Page 53 of Ardent Desires

“Are you back together with her, Mr. Blackwood?”

“What happened to Vanessa? Did she overdose?”

My jaw clenches as I push past them, my shoulders tight. They swarm me, and I can’t even fucking breathe. I should’ve known they’d be here. It’s Vanessa Chase, former model. They love this kind of shit.

“No comment,” I mutter, keeping my head down as I push through the crowd. I just need to get to my car, away from this chaos.

The flashing lights follow me all the way to the parking lot, the questions pounding in my ears. The guilt. The fucking guilt. I grit my teeth, finally getting into my car and slamming the door shut. The sounds are muffled now, the chaos locked outside.

I sit there for a second, breathing hard, my hands gripping the steering wheel. I close my eyes, trying to center myself. I have to deal with this. I don’t have a choice.

But right now? Right now, I just need to see Ellie.

Chapter fourteen

Echoes of the Past

Ellie

I pace my living room, clutching the phone in one hand as Jenna’s voice buzzes in my ear.

“Calm down, Ellie. There’s gotta be a logical explanation for all of this,” Jenna insists, her tone soothing, but I can’t calm down. I can barely breathe.

“I don’t know, Jenna! It’s all over the news—he was with Vanessa, his ex!” I choke, hugging myself tighter. “I don’t know where I even stand with him. And now, with everything else...”

I let the rest hang. Jenna’s the only one who knows about the pregnancy test I took this morning, the positive results that have had my mind spinning in ten different directions.

“Listen, Ellie. Talk to him. You owe it to yourself and to him. You’re not going to figure it out like this.”

There’s a knock on my door, and my heart lurches. I know it’s him.

“Oh God, he’s here,” I whisper, feeling my pulse quicken.

Jenna’s voice softens. “You’ve got this. Just… listen, okay?”

I hang up, take a shaky breath, and open the door. Alexander stands there, looking exhausted, disheveled, as if he’s been through hell. His hair is messy, his tie loosened, and he looks at me with worry.

“Why have you been ignoring my calls?” he asks, his voice low, thick with concern. Then his eyes move past me to the TV, where the news blares about him and Vanessa. A flicker of realization crosses his face. “I can explain.”

I cross my arms, nodding. “Okay.”

He steps in, takes a deep breath, and meets my eyes. “Vanessa came over last night. She was... out of control. She’d taken something, and I didn’t know what else to do. She collapsed this morning in my bathroom after taking my painkillers from an old injury. I had to get her to the hospital. She’s lucky she’s alive.”

The words sink in slowly, every detail hitting me. Drugs. A hospital. I suddenly feel nauseated and run to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. The world spins around me as I collapse to my knees, my stomach churning.

A moment later, Alexander’s hand is on my back, his voice thick with worry. “Ellie, what’s wrong? Baby, please talk to me.”

I rinse my mouth and, without looking up, I say it. “I’m pregnant.”

There’s silence as I slowly stand, his hands gentle on my shoulders as he turns me to face him. His eyes are wide, searching my face, then softening as he takes in the news.

“Pregnant?” he whispers, and I nod, tears pricking my eyes.

“It’s too soon, Alexander. We’re still figuring things out, and… and I don’t even know what this means for us.”

He pulls me into a tight embrace, one hand stroking my back. “This is the best news you could’ve given me, Ellie.” He leans back, his eyes earnest. “I’m here, with you. You’re who matters.”

My heart stutters. “Are you sure?”

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