The CEO's Regret: You made me your lie, I become your Loss

Amira stepped into the estate with her thoughts in chaos, her composure barely stitched together.

The moment she entered the living room, she saw her. Amara. Sitting there as if nothing had ever been wrong. Like the past few weeks had never happened.

There was a glow about her, soft, effortless, radiant in a way that didn’t come from makeup or rest. It came from something deeper.

Something real. And it made Amira’s stomach twist. "Amara," she said, forcing brightness into her voice as she walked over and sat beside her. "You look so... different lately." Amara turned to her, smiling warmly, open, unguarded. "So happy." The words lingered. Amira swallowed.

"I was thinking," she continued quickly, her fingers fidgeting slightly in her lap before she forced them still, "since we’re both trying to be healthier, I bought these new high-tech wellness tests. They check your hormones, vitamin levels everything." She let out a small, light laugh, trying to make it sound casual. "I thought we could do them together. A little ’health morning’?"

Amara laughed softly, leaning back into the plush cushions, completely at ease.

"You and your gadgets, Amira," she teased, shaking her head. There was no suspicion in her voice. No hesitation. Just affection.

"But honestly?" she added, her smile softening as her gaze drifted for a second somewhere distant, somewhere private. "I don’t need a test to tell me how I feel."

She exhaled lightly, almost like she was savoring the moment.

"I feel incredible," she said. The words hit harder than they should have. "Julian and I have never been better."

Amira’s chest tightened. Her smile faltered just for a fraction of a second before she forced it back into place. "Incredible," she echoed faintly.

Amara didn’t notice. Or maybe she did, but chose not to question it. There was a pause. A quiet, fragile pause.

Then...Amara’s hand moved. Almost unconsciously. Resting lightly against her stomach. The gesture was small. Subtle. Instinctive. But to Amira. It was everything. Her breath caught.

Her eyes locked onto that single movement, panic flashing through them before she could stop it. Her mind raced instantly, pieces clicking together in the worst possible way.

Amira’s pulse quickened.

"Amara..." she said slowly, her voice just slightly tighter now. "Have you... noticed anything else? I mean, any changes? Physically?" Amara blinked, looking back at her, slightly puzzled.

"Changes?" she repeated. Amira forced a casual shrug, though her fingers curled tightly into the fabric of the couch.

"You know... just checking. Since you said you feel so good." Amara smiled again, softer this time.

"I just feel... lighter," she admitted. "At peace." Her hand remained where it was.

Unmoving. Natural. Amira looked away quickly, her heart hammering in her chest. Then everything was about to spiral beyond her control.

Amara’s voice dropped to a whisper, careful and deliberate, as she stirred her ice cream lazily.

"Actually," she said, almost to herself, "I think your ’miracle doctor’ might have been onto something even if I didn’t go back. I’ve... missed my period, Amira. I think I’m already there. I haven’t confirmed it yet, but I will. Don’t ask me when; I just want to take my time and be ready for anything."

Amira’s breath caught, and she instinctively placed a hand on her chest. Her mind raced, heart hammering, but she forced herself to speak.

"Amara, you need to be certain. This is good news. Take the test now," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"I’ve told you," Amara said, her tone firm but calm. "I don’t want to rush it, sister. You know how much this means to me. I want to wait."

Amira’s fingers flexed slightly, caught between worry and frustration.

Amara continued, as if reading her thoughts: "And since the company issue is resolved, your project will be approved. I’ll call the lawyers to authorize your signature, so you don’t have to come to me regarding money for the Foundation." She took a deliberate bite of her ice cream, savoring it.

"Wait..okay," Amira said, exhaling slowly, her panic easing slightly. "But you don’t have to call the lawyers. Everything is fine as it is, you know how I am with money."

Amara’s gaze flicked briefly toward her, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Amira couldn’t risk Amara finding out about the clauses in the will until Sebastian had changed them.

"Well, let me know when you change your mind," Amara said lightly, finishing her ice cream and standing. With a graceful turn, she walked away, leaving Amira staring after her, mind racing with possibilities and a growing sense that control was slipping through her fingers.

Amira felt the world tilt. Amara was pregnant. But the question that now haunted the halls of the Pedro mansion was one that could destroy them all. Was it the miracle Sebastian planted in the dark? Or was it the child Julian conceived in love just days later?

—-

Amira paced the length of the kitchen like a caged thought that refused to settle.

Back and forth.

Bare feet against the cold tiles.

Fingers knotted together, then undone, then knotted again.

The kettle had long gone silent, yet she hadn’t noticed. The air carried a stillness that felt too loud, too heavy, like something unseen was watching her unravel.

She stopped for a second, bracing her palms against the edge of the counter, head lowered.

Amara was pregnant.

The words didn’t just sit in her mind; they echoed. They stretched, twisted, multiplied into things far worse than their original meaning.

Amara... pregnant. A sharp breath escaped her lips.

And suddenly, it wasn’t just news anymore. It was dangerous.

Amira pushed herself upright again, resuming her restless pacing. Her thoughts spiraled, each one darker than the last, each one more unforgiving.

What if...No.

What if Sebastian finds a way to twist this?

Her stomach tightened.

Sebastian didn’t need much. One whisper. One planted doubt. One carefully crafted lie and everything would fall apart.

Julian would believe it. Of course, he would.

The image formed too quickly in her mind, too clearly. Julian was standing there, eyes hardened, voice distant... looking at Amara like she had become a stranger overnight.

Like she had betrayed him. Amira’s chest tightened. What if he thinks the baby isn’t his?

What if... Her steps slowed.

What if he believes Amara is still in love with Sebastian? That thought hit differently. Sharper. Colder.

It lingered.

Because it was the kind of lie that didn’t need proof, only suspicion. And suspicion... spreads.

Amira swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.

Or maybe... Her eyes fluttered shut, as if she could hide from her own thoughts.

Maybe heaven will be merciful.

Maybe the baby will be Julian’s.

Maybe... just maybe... everything Amira had done, every mistake, every shadow would stay buried where no one could ever find it.

Hidden. Forgotten. Safe. A shaky breath left her.

But even as the thought tried to comfort her, it felt fragile. Unreal. Like glass waiting to shatter.

Because Sebastian existed. And Sebastian never let things stay buried.

The phone in her hand felt heavier than it should.

Amira stared at the screen for a long moment, her reflection faintly staring back at her eyes, tired, uncertain... afraid. Then finally, she typed.

Her fingers hesitated only once. She won’t take the test.

A pause.

I tried... but I’m not pushing her. Not now. She’ll start suspecting something. It’s already messed up enough.

She read it twice.

Then hit send.

The reply came faster than she expected.

Of course it did.

Sebastian never hesitated.

Her phone buzzed sharply in her hand, the sound cutting through the quiet like a blade.

She opened the message.

And immediately, her jaw tightened.

A curse.

Cold. Careless. Exactly like him.

Amira could almost hear his voice, low, irritated, laced with that same arrogance he never bothered to hide.

Then the next message followed.

I’ll handle the rest.

Her heart sank.

Handle it?

Her fingers curled slightly around the phone.

That never meant anything good.

Another message appeared.

Now, let’s hope you can get this simple job done. Focus on your engagement party with Leo tomorrow.

Amira blinked.

For a moment, she thought she was hearing or seeing things that he would go as far as using her engagement to set up a meeting.

The engagement. Now she has to carefully plan smiles and laughter with the perfect illusion of a perfect future.

It all felt... distant now. Unreal. Like it belonged to someone else.

The final message came in. Make sure Amara is there

A pause.

I’ll take care of the rest.

Silence fell again.

But it didn’t feel quiet anymore.

It felt... dangerous.

Amira lowered the phone slowly, her grip loosening as something cold settled deep in her chest.

Because she knew Sebastian. And when he said he would "take care of it," It never meant fixing anything.

It meant destroying something else to make it work.

And this time... She had a sinking feeling. It wouldn’t just be Amara who paid the price.