Tania paced back and forth in her hospital room, her nerves frayed with impatience. Where was Ethan? He had been avoiding her, and the waiting was eating away at her. Every second felt like an eternity. She pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling as she checked her messages. A new text lit up her screen.
Fred: “I’m in town. Derek will be handled soon.”
A wicked smile curled on Tania’s lips. “I’d like to see how brave Ella is without anyone by her side,” she muttered under her breath. If Fred could neutralize Derek, then Ella would lose her most valuable ally. All she had to do was sit back and watch her sister’s world unravel.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. She looked up to see Ethan standing there, his expression unreadable.
“Tania,” he said, his voice soft but distant. “How are you feeling?”
Tania swallowed, masking the irritation she felt. “I’m okay,” she replied, trying to sound composed. “They told me you brought me to the hospital. Thank you for that.”
Ethan nodded, his gaze steady. “The doctor said you fainted from stress. And that you’re pregnant.”
Tania’s heart raced. She knew this conversation was coming, but now that it was here, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She took a deep breath, searching for the right words.
“Ethan, I… I know this is a lot to take in,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “I didn’t expect this either.”
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to think, Tania. Everything feels… so messed up right now.” He turned to her, his eyes filled with uncertainty. “Are you sure this baby is mine?”
Tania felt a pang of fear. She knew the question was coming, but hearing it still stung. “Of course, it’s yours,” she insisted, though the words felt hollow. “I would never lie about something like this.”
Ethan looked away, his jaw tight. “You’ve lied before, Tania. How do I know this isn’t just another one of your games?”
Tania flinched, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn’t afford to lose control now, not when she was so close to regaining power. “I know I’ve made mistakes, Ethan. But this… this is real. I’m carrying your child.”
Ethan’s eyes softened, but the tension between them remained. “We’ll see,” he muttered, stepping back toward the door. “The truth will come out eventually. It always does.” He turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the room.
Tania’s heart sank as the door closed behind him. She had hoped the baby would bring them closer, but now everything felt even more fragile. She glanced down at her phone, Fred’s message still glaring back at her.
She smirked. If Derek was dealt with, she’d still have a chance. One way or another, she would make sure Ella paid for everything.
Ethan walked briskly down the sterile hospital hallway, his footsteps quickening the farther he got from Tania’s room. His mind was a chaotic storm of anger, frustration, and exhaustion. His heart clenched with bitterness at her insistence that the baby was his. Another lie, he thought. He had hoped, even for a brief moment, that she might confess the truth. But Tania, as always, had stuck to her story, manipulating every moment.
Once he was far enough away, Ethan pulled out his phone, taking a deep breath before dialing a familiar number. The call rang twice before Victor picked up.
“Ethan,” Victor’s voice greeted him, calm but with an edge of concern. “How did it go?”
Ethan leaned against the wall, his free hand rubbing his temples in frustration. “You were right,” he said, his voice hoarse with disappointment. “She told me the baby is mine. God, Victor… I thought for once just once she’d come clean. But no, she’s still lying.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Victor responded. “I had a feeling she would,” he said quietly. “Tania’s been playing games for years, Ethan. She knows how to twist the truth to get what she wants.”
Ethan exhaled, his breath shaky. “It’s exhausting. I don’t even know what’s real with her anymore.” He paused, his voice lowering to a whisper.
Victor’s tone remained steady. “First things first we already know the truth, Ethan. Don’t let her manipulate you into believing anything until you have proof.”
Ethan nodded, though Victor couldn’t see him. “You’re right,” he said.
Victor’s voice softened. ” We’ll figure this out. Tania’s trying to trap you, but we’ll make sure she doesn’t succeed.”
Ethan clenched his jaw. He wanted to believe that, but Tania had always found a way to wriggle out of the messes she created. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep playing this game without breaking down.
“Thanks, Victor,” Ethan said after a long pause. “let me know when the divorce papers are ready. In the meantime, just… keep your eyes open, okay? Something feels off, and I can’t shake the feeling that Tania’s planning something bigger than just this baby.”
Victor’s voice turned serious. “I’ll keep my ear to the ground. But you be careful too, Ethan. If Tania’s getting desperate, there’s no telling what she’ll do next.”
Ethan hung up and leaned his head back against the cool wall, his thoughts a tangled web of confusion and doubt. Tania’s lies were suffocating, and he felt as though he was sinking deeper into quicksand every time he spoke to her. He was starting to question if he even knew who she truly was anymore. The woman he thought had once loved, the one he thought he could spend his life with was she still in there, or had she been lost to her deceit long ago?
Back in the hospital room, Tania stared at the closed door, her anger simmering just below the surface. Ethan had left without giving her the reassurance she craved, and that unsettled her. She had hoped the news of the baby would soften him, pull him back to her side, but it seemed her grip on him was slipping.
She picked up her phone again, her fingers hovering over the screen as she debated calling Fred. She needed an update, a sign that things were still going according to plan. Derek was a thorn in her side, and Fred’s message had given her hope that soon, he would be out of the picture.
But her thoughts drifted back to Ethan. The way he had looked at her, the suspicion in his eyes it sent a shiver down her spine. He was slipping away from her, and if she didn’t do something soon, she could lose him for good.
Her hand clenched around the phone as a new thought formed in her mind. If Fred could handle Derek, maybe there was a way to use the baby to cement her control over Ethan. She just needed to play her cards right, wait for the perfect moment.
Tania smirked to herself. She wasn’t done yet. This game was far from over.
With a cold determination, she dialed Fred’s number. As the line connected, she spoke in a low, controlled voice. “Handle Derek. Make sure he can’t interfere anymore. And Fred… keep an eye on Ethan for me. I don’t want any surprises.”
Fred’s laughter echoed through the phone. “Don’t worry, Tania. I’ve got everything under control.”
Tania ended the call and smiled to herself. One way or another, she would win.