Chapter 3 - TWO HEARTBEATS
Dominic entered the hospital with four men.
The receptionist nearly dropped her clipboard.
“Mr. Gallo, you can't—”
“Room 417.”
“How did you—”
He walked past her.
Layla heard the elevator doors open.
Her heart stopped.
Dominic.
She immediately covered her stomach with the blanket.
He entered.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Dominic looked different.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Confused.
“You disappeared.”
Layla stared at him.
“I left your employment.”
“You vanished.”
“You told me to.”
His jaw tightened.
“I didn't expect you to disappear.”
“You didn't ask where I was going.”
Dominic stepped closer.
Then he noticed the hospital bracelet.
His eyes moved downward.
Layla's hands tightened over the blanket.
“You're sick.”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
“I'm pregnant.”
Silence.
Dominic didn't move.
Layla expected anger.
Instead, he looked stunned.
“Pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Who's the father?”
Layla almost laughed.
“You know.”
His face changed.
“What?”
She slowly lowered the blanket.
Dominic stared at her stomach.
His breathing became shallow.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You're carrying my child?”
Layla shook her head.
“Children.”
Dominic froze.
“What?”
“Twins.”
The room seemed to lose all sound.
Dominic sat down.
For the first time in years, the most feared man in Chicago looked completely helpless.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Layla's eyes filled with tears.
“Because you fired me.”
“I didn't know.”
“You didn't ask.”
“I would have protected you.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You would have controlled everything.”
Dominic didn't deny it.
Layla continued.
“You would have taken them.”
“They're mine.”
“They're mine too.”
Dominic looked at her.
Something inside him cracked.
“I would never take them from you.”
Layla whispered:
“You don't know that.”
Before Dominic could answer, the hospital door opened.
Celeste stood there.
Her expression was pale.
She had heard everything.
“You're pregnant?”
Layla looked at her.
Celeste's eyes moved toward Dominic.
Then toward Layla's stomach.
Her face transformed.
Not shock.
Fear.
Dominic noticed.
“Celeste.”
She forced a smile.
“I only came to check on you.”
“You didn't know she was here.”
“No.”
Dominic stared at her.
Something about her reaction disturbed him.
Then Celeste said something that would change the entire story.
May you like
“Dominic... you should know something.”
Layla's blood went cold.
