April's Dream
I found myself wandering in a dark, unfamiliar place. It didn't resemble anywhere I'd ever been. The thick, pressing darkness seemed alive, and its piercing gaze sent chills racing down my spine. I was barefoot, moving slowly, constantly glancing behind to make sure no one was following. I wanted to run—but my legs wouldn't obey.
Then, out of nowhere, a giant figure emerged. He stared down at me, his palm stretched out.
"It's now or never," he said.
In his palm appeared a strange knife—unlike anything I'd seen before.
"Take it. Kill him before he kills you," the voice commanded.
"Who?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Him." He pointed to a man standing with his back to me.
"Who is he? Why should I kill him?" I demanded.
"Must you always ask why?" the figure chuckled darkly, pushing the knife into my hands.
I didn't want to move, but some unseen force dragged me forward. I raised the knife against my will.
"No!" I screamed, summoning every ounce of strength and flinging the dagger to the ground.
The man turned—but I couldn't see his face. All I saw were flaming eyes. Burning. Blazing. So hot I could feel my skin sear.
"You shouldn't have stopped," he said.
And then I woke up.
"Hey, it's fine! You're okay now." June hugged me tightly.
I could feel the sweat on my forehead, the thudding of my heart like drums in my chest.
"It was just a nightmare," she whispered, trying to calm me down.
"Are you okay?" she asked, pulling back to look at me.
I nodded, still catching my breath.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
I shook my head. "I'll just take a quick shower," I murmured, heading for the bathroom.
Even as I turned on the water and sank into the jacuzzi, the dream clung to me. I'd never had one so disturbing—not even after my parents' accident, when I was sure nightmares would haunt me forever.
"It's just a dream, April," I whispered to myself, letting the water wash over my face.
But deep down, I wasn't sure.
Enzo's POV
I arrived at Belleview Café at exactly 5:00 p.m.—just like she asked. Fred sat beside me, quiet, scanning the place.
It was peaceful here. Tucked away from the noise and flash of the city, no paparazzi, just whispers from a few fans who politely asked for photos. I obliged. Moments like these were rare.
"Do you think she'll show up?" I asked Fred, checking the time again. Five minutes late. I was already impatient.
"I believe she will," Fred said calmly.
And then… she walked in.
I couldn't see her, but I felt her. Her presence was like the scent of flowers catching the wind—soft, sweet, and strangely grounding. My chest tightened. I wished I could see her face.
"Hi, sorry I'm late," she said, breathless.
"Please, sit," I offered, then turned to Fred. "Give us a moment."
Fred nodded and stepped away.
She sat across from me, and I could tell she was nervous. Her fingers tapped lightly against the wooden table.
"What would you like to drink?" I asked. But then something shimmered—faintly—and I knew.
The necklace.
That necklace.
"Are you wearing your necklace today?" I asked, knowing the answer, but needing to confirm.
She sounded surprised. "Of course. Isn't it obvious?"
"Right. That was a dumb question," I chuckled awkwardly, trying to brush it off.
After the drinks were ordered, she got straight to it. "So… what's this meeting about, Enzo?"
"A deal," I said, unsure of how to deliver the bomb I was about to drop. I slid the file across the table toward her.
She opened it.
And exploded.
"Surrogacy?!" Her voice cut through the soft murmur of the café.
"I mean—something like that," I stammered. "But it's not exactly—"
"What made you think I would be interested in something so… so stupid?" she snapped, pushing the file back toward me.
"Calm down, April. Just listen. I'm offering you a favor—"
"A favor?" she scoffed, rising to her feet. "You call this a favor?"
"All I'm asking is that you carry my child!"
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"What about college, huh? Med school?" I leaned forward, voice rising. "You're going to throw all of that away? It's just a child, April—I'm not asking you to die for me!"
She stared at me like she didn't even recognize who I was.
"That's so like you rich people," she said quietly, every word like a dagger. "Always thinking the world owes you something. Always ready to use the vulnerable like pieces on a board."
And then she was gone—storming out, leaving the file, the drinks, and me in stunned silence.
April's POV
What the hell just happened?
I walked fast, head down, ignoring the stares I got from the café staff as I rushed past them. My hands were trembling. My heart was racing. I felt like I'd just walked out of a nightmare—or maybe a twisted fantasy.
"Carry my child."
That sentence echoed in my mind like a curse.
I hugged myself as the cold air hit my skin, my thoughts spiraling.
Who does he think I am?
What kind of man drops a contract like that on a girl he barely knows?
And who in the world calls that a favor?
Was it because I looked… ordinary? Was it pity? Or worse, was it opportunity—did he know how tight money was for me? Did he think I'd sell my body for a college tuition?
I stopped walking.
My throat tightened. I didn't want to cry, but my chest felt like it was caving in. I leaned against a wall, eyes closed.
And the worst part?
The absolute worst part?
Some part of me—the smallest, stupidest, most broken part—felt something for him.
Yes, I felt something for him.
Even before he revealed that ridiculous offer, I couldn't stop stealing glances at him. There was something about Enzo—the way he carried himself, the way his voice curled around my name, the soft laugh he gave when he realized he'd asked a dumb question. It was magnetic. Dangerous.
He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man I'd ever seen.
And still… he was way out of my league. Just a fantasy. A beautiful, untouchable fantasy.
By the time I got home, June was practically bouncing on her toes, waiting to ambush me for every juicy detail. She had helped me get ready earlier that day, practically airbrushing my soul with makeup and confidence. Her exact words were, "You need to look like a goddess. Men like Enzo don't talk to regular girls."
If only she knew.
As soon as I sat down, she grabbed my hands and leaned in. "So? Spill! Did he kiss you? Did he touch you? Does he smell like heaven?"
I swallowed hard.
Instead of swooning, I told her the truth.
Every single detail.
And for a moment, her face went blank.
Then she exploded.
"Are you stupid, April?! How could you refuse such an offer?!"
I blinked. "Are… are you being serious right now?"
"Do I look like I'm joking? It's just a baby, April. You carry it—boom—your dreams come true. He's basically handing you a future on a silver freaking platter and you're going to toss it because of morals? Dignity?! Girl, what dignity feeds you? Pays for med school?"
I stared at her, stunned. I expected sympathy. I got ambition.
June stood up,, pacing like she was selling me a million-dollar idea. "You have nothing to lose! There are girls who get knocked up by broke, cheating losers every day—and they end up with diapers and trauma. But you? You've been chosen by Enzo freaking Blake! He's hot, rich, and clearly obsessed with you. You better not waste this."
I sat frozen.
"How I wish he'd approached me instead," she added with a sigh.
"You're unbelievable," I whispered, standing abruptly. "I can't believe you right now."
I stomped off toward our room, feeling her words follow me like ghosts.
But when the door clicked shut behind me, her words kept echoing in my head. And worse?
They made sense.
It wasn't just a wild proposal. It was an opportunity. And maybe… maybe I was expecting too much from life. Maybe I had fooled myself into believing someone like Enzo could ever choose someone like me for something deeper than this.
Part of me wanted to call Fred. To ask to speak to Enzo. To talk. To just understand what the hell was going on.
And part of me wanted to scream. To throw the necklace across the room. To cry and forget he ever existed.
Instead, I just sat on my bed, staring at my phone, wondering.