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Chapter 16/The Ruined Moment

Chapter 16: 16/The Ruined Moment

Chapter 16

Stephanie’s Point of View

I pulled out my phone with a trembling hand and dialed Kira’s number, the blood in my veins boiling with anxiety. It barely rang once before her voice came through: "Hello... who is this?"

"Kira... it’s me, Stephanie," I panted, pacing back and forth in the room.

"Oh Steph! How are you?" she asked in surprise.

"That doesn’t matter now... Kira, you won’t believe who I met today!" I pressed my back against the wall, trying to steady my body, which wouldn’t stop shaking.

"Who?"

I took a deep breath and whispered, as if afraid someone behind the door might hear me: "Alex!"

She fell silent for a moment, then asked coolly, "Who’s Alex?"

"Kira, what’s wrong with you! Alexander... our teacher... my ex!"

Kira’s scream exploded through the phone so loudly that I had to pull it away from my ear. "What?! Are you serious?"

"Yes, Kira... after all these years," I said, feeling a lump in my throat.

"Where did you meet him? Tell me!"

I closed my eyes tightly, feeling a slight dizziness. "He is Cedric’s older brother."

I heard Kira’s loud gasp. "You’re joking! My God, Steph... is your luck really that bad?"

"Apparently, it’s very bad," I replied bitterly, nervously fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

"Come on, Stephanie, tell me everything now!"

"There’s nothing to tell. You know my relationship with Alex ended a long time ago," I tried to keep my voice steady, but the tremor in my hand betrayed me.

"Did you ask him why he disappeared so suddenly?"

"Yes. He said he was running away from his family but was forced to return."

A brief silence followed before she asked in a quiet tone, "And you, right now how are you?"

"I’m fine," I said far too quickly.

"Stephanie Miller... don’t lie!"

I groaned in frustration, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Don’t call me by my full name!"

"I know you loved him a lot, Steph... he was the first man in your life."

"But I was young then!" I defended myself, feeling my cheeks burn.

"Yes, but you lost your virginity to him, and it was hard for you to forget him. That’s why I’m asking."

"Enough, Kira! I said I’m fine!" I cut her off sharply, my heart tightening at the memory.

"Fine... that’s what matters, that you’re okay. And does this Cedric know about your past?"

My body went completely rigid at the mention of Cedric’s name, and I looked toward the door in terror. "Of course not, and there’s no need for him to know."

"Why?"

My breath hitched suddenly as I heard heavy footsteps approaching the door. "Kira, I have to hang up... someone’s coming!"

"Okay, call me later."

I tossed the phone onto the bed quickly, tried to straighten my clothes, and wiped the look of panic from my face. I heard a knock. "Yes... come in," I said.

The door opened and Cedric entered with his overwhelming presence. His eyes scanned the room before settling on me. "Stephanie... do you need anything?"

I swallowed hard, feeling his gaze piercing through me as if he could read the conversation I just had. "Cedric... didn’t you have work?" I asked, trying to distract him.

He took a step into the room and said in a calm tone, "Yes, but it was canceled."

"Oh, okay... as for your question, I don’t need anything."

I stood before him, trying to hide my trembling hands behind my back. His powerful presence filled the room, making me feel suddenly short of breath.

How could I keep this secret from him when he watched my every move?

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Cedric’s Point of View

I saw that Stephanie was tense. Her eyes were darting around the room, and her fluster was as clear as day. I felt a sting of concern in my chest; she was hiding something.

I closed the door behind me slowly and walked toward her with measured steps until I had cornered her personal space. "Is something wrong?" I asked, my eyes never leaving her face.

"No, not at all," she said with a speed that only spiked my suspicion.

"But you look tense," I said in a low tone.

"Maybe just from the pregnancy," she replied, trying to avoid my gaze.

"Should I take you to the doctor?"

"No, no... I’m fine, don’t worry."

I reached out and took her hand. It was cold and trembling slightly.

I squeezed it to give her a sense of security. "Don’t hesitate to tell me anything that worries you, alright?"

She nodded. "Alright."

"I bought the vitamins the doctor prescribed. I gave them to the maid; she’ll make sure you take them on time."

"Thank you," she whispered.

I placed my hand on her stomach a spontaneous move born of my possessiveness but she flinched and pulled away.

I narrowed my eyes and said calmly, "I just want to say hello to my children." She nodded in silent agreement, so I stepped closer again and placed my palm on her belly. "I can’t feel anything like this."

"Because they are still small, Cedric," she said.

I smiled, feeling a desire to be closer much closer. "This position is inconvenient."

"How?" she asked in surprise.

I stepped behind her quickly, pressing my chest flush against her back. I felt the heat of her body through my clothes.

I wrapped my arms around her and placed my hands on her stomach from the front.

"What are you doing?" she asked in alarm, trying to move.

"Changing my position... I’m trying to feel my little ones."

"Get away, Cedric, you won’t feel anything."

"Oh, I feel it like this," I said, leaning my head toward her neck. Damn! What was that scent? Her fragrance was intoxicating, causing logic to flee my mind, leaving only pure instinct in its place.

I whispered in her ear in a husky voice, "Since the day I fucked you, I haven’t been able to enjoy sex with any other woman but you."

She remained silent, her body tensing in my arms. I brushed away her red hair which looked like lava from a volcano burning me and pressed a hot kiss onto her neck. I inhaled her skin deeply and said, "I missed you so much."

"Didn’t you say you wanted to say hello to your children?" she said, her voice steadying.

"I’m saying hello to their mother too... I have very good manners."

"Yes... that’s very clear."

I became erect immediately as I rubbed against her ass. I surrendered to my desire and gripped her breast, squeezing it hard to feel its softness beneath my palm.

"What are you doing?" she gasped in shock.

"You’re tense... I’m trying to help you relax."

"This way?"

"Do you have another way?" I asked, burying my head deeper into her neck.

"Get away from me, Cedric... your brother is in the house!"

"To hell with my brother!" I growled in frustration.

"I don’t want this!"

I ignored her weak protest. I slid my hand down, lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, and with a swift movement, I slid my hand between her thighs. My fingers slipped into her pussy; the wetness was enough to set my nerves on fire. "Stephanie... you’re wet... you want this badly."

"No," she said in a panting, broken voice.

"Don’t try to deny it."

Suddenly, the door flew open violently. Stephanie jumped, pulling away from me as if electrocuted, trying to compose herself.

Alexander was standing there, his eyes wide, looking at us in stunned silence.

I adjusted my stance coldly, rage eating at me because of this intrusion. "How do you enter a room without knocking, Alex?"

"I didn’t expect to find you in this... state," he said in a strange voice, as if he were choking.

Stephanie spoke quickly and frantically, "We weren’t doing anything!"

I turned to her, fed up with her coldness and her attempt to justify herself to him. "What business is it of his for you to explain?" Then I turned my gaze toward him with lethal intensity, as if declaring war: "Alex... I’m warning you, don’t ever do that again."

But he didn’t back down. He took a step forward, his eyes challenging me. "Are you going to tell her the truth, or should I?"

Is this bastard trying to ruin everything? Does he want to tell her about my engagement to Isabella?

"Alex!" I shouted a warning that shook the walls of the room.

But Stephanie intervened, her eyes darting between us in confusion: "What truth?"