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I glared at him from across the room, keeping my hatred and resentment settled on him when he was unaffectedly kept shoving food in his mouth, the food that I made. Ignoring my presence like a deadly plague he kept on munching and scrolling through his phone, how I would pay anything to see him choke on 'my' lasagna right now.

Apparently, he had taken the meaning of 'use your hands' to another level and very kindly provided me with a suitable chore, making food for both of us, and surprisingly I got to know this ordinance just fifteen minutes ago when I was already done preparing the meal for one, me.

And guess what my loving fiáncee has to say about it.

"Oh well, how about I eat this one while you go prepare another for yourself?"

Before I could even retaliate upon how I was the one to put my hard work into it, it was gone, poof! Just like that! I thought he would at least have the decency to share it with me but he like a snap dog was going on and on.

My stomach grumbled in retribution as I saw him eating the last bit of it, I closed my eyes while tightly clutching my stomach to stop it from exposing me. I glared at him when he turned to me.

"Where is Mary?" His eyebrows furrowed together at my question and I expectedly stared at him for an answer.

"Mary-who?" He questioned confusedly making me intensify my glare at him.

"Bloody Mary!-" I huffed in frustration, "you idiot the maid you hired" I finished standing from the couch and striding towards him, recognition flashed on his face at my words.

"I fired her," he shrugged.

'That's it! Hit him with a belt, use the rounding technique' my conscience spatted in irritation and I instantly agreed with her on this.

"Why would you do that?!" I asked exaggerated.

"She was-expensive?" He said but it sounded more like a question.

"Of all the dilemmas, you use this one to show your misery? Who's going to cook now?!"

"You will,"

"I will not,"

"Come on baby, it's only for weekends," I glared at him for using the weekend card on me

"I. Will. Not. Cook. For. You." I spatted each word significantly out for him and he dared to look sad and pout in return.

"But I like your cooking,"

"How sad, I will only cook for someone I want to, not for someone who wants me to,"

"Ok, how about I cook on Saturdays and you on Sundays?" He suggested with sparkles in his eyes while I glared at him, he was just a little shorter than me while sitting on his chair.

"No."

He nodded thoughtfully, glancing at me and disputing again."Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?"

"No."

I folded my hand on my chest to make him see that I wasn't going to waver from my decision, he frowned looking down at his sweats then at me. I frowned as well, my eyes widened a little at his gesture.

"Oh hell no, Don't even think about it! I'll chop it off and feed it to the pigs!"

He glanced at me confusedly while slowly pulling out my phone from his sweats, a permanent perplexed look plastered on his face, I facepalmed myself internally for thinking anything else and jumping to conclusions.

"I was going to say I have your phone but that can work too," his lips twisted into a smirk as he understood what I was talking about, I blushed while stepping back to create a decent distance between us.

I pulled myself together and glared at him again, "Why do you have my phone?!"

"I was kinda curious about the pics you keep using to threaten me, so I told Luke to get it repaired," he completed and I started at him relaxed.

There were no pics.

Not naked ones at least, I couldn't risk it if someone hacked into my phone, which was too often, but the male in front of me didn't know that.

"Go ahead. You're my fiáncee after all, you have every right to see them," I permitted him while casually plopping down on one of the chairs of the dining table, he eyed me for a while and softly muttered

"I was expecting something dramatic." I ignored him while longingly staring at the once full plate.

He opened my phone with ease, of course, he changed the password, scrolling through the gallery for something while I casually examined my nails. His frown continued intensifying as he reached the end of it pretty quickly.

"Why is it up to only seven months later,"

"That's because this is my-" I counted on my fingers before answering in a bored tone, "-eighth phone, my real one which has everything in it is somewhere place safe, turned off and without any sim card, so good luck finding anything,"

He glared at me and I smiled back, huffing exaggeratedly and standing from my seat.

"As I said, I will not cook for you. Find yourself a maid, Mr billionaire.-" I turned to go and prepare something for myself but I remembered something, swiftly turning around I snatched my phone out of his hand, smiling and simply stating, "-this is mine, thank you,"

•

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I stared at Xavier and he stared right back, his eyes were stuck on me causing me to squint my eyes at him, I slowly placed the bite in my mouth, my hands busy in plucking the chappati.

I was in the mood of Indian.

"What are looking at?" I inquired accusingly and he smiled, raising his eyebrow to gesture towards my plate, I smiled tauntingly back before slowly placing another bite in my mouth.

"You ain't getting none, you already ate the lasagna I prepared,"

"But I didn't know you would make Indian now, otherwise I would've waited for it," he stated like it was my fault that he missed the opportunity of eating Indian food.

"Order for yo-" I was interrupted by my phone ringing, I glanced at it to see Diya calling, I was up and near the basin in seconds, hurriedly washing my hands and receiving the call.

I excused myself away from Xavier, going out to the swimming pool and settling on one of the seats, listening to her breathing heavily over the phone, my brows furrowed in worry, she was calling after whole two days and that too without being her loud self, something was wrong.

"What happened Diya?" I asked softly, anticipating a smug reply but all I heard from her was a silent whisper as an answer.

"Nothing," I wasn't convinced, something was up and she was hiding it.

"Where are you?"

After a little while, she answered hesitantly, "At my penthouse," so that's why she didn't come home on Friday.

"Well, then when are you coming back? I will be back tomorrow morning, should I go to my apartment or your penthouse?" I questioned, no way in hell I was leaving her alone when she was sounding so down, I was about to say something again when I heard soft sniffles from her side.

"Diya? Are you okay?"

She sobbed and I could bet she shook her head in defiance before answering, "No,"

"Hey...Don't cry bae, I'm here for you, you can tell me what happened," it was rare to see her crying and it only happened in wild cases.

"Can you-Can you c-come here?" She sniffled and my brows furrowed together in worry.

"Of course," I comforted her, already standing up from my seat and rushing towards my room only to see Xavier licking his fingers, his eyes snapped at me just as I entered, widening at getting caught in 4k but I didn't give him any mind.

"I'll be there soon, wait for me," I said into the phone and ended the call, swiftly turning to see Xavier scowling at me, he stood up from his seat, hurriedly washing his hands and coming to me. I was about to rush upstairs when he grabbed my wrist, turning around I saw him worriedly staring at me.

"I need to go," I stated looking into his eyes, his grip tightened, I glanced down at his hand before gazing at him.

"But weekends aren't over," he rasped, his eyes wandering over my face in confusion, looking for answers, I huffed before yanking his hand off of me, his face turned sad at my reaction before his rude demeanour jumped right back.

"I'm going," I turned around and ascended the stairs, his footsteps resonating behind me in anger, I rushed before he could catch up with me, entering my room, banging the door shut on his face and locking it.

"Shana! Open the door!" He banged on the door but I ignored him, hurriedly changing from my sweats to black jeans with a white crop top, packing my stuff in a bag and grabbing my phone before opening the door, his hand was in the air, ready to knock again. Swiftly ignoring him I tried to walk past him.

But the keyword being 'tried'.

He clutched my shoulders in a tight grip, pushing me back into the room roughly resulting in my bag slipping through my hands and landing on the floor, I stumbled back when I tripped due to the bag and his push, falling onto the bed with him hovering over me.

I struggled to get him off of me but he fought my hands down, I managed to free one of my hands and slapped him right across the face, his head jerked left from the force, he closed his eyes and clenched his jaw while I staggeringly inhaled to keep myself from panting, I was heaving underneath him, he looked towards me, his golden-brown eyes raging in anger.

"You are not going anywhere!" He snarled and I struggled against him, he constantly tried to hold me down but we both knew this was futile and I will go.

"Stop struggling!" He yelled once again and I huffed back in irritation.

"Let me go,"

"No,"

We stilled while glaring at each other's stubborn selves, I huffed in frustration, this wasn't going anywhere, I stopped struggling and stilled underneath like a log, his hands were gripping my wrists while he was still hovering over me.

When I didn't make any attempt to retaliate, he glared at me before slowly whispering, "I'm going to let you go now but if you try to run off then I'll strap you to my bed for the rest of the day,"

"Oh, I'm so scared," I retorted sarcastically, rolling my eyes for an extra theatrical impression but it only made him even furious, he leaned closer to me until his face was centimetres away causing me to tremble when his hot breath flowed over my lips.

"You should be," his husky voice sent shivers down my spine, his threat sounded genuine so I instantly shut my mouth up, I need to do to Diya and I was hundred per cent sure I couldn't do that when I will be strapped to his bed.

"Where were you going to?"

Silence.

He sighed, passing a hand through his hair, removing his grip from my hands but still sitting on me, careful to not leave his weight on me.

"Is it important?"

I nodded my head, pouting at him when he didn't make any move to get up, he stared at me in confusion for a while before huffing defeatedly and getting off of me, "I'm coming with you."

"No," I instantly declined his order, attaining a sitting position beside him on the bed.

"Fine, then we don't go at all," he finalised while glaring at me, gosh sorry Noah, now I understand what you feel when I order you around, I'll never do that again.

"Fine," I spitted out through clenched teeth, hoping he would drop dead somewhere and leave me alone.

"I'll be back," he stated, pointing his finger at me gesturing to stay where I am, nodding my head I agreed to wait for him, he hesitantly exited my room and entered his, shutting the door behind him. I rushed out with my bag as soon as he closed his door, leaving the phone to avoid being tracked by him, slowly passing his room and then sprinting all the way to the front door.

After hiding my bag near the front door, I opened the front door to look for Luke but he wasn't there, instead, another man whose name I didn't know turned his attention to me upon noticing me.

"Is there any problem Ms Rajput?" He asked monotonously.

"Yeah, Xavier is looking for Luke," he nodded while informing that he was in charge in Luke's absence, I nodded my head while letting him enter, giving him directions to Xavier's bedroom, I waited for him to go away, acting like I was closing the door, when he was finally out of sight, I grabbed my bag and walked out of his penthouse, careful to not let it look like I was sneaking out otherwise the queue of bodyguards would have hurled on me.

I glanced at my watch to see that it was full four minutes since he entered his bedroom, he would be out anytime, I calmly turned around the corner and broke into a run to the elevators, getting inside and soon it started descending, I wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans before hurriedly tying my hair in a bun, draping a black jacket over my white crop top and wearing my glasses, changing my heels to red stilettos and pack the nude one in the bag.

The elevator opened on the ground floor and I exited smoothly carrying my bag and striding towards the entrance, I heard one of the receptionists talking on the phone about me wearing a white crop top and all that appearance stuff, I smirked knowingly and easily passed him to exit the building.

Hailing a cab I told the driver the address to Diya's penthouse building, and soon I was out of there, well that was easy.

•

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I stepped out of the elevators, waving the little girl farewell who was bold enough to call me pretty, her mother smiled at me and I did the same before the door closed, turning around I walked in the direction of Diya's penthouse, it was pin-drop silence in there and no one could be heard.

I knocked on her door, once, twice, thrice, when at last the door opened slowly with a messed up Diya on the other side, her eyes were puffy and red while her hoddie covered hands clutched an ice cream tub tightly in a death grip.

She sobbed loudly upon noticing me, placing the ice cream aside and slowly engulfing me in a tight hug, her height somehow seeming smaller than mine, I shockingly clutched her closer to me while saying in a slightly joking tone.

"Did someone hit you on your head or you finally understood the idea of showing affection,"

And guess what?

She started crying even louder, I panicked in her embrace, she slowly separated from me and grabbed her ice cream once again before leaving me at the door and walking inside. I hurriedly welcomed myself in and closed the door behind me, rushing behind her only to see her house upside down, food packages lying here and there, her clothes hurled everywhere while she slumped on the couch yet again.

"I-I don't l-like people b-being sloppy w-when there's no ne-need," she sniffled while binging titanic on her TV, I frowned at her choice of movie, why would she watch titanic when she was already weeping sea in here.

"So-what's up?" I asked hesitantly, clearing a spot for myself on the couch and settling lazily as well, staring at jack helping Rose on the plank, I turned my gaze away before I get frustrated with Rose's dumbness yet again, Diya beside me was crying while slowly licking her spoon clear of vanilla ice cream.

I rubbed my forehead, grabbing the orange juice that was placed on the table, no wine, impressive. I gulped it down, knowing very well that I won't be getting any coffee here, certainly not at this moment.

"I'm pregnant," I choked.

She's pregnant?!! My inner voice panicked.

I violently coughed to save myself from dying because of choking on orange juice, her eyes were focused on TV as Jack finally drowned, she started crying loudly all over again, not even minding her best friend choking to death beside her, I dabbed my chest in hope of some relief and after some time, I felt a little better.

"Don't joke like that when someone is drinking something, or I swear I'll charge a murder case on you!!" I snarled, gently patting my jacket to get rid of the orange juice on it, thank God my jacket was zipped otherwise my white top had been deceased.

She passed me papers and I frowned before hastily removing my jacket and taking them from her.

"Diya shikhawat," I read out loud the name of the subordinate. I fretted as soon as I realized it was her reports, hurriedly reading the rest of the reports and sure enough it was written clearly that she was pregnant. Papers slipped through my fingertips.

She really is pregnant?!" My inner voice yelled once again.

But how? When? Why?

The f*ck?!

Wait for a second, wait-what?

"You're pregnant with what?" I asked, seriously staring at her for an answer, but she, in turn, glared at me. I opened my mouth to say something but closed it when her piercing gaze clashed with mine.

"Of all the instances you choose this one to be an idiot?" She asked glaring at me and I nodded my head meekly, my mind was still grasping the situation that she was carrying a life inside that slim stomach of hers.

We were silent for a while before I smiled and glanced at her excitedly, "I'm going to be an Aunt,"

She didn't reply, instead just kept staring at the ending of the movie voidly, when she didn't reply I turned serious as well, hundreds of questions rushing through my mind like sea waves.

"Does Vladimir know?" I asked softly only to make her turn to me confusedly.

"Why would he know about my pregnancy?" She asked perplexed, I stared at her indifferently, trying my best to not hit a pregnant woman.

"Well, how about him being the father, I'm sure he would like to know about his child," I explained softly only to get hit by a pillow on my face squarely, I squinted my eyes as she started giving me tantrums about how I think she is a whore.

"How could you even think that?! You know we ended things, I'm not a whore who will sleep around with anyone, I thought you'd help me but here you are taunting me!" She gave a long lecture while I silently listened to her, rubbing my face in between only to be scolded by her to listen to her, nodding my head I once again focused on her.

She continued her scolding and I meekly suggested once again, "But I think you should tell Vladimir, he's the father after all,"

"No, You idiot! Aiden is!" She yelled and I literally stopped breathing, she stood up while panting heavily and then plopped down again, clutching her face in her hands and starting bawling her eyes out once again.

Oh my God.

"Does he know?"

"No," she whispered and I nodded.

"You should tell him," I suggested and she gazed at me helplessly, tears trailing down her red cheeks, her palms continuously wiping off the tears which weren't stopping at all.