~ LIORA'S HOUSE ~The silence was anything but peaceful. The only sound filling the small room was the frantic tapping of her heels against the floor as she paced back and forth like a storm waiting to break.

Her damp hair was still half-tied from her shower earlier, and her oversized robe clung loosely to her frame, doing little to hide the panic clawing beneath her skin.

Jojo sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on the small stick in her hands. She was still in her jacket, clearly having just arrived but already swept into the chaos.

"Girl, you're making me dizzy," Jojo muttered, her head tilting as she followed Liora’s movement from one corner of the room to the other.

"I can't calm down, Jo." Liora’s voice cracked, her fingers trembling as she ran them through her tangled hair. Her breath came in sharp bursts, as if the walls were closing in.

Jojo let out a soft exhale, glanced at the test again, and said with uncomfortable finality, "Well... it's positive."

"No..." Liora backed away like the word itself had pushed her. Her legs gave out and she collapsed onto the bed beside Jojo, burying her face in her hands. "How is this possible? I can't get pregnant! Not like this... and certainly not with the nature of my job."

Her voice was cracked, humiliated, terrified, and lost.

Jojo blinked, piecing it together too quickly for comfort. Her brows drew together. "Don’t tell me... the father is Troy?!"

Liora lifted her head slowly. Her face was pale, her eyes glassy. She shook her head, lips parting as her voice came out low. “Even worse... I don’t know who he is.”

Jojo’s jaw dropped. Her eyes widened as she almost dropped the test in her lap.

“Liora!!!”

“I was drunk and I slept with a guy at the club. How would I know it’d result in this?” Liora cried out, standing back up and pacing again as her voice broke with frustration.

Jojo's hands flew to her head. “Jesus Christ, girl!! You don’t even have a clue who he is?”

“I don’t… I…” Liora’s voice trailed off, her eyes suddenly flicking as if her mind had hit something. “Wait.”

She rushed to her drawer, rummaging through crumpled receipts and makeup bags until she pulled out the sleek red card. It shimmered slightly in the light. She held it up and showed Jojo.

“This. He dropped it in the room that night. I didn’t think much of it before, but…”

Jojo squinted. “Skyhigh Suites?”

Liora nodded quickly. “If he stayed at the hotel… or maybe he owns it… then I might just get lucky figuring out who he is.”

Jojo’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “That’s not just any hotel, Liora. That’s five-star Ultra-elite. Are you telling me the guy you slept with might be loaded?”

“I don’t care about that!” Liora snapped, then lowered her tone. “I just want to know who he is. I deserve to know.”

Jojo stood. “Then what are we waiting for?”

Liora met her gaze, anxiety buzzing beneath her skin. They exchanged a nod.

Liora quickly changed her clothes as they strolled out if the house.

°°°°

~ SKYHIGH SUITES~

The lobby of Skyhigh Suites was a breathtaking display of marble floors, gold-trimmed decor, and glass chandeliers dripping elegance. The scent of fresh lilies floated in the air, and the subtle hum of classical music filled the space. People in suits moved about, staff perfectly poised behind sleek counters.

Liora and Jojo stepped in, both trying not to look too out of place. Jojo nudged her. “Girl, this place screams money.”

They approached the front desk, where a polished receptionist gave them a rehearsed smile.

“Welcome to Skyhigh Suites,” she greeted sweetly. “Are you checking in?”

“Actually…” Liora fished into her bag and pulled out the red card. “I’m trying to find someone.”

The receptionist’s smile faltered the moment her eyes landed on the card. Her fingers hesitated midair, and a small gasp slipped before she quickly masked it.

Liora noticed. “Is… he one of your guests? Or does he work here?”

The receptionist looked visibly uneasy, then gave a short, polite smile. “One moment, please.”

She pressed a silent button under the desk and picked up a line. “Sir… can you please come to the lobby..”

Liora’s brows furrowed. She glanced at Jojo, who leaned in. “Why do I feel like we just triggered something?”

The receptionist set down the phone and looked up, her tone now extra cautious. “Please have a seat. The boss has been notified.”

A few moments later, a man in a black suit stepped out from the staff hallway and approached them. He looked official—probably the head of workers, carrying a tablet and a calm but firm expression.

“Good afternoon,” he said. “I was told you needed assistance?”

Liora took a small breath and held out the red card. “Yes. I really need to find the owner of this. It’s important.”

The man glanced at it briefly. His face remained unreadable. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we don’t give out guest information. It’s hotel policy.”

Liora's brows drew together. “Please... I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t serious. I just need to know if the person who owns this card stayed here or not.”

Jojo stepped in. “We’re not trying to cause problems, but this is really important. Just a name, or maybe a clue—anything.”

The man shook his head slowly. “I understand, but we can't share any details. It’s against confidentiality regulations.”

Liora's hands tightened around the card. Her heart sank.

He gave a polite nod. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

The man turned and walked away, leaving Liora and Jojo standing at the front desk with frustration bubbling in their chests.

Jojo leaned close and muttered, “That man knows something. Did you see how stiff he got when he looked at the card?”

Liora didn’t answer. Her eyes were still fixed on the hallway he disappeared into.

“He knows,” she whispered. “And whoever this man is… he’s someone I’m not supposed to find easily.”

Liora turned to them.

“You want to know why I’m really here?” Liora’s voice rose, sharp and shaky. Her hands trembled as she clutched the red card. “Because the man who owns this—he got me pregnant!”

The receptionist froze. A couple of guests in the lobby looked over curiously.

“I don’t know his name. I don’t know anything about him,” she went on, breath ragged, “except that we had a night, I got pregnant, and now I’m here—begging—to find him. He needs to take responsibility!”

“Ma’am—please lower your voice,” the man said with forced calm. “This is a public—”

“No! I’m not leaving until you tell me who he is!” Liora snapped. “I will scream this place down if I have to!”

Jojo placed a hand on her arm, trying to steady her, but Liora shook it off, stepping forward defiantly. “ I have a right to know who he is and you—you’re protecting him?”

The man exchanged a look with the receptionist before sighing heavily and pulling out a walkie-talkie. “Security to reception.”

“Don’t you dare,” Jojo warned, stepping in front of Liora, but it was too late.

Moments later, two suited security men walked in briskly.

“Please escort these ladies out,” the man ordered.

Liora tried to resist as one of the guards grabbed her arm. “Let go of me! He got me pregnant! I’m not making this up!”

Jojo began yelling, slapping the arm of one of the guards dragging Liora away. “Don’t touch her like that, you pigs!”

Guests were now openly staring.

“Let me go! Let me go!” Liora screamed as they pulled her toward the glass doors. Her heels scraped against the floor, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m not leaving without a name!”

But the doors slammed behind her, cutting her off completely. Inside, behind the tinted lobby glass, the man stared down at the red card still burning in his mind—his jaw clenched, expression unreadable.

“Inform Mr Callahan's PA.” He said to the receptionist and she nodded firmly.

°°°°

~PARIS~

The soft clatter of china echoed through the elegant dining room as Marie moved gracefully around the long glass table, dishing food onto Jace’s plate as if he were still a child. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, but there was a chill in the air—and in Jace’s eyes.

“Eat up,” she said simply, setting the serving spoon down and smoothing her apron.

“Thanks,” Jace murmured, barely glancing at the food.

Marie pulled out a seat across from him and sat down with a sigh, folding her hands.

“I spoke to Cole this morning,” she began. “He said he came here last night and you were looking like death ran over you twice.”

Jace didn’t respond. He poked at the edge of the plate with his fork.

Marie tilted her head, watching him carefully. “You need to stop punishing yourself. Whatever happened… it’s not your fault.”

Jace let out a humorless breath. “It feels like it is.”

“You act so tough,” Marie said, lifting her glass. “And yet here you are sulking like a boy who lost his toy.”

“Can you stop babying me for once?” Jace snapped, finally looking up.

She set the glass down with a clink. “Then stop acting like one.”

Silence passed between them, thick as smoke.

“You don’t want to talk about it, fine. But don’t sit there blaming yourself for things you can’t change,” she said, her voice firmer now. “Whatever this is about—handle it. Grow up, Jace. Be a real man.”

Jace stared at her. He shook his head and continued eating. Jace’s phone vibrated on the table.

He checked the screen—unknown number.

He answered, “Yes?”

A man’s voice crackled through the line, tense and formal. “Mr. Callahan, this is the manager from Skyhigh. We had an incident this morning. A woman came in, claiming she was impregnated by you. She—she created quite the scene.”

Jace’s expression darkened instantly.

“She said she found a red suite card in the room,” the manager continued, clearly nervous. “Sir, she’s insisting you’re the father.”

He didn’t say another word. He just ended the call. He dialed again and ole picked up on the first ring.

“Get to the hotel we stayed in last month. Skyhigh Suites, New York,” Jace said coldly. “Some woman showed up claiming I got her pregnant. Find out who the hell she is.”

“What—?”

“Now, Cole.”

He hung up.

Marie walked back to the dining from the kitchen and raised an eyebrow from across the table, as she sat down “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah,” Jace muttered, pushing the plate toward her. “Just eat.”

Marie watched him for a moment, clearly unconvinced, but she said nothing more.

She picked up her fork and dug into the food, while Jace sat back, one hand still gripping his phone like it might burn through his skin.

°°°°

~~

Liora leaned against the side of the convenience store, her eyes distant as cars and people passed by without a care in the world. The faint buzz of city life carried in the background—too loud for her mood, too bright for how dark everything suddenly felt.

Jojo came out, unscrewing a cold bottle of water and handing it over without a word.

Liora took it, gulping down more than half in one go before finally exhaling like she’d just surfaced from underwater. Her hands were shaking slightly. She hated it.

“What are you gonna do now?” Jojo asked gently, watching her with cautious eyes.

Liora wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and let the bottle hang loosely at her side. “Jojo, I really don’t know,” she whispered. “I don’t know how to raise this child. What about work? My hours, the places I go… my whole life isn’t built for this. I’m not cut out to be a parent at all.”

Jojo didn’t respond right away. She just leaned against the wall next to her and stared out into the street.

“But you don’t have a choice,” she finally said. “It’s not like you can pretend this isn’t real.”

“Oh, I have a choice,” Liora snapped bitterly. “I can just abort the baby.”