Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss (Kylan and Katrina)

This wasn't how it was supposed to end. This wasn't the story Katrina dreamed about as a child. This wasn't what she envisioned when she said "I do" to the love of her life. This wasn't it. So, why was she letting it happen?

The classical music blared loudly, drowning out everything else. The screams from her own mouth, Kylan shouting her name... nothing reached her. She couldn't hear Lee Hanes' cruel laughter or Vanessa's distressed cries. If she had heard Vanessa crying, it would have shattered her heart... because Vanessa never cried.

Katrina's body moved on autopilot, legs kicking wildly, hands reaching for anything to fight back. Her elbow collided with something solid, but the impact didn't pull her back to reality. Nor did the sensation of her body being hurled through the air, Lee Hanes throwing her like a rag doll.

She hit the floor with a hard thud, the force rolling her into a wall. Pain shot through her backside to her belly. She looked down in horror as blood trickled from under her.

"No... no..." Her baby... her and Kylan's baby.

It took her a minute before her mind started to clear. Her gaze landed on a razor nearby, and she stretched out her hand, grimacing in pain.

Lee Hanes kicked it away. "No more knife play, darling." He reached for her ankle, but Katrina kicked out, her foot connecting with his jaw. He stumbled back with a growl.

She scrambled to her feet, clutching her belly as her breathing came in ragged gasps. She stumbled into the kitchen and yanked at the drawers, but they wouldn't budge. Frantic, she jiggled them harder. "Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t!"

"Looking for something, darling?" Lee Hanes' mocking voice rang out. She turned to see him flexing his jaw. "That kick really hurt, you know. For a pregnant woman, about to lose her baby, you sure are strong." Katrina backed away as he stepped closer. "Stop it." Her voice came out as a whisper. "Please."

"I can't stop the heart, darling, and it's screaming your name." He threw his arms out dramatically and bellowed her name. "I love you!" In a flash, he lunged forward and seized her, pulling her roughly against him. "I love you so much."

Lee Hanes leaned closer, a wicked grin on his face. Katrina flinched, turning her head. "Please don't," she whimpered. He ignored her and ran his tongue up her face.

"No..."

His grip on her waist tightened, pressing her against the wall. "I'm going to do so many things to you," he moaned into her ear, nipping at the lobe. "I can't wait to feel you from the inside."

Katrina fought back, slapping and thrashing, but he grabbed her wrists in frustration. She cried out.

"Stay still!" he growled, pinning her arms against the wall. His dark eyes roved over her, and he leaned in, his mouth latching onto her neck. Katrina felt his tongue against her skin and gagged, the nausea rising in her throat.

He bit down near her collarbone, making her flinch. "Wait, Lee... wait. Let me look at you-please. Just let me look at you."

He froze, his mouth hovering above her skin. Slowly, he pulled back and met her gaze, his eyes devoid of sanity. "So you're finally giving in?"

Katrina forced herself to smile softly. "Of course." She kissed his cheek. "I have to stop fighting, right? This is what's best for me, isn't it?"

He grinned, relaxing slightly. "It is, darling."

Her lips trailed down his face, and she whispered, "I understand now... what I have to do." Without warning, she sank her teeth into his neck. Lee Hanes screamed, blood spilling as he staggered back, hands clawing at his wound.

Katrina didn't wait. She sprinted for the hallway as he cursed behind her. She caught a glimpse of her friends - Vanessa, Officer Garrett, Ryan - desperately trying to break down the front door. But there wasn't time to stop; she bolted upstairs.noveldrama

She knew it was a cliché, running to the second floor. She'd seen enough horror movies to know better, but if she could find an open window, she'd jump. Her emotions were high, and she just needed to escape.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Katrina froze. Too many doors, all locked. Panicking, she turned and ran back to Lee Hanes' bedroom. The only way out was the large window. Outside, police officers swarmed, and in the chaos, she spotted Kylan. Their eyes met, and he appeared to relax until his expression shifted

to terror.

He shouted something, pointing wildly. Katrina turned just as Lee Hanes' knife came down, shattering the glass. She ducked in time, but the cracks splintered the pane, weakening it.

She stumbled backward, hitting the bed. Lee Hanes loomed over her, pressing the knife to her throat. "Hold still, dear. You need to be punished for being naughty."

"No!" Katrina gasped, fighting weakly as he pinned her down. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Lee! I-I was just playing around! You bit me, remember? I was playing!"

He paused, smiling darkly. "Oh, I know. This is all foreplay."

Katrina forced a nervous laugh. "Of course. I did it... for you."

Chuckling, he leaned closer. "You understand me, don't you?"

She didn't see the knife until she felt the pain. A sharp, searing stab in her side. "So perfect," Lee Hanes whispered, marveling at the blood on the blade. "Don't worry. We will make another baby. I am a doctor, remember?"

Tears streamed down Katrina's face as his body pressed against hers. She turned her head, looking desperately at the shattered window... and froze. A rope appeared. Someone was climbing through. Kylan.

Their eyes locked, and she acted without thinking. Her hand found a mirror on the nightstand, and she smashed it against Lee Hanes' head. He roared, disoriented. Kylan fired his gun, shattering the rest of the window before swinging inside.

Lee Hanes barely had time to react before Kylan was on him, throwing him off Katrina's body and sending a brutal punch to his jaw. Katrina slumped to the floor, clutching her side. She watched Kylan unleash his fury, kicking Lee Hanes again and again.

"Kylan," she murmured weakly, crawling forward. "Kylan."

He stopped at her voice, chest heaving. His anger melted into concern and horror as he scanned her bloody form. "I'll get you help."

Suddenly, a gun cocked behind him. Katrina's eyes widened in horror. Lee Hanes was on his feet, Kylan's gun in his hand.

The shot rang out. Kylan stumbled back, falling to the floor. Katrina screamed. Rage overcame her pain, and she lunged at Lee Hanes, yanking and clawing. He shouted, firing another shot into the wall as she thrashed against him.

Lee Hanes finally threw her off, grabbing the gun once more. His wild eyes fixed on her. "I WILL HAVE MY HAPPY FAMILY!"

A voice growled behind him. "She's mine."

Lee Hanes turned too slowly. Kylan's fist smashed into his face. The madman's eyes rolled back as he collapsed onto the floor, motionless.

Panting, Kylan dropped to his knees, pulling out handcuffs and locking Lee Hanes' wrists.

"Kylan?" Katrina's voice cracked as tears fell.

Kylan turned, smiling softly. "It's okay, Katrina. I'm wearing a vest."

She could barely move from where she was but she smiled. Then the pain from her abdomen and back came crashing down on her. She screamed, reaching out for Kylan who ran toward her before she lost consciousness.

~0~0~0~

Katrina sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her hands trembling as they hovered over her abdomen. Her body still ached, a cruel reminder of everything she had endured. The sterile scent of the hospital room filled her lungs, yet it didn't bring clarity or comfort. Nothing did.

The silence was deafening. Kylan

sat in the chair across from her, his head hung low, fingers steepled together as if in silent prayer. He hadn't spoken in hours after Officer Garrett and Vanessa delivered the news about the success in putting Lee Hanes in prison, not because he didn't care, but because he didn't know what to say. What could anyone say? Words would never be enough to bridge the void that now stretched between them.

Her baby was gone.

Katrina pressed her palm against her belly, her breath catching in her throat. The quiet absence of movement was unbearable. She had grown used to the fluttering kicks, the soft nudges that made her smile even on her hardest days. Now, there was only emptiness.

The door creaked open softly, breaking the silence. A nurse entered, holding a small blanket, something bundled delicately in her arms. Katrina's heart twisted at the sight. She didn't want to look, but she couldn't turn away.

"Mrs. Ross," the nurse said gently. "Would you like to hold your baby?"

Kylan's head shot up, concern in his gaze as he searched Katrina's face. Her lips quivered, her throat constricting. How could she? How could she bear to hold the child she'd never get to raise, never get to see smile? Yet, some part of her needed to.

She nodded faintly. The nurse

approached, placing the small

bundle in Katrina's arms. The weight

of her child tight and fragile,

shattered her all over again. Tears

spilled down her cheeks as she looked at the delicate face, so peaceful yet so still. She imagined all the dreams she'd had just like when she had Clarence and Theo... late-night feedings, tiny fingers wrapped around hers, first words, first steps. Dreams that would now never come true.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice broken and small. "I'm so sorry."

Kylan moved to her side, kneeling in front of her and resting a hand on her shoulder. His own tears

glistened in his eyes, but he stayed strong for her. For once, he didn't try to fix things. He just sat with her

in her grief, silently bearing it with her.

Later, the house felt empty despite

the noise of Clarence and Theo playing quietly in the living room. Katrina stood in the kitchen, her hands pressed against the countertop to steady herself..

laughter of her children drifted

toward her ears, both a comfort and

a dagger to the heart.

"Mommy?"

Clarence's soft voice startled Katrina. She turned to see her little girl standing in the doorway, clutching a

worn teddy bear to her chest. Clarence's big, curious eyes watched her carefully.

"Are you okay?"

Katrina swallowed hard, forcing a smile as tears burned behind her eyes. She crouched down and opened her arms, pulling Clarence into a hug. "Mommy's okay, sweetheart. Mommy's okay."

It was a lie, but she had to say it. For Clarence. For Theo. For herself.

~0~0~0~

Katrina sat stiffly in the therapy room, staring at the beige walls as the clock ticked away. She hated being here once again... hated admitting that she couldn't do this alone. The therapist sat across from her, her voice calm and understanding.

"It's okay to feel weak sometimes, Kate. Losing a child is one of the hardest things a parent can endure." She looked up, her eyes hollow and exhausted. "I can't be weak. I have Clarence and Theo to take care of. They need me."

"Being strong doesn't mean you can't grieve," the therapist replied gently. "You loved that baby. That love doesn't disappear just because they're gone."

Katrina exhaled shakily, tears slipping down her face despite herself. "I feel... so empty. Like something inside me died too."

"That's normal. But you're still here, Kate. You're still breathing, still loving your family. That's strength." She nodded, wiping at her tears with trembling hands. "I just want to be okay for them." "You will be," the therapist reassured. "But you don't have to rush. Healing takes time."

Katrina closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. She wasn't okay yet-she might not be for a long time-but she owed it to Clarence, Theo, and herself to keep moving forward.

The session ended, and as Katrina walked outside, the afternoon sun warmed her face. She saw Kylan waiting outside the car with Clarence waving enthusiastically from the backseat. Theo was snoring softly beside her.

Kylan rushed to her, scanning her face in concern. He, too, was changed after losing their baby, she realized. He rarely talked. He rarely went to the company. He was just there, in the background, trying his best to console everyone while consoling himself.

Katrina smiled faintly. Her heart still ached, but as she climbed into the car and looked at her children, she realized there was still so much to live for.

She turned to Kylan. "I'm trying," she whispered.

Kylan let out the smallest of smiles he had ever had since the whole ordeal. "One day at a time."

Yes. With Kylan, Clarence, and Theo.

Katrina hugged him tightly as she finally cried.

One day at a time.