The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

ELLA’S POV

My legs felt weak.

The world around me seemed to blur as I stared down at the two positive tests in my shaking hands.

This had to be wrong.

This had to be some kind of joke.

But Jason’s expression—smug, overjoyed, completely unbothered by the fact that my life had just been flipped upside down—said otherwise.

"You’re pregnant," he repeated, voice softer this time, like he was tasting the words.

Like he loved the way it sounded.

Meanwhile, I was having a full-blown panic attack.

"This can’t be right," I muttered, pacing the bathroom floor, my mind spiraling a mile a minute. "Maybe they’re defective. Maybe the first one was right! Maybe I need to take another—"

Jason grabbed my shoulders, halting my movement.

"Ella." His grip was firm, but not forceful. "You’re pregnant."

"No." I shook my head violently. "No, no, no, no—"

He let out a breathy laugh.

Oh, so he thought this was funny?!

I glared at him. "Jason, stop looking so happy, this is a disaster!"

"Why?" he asked, completely unfazed by my outburst.

"Why?!" I repeated in disbelief. "Jason, we’re in a contract marriage. A business deal. This wasn’t supposed to happen! I wasn’t supposed to get—get—"

I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

Pregnant.

I was pregnant.

With his child.

Jason. The infuriating, cocky, reckless man who had somehow managed to worm his way into my life—and now, permanently into my future.

"This changes everything," I whispered, my chest tightening.

He studied me for a long moment before exhaling sharply.

"Look, I know this wasn’t planned," he said, his tone gentler now, as if sensing the panic brewing inside me. "And I know you probably want to throw me out the window right now—"

"That’s not off the table," I muttered.

"—but," he continued, ignoring me, "I meant what I said before. You’re not alone in this."

I clenched my jaw, refusing to look at him. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Because if I did—if I saw the sincerity in his eyes—I might just break down completely.

And I couldn’t afford to do that.

Not yet.

So instead, I shoved the tests into his hands, marched past him, and grabbed my phone.

"Where are you going?" Jason called after me.

I shot him a withering glare.

"To buy five more pregnancy tests, obviously."

His laugh followed me out the door.

JASON’S POV

I watched as Ella stormed out the door, her hair whipping behind her, muttering something about faulty tests and scientific accuracy.

And I did the only logical thing.

I laughed.

Because, honestly? She was adorable when she was freaking out.

Sure, she was probably rethinking every life choice that led her here—pregnant with my child, stuck in a marriage that was supposed to be temporary—but all I could think about was the tiny, growing life inside her.

My child.

Our child.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair as I looked down at the tests in my hand. Two positive, one negative.

It didn’t matter how many more tests she bought.

She was pregnant.

And despite the chaos that was sure to follow, despite the fact that she might try to murder me in my sleep, I couldn’t stop the stupid grin from spreading across my face.

This was the best news I’d ever gotten.

Now, I just had to make her realize it, too.

ELLA’S POV

I came back twenty minutes later with an entire pharmacy’s worth of pregnancy tests.

Jason took one look at the bag and raised a brow. "Really?"

I ignored him, stomping straight to the bathroom and locking the door.

"Just let me have my process, Jason!" I called through the door.

He chuckled. "Take your time, sweetheart."

Ugh.

Why was he so damn calm about this?

Did he not realize that this wasn’t just some minor inconvenience?

This was life-changing.

I wasn’t ready for this.

I wasn’t ready to be someone’s mother.

Hell, I could barely take care of myself, let alone a tiny, helpless human being.

I sat on the bathroom floor, staring at the tests lined up in front of me, all reading the same thing.

Positive.

Positive.

Positive.

I swallowed hard.

This was real.

It was happening.

And I had no idea what to do next.

JASON’S POV

When Ella finally stepped out of the bathroom, her face was pale, her eyes wide and distant, like she’d just seen a ghost.

I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could, she walked straight past me and collapsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.

A long, heavy silence settled between us.

Then, finally—

"I’m pregnant," she whispered, as if saying it out loud made it more real.

I smirked. "Took you long enough to accept it."

Her head snapped toward me, eyes narrowing. "This is all your fault."

I chuckled. "Oh, absolutely."

She groaned, covering her face with her hands. "What the hell are we supposed to do now?"

I walked over, crouching down in front of her, gently prying her hands away so she’d look at me.

"We figure it out," I said simply.

She stared at me, searching my face for any hint of uncertainty, any sign that I was as terrified as she was.

But she wouldn’t find it.

Because for the first time in my life, I knew exactly what I wanted.

And I wasn’t going to let fear take it away from me.

"You’re not alone in this, Ella," I said softly, brushing my thumb over her knuckles. "I meant what I said. I’m here. Every step of the way."

Her lips parted slightly, her breath hitching.

And for a moment, just a brief, fleeting moment, I saw something in her eyes—a crack in the walls she’d spent so long building around herself.

Then, just as quickly, she shook her head, sighing heavily.

"I need ice cream," she muttered, getting up and walking toward the kitchen.

I grinned, watching her go. "Whatever you want, sweetheart."

If she thought I was letting her go after the contract ended, she was in for a surprise.

Because this?

This was just the beginning.