# Chapter 3: Two Different Worlds

# Chapter 3: Two Different Worlds (Part 1)

The rain continued to pour outside the hospital.

Elina walked slowly through the empty streets, clutching the medical report tightly in her hands. Her mind was filled with endless questions.

"How am I going to tell my parents?"

"What will everyone think of me?"

"And... who is the father?"

She stopped walking and looked up at the dark sky.

"I don't even remember his face..."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gently placed a hand on her stomach.

"I'm scared... but you're innocent."

"I promise I'll protect you no matter what."

She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.

"I have to be strong."

Meanwhile...

Inside Ashford Group Headquarters, the atmosphere was completely different.

A huge business meeting was taking place on the top floor.

The directors were nervous as Elio sat at the head of the table.

He calmly looked through several important documents.

One director stood up nervously.

"President Ashford, our competitors have offered a better deal than us."

The room became silent.

Everyone waited for Elio's response.

Without even looking up, Elio spoke in a calm voice.

"Buy their company."

Everyone froze.

"W-What?"

"If they become our competitors..."

He closed the file.

"...then they won't be competitors anymore."

The directors looked at each other in shock.

Within minutes, everyone began making phone calls.

That was Elio's style.

Fast.

Smart.

Merciless in business.

His assistant smiled proudly.

"As expected of President Ashford."

After the meeting ended, Elio stood near the large glass window overlooking the city.

For some strange reason...

He couldn't stop thinking about that rainy night three months ago.

A blurry memory appeared in his mind.

A beautiful girl...

Long hair...

A gentle voice saying,

"I'm sorry..."

He frowned.

"Why can't I forget her?"

At that exact moment, his phone rang.

His assistant quickly answered.

"Sir, the evening meeting has been cancelled."

Elio nodded.

"Good."

Because once the sun disappeared...

slowly covered the city.

The lights of Ashford Group went dark one by one as the employees returned home.

But Elio's day was far from over.

He entered a hidden elevator inside his office. The elevator descended deep underground before stopping in front of a steel door.

As the door opened, dozens of armed men immediately stood up.

"Boss."

Every one of them bowed respectfully.

Elio walked past them without saying a word.

He entered a large room where a giant map of the city covered the wall.

His right-hand man, Damian, stepped forward.

"Boss, the Black Viper Gang

Another side of Elio would awaken....

Night slowly covered the city.

The lights of Ashford Group went dark one by one as the employees returned home.

But Elio's day was far from over.

He entered a hidden elevator inside his office. The elevator descended deep underground before stopping in front of a steel door.

As the door opened, dozens of armed men immediately stood up.

"Boss."

Every one of them bowed respectfully.

Elio walked past them without saying a word.

He entered a large room where a giant map of the city covered the wall.

His right-hand man, Damian, stepped forward.

"Boss, the Black Viper Gang has been causing trouble in our territory. They've attacked two of our warehouses."

Elio calmly poured himself a glass of water before looking at the map.

"Any casualties?"

"Only minor injuries."

Elio placed the glass on the table.

"I gave them one warning."

Damian nodded.

"Yes, Boss."

"They ignored it."

The room fell silent.

Elio's cold blue eyes showed no fear.

"Arrange a meeting."

"And if they refuse?"

Elio buttoned his black coat.

"Then they'll learn why no one challenges us."

Everyone answered together.

"Yes, Boss!"

...

Meanwhile...

Elina sat alone in her bedroom.

The pregnancy report was still lying on the desk.

She gently touched her stomach.

"I don't know what our future will be..."

"But I promise I'll never abandon you."

She smiled through her tears.

"No matter what happens, I'll become strong for you."

Suddenly, her phone rang.

It was Sophia.

"Elina! Are you okay? I've been worried about you all day."

"I'm okay..."

"You don't sound okay."

After a few moments of silence, Elina whispered,

"Sophia..."

"I'm pregnant."

Sophia was speechless.

"What...?"

"I don't know who the father is."

She explained everything she remembered about the graduation party.

Sophia listened quietly before saying,

"You don't have to face this alone."

"I'll stay by your side."

Elina couldn't stop crying.

"Thank you..."

For the first time that day...

She didn't feel completely alone.

...

At the same moment...

Elio stood on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse overlooking the city.

The cold wind blew through his hair.

Something inside him felt... empty.

He couldn't explain why.

For months, the image of the mysterious girl from that rainy night had never left his mind.

He didn't know her name.

He didn't know where she lived.

He didn't even know if he would ever see her again.

But somehow...

His heart told him that fate wasn't finished with them yet.

Far away...

A mysterious man watched both Elio and Elina through security photographs spread across a table.

He smiled darkly.

"So..."

"The game is finally beginning."

He closed the file marked with two names.

**ELIO ASHFORD**

**ELINA**

"Neither of you knows the truth..."

"But very soon..."

"You'll both regret that night."

**To Be Continued...**

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