The Self Centered Billionaire (Stepdad)

48⚜️ The Calm Before The Storm

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. I groaned, reaching over Damion to grab it. He mumbled something in his sleep, rolling over to bury his face in the pillow. I squinted at the screen, my eyes struggling to adjust to the bright light.Unfamiliar numbers and a flood of notifications filled the screen. My heart sank as I unlocked the phone and opened the first message.

Hailey-Hey Cassidy, have you seen the news?

I quickly scrolled through the barrage of texts, my anxiety growing with each one.

Hailey-Cassidy, what’s going on? Is it true what they are saying about Damion?

Check the tabloids!"Damion," I whispered, shaking him awake. "You need to see this."He groaned, reluctantly sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "What is it?"I handed him my phone, watching as his expression shifted from groggy confusion to grim understanding. "Damn it," he muttered, reaching for his own phone. "This can’t be good."Together, we scrolled through the news articles and social media posts. The headlines were blaring, the paparazzi photos damning. Billionaire Damion Pryce Expecting Baby with Mystery Woman! Who is the Lucky Lady? Exclusive: The Private Life of Damion Pryce Exposed! Isn't his step daughter also pregnant??

"Oh crap," I said inwardly, echoing my thoughts from the ultrasound room. "This is bad, isn’t it?"Damion nodded, his jaw clenched. "Linda must have tipped them off. I should have known better than to let our guard down."Panic started to bubble up inside me. "What are we going to do?"He took a deep breath, his calm demeanor doing little to reassure me. "We’ll handle it, Cassidy. We just need to stay ahead of the story. Damage control."I wished I could share his confidence. Instead, I felt like my world was spinning out of control. "What if they find out about me, what if they find out you slept with your stepdaughter? About the baby?"He reached over, taking my hand in his. "We’ll protect you, both of you. Trust me."I nodded, but my mind was already racing."We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, let’s focus on keeping you safe and out of the public eye." "Okay," I whispered, squeezing his hand. "Okay."Later That Day Damion spent the morning on the phone with his PR team, strategizing and planning. I tried to keep myself busy, but the anxiety was overwhelming. I couldn’t help but peek through the curtains every few minutes, half-expecting a swarm of reporters to be camped out on our lawn."How are you holding up?" Damion asked, stepping into the living room."I’ve been better," I admitted, forcing a smile. "But I’m more worried about you. This could ruin your reputation."He shrugged, a rare look of vulnerability crossing his face. "I’ve dealt with worse. Besides, reputations can be rebuilt. You and the baby are what matter most."I felt tears prick at my eyes, but I blinked them back. "We’re going to be okay, right?""Of course," he said, pulling me into a hug. "We’re stronger than this."The First Sign of Trouble just as we were starting to relax, the doorbell rang. I froze, my heart racing. Damion exchanged a glance with me before heading to the door. He peeked through the peephole and sighed. "It’s starting."He opened the door to a throng of reporters, their cameras flashing and microphones thrust forward. How the hell did these reporters come through the gate?

"Mr. Pryce, can you comment on the rumors?" "Who is the mother of your child?" "Are the wedding bells in the future?"Damion held up a hand, his voice firm. "No comment. Please respect our privacy."
I watched from the hallway, feeling both fear and anger. These people had no right to invade our lives like this. Damion managed to shut the door, but the shouting and camera flashes continued outside.

"We need to leave," he said, his voice tight. "Pack a bag. We’ll go to the penthouse. It’s more secure."I nodded, my hands trembling as I hurried to pack. I threw essentials into a suitcase, my mind racing. This was not how I envisioned our life together, but we had to adapt. For our baby’s sake.