a long second, I just stared. Not breathing. Not thinking. Just… staring at the single word that changed everything.
I was carrying his child. Xander’s child.
A laugh bubbled out of me—half disbelief, half joy. I fished my phone from my bag, snapped a quick photo against the tiled wall, and sent it to him before I could overthink it.
My fingers were still hovering over the screen when the stall door slammed open.
I jumped, clutching the test like it was something shameful, when Madison’s voice cut through the air, sharp and sugary.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the conference charity case.”
Jennifer’s laugh followed, mean and low. “Didn’t think you’d actually follow him here, but I guess leeches don’t know when to quit.”
My stomach dropped faster than the nausea had. “What do you want?”
“Oh, relax,” Madison said, leaning against the doorframe. “Just checking on our favorite… what should we call her, Jen? Mistress? Gold-digger?”
Jennifer’s smirk widened. “Prostitute fits better. Hanging around rich men, making sure they have to pay attention to you so they don’t look like jerks. Classic move.”
“That’s not—” I started, but the words stuck in my throat.
Madison’s eyes flicked down to my hand. “What’s that?”
I moved instinctively to hide it, but she was faster, snatching it from me. Her eyebrows shot up.
“Oh my god. Is this what I think it is?”
Jennifer peered over her shoulder. “Positive. Well, isn’t that sweet? Guess you found yourself a sugar daddy dumb enough to fuck you after all.”
“It’s not what you think,” I said, voice trembling despite my effort to hold it steady.
“Please,” Madison sneered. “We all know your mom’s sick. Perhaps, this is how you’re paying for her medicine. Spread your legs for the highest bidder, right?”
The words hit like slaps.
Jennifer’s tone turned mock-innocent. “You know, to save some poor man from the mess you’ve made, we could… help you. Get rid of the bastard before it’s born.”
My breath caught. “You’re sick…”
“No, sweetheart,” Madison said, stepping closer. “We’re doing a public service.”
They moved in, the stall suddenly too small, too hot.
“I’m the surrogate mother for Xander!” I blurted, desperation breaking through. “That’s his child. If you hurt me… if you hurt it, he’ll make you regret it!”
For half a second, they paused.
Then they burst out laughing.
“Oh my god, she’s so fucking delusional…” Jennifer said. “You really think someone like him would pick you?”
The first blow to my stomach knocked the breath out of me. I doubled over, clutching at my middle, pain blooming hot and sharp.
“No, stop—!”
But another shove, another fist connecting with my abdomen followed instead.
Terror spiked, white-hot. My hands curled protectively around my belly, but they were relentless.
Madison’s voice was almost gleeful. “Let’s see if your precious little meal ticket survives this!”
I could feel myself getting dizzy, the edges of my vision darkening. “Please… stop…”
Jennifer’s knee drove into me, and a scream tore from my throat.
And then—“What the hell is going on here?”
The voice cut through the haze like a blade. Deep. Lethal.
Xander.
Both women froze, their grip on me loosening instantly.
In the next heartbeat, his hands were on my shoulders, pulling me to him. I clung to his arms, barely able to stand, to take another breath.
His gaze shifted to Madison and Jennifer, and I had never seen such cold fury on another human being’s face.
“You’re fired,” he said, each word clipped and deadly. “Both of you.”
Madison’s face went pale. “Mr. Crawford, we—”
“Shut. Up.” His tone could have frozen fire. “You will be expelled from the university by the end of the week. And, Madison—”
His eyes locked on her, unblinking.
“Your father is going to find out exactly what kind of piece of garbage his daughter turned out to be. I will personally make sure you never work in this field again.”
Jennifer’s lip trembled. “We didn’t—”
“I said shut up.” His voice dropped even lower. “If you so much as breathe in Norah’s direction again… I will make you regret it for the rest of your miserable lives. Now get out!”
They stumbled past us, muttering apologies neither of us believed.
Xander turned back to me, his hands bracketing my face. “Norah, talk to me. Are you hurt? Is the baby—”
“I… I don’t know,” I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks. My stomach ached with every breath.
He didn’t waste another second. “We’re going to the hospital. Now.”