Beneath the Cold Contract (eBook)

A Single Triplet Mother's Marriage Contract

Becca Jiri (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
245 Seiten
Publishdrive (Verlag)
978-0-00-097826-4 (ISBN)

Infos

'My children don't need someone who doubts them before they're even born. I'll raise them. On my own.'
'You can't fix something you shattered, Kane. Not with apologies, not with test results. This....is over.'
The relationship between Kane and Caroline crumbled due to betrayal and the revelation of her pregnancy.
When a DNA test confirmed Kane as the father of Caroline's triplets, the trust between them had already shattered.
Caroline resolved to raise the children alone, while Kane struggled with regret and responsibility.
Meanwhile, Kane's brother Kelly secretly plotted to seize power, and Reynolds-
the head of the experimental facility that once tormented Kane-escaped from prison, becoming Kane's recurring nightmare--he kidnapped Caroline.
Will Kane succeed in rescuing Caroline?
Can they reconcile and leave the past behind?
Will Caroline's triplets safely come into the world?

Book 2

Textauszug

Chapter 41

Kane's POV

“When done correctly… and this one was, we’re talking over 99.99% accuracy for paternity testing. The technology’s precise and the results are rarely wrong. You’ll have your answer accurately.”

“Alright. Hit me.” I gave a stiff nod. 

The doctor cleared his throat and opened the envelope. He stared at the paper so intensely. 

What did it say? I couldn't believe that I was the one worried about some result. 

Then he looked up and smiled. “Mr Kane Brown, the results show that your DNA matches the paternity test 99.9%, you're definitely the real father.”

Caroline heaved a huge sigh. I turned to her expecting her to say something. 

But she didn't even look in my direction. 

I was the father of unborn triplets and I had broken their mother with my own words.

I felt the whole world collapse around me. 

I didn't know whether I should be excited or worried.

I felt like a sailor lost in the sea of decisions.

Excited about the fact I was becoming a father or worried about the fact that Caroline might never want my children to have anything to do with me. 

I reached for her hand instinctively, but she pulled away before I could even graze her fingers.

"Caroline, please," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “Can we talk?”

She stood up, wrapping her arms around herself like she was holding her broken pieces together. Her eyes stayed locked on the floor.

“There’s nothing left to say,” she said flatly. “I’ve made up my mind.”

“Made up your mind?” I stepped forward. “Caroline, those are our kids. I want to be part of their lives.”

She looked at me then finally but it wasn’t the soft gaze I was used to. Her eyes were cold, distant, like a door was slammed shut and I was on the wrong side of it.

“You should’ve thought about that before you accused me. Before you called me a liar. Before you made me feel like nothing,” she snapped, her voice trembling.

I opened my mouth, but no words came. She was right. Every single word cut like a blade because it was the truth.

“I don’t need you,” she continued, her voice growing steadier with each word. “And my children don’t need someone who doubts them before they’re even born. I’ll raise them. On my own.”

“Caroline…” I whispered, hating how helpless I sounded. “Please, just… just let me explain. Let me fix this.”

She shook her head slowly. “You can’t fix something you shattered, Kane. Not with apologies, not with test results. This…” she gestured between us, “....is over.”

Then, without another word, she walked past me, her footsteps echoing in the sterile hospital hallway.

And just like that, I was left behind.

Caroline's POV 

I walked out of that hospital like I had somewhere important to be, like my heart wasn’t breaking with every step.

The doors slid shut behind me, sealing off Kane’s voice as he called after me. I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t. Not now.

The cool air bit at my skin, but I welcomed it. It was the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely.

I stepped off the curb and lifted my hand. A yellow cab slowed and pulled over, the tires hissing against the wet pavement. I opened the door and climbed in, barely managing to give the driver my address before sinking back into the seat.

“Everything okay, miss?” the cabbie asked, eyeing me through the mirror.

I nodded quickly, blinking away the tears that were threatening to spill. “Yeah. Just drive, please.”

He nodded and turned his eyes back to the road.

I rested a hand over my stomach and stared out the window, the city blurring past.

He was the father. It was real. And yet, it still didn’t feel like enough.

I wanted to believe that Kane’s words earlier were born out of fear. I wanted to tell myself he didn’t mean them. But I couldn’t forget how easily he believed the worst of me. How quickly love turned into suspicion.

And despite everything, despite how hard I tried to stand tall and walk away, I couldn’t deny what still lived in me.

I loved him.

Even now, with my heart fractured and bruised, I loved him.

But love wasn’t always enough.

So I pressed my hand tighter to my belly and whispered, more to myself than anyone else, “We’ll be okay. I promise.”

The cab door suddenly opened again.

“Caroline, wait…” Kane's voice, breathless and desperate, filled the space as he leaned in.

I looked at him. Just for a second. And I swear, it hurt more than anything he’d ever said.

My voice came out quiet, but firm. “Drive.”

The driver hesitated, glancing between us.

“Please,” I whispered, eyes still locked on Kane’s. “Just drive.”

The cab pulled away, leaving Kane standing on the curb, reaching for something he may have already lost.

And I… I didn’t look back.

Kelly's POV

I watched from the corner of the parking lot, one hand in my coat pocket, the other holding a half-finished coffee I didn’t even want. The scene unfolding before me? That was the real treat.

They didn’t see me. They never do. That’s the thing about people who live in drama, they’re always too busy starring in the show to notice the guy in the back writing the reviews.

Caroline had stormed in earlier like a woman on a mission, and Kane followed behind like a man already halfway to regret. I should’ve bought popcorn.

Then came the doctor with that very official-looking envelope. Ah, the DNA bomb. My cue to pay attention.

I couldn’t hear them, but I could guess the dialogue: You're the father. Cue dramatic gasp. Cue emotional whiplash. Cue Kane’s realization that he might’ve fumbled the mother of his unborn triplets.

Triplets. Man, the universe really said “Let’s make this as dramatic as possible.”

I smirked, sipping the worst coffee in the city, and muttered to myself, “Father of three… from zero to sitcom in one sentence.”

And then, my favorite part, Kane rushed out after her like he just remembered he had feelings. Reaching for her like she was some train pulling out of the station. Caroline didn’t even flinch.

It was almost painful to watch.

Almost.

My smirk widened.

God, this reminded me of something Jayson said last month. We were at the bar, he’d had one too many whiskeys, and he looked at me and said, “If Kane ever becomes a dad, I pray for the child’s sense of direction, imagine being raised by a man who couldn’t find his own emotional compass.”

I nearly choked on my drink then, and now, watching Kane get shut out by a cab window?

The irony was delicious.

“Drive,” she had whispered. Even I heard it from where I stood. That one little word sealed it.

The cab pulled away, leaving Kane standing there like a lost puppy in designer boots.

And me? I just shook my head slowly and chuckled to myself.

Poor big brother.

Didn’t even see the storm coming.

But I did.

I always do.

I gulped down the rest of the awful coffee, tossed the cup in the nearest bin, and turned on my heel.

“Brown Enterprises needs a new CEO,” I muttered to myself, straightening my collar. “And I’m willing to take the job.”

Then I pulled out my phone, dialing a number I hadn’t called in a while.

The line clicked.

“It’s time,” I said simply. “Let’s take Kane down.”

 

Chapter 42

Kane's POV

I watch the cab trail off, leaving me standing there like a fool.

And as if to mock me, rain started dropping slowly then it increased to a full out downpour.

I rushed to my car to escape the rain but then I realized I left my keys in the hospital.

I turned on my heels and quickly rushed back. 

When I got in, I went to the receptionist desk. 

“Excuse me, I think I left my car key here.” I asked, politely.

“Do you mean this?” A familiar voice came from behind me, followed by the sound of jingling keys. 

I turned around to see Gina standing behind me, holding out the SUV keys like they belonged to her.

I smiled and reached out for it but Gina pulled away.

“What are you thinking?” she said, giving me a stern look. 

I sighed, placing a hand over my forehead. “I want to go after her.”

“And do what?”

The question stung more than I expected it to. What exactly was I going to do? I didn't have a plan, I was just rushing in thinking she would accept me like she used to. 

“This isn't like you, Kane,” she called my name so casually like we'd known for years. “You’re rushing into decisions and that could cost you more than you're sacrificing.”

“What are you tal….” 

“When was the last time you checked on the state of your company? And when did you last monitor its rival's movements?” 

Her words seem to jolt me back to my senses. The company, how was it doing? And to be honest I hadn't checked on Robertson or Diane's activities in days. 

Gosh Jayson was right. I was losing it. 

And Gina had just reminded me. 

Her words seemed to jolt me back to my senses. The company, how was it doing?

And to be honest... I had no idea.

Ever since Caroline told me she was pregnant, everything else had taken a back seat. Meetings were missed, reports unread, decisions postponed. I thought I was being noble, prioritizing the...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 29.7.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• ISBN-10: 0-00-097826-4 / 0000978264
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-097826-4 / 9780000978264