Chapter Two: One crazy decision

ARTEMIS POV

My lungs were screaming at me to turn this handsome stranger down, but that wasn’t the case.

The cold night air wrapped around me as I stepped out, each breath feeling sharp against my chest.

My hands clenched, trying to steady the emotions in me.

I wasn’t sure if it was the thought of Jarvis or the fact that I was about to spend the night with a stranger.

"I’d like that," I said with a smile.

I thought I might be over him, but that was a lie.

I was still hung up on Jarvis.

I still felt my heart aching for him. He was the first and only guy I ever dated.

He was my first love. Fuck, he was the one who deflowered me.

My love for him overshadowed my respect, which made me put up with his bad behavior for so long.

I tried to be strong.

I forced myself to remain calm, but the memories kept coming back.

The tears slid down my face as I gasped slowly for air.

My hands were beginning to get cold; I was losing my strength.

It was as if a weight was pressing down on me, and my knees trembled.

Suddenly, the cold sensation was replaced by warmth that was accompanied by a strong scent.

Jamie’s cologne hit me hard, and I pressed my face against his hard chest.

His hands held me close.

Even though Jamie was a stranger, I felt safe under his touch.

His hands smoothed my hair as he softly murmured, "Stop crying, or you might ruin that pretty face of yours," he said with a smirk.

Did he just call me pretty? My cheeks burned red immediately as I snuggled closer.

Being alone with my thoughts was not an option. I needed a distraction from my reality.

Jamie’s eyes glimmered with a light that made me forget how broken I felt.

His presence alone was able to dissolve the ache in my chest.

The memories of Jarvis tried to creep inside, but I shook them off. Not tonight.

Jamie’s hand was gentle but firm as he led me toward his car. His touch sent a flicker of comfort through me.

We reached the car when a cold voice froze me in my tracks.

"Artemis."

I stiffened, recognizing the voice instantly. It was Jarvis.

His fingers curled around my wrist from behind, forcing my movement to a halt.

His face held a triumphant grin.

"Are you leaving so soon?" He fumed with mockery clear in his voice.

"After trying to gain my attention all night you want to run off with some guy? Didn’t take you long, did it?"

Jamie’s hand slipped away from mine as he turned to face Jarvis.

For a brief moment, I saw a flicker of something dark in Jamie’s eyes.

"Let her go," Jamie’s voice was calm but edged with danger.

Jarvis laughed, a harsh, grating sound.

"You don’t know who you’re dealing with, buddy. This girl? She’ll never get over me. I was her first, after all." His grip on my wrist tightened, and the heat of embarrassment crept up my neck as he added.

"I took her virginity. She’ll always come crawling back." He said before turning to me.

"The only person you love is me. Be a good little slut, get your ass back here and apologize. I might just take you back." He smiles.

That was the last straw. How dare he humiliate me like this?

I swallowed hard, feeling my heart constrict.

Before I could react, Jamie stepped forward, closing the gap between them in an instant.

"You’ve got a real mouth on you," Jamie said coldly.

He slid an arm around my waist and my eyes widened.

His lips crashed against mine and I held my breath.

Everything was silent except the rush of his touch.

I gasped against his mouth, my heart pounding as his hand slid down, firmly grabbing my ass. I felt Jarvis’ grip loosen as he stood there, stunned.

When Jamie pulled away, he tilted his head with a smirk.

"She’s not yours anymore. Get that through your head."

Jarvis stood frozen for a moment before his expression twisted with rage.

Jarvis stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock, a hand on his reddening cheek.

"You—" he began, but Jamie wasn’t listening anymore.

He opened the car door for me.

"Get in," he said, his voice soft now, as though the moment with Jarvis hadn’t even happened.

I slid into the seat, my heart still racing, and watched through the window as Jamie glared at Jarvis one last time before climbing in beside me.

He started the car without a word, firing up the engine.

As the city lights blurred past us, I stole a glance at him.

His attention was on the road, his jaw clenched and his gaze full of concentration.

Upon reaching his apartment, I proceeded to follow him.

The room was modern, simple, and dim, reflecting his presence. He guided me to his bedroom.

I could sense a small amount of relief as the tension in my shoulders eased slightly.

"For today, I just want to say thanks," I whispered.

Jamie's mouth formed a slight grin.

"No problem," he replied, downplaying the situation as if it wasn't a big deal.

I slightly furrowed my brows, propping myself against the doorframe.

"Can you tell me your identity?" What was the reason behind assisting me?"

He averted his gaze, removing his jacket with purposeful actions.

"Is it important?" he inquired, his voice lacking emotion.

A tiny knot in my stomach began to tighten. There was something about his manner of speaking and his guarded demeanor that made me anxious.

I felt my heart rate increase, and I quickly looked at the door. I regret coming here. What was my action at that moment?

"I should consider leaving—," I started, moving a step away.

However, in a moment, Jamie appeared in front of me, his hands firmly on my shoulders, gently holding me against the wall. His dark and intense gaze held mine, causing me to hold my breath.

"Already heading out?" he whispered with a dangerously low voice.

My chest throbbed with my heartbeat, and before I could process it, his lips crashed onto mine once more, with more intensity.

I felt torn between being scared and feeling thrilled. This was a completely novel sensation.

Every part of my being urged me to go while I still could, but I gradually found myself giving in to his embrace.

His body was pressed against mine, and the increasing heat between us was becoming unbearable.

I ended up returning his kiss, holding onto his shirt tightly.

Everything was spinning out of control, but I didn’t care. His touch drowned out the memories of Jarvis.

That night was blissful, but somehow it led to my worst nightmare.

Two weeks later, I started feeling off.

Nausea, dizziness, fatigue, but I blamed it on my recent heartbreak.

I believed it was a component of the recovery journey.

The mornings became intolerable, and I was in a rush to the bathroom, unable to keep any food down.

I began to feel unfamiliar in my own body, and soon enough, I couldn't disregard it any longer. I chose to go to the hospital.

I underwent blood tests and waited anxiously until the doctor came back with a paper.

I waited for her to speak, my breath catching in my throat and my heart pounding in my ears.

“Miss Artemis,” she began gently, her eyes meeting mine. “The test results came back.”

I swallowed hard, my hands gripping the edge of the bed, bracing myself for whatever she was about to say.

"You are pregnant."