When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 67

Julian

I shouted toward the door, "Olivia Bennett! You have one minute to get out here, or you'll regret it!" The news of my sister's pregnancy hit me like a ton of bricks, and fury coursed through my veins.

The door creaked open slowly, and Olivia's voice came out uncharacteristically timid. "Julian..."

When I turned to look at her, I barely recognized my sister. The woman who normally commanded every room she entered now stood there like a scolded child, eyes filled with uncertainty.

Amelia quickly stepped between us, her presence instantly diffusing some of my anger. "We're going to sit down and eat dinner first," she said firmly, grabbing both our arms. "We can talk about this civilly while we eat."

My hard expression softened slightly at her intervention. I allowed myself to be guided to the table, though my jaw remained clenched tight enough to crack walnuts.

When we were all seated, nobody spoke. The only sounds were forks scraping against plates and the occasional clink of water glasses. The weight of unspoken words pressed down on us, making it hard to breathe. Finally, Amelia broke the silence.

"Olivia's situation... the responsibility falls entirely on me," she said firmly, placing her utensils down.

My eyebrows shot up as I lowered my fork. "What are you talking about?"

"Olivia was afraid my father might cause trouble for me, so she accompanied me to his birthday party," Amelia explained, meeting my gaze steadily. "But we were drugged there. We both lost consciousness. I failed to protect her. This is my fault."

My fist clenched involuntarily on the table. "You were drugged?" My voice dropped dangerously low as the implications sank in. "Who did this?"

"We... we don't know for certain," Amelia replied, hesitating slightly.

I couldn't deny it. Instead, I asked softly, "So what about the father?"

Olivia's eyes dropped to her plate. "He doesn't know yet."

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration evident. "So what's your plan? The tabloids will have a field day when they find out America's sweetheart is pregnant."

"I'll handle it," Olivia said with newfound determination. "My career isn't the only thing that matters to me."

I noticed Amelia's uncomfortable silence. "And you? Are you okay? Were you..." I couldn't finish the question, a horrible suspicion forming.

"I'm pregnant too," she said quietly.

The words landed like a bomb in the middle of the dining table. My face went completely blank as my brain struggled to process what I'd just heard.

"What the fuck?" I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Both of you? At the same party?"

Amelia nodded, unable to meet my eyes.

I stood abruptly, needing to escape the suddenly suffocating room. "I need some air."

I walked to the balcony doors, stepping out into the cool night air. I gripped the railing until my knuckles turned white, trying to sort through the emotional hurricane inside me.

Two women I cared deeply about—one my sister, the other the woman I'd secretly loved for years—both pregnant after being drugged at a party. It was almost too much to comprehend.

I heard soft footsteps behind me as Amelia came to stand beside me.

"Julian," she said softly. "I've made my decision. I want this baby."

I turned to look at her, surprise evident in my features.

"This child gives me a chance to have something that's truly mine—blood family," she continued, her voice growing stronger with each word. "For the first time in my life, I'll have someone who is completely mine."

The determination in her voice struck me deeply. I saw the quiet strength that had first drawn me to her all those years ago, and I knew I couldn't stand in her way.

Olivia joined us on the balcony, her shoulder brushing against Amelia's in silent solidarity.

"I'll be going to Boston with Amelia," she announced. "We'll look after each other."

I sighed deeply, gazing out at the city lights. "You're both adults. I can't make these decisions for you." My voice sounded resigned yet supportive. "But Olivia, Mother's reaction..."

"I know," Olivia said quietly.

"I'll handle the arrangements for your temporary withdrawal from Hollywood," I promised. "And I'll approach your manager and Mother carefully. Just give me some time."

After leaving the apartment, I stood alone on the street below, staring up at the night sky. A searing pain shot through my chest as the cruel reality hit me—the woman I loved was pregnant with another man's child.

What was worse, I'd never even had the courage to tell her how I felt. All those years, I'd been waiting for the perfect moment, building my career, waiting for the right time. But now it was too late.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Liam. "I need a place to drink," I said, my voice sounding more exhausted than I'd intended.

An hour later, we sat in the private back room of a high-end bar. The amber liquid in my glass caught the light as I swirled it absently.

"So, she rejected you?" Liam asked, misreading my somber mood.

"No," I shook my head, taking another sip of the expensive whiskey. "It's not what you think."

I needed time to process everything, to find the right words. The alcohol burned down my throat, offering temporary comfort. "She's pregnant," I finally said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

I detailed the night's revelations—the drugging incident, both women pregnant, and their decision to keep the babies. Liam listened in shocked silence, his expression growing more sympathetic with each word.

"This doesn't make sense," he said finally. "I thought you were finally going to tell Amelia how you feel about her."

The whiskey had loosened my tongue, and I found myself speaking from the heart. "She was Olivia's friend from school, you know," I said, staring into my glass. "She was just fifteen when I first realized. It hit me one spring afternoon when she and Olivia were doing homework at our house. The sunlight was streaming through the window, highlighting her face as she concentrated on her book. In that moment, I just knew I was in love with her."

I poured another drink, my hands steady despite the emotional turmoil inside. "This love has stayed with me all these years. I've seen her fight for her dreams, watched her face light up with the most beautiful smile."

"I've been telling you for years not to wait for the perfect moment," Liam said, his voice tinged with regret on my behalf. "Love doesn't need perfect timing. It needs courage."

"I always told myself there would be time," I admitted. "I wanted to wait until her career was established, until she was ready for a relationship, until I could give her everything she deserved. I never imagined I'd lose her before I even had the chance to try."

Liam's expression softened. "Julian, I've said this before—there's no such thing as a perfect time. You've squandered so many opportunities waiting for it."

"And now it's too late," I said, finishing my drink in one swift motion. "She's pregnant. And I... I never even told her how I feel."

The weight of my regret hung heavy in the air between us, punctuated only by the soft clink of ice against glass as I poured another drink to dull the pain of what could have been.

Maybe that child had meant more to her than any love could, and yet, I was still willing to quietly stay in the shadows, watching over her from behind.