The Secret Pregnancy of the Billionaire's Ex-Wife

Christopher POV

I was seventeen when I first saw Angela Wilson.

That day, I just wanted some peace in the school library. The scandal about my father and that stripper had been plastered across every newspaper and gossip site for weeks. I pulled my hoodie up, hoping no one would recognize me.

Two girls were whispering behind a bookshelf nearby, not bothering to keep their voices down.

"Can you believe his dad got caught with that stripper?" one of them said, giggling.

"In a hotel lobby, no less. Talk about tacky," the other replied.

I gripped my book tighter, staring at the same page I'd been trying to read for the past fifteen minutes. I wasn't going to engage. What was the point? I couldn't shut everyone's mouth in the school, let alone the entire city.

"I heard the mom tried to kill herself after," the first girl continued, her voice dropping lower but still audible. "Apparently she found out through TMZ. Can you imagine?"

My knuckles turned white around the edges of the book. That part wasn't public knowledge. Someone's parents must work at the hospital.

"Like father, like son, right?" the second girl said. "I bet that Christopher kid is just as messed up."

I closed my eyes, trying to block out their voices. I'd heard worse. The tabloids had been relentless, digging up every piece of dirt they could find on my family.

"That's enough."

A new voice cut through the whispers-firm, clear, unfamiliar. I glanced up to see a girl I'd never noticed before standing at the end of the bookshelf, amber eyes blazing with indignation.

"Do you two have nothing better to do than spread gossip about someone else's family tragedy?" she demanded.

The two girls quickly turned their attention to her instead, shifting their gossip and cruel comments expression neutral, watching as she stood her ground, refusing to back down even as they brought up her own family troubles. urd Angela. I kept my Something about the way she held herself-chin high, eyes steady-told me she was used to this kind of battle.

I finally decided I'd heard enough. Standing up to my full height, I stepped out from behind the bookshelf and gave them a cold stare that made them both freeze. They gathered their things and left quickly, muttering something about "damaged goods sticking together" as they hurried away.

When they were gone, Angela turned to me with a small, apologetic smile. "Sorry about that," she said. "Some people have nothing better to do

I studied her face, noticing how her eyes-the exact same shade of amber as mine-held no pity, just understanding. That's when I realized she wasn't just defending a stranger; she was defending someone who might understand what it felt like to have your family's broken pieces examined under the public microscope.

"Thanks," I replied simply. "But you didn't have to do that."

She shrugged. "Maybe not. But sometimes it's nice to know someone in your corner."

1/3

that, she turned and walked away, disappearing among the library

Mother who'd left

so like mine. The way she'd stood up to those girls without hesitation. I

for almost a year. I hadn't mentioned the library incident to him-it seemed trivial, and talking about it would mean acknowledging

wearing a blue

the puck, she'd lean forward. When he scored, she jumped to her feet, cheering louder than anyone around her. During the break between periods, she somehow made her way down to the bench, handing

here for Sean. Everyone was always here for Sean. Star player, team

got checked into the boards twice because

locker room, throwing his gloves into his bag.

it doesn't happen again," he said, zipping his bag forcefully. "We can't afford to

trusting myself to speak. How could I explain that I was distracted by the girl from the

two weeks later, Angela had somehow become part of the cheerleading squad. I wondered if she'd joined just

practices or games, I'd feel that same

to be in the same room as Her, even just

seeing her

Christopher POV

to college together. Two years later, Angela followed us to

the same economics major

Sean lasted only those two

saved Sean from

gave her all the credit. I knew the blonde bombshell had her

knew it would hurt Angela, but I wanted a fair chance with her Sean had only met Angela first by coincidence.

him drift further away

I found Angela sitting alone outside the hockey arena, long after practice had ended. It was unusually cold for

I said, approaching

away. "Christopher? What

sitting down beside her. The scent of alcohol hit me immediately.

no humor in it. "Maybe a little. Or a lot. can't

was always vibrant, confident-the girl who stood up to bullies in libraries and cheered the loudest

I asked,

going to tell him today. How I felt. That I've loved him since high school." She took a shaky breath. "But when I got to

made my chest ache. I wanted to pull her into my arms, to tell her Sean was an idiot for not seeing what was right in front of him.

slightly. "Six years I've

idiot,”

Christina now. Maybe, just maybe, this meant I would finally

not. He's Sean. Perfect, wonderful Sean." She leaned her head back against the wall. "And who am I? Just Angela Wilson, the girl with