The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 396

Chapter 194-1

A

Knox paces around my folding chair, a wolf circling tied–up prey. The lingering sting from Becca’s earlier assault throbs in steady, violent waves across my cheekbone and the split curve of my lip, but I keep my breathing rhythmic, drawing air deep into my lungs.

Knox stops directly in front of me, his shadow blotting out the harsh overhead light.

“You really think you’re untouchable, don’t you?” he sneers. “Sitting there with that cold, smug expression, acting like you’re above all of us.”

He draws back his arm and delivers a brutal slap across my face.

The impact cracks through the warehouse like a gunshot. My head snaps to the side, white heat exploding across my jaw, the copper taste of fresh blood flooding my mouth once more. Despite myself, I cry out in pain.

“Stop it!” Willow shrieks. She lunges past the two startled guards, her hands frantically scrabbling at the air. ‘Leave her alone! Haven’t you done enough to her?”

One of the thugs grabs Willow’s coat, yanking her back, but Knox barely glances at her. He raises his hand again, his knuckles turning white as he makes a fist, pulls back to punch me.

“Stop!” Willow screams hysterically. “Don’t hit her! She’s pregnant!”

The word hits the freezing air and detonates.

Knox’s hand freezes mid–air, inches from my face.

Silence drops over the warehouse, absolute, suffocating, and deafening. The wind howling through the broken skylights seems to die instantly.

I don’t flinch, but deep inside my chest, my pulse spikes into a frantic, warning rhythm. I keep my jaw clamped shut, refusing to look at Willow, refusing to validate the bomb she just dropped into the room.

Beside Knox, Becca slowly steps towards me. Her painted lips part in sheer, stunned disbelief, her hands dropping away from her own swollen stomach as her eyes dart from Willow to my face.

“What did you just say?” Knox whispers, his hand slowly lowering to his side. “Say that again, bitch.”

Willow is sobbing uncontrollably now, her hands pressed over her mouth in immediate, horrifying realization of what she’s done.

“No… no, please…” she chokes out, her shoulders shaking violently as she scrambles backward into the guard’s grip. “I didn’t… please don’t hurt her…”

Knox doesn’t look at Willow anymore. Slowly, deliberately, he turns back to me. A slow grin spreads across his face, curling his lips until his eyes crinkle with pure, unadulterated delight.

“Pregnant?” Knox purrs. He drops to a low crouch in front of my chair, bringing his eyes level with mine. “You’re carrying Locke’s little bastard?”

“Is she?” Knux chuckles. He stands up, throwing his arms wide toward the iron rafters. “Look at you, the

fucking ice queen trying to ffe. can see it in your eyes, Zara… you’re terrified.”

Becca steps up right alongside him, a wild, wicked thrill lighting up her face. The envy and anxiety that plagued her earlier have melted away, replaced by a cruel, sadistic satisfaction. She looks down at me, her eyes glinting like fresh glass.

“A baby,” Becca breathes out. “The little slut got herself knocked up. How many weeks, Zara? Is it strong and healthy, or is it going to wither away like everything else inside you?”

“Fuck off, Becca,” I say, keeping my eyes locked on Knox.

“No, no, let her talk!” Knox roars. “This changes everything! I thought I was just bargaining for a payout from your boy toy and old man. But this? This is absolute gold.”

He leans over me, his hand coming out to grip my chin roughly, his fingers digging deep into my bruised skin, forcing me to look up at him.

I don’t pull away. I let him hold my face, staring back at him with pure hate.

“Now, Locke won’t just send me every penny he has,” Knox whispers, his eyes glittering with manic triumph. “He’ll crawl on his fucking hands and knees. He’ll give me everything – his money, his penthouse, his bike, his life – anything to make sure I don’t put a bullet in your stomach.”

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