The Black Swan's Final Revenge Pirouette: The 99th Game Was Mine All Along by Kylie Homme

Chapter 26

It happened on an ordinary night. Leo was in a unk–work pressure combined with missing his hockey days had him brooding. Hoping to lift his spirits, Ariana prepared his favorite comfort meal, complete with that red wine he loved.

The evening felt different–more intimate, the wine loosening their inhibitions and intensifying everything between them. That night, safe sex became an afterthought neither remembered.

One month later, Ariana sat in a sterile hospital hallway, staring at the test results in her hands, emotions colliding inside her. Pregnant.

Part of her felt that unexpected flutter of joy. She loved Leo; they were building a life together, and a family was always somewhere in the future they’d imagined. But the timing couldn’t be worse. Reed Enterprises had barely stabilized, and Leo had just started talking seriously about a potential return to hockey.

What troubled her more were the subtle changes she’d noticed since moving to America.

Sometimes she’d catch Leo’s eyes going distant, like he was mentally where else–or

with someone else. These moments left questions she couldn’t quite form into words.

“Everything good to go, Miss Collins?” The nurse’s cheerful voice yanked her back to reality

“Yes, thanks,” she replied, tucking the report away and mentally rehearsing how to tell Leo.

Outside, she spotted him leaning against his car cigarette smoke curling from his fingers. He quickly stubbed it out when he saw her. “Hang on–let that clear first.”

A wave of surreal disorientation washed over her as their eyes met. His gaze was serious, unreadable. Was this how their life would unfold now? Marriage hastened by circumstance, parenthood reshuffling everything they’d planned?

“How’d it go with the baby?” Leo asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Ariana blinked, realizing he was asking about the checkup. She touched her stomach instinctively. “Doctor says everything looks healthy.”

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Leo didn’t even glance at the report, just helped her into the car. His luxury sedan purred to life as they headed into traffic. “Let’s grab dinner. I had Peter order ahead–all that healthy stuff you’re supposed to eat now.”

“Sure.”

phone rang, the sound filling the car interior. Peter’s voice

“My parents again?

briefly, then shrugged it off. “Yeah

venture.”

inside her. “I specifically asked you

wave. “It’s pocket change. Don’t worry about

incident–but swallowed her words. This wasn’t just about money; it was about Leo making decisions that affected them both

gently, hoping

up to the restaurant minutes later. Walking through an elaborate garden entrance, we were escorted to our private dining

another topic. “Those morning sickness symptoms seem pretty rough. You should scale back at work. I’ve already told

managed a noncommittal “Hmm.”

the surprise pregnancy that followed, we probably wouldn’t have rushed into marriage so quickly. Leo’s reaction to the news hadn’t exactly been enthusiasm–more like a man watching his careful plans derail.

Chapter 26

her into the car. His luxury sedan purred to life as they headed into traffic. “Let’s grab dinner. I had Peter order ahead–all that healthy

“Sure.”

sound filling the car interior. Peter’s voice came through clearly:

clenched. “My parents again? They asked for

hesitated briefly, then shrugged it off. “Yeah, something about your brother’s

venture.”

specifically asked you not to

concern with a wave. “It’s pocket change. Don’t worry about it.”

now, not an isolated incident–but swallowed her words. This wasn’t just about money; it was about Leo making decisions that affected them both without even a conversation. Since the company had found its footing,

stomach gently, hoping

to the restaurant minutes later. Walking through an elaborate garden entrance, we were escorted to our

seem pretty rough. You should scale back at work. I’ve already

a noncommittal

:ཥཾ ཛ༴ སཽ

at Reed Enterprises. Without that alcohol–fueled night three months ago and the surprise pregnancy that followed, we probably wouldn’t have rushed into marriage so quickly. Leo’s reaction to the news hadn’t exactly been

Chapter 28