At eight months pregnant, I accidentally overheard my billionaire husband and his mother plotting to
My father, Daniel Mercer, was no ordinary man. A former spy, he had navigated a world of shadows, coded messages, and silent threats. I had spent years trying to distance myself from that life, seeking a normalcy that always felt just out of reach. But the danger that had cornered me that night reminded me of something essential: in his world of secrets, he was the one person I could truly rely on.
The guard blocking my path instinctively stepped back as my father approached, sensing the authority in his gaze. The air seemed to hum with tension, each second stretching like a taut wire.
“Let’s move quickly,” he murmured, his hand firm yet gentle on my back, guiding me through a hidden corridor. His calm confidence cut through the fear knotting my chest, giving me a sliver of hope.
As we navigated the labyrinth of shadowed hallways, he explained the escape plan. “A secondary route,” he said, scanning every corner, “unconventional, but it keeps us far from Adrian’s reach.”
We emerged into the night, the city lights distant and sparkling like a world I was leaving behind. My father led me to a small hangar where a sleek, unmarked jet waited, engines humming softly, a promise of freedom. The pilot, a woman whose sharp eyes mirrored years of experience, nodded in acknowledgment. “Ready when you are, Mr. Mercer.”
Climbing aboard, my father steadied me, and I glanced back at the building. The guard was speaking urgently into a radio — Adrian would realize soon, but by then, it would be too late.
Inside the cabin, I sank into the plush leather, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. My father watched me with a mix of relief and lingering concern.
“Thank you,” I whispered, the words barely escaping. Gratitude and fear tangled together in my chest.
“I should have stayed closer,” he admitted, voice rough, “but I’m here now. No one will harm you or your child on my watch.”
As the jet began its ascent, the city shrinking beneath us, I rested my hand protectively over my belly. Despite the danger and uncertainty, I realized I had what mattered most — my father, my child, and the promise of a future away from Adrian’s reach.