Page 4 of The Edge Of Us

Allen's arms tighten around me. "I've got you," he repeats. "You're not alone. We'll figure this out."

I want to believe him. I really do. But deep down, I know this isn't the last time the darkness will come creeping back.

And that terrifies me.

Chapter 3

Corine's POV

The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. The scent of fresh flowers from the balcony mixed with the warm aroma of the lavender-scented candle I had burning on the coffee table. I curled my fingers around the stem of mycrystal glass, sipping my infused lemon water as I scrolled through my emails.

Natasha was already here, sprawled across my velvet couch, her legs tucked under her as she scrolled through her own phone. She had a habit of visiting almost every day—practically living here at this point. She and Allen got along well, sometimes too well, and I was grateful for their friendship. My life looked perfect from the outside. A successful career, a devoted husband, and my beauty empire, Luxe Beauty, which was preparing for another major launch.

Yet, something felt off today. A gnawing sensation at the back of my mind, like I was missing something. It started a few days ago—the exhaustion, the waves of nausea, the slight dizziness whenever I stood too fast. At first, I blamed it on the stress of work and the upcoming product launch, but now I wasn’t so sure.

“Hey, Cori, you okay?” Natasha’s voice pulled me back. I realized I had been staring at my phone screen without reading a word.

“Yeah, just tired,” I said, forcing a small smile. “It’s been a long few weeks.”

She tilted her head. “Maybe you need a break. Or better yet, a spa day.”

“Maybe,” I murmured, but my mind was elsewhere. A small voice in my head whispered the possibility, but I wasn’t ready to say it aloud yet. Instead, I pushed myself up from the couch, stretching. “I think I’ll go freshen up.”

As I stepped into my en-suite bathroom, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My usually radiant skin had a subtle pallor, and my eyes—though still bright—held an exhaustion I couldn’tshake. My hand drifted to my stomach involuntarily, and the thought solidified. I had to know.

Minutes later, I found myself staring at a pregnancy test, my heart pounding against my ribs. The seconds stretched into eternity as I waited, my breath shallow. And then, the result appeared. Positive.

My breath caught. I sank onto the edge of the bathtub, my mind racing. I was pregnant. A mixture of emotions surged through me—joy, fear, disbelief. I should have been ecstatic, yet all I could feel was the weight of this secret pressing down on me.

I didn’t tell Allen right away. Instead, I threw myself into work, preparing for Luxe Beauty’s new lip liner launch. Every day, I walked into meetings, oversaw campaigns, and perfected the product, all while carrying the biggest secret of my life. Natasha noticed my sudden change, my exhaustion, my absent-mindedness, but she didn’t push.

The night before the launch, Allen and I had dinner in our private dining room, the city lights twinkling beyond the windows. He poured me a glass of wine, but I hesitated, my fingers curling around the stem without taking a sip. He noticed immediately.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his deep blue eyes searching mine.

I took a deep breath. This was it.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out a tiny velvet box and sliding it across the table to him. His brow furrowed as he picked it up, flicking it open. Inside, nestled in silk, was a tiny gold keychain with the words “Daddy’s baby"engraved on it.

He stared at it, confusion flashing across his face before realization dawned. His eyes widened, and when they met mine,they were filled with so many emotions I couldn’t even begin to decipher them.

“Cori…” His voice was barely a whisper.

I nodded, my throat tight. “We’re having a baby, Allen.”

For a moment, he didn’t speak. Then, in an instant, he was around the table, pulling me into his arms, his lips pressed against my forehead as he breathed me in. “I love you,” he murmured. “So much.”

And for the first time in weeks, I felt like everything might just be okay.

.

The launch of Luxe Beauty’s new lip liner was nothing short of a spectacle. Weeks of preparation had led to this moment, and as I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror in my dressing suite, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of exhilaration and nerves. My fingers traced the edge of the Luxe Beauty packaging on the vanity, the sleek design a symbol of my hard work and vision. This wasn’t just another product—it was a statement, a piece of me shared with the world.

Natasha sat on the velvet chaise, sipping champagne, her eyes following me as I adjusted my diamond earrings. “Cori, you are about to shake up the beauty industry again,” she mused, setting her glass down. “The world is obsessed with you right now, and they don’t even know you’re carrying the heir to the Woods empire.”

I smirked, running a hand over my still-flat stomach. I had told Allen about the baby days ago, in a moment that was private and perfect, just like us. Now, I carried that secret with me, even as the cameras flashed and the world anticipated my every move.

Allen had been the one invited to the Met Gala, a testament to his ever-growing influence in the media world. His company was a multi-million-dollar empire, yet we remained intensely private, only allowing glimpses of our lives to seep into the public sphere. It was a delicate balance between fame and intimacy, one that we had mastered over the years.

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