I came downstairs with my small luggage and my gun tucked securely behind my pants. Arthur was already gone—seemed like he had left in a rush. I asked one of the guards what happened, but got no reply. Whatever. I didn't care right now. I just wanted to leave.
A car was waiting outside. Six guards were already positioned in two vehicles flanking mine. I got home and the guards stayed close, hovering. I didn't have the energy to argue. I felt unusually weak—nothing like my usual self.
The moment my body hit the couch, my mind spiraled. How can I be pregnant? I'm a guy. What the hell happened? The question kept looping endlessly in my head.
I woke up to my phone ringing loudly. The screen showed "Boss – Liam."
"Sir?"
"Ben, where are you right now?"
I sat up straight out of habit and respect. "I'm at my place, sir."
"My father sent me a text to check on you. He said you might not be safe."
"I'm very fine, sir… Wait, what!?"
I looked around and realized I was no longer on the couch but in my bed. The house was eerily quiet. Then I heard a loud bang.
"Ben? Ben, listen to me. I'm sending guards right now. Just stay put—"
My hand went to my side. The gun was still there. I pulled it out, stood up slowly, and tiptoed to the door. I opened it carefully and saw blood. Two guards and one of the female house helps lay dead on the floor. The house had been ransacked—furniture overturned, drawers pulled out, as if they were searching for something… or someone.
I moved downstairs cautiously and peered out the window. A car pulled up and unfamiliar guards jumped out. I thought Liam had sent them and felt a wave of relief. I rushed outside—only to be grabbed forcefully and thrown into the trunk of the car.
It dawned on me too late: these weren't Liam's men. They belonged to an enemy.
I heard laughter and a familiar female voice from outside the trunk.
"Hahahahahahaha! Dad's gay, son is gay… hahahahahahaha!"
"My dad is dealing with Arthur, and Liam will be found soon. My brother might already be dead."
It was Tasha. What the hell is happening? I need to warn Liam. A hard kick landed on my belly through the trunk. I nearly screamed. After what felt like an eternity, the car stopped. I was dragged out and hauled into a dark, damp room.
They tied me to a chair. Then Tasha stepped into the light.
"Surprise, surprise, head guard."
"Personal assistant," I spat back.
She slapped me hard across the face. I tasted blood.
"Why are you doing this, Tasha?"
"Doing what?"
"Tasha, you do not want to mess with me—"
"Hahahahaha! Who's tied up? You are."
She smiled like a psychopath. I hated her with every fiber of my being.
Author's POV
Tasha grabbed Ben's hair from behind, yanking his head back forcefully.
"I just want Liam's location so he can come join his stepdad. Hahahahahahaha!"
Her expression twisted into pure rage.
"Where the hell is Liam?!"
"Even if I knew, I would never tell you. I'd rather die."
"And you will."
She punched him square in the nose, then ordered her men to beat him until he talked—or beat him to death.
They made the worst mistake of their lives by untying him. Ben smiled coldly and stretched his arms. Tasha had already left the room. Ben was a trained guard—honed from childhood through rigorous, relentless training. These thugs were nothing.
He exploded into motion, taking them down one by one with precise, brutal strikes. Fists connected with jaws, elbows cracked ribs. But one of them landed a vicious kick directly to his belly. Pain exploded through him. He doubled over, gasping. Before he could recover, the survivors fled.
Ben's POV
I staggered out of the building, vision blurring. I felt something wet on my clothes—not water. I looked down. Blood. My eyes filled with tears. I walked in zigzag patterns until I reached the road and flagged down a taxi.
"Take me to Jeff's apartment."
The driver told me Jeff had gone to his siblings' place. Calls were made. I was redirected there. But before we arrived, everything went black.
I woke up in a clean bed with unfamiliar faces looking down at me. One man wore a white coat—a doctor.
Then I saw Liam. He walked slowly toward me, his expression unreadable—worry mixed with something else.
"He's stable now," the doctor said. "The kick affected part of the womb area, but the little one is fine. Just stressed. Keep him on bed rest and monitor closely."
The doctor left. Liam helped me sit up.
"Sir, I can explain—"
"Yes, you will. But rest first."
"I'm okay, sir. I'm pregnant… and I don't even know how that's possible."
Liam's eyes widened. "How can you be pregnant, Ben…? And whose is it?"
This was the part I wasn't ready for. I pretended to feel a sharp pain and lay back down, avoiding his gaze.
I saw Jeff giggling at the doorway. I wanted to slap that smirk off his face.
I lay there thinking about Arthur. Why hasn't he shown up? Was he hurt? Does Liam already know his dad is responsible for this baby?
I placed my hands gently over my belly and whispered, "I'm sorry I put you through that stress, little one. Daddy was just trying to survive."
As if the baby heard me, I felt faint movements inside—like a tiny flutter of reassurance.
Later that evening, after the doctor left and Liam stepped out to make calls, Jeff's sister Abbey slipped into the room carrying a tray of soup and tea. The 13-year-old model-like girl who had stared at me earlier now looked concerned.
"You look like shit," she said bluntly, setting the tray down. "But Jeff says you're important to him… and to my brother. So eat."
I managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Abbey."
She hovered for a moment, then added softly, "Liam's dad is Arthur, right? The big scary mafia guy? …Is the baby his?"
I froze. She was sharper than she looked.
Before I could answer, Smart poked his head in. "Abbey, stop interrogating the patient." He winked at me. "Welcome to the chaos, Ben. We've got your back."
For the first time in hours, I felt a small sense of safety amid the storm.