He Hates Me, But I’M Carrying His Child
heartbreak
The Roman sun was beating down on the cobblestones, making the air shimmer. Rhea was leaning against a weathered brick wall, checking her reflection in a shop window. She’d spent way too long on her hair today
Rhea(fl)
Woke up. She had spent the morning humming to herself, thinking about the graduation party tonight. This was it. The last day of being "just friends
Silas(ml)
“Hey, slowpoke!”
Silas was jogging toward her, a lopsided grin on his face. He looked effortlessly cool in a white linen shirt, his dark hair messy from the breeze. He stopped right in front of her, so close she could smell his cologne.
Silas(ml)
Silas laughed, nudging her shoulder with his. “Yah, yah. You’re always late. One day the world is gonna end and you’ll still be putting on mascara.”
Rhea(fl)
Whatever i don't care. She bumped him back, her heart doing a frantic dance. “So, did your dad give you the keys to the office yet, Mr. Big Shot?”
Silas(ml)
Silas’s face lit up. “Better. He gave me the keys to the summer house in Tuscany for the weekend. I was thinking... maybe just you and me? To celebrate graduating?”
Rhea felt her breath hitch. Just the two of them? Away from their parents and the crowded city? This was the moment. He didn't say “I love you,” but the way he was looking at her—like she was the only person in the Piazza—said everything
Rhea(fl)
I’d like that,” she whispered.
Silas(ml)
Sat down on the edge of a nearby fountain, pulling Rhea down next to him. Their shoulders touched. He didn't grab her hand, but his pinky finger brushed against hers. It felt like an electric shock
Silas(ml)
Rhea, I’ve been meaning to tell you... after the announcement tonight... I have a surprise for you.”
Rhea(fl)
What kind of surprise?”
Silas(ml)
If I tell you, it’s not a surprise, dummy,” he teased, but his voice was thick with nerves.
Fast forward three hours. The Vanko dining room was silent except for the sound of silverware hitting porcelain. Rhea’s family was there, looking polished and nervous. Rhea kept sneaking glances at Silas, who was winked at her when his dad wasn't looking.
Then, Silas’s mother stood up. She looked like a queen about to order an execution.
ml mom
“We have reached a decision regarding the merger of our family assets,” Mrs. Vanko said, her eyes cold as ice. “To seal the bond between the Vanko and Rossi families... Silas will be engaged to Ruby
Rhea(fl)
Rhea’s fork clattered onto her plate.
Rhea—cried. A single, hot tear spilled over before she could stop it. She looked at Ruby, her older sister, who was suddenly blushing and looking at Silas like he was a prize trophy.
Silas(ml)
Wait—what?” Silas stood up, his chair screeching. “Mom, no! You can’t be serious. Ruby? I don't even—we don't even talk!”
ml dad
“It is business, Silas,” his father barked, slamming his hand on the table. “Ruby is the eldest. She has the inheritance. It’s been decided.”
Silas looked at Rhea. His eyes were wide, filled with panic. He looked like he wanted to jump over the table and grab her, but he saw his mother’s sharp gaze and his father’s clenched jaw. He was eighteen. He had no money, no job, and nowhere to go if they kicked him out.
Silas(ml)
Sat down. He looked at the floor, his shoulders shaking. He didn't fight back. He didn't say, “I love Rhea.” He just went silent.
Rhea(fl)
Stood up. She couldn't breathe in this room anymore. The air felt like poison.
....
“Rhea, sit down and congratulate your sister!” her mother hissed under her breath.
Rhea(fl)
Fuck u. She didn't whisper it. She said it loud enough for the whole table to hear.
fl dad
Rhea!” her father shouted, shocked
Rhea(fl)
What ever i don't care
She turned around and ran. She ran out the front door, down the driveway, and into the dark streets of Rome.
She ended up at their secret spot by the river. She waited for him. She waited for ten minutes, twenty, an hour. She thought he would follow her. She thought he would choose her.
But the street remained empty.
Rhea—cried harder. She realized then that "childhood sweetheart" didn't mean anything when money was on the line. Silas was a coward, and her sister was a traitor.
.
The moon was hanging low over the city, but Rhea couldn't appreciate the view. She was tucked away in their secret childhood spot—a sturdy wooden treehouse built into an ancient oak tree at the edge of the Vanko estate.
Rhea—cried. Her face was puffy, and her chest ached with every breath. She had been here for hours, ever since the dinner from hell. She thought about Silas’s face when he sat back down. She thought about Ruby’s smug smile
Rhea(fl)
It was all a lie,” she whispered, wiping her nose with her sleeve. “Everything was a lie.”
Suddenly, the wooden ladder creaked. A heavy, stumbling weight was climbing up. Rhea froze, her heart racing.
Silas—entered. He smelled like a brewery. His tie was hanging loose around his neck, and his white shirt was unbuttoned halfway. He had a half-empty bottle of expensive whiskey in his hand. His eyes were bloodshot and blazing with a mix of pain and fury.
Rhea(fl)
Stood up. She tried to push past him to the ladder. “Get out, Silas. Go back to your fiancée.”
Silas(ml)
Blocked the door. He slammed his hand against the wooden frame, trapping her. He was breathing hard, the smell of alcohol filling the small space
Silas(ml)
Why did you do that?” he roared. His voice was thick and slurred. “Why did you make a scene? You made me look like a fool in front of my father
Rhea(fl)
Whatever i don't care. She glared at him, her eyes flashing through her tears. “Oh, I’m sorry! Did I ruin your perfect little business deal? Did I embarrass the big brave CEO who couldn't even tell his mommy ‘no’?”
Silas(ml)
Shut up, Rhea! Just shut up!” Silas stepped closer, towering over her. “You think I want this? You think I want to touch your sister? I’m doing this to protect my future. To protect our future!”
Rhea(fl)
There is no our future, Silas! You chose the money!” Rhea screamed, pounding her fists against his chest. “I hate you! I fucking hate you!
Silas(ml)
Grabbed her wrists. He pinned them against the wall above her head. The anger in his eyes suddenly shifted into something darker, something desperate.
Silas(ml)
You don't hate me,” he hissed, his face inches from hers. “You’re just as miserable as I am
Before she could finish, Silas crashed his lips onto hers. It wasn't a sweet, childhood kiss. It was hungry, desperate, and tasted like whiskey and salt. Rhea tried to fight it for a second, but the years of hidden feelings exploded all at once. She stopped fighting and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
Silas(ml)
Kissed her harder. He moved his hands from her wrists to her waist, lifting her up so her legs wrapped around his hips. He kicked the door of the treehouse shut.
Silas(ml)
Rhea... ahh, Rhea...” Silas groaned against her neck, his voice breaking. “I can’t lose you. I won’t.”
Rhea(fl)
Then don't,” she whispered, her hands tearing at his shirt. “Just tonight... don't be a Vanko. Just be mine
He lowered her onto the pile of old blankets they had kept there since they were kids. The air was thick and hot.
Silas(ml)
Took off his shirt. His muscles moved under the dim moonlight filtering through the leaves. He looked at her like he wanted to devour her.
Silas(ml)
Are you sure?” he asked, his voice trembling. “Rhea, if we do this...”
Rhea(fl)
Im coming mom! She let out a shaky, ironic laugh, referencing her old life before this moment. “Shut up and kiss me, Silas.”
The movements were clumsy at first, fueled by alcohol and years of repressed longing. Silas’s hands were everywhere—hot and demanding.
Rhea(fl)
Ah... Silas... wait...” Rhea gasped as he pressed his body against hers.
Silas(ml)
I’ve wanted this since we were fifteen,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear. “Uhh... you’re so beautiful, Rhea.
As they lost themselves in each other, the world outside the treehouse vanished. There was no Ruby, no engagement, no cold-hearted mothers. There was only the sound of their breathing and the rustle of the leaves.
Rhea(fl)
Ah... ahh... Silas, please..
Silas(ml)
I’ve got you,” he groaned, his movements becoming more intense. “Uhh... damn it, Rhea... I love... I..
He didn't finish the sentence, but he didn't have to. In the heat of the moment, the words were written in the way he held her, like she was his only lifeline in a stormy sea.
Rhea(fl)
—cried. But this time, it wasn't from sadness. It was the overwhelming feeling of finally being one with the boy she had loved her entire life.
Rhea(fl)
Ahh... uh... Silas!”
They reached the peak together, collapsing into each other’s arms, sweaty and exhausted. For a few minutes, they just lay there in the silence, listening to the crickets. Silas held her tight, his chin resting on top of her head.
Silas(ml)
We’ll figure it out,” he whispered into her hair. “I’ll find a way to break the engagement. I promise
leave
The morning after the treehouse was cold. Rhea—woke up before the sun was fully out. Her body ached, and her heart felt heavy. She looked at Silas, who was fast asleep, looking peaceful for once. She didn't want to face the "morning after" talk. She didn't want to see the regret in his eyes if he woke up sober.
Rhea(fl)
Went out early. She climbed down the ladder and vanished into the fog, leaving nothing but a lingering scent of her perfume.
When the sun finally hit Silas’s face, he groaned. His head felt like it was being hit by a hammer. The whiskey had done a number on him. He looked around the messy treehouse, seeing the rumpled blankets and the quiet space. His memories were a blur of heat and whispers.
Silas(ml)
Didn’t remember anything. He knew he’d been with Rhea, but the details were drowned in alcohol. He just felt a deep, hollow guilt in his gut.
Two Days Later: The Engagement Party
The Vanko estate was decked out in white roses and expensive champagne. It was the night of the official engagement party for Silas and Ruby.
Silas stood in the center of the ballroom, looking like a king in his dark suit, but he felt like a prisoner. His eyes kept darting to the corner of the room where Rhea stood. She was wearing a simple, dark dress, looking pale.
Silas(ml)
Looking at FL. He wanted to go to her. He wanted to ask her what happened in that treehouse. He tried to move toward her, but every time he did, a business partner or a relative blocked his path
She kept her eyes on her drink, ignoring the way Silas was burning a hole in her side with his gaze. She felt a weird fluttering in her stomach—a nausea she couldn't explain.
Suddenly, the glass doors of the ballroom shattered.
The music stopped. Screams ripped through the air as eight men in black masks stormed in, holding submachine guns.
EVERYONE ON THE GROUND!"
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!
The shooting started. It was chaos. Tables were flipped, and people were falling. Blood stained the white roses.
ml mom
Silas! Save Ruby! Save your fiancée!” Mrs. Vanko screamed, ducking behind a marble pillar.
Ruby was paralyzed with fear in the middle of the dance floor, crying out Silas’s name. But Silas didn't even look at her. His eyes were locked on Rhea, who was trapped near a large window, completely exposed
Silas—didn't try to save her (sister). He didn't care about the merger. He didn't care about the family name. His whole motive was to save Rhea.
Silas(ml)
Rhea! Get down!” Silas roared.
He lunged across the floor, sliding over the polished marble. One of the gunmen turned, aiming directly at Rhea’s chest. The shooter’s finger squeezed the trigger.
Took that (bullet). He threw his body in front of her just as the shot fired. The bullet tore into his shoulder and chest. Silas gasped, the force of the impact throwing him against Rhea.
Rhea(fl)
Silas!” Rhea screamed, catching him as they both tumbled to the floor.
Silas(ml)
“You’re... okay...” Silas whispered, his voice bubbling with blood. Then, his eyes rolled back.
Silas—became unconscious.
The gunmen fled as the estate security finally started firing back. But it was too late. The ballroom was a graveyard. Ruby lay a few feet away, her red dress now soaked in actual blood. She wasn't moving.
Fl sister (Ruby) died.
The silence that followed was worse than the gunfire. Then, the wailing began. Rhea’s parents ran to Ruby’s body, screaming in agony.
Mrs. Vanko crawled out from her hiding spot. She saw her son lying in a pool of blood, cradled by Rhea. She saw her future daughter-in-law dead. Her eyes turned predatory and full of a demonic rage.
Ml mom—came and slapped. The sound of the slap echoed in the quiet room. Rhea’s head snapped to the side, her lip bleeding.
ml mom
You bitch!” Mrs. Vanko hissed, her voice trembling with hate. “This is your fault! You brought those people here! You distracted him! If it wasn't for you, Silas would have saved Ruby! If it wasn't for you, my son wouldn't be dying!
Rhea(fl)
“I didn't do anything!”
ml mom
You are a curse!” Mrs. Vanko turned to Rhea’s parents. “Look at your daughter! One is dead because of her, and the other is a murderer in the making! Get her out of my sight before I have her arrested!”
Rhea looked at her own parents, begging for help. But they were looking at Ruby’s body, then back at Rhea with eyes full of blame.
fl dad
“She’s right,” Rhea’s father said, his voice cold. “You were always the trouble, Rhea. Just... go. Go away.”
Rhea—cried. She looked down at Silas. Please wake up, she thought. Please tell them you chose me. But Silas remained still, his face ghostly white.
ml mom
Get out!” Mrs. Vanko shrieked. “And if you ever come near my son again, I’ll make sure you end up like your sister.”
Rhea—went away. She stumbled out of the mansion, her dress covered in Silas’s blood. She had no money, no sister, and no family left. As she walked toward the train station, the nausea hit her again. She stopped by a trash can and retched.
Rhea—im coming mom! She whispered the words like a broken prayer, but she knew she couldn't go home.
She was alone in the world. And as the doctors worked to save Silas's life, his mother was already leaning over his bed, whispering the first of a thousand lies:
ml mom
"Rhea left you, Silas. She planned the attack to kill Ruby so she could have the money. She ran away the moment you were shot. She never loved you."
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