You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 1

When Sylvia Harlow fell from the harness on set, Ashton Wyatt was at his nightclub throwing a welcome home and birthday party for his childhood friend.

The drinks were on the house that night, racking up a six-figure tab. The news was everywhere, and everyone assumed an engagement was imminent.

The first thing Sylvia heard upon waking up was the doctor saying, "You're pregnant."

Her shoulders were slender, and her arm resting outside the hospital blanket looked radiant and fragile.

She tore her gaze away from her phone. It took a moment for the doctor's words to register, and her immediate response was, "Can I terminate it?"

She remembered how he never used protection when he thought she was safe. His relentless stamina and raw dominance always left her breathless and weak in the knees. Back then, she had asked what would happen if she got pregnant, and he had replied with cold detachment: Then get rid of it.

He had said it so casually, as if talking about grabbing dinner. The memory sent a sharp ache through her chest.

Dr. Julian Sterling adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, looking entirely professional and compassionate.

"With your medical history," he said gently, "if you terminate this pregnancy, it may be very difficult for you to conceive again."

He paused before asking a slightly intrusive question. "Where is the baby's father?"

The unspoken implication was that she should discuss this with him.

Sylvia curled her fingers tightly against her palms. After a moment of hesitation, she picked up her phone and called Ashton.

He didn't answer the first time.

He didn't answer the second time, either.

It rang a third time before a sweet, delicate female voice finally came through the line.

"Hello? Who is this?"

The voice sounded inexplicably familiar. Sylvia had heard it before when Ashton was on the phone. His gaze would always soften, and he would show incredible patience for the girl on the other end.

"I'm looking for Ashton."

"Ash? He's in the shower right now. It's not a good time. Call back later."

The girl's voice was slightly husky, carrying the lazy, seductive drawl of post-coital bliss.

Perhaps due to her volatile emotions, a dull ache throbbed in her abdomen. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the icy dread settling in her chest, but tears betrayed her and filled her eyes.

Dr. Sterling, apparently used to such scenes, looked up with sympathetic eyes. "Try to keep your stress levels down for the baby's sake," he advised, handing her a tissue.

Sylvia murmured her thanks, dabbing at her wet cheeks.

When she looked back up, the tears were gone.

"Dr. Sterling, I don't want to keep it. Can we do the procedure right now?"

Before the doctor could answer, Sylvia's phone rang again. It was the director.

Director Charles Carter started with a flurry of superficial concern, telling her to rest well since the accident happened on his set.

Then, his tone shifted. "I'm afraid we have to recast your role. Don't blame me, but I have a whole crew to feed. Your part is heavy, and we simply can't afford to wait for you."

Sylvia gripped the phone tightly. "Director Carter, I'm fine! I can be back on set in ten days!"

She had landed the second female lead, a brilliant character who appeared sweet on the outside but was entirely unhinged underneath. It was a highly coveted role in the industry. More importantly, Sylvia loved the part. She had poured her heart into it, doing take after take of intense wirework stunts without a single complaint.