~SophiaI sat at the table, picking at the last bits of the delicious breakfast Nathaniel had prepared. My mind raced, wondering what surprise he had up his sleeve this time. Nathaniel was always full of surprises, but the glint in his eyes earlier told me this one was special. I shoved a forkful of food into my mouth, barely chewing as I stared at him. My cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, and I knew I looked ridiculous. Nathaniel’s laugh echoed in the room, hearty and amused. “Seriously, Sophia,” he said, shaking his head, “you look like a squirrel storing nuts for winter.” I tried to say something witty, but with all the food in my mouth, it came out as an unintelligible mumble. Nathaniel doubled over, laughing even harder. “Don’t choke, please,” he teased. I grabbed my glass of water, gulping it down to help with the digestion. But the liquid went the wrong way, and I started coughing uncontrollably. Nathaniel was beside me in an instant, patting my back gently. “Take
~SophiaThe morning sunlight poured in through the wide glass windows of James Enterprises, illuminating the pristine white marble floors and gleaming metal accents that decorated the office space. I stepped out of the elevator onto the executive floor, the soft hum of productivity filling the air. My heels clicked against the floor, each sound a reminder of the new chapter I was stepping into. Today was my first day as Head of Marketing, and my nerves were a jumbled mess of excitement and fear. Nathaniel’s faith in me felt overwhelming at times. Did I deserve this? Would I be able to prove him right? These thoughts had swirled in my mind since last night, but now, standing here, I forced myself to push them aside. I clutched my briefcase tightly, walking toward the office that Nathaniel had personally shown me two days ago. The gold plaque on the door glinted in the sunlight, reading: Sophia James, Head of Marketing. I stopped for a moment, just staring at it. My name. My title.
~SophiaThe sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over Nathaniel’s sprawling estate. The pool shimmered under the evening light, and there he was, effortlessly lounging in the water like some kind of Greek god. His dark hair was slicked back, water droplets clinging to his skin as he sipped from a glass of wine. The sight of him made my breath hitch. Nathaniel had a way of owning any space he was in, and this poolside scene was no exception. He turned his head slightly, catching me watching from the edge of the patio. “Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to join me?” he called out, a playful grin tugging at his lips. I smirked, slipping off my sandals. “Maybe I’m just enjoying the view.” His laugh echoed across the water, rich and deep. “Well, I’m enjoying mine too. So come closer, Mrs. James.” Taking a deep breath, I stepped down the stone path toward the pool, my confidence growing with each step. The bikini I’d chosen for the evening hugged
~SophiaI woke up early, the morning light streaming through the curtains, painting our bedroom in soft hues. Nathaniel stirred beside me, pulling me closer, his arms wrapping around me like a warm cocoon. “You’re up early,” he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. I forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “I need to get some boxes for our trip tomorrow. You know, for packing.” He opened one eye, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “Boxes? Are you sure you’re not sneaking out to get me a surprise gift?” I laughed, masking the tension coiling in my stomach. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” Nathaniel sat up, his toned chest catching the morning sun. “Don’t take too long. We need to start packing. Remember, our flight’s early.” I froze, feigning surprise. “Oh, so we’re flying commercial? What happened to the private jet?” He leaned back, smirking. “I miss flying with regular people. It’s been years since I experienced the chaos of
~SophiaMy blood boiled as I drove home, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The nerve of that snake, Ethan. After everything I’d done for him—after I’d ruined part of my life to save his! He thought he could blackmail me? Destroy my marriage? Oh, he was about to learn a lesson he wouldn’t forget. I parked in the driveway and stepped out of my car, slamming the door shut. My eyes landed on Ethan’s precious baby: his car. A sleek, black Aston Martin, freshly waxed, glinting in the sunlight like a trophy he didn’t deserve. The car was practically an extension of his ego. He pampered it like a newborn, washing it twice a week and forbidding anyone else from even leaning on it. A slow, wicked smile crept across my face. “Well, well, well,” I murmured, trailing my fingers along the smooth, cool metal. “Look at you, shining like a diamond. What a shame if something were to… tarnish you.” I could already picture Ethan’s face when he saw it, his jaw dropping
~SophiaThe airport was buzzing with life—families hugging goodbye, travelers dragging suitcases, and announcements echoing through the massive space. Nathaniel and I walked hand in hand through the crowd, his firm grip on my hand a grounding force. I tried to focus on the excitement of the trip, but my stomach was in knots. We checked in and made our way to the boarding gate. Nathaniel looked as calm as ever, his usual confident self, while I was quietly praying this trip wouldn’t turn into a disaster. Once our boarding group was called, we walked onto the plane. Nathaniel led the way, and I followed, expecting to be directed to the economy section, as he had joked the day before. But when we stopped in the business class cabin, my jaw dropped. “Wait,” I whispered, tugging on his arm. “This isn’t economy.” Nathaniel grinned, his boyish charm lighting up his face. “Did you really think I’d let my wife fly economy? I just wanted to see your reaction.” “You’re unbelievable!” I
~SophiaAs I sat there, trembling with the cold barrel of a gun pressed into my side, I found myself silently speaking to God. God, if this is your way of stopping me from going to Canada, if this is your way of keeping my secret safe from Nathaniel, then I don’t care anymore. Ruin everything if you must. But please, save us. My life, Nathaniel’s life—they’re what matter now. “Shut up,” the robber snapped, his voice sharp and filled with menace. My eyes widened. Had I spoken aloud? His glare made my blood run cold, and I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding quickly to show my compliance. The sudden sound of hurried footsteps brought hope, and I turned my head just enough to see one of the officers who had likely been transporting the prisoner approach. Relief and frustration warred in my chest. “Well, look who finally woke up from his slumber,” I muttered under my breath, bitterness lacing my voice. The officer glared at me briefly before focusing on the robber. He rai
~SophiaThe car glided smoothly through the snow-covered streets, the city lights casting a soft glow on the frost-covered windows. I stared outside, my heart racing with every passing second. My fingers toyed nervously with the strap of my bag as I silently prayed that Martha had received my text and told Lily not to call me “Mommy.” The thought of Nathaniel finding out I lied, sent shivers through me—not from the cold, but from fear. “What are you thinking about so hard?” Nathaniel’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. I turned to him, forcing a smile. “Nothing, just… everything, I guess.” He reached over, his hand warm as it rested on mine. “Sophia, I’m sorry for putting you through that stress on the plane. If we had just used the private jet, none of this would’ve happened.” I shook my head, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Nathaniel, it’s fine. The most important thing is that we’re both okay. We made it out alive.” He gave me a small
~Sophia“Eight Months Later”Eight months had flown by in a beautiful blur, and now, here I was, sitting on our bed, cradling our bouncing baby boy in my arms. Nathaniel sat beside me, leaning in, staring at the tiny miracle we had created. His fingers gently traced our son’s little hands, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “He’s perfect,” Nathaniel murmured. I smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the baby’s forehead. “He really is.” But now came the hard part—choosing a name. Nathaniel sighed, stretching his legs out on the bed. “Alright, we need to settle this before he grows up and starts naming himself.” I chuckled. “I mean, he might as well, because we’ve been arguing for days.” Nathaniel smirked. “Well, that’s because your name choices are… questionable.” I gasped, pretending to be offended. “Excuse me? Ezra is a strong, beautiful name!” Nathaniel shook his head. “I’m sorry, but he doesn’t look like an Ezra.” I narrowed my eyes. “Okay, Mr. Perfect, what do you sugg
~EthanShe gave me a knowing smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” “Please do,” I said smoothly. “So, where are you from?” “Nigeria.” I blinked in surprise, genuinely impressed. “Wait—Nigeria?” I let out a low whistle. “Damn. I had no idea Nigerian women were this breathtaking.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “You should visit sometime. We have plenty more where I came from.” I smirked. “I doubt any could compare to you. You look like an African goddess.” A light blush dusted her cheeks, and she looked away for a second before meeting my eyes again. “And you don’t look bad yourself. You’ve got that… classic, handsome white-boy charm.” I wasn’t expecting that, and for the first time in a while, I actually felt shy. I cleared my throat, quickly changing the subject. “So… what do you do for a living?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’m a UI/UX designer for a tech company in the U.S.” I raised my eyebrows. “Damn. Smart and beautiful?” She laughed. “It’s
~EthanThe coconut juice was ice cold, the perfect companion for a warm, salty breeze rolling in from the ocean. I leaned back against my chair, stretching my legs out in the soft golden sand, my sunglasses resting low on my nose as I took a slow sip. Beside me, Lily was doing the same, except she had managed to get half the coconut juice on her shirt rather than in her mouth. “You’re a mess,” I muttered, smirking. Lily rolled her eyes, licking a stray drop from her lips. “Whatever, Ethan.” I glanced at her sideways, raising an eyebrow. “You wanna tell me why you’ve been following me around since we got here? Shouldn’t you be with your parents in their room or something?” Lily groaned dramatically, sinking deeper into her chair. “Ugh. First of all, ew. Why would I want to be trapped in a room with them?” She sat up, turning to face me. “And second, we both know we’d end up around each other eventually, so why fight it?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re unbelievable.”
~SophiaAs soon as we stepped into our villa, I was in awe. It was stunning, a perfect blend of luxury and nature. The room was massive, with tall wooden beams stretching across the ceiling, large open windows covered by soft white mosquito nets, and a private pool just a few steps from our bed. From where I stood, I could see the island’s coastline, the waves gently rolling onto the golden sand. The air smelled of salt and fresh flowers, a mix so intoxicating it made my head light. Birds soared in the sky, their songs blending with the sound of the waves, and in the distance, I could see wooden boats floating lazily on the water. “This…” I whispered, placing a hand on my stomach, “is paradise.” Nathaniel walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. His lips brushed against my temple. “Do you like it?” he asked, his voice deep and smooth. I turned to face him with a bright smile. “I love it.” He smirked. “Good. Now, let me do all the work while you sit back
~EthanThe hum of the private jet's engines was a steady background noise as I leaned back in my seat, stretching my legs in front of me. Through the large windows, the sky was a vast expanse of blue, painted with streaks of white clouds. Below us, the ocean stretched endlessly, shimmering under the afternoon sun. Beside me, my mother, Isabella, was practically glowing with happiness. “I still can’t believe I was considered for this trip,” she said, her voice soft with emotion. “A family vacation… I never imagined this would happen.” Before I could say anything, Sophia—sitting on the other side of her—reached over and took her hands, squeezing them gently. “Isabella,” Sophia said with a warm smile, “you’re family. And nothing can ever change that.” My mom blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. “Oh, Sophia…” Nathaniel, who was sitting across from us, smirked. “If she starts crying, we’ll have to turn the jet around.” Isabella laughed, wiping the corner of her eye.
~EthanI stabbed my fork into a juicy steak, cutting into the tender meat as the aroma of garlic butter filled the dining room. Beside it, creamy mashed potatoes glistened with melted cheese, and a side of steamed vegetables added a pop of color to the plate. Dinner at home had always been this way—luxurious, delicious, and filled with conversation. Across from me, Lily swung her little legs under the table, stuffing a piece of bread into her mouth with excitement. Sophia, sitting beside Nathaniel, was picking at her grilled salmon, her expression relaxed and happy. Nathaniel, however, had that look—the one that meant he had something big to say. I knew my father too well. I took another bite of my steak, waiting for him to drop the bombshell. And then, he did. Nathaniel cleared his throat and set down his fork. His voice was calm but firm when he spoke. “Ethan, Lily… You two are going to have a sibling.” I froze mid-bite, my fork stopping inches from my mouth. Lil
~SophiaThe night was quiet, the kind of silence that should be peaceful, but I felt anything but peace. Lying on the bed, I turned to my side, feeling a strange discomfort in my stomach. A wave of nausea crept up my throat, making me feel dizzy. I groaned softly, shifting slightly, my hand reaching out toward the other side of the bed. My fingers brushed against Nathaniel’s bare chest—warm and steady. He was lying there, his breathing slow and even, completely unaware of my current state of misery. I swallowed thickly, trying to push back the sickness, but it wasn’t working. "Baby," I whispered, my voice weak. Nathaniel didn’t stir. He was still fast asleep, his face relaxed in the dim light of the room. I tried again. "Nathaniel… baby." This time, he shifted slightly before his eyes fluttered open. His gaze was heavy with sleep, but at the sound of my voice, his expression immediately changed. He turned to me, instantly alert. "My love," he murmured, his deep voi
~SophiaFor the first time in what felt like forever, I could finally breathe. No more looking over my shoulder. No more fear of waking up to another nightmare caused by Isabella’s schemes. She had finally turned a new leaf. It felt surreal, almost too good to be true, but for now, I chose to believe it. To believe that she was truly done with her tricks. And, as if life had decided to reward us for enduring so much, Lily was being discharged today. I smiled to myself as I walked toward Nathaniel, who was reading something on his phone near the window. His sharp suit hugged his frame perfectly, and despite all the stress of the past weeks, he still looked as handsome as ever. "You're smiling," Nathaniel said, not looking up. "That’s rare these days." I rolled my eyes, stopping beside him. "I have a reason to." He finally glanced at me, his lips tugging upward slightly. "And what would that be?" I leaned against the table, crossing my arms. "Well, for one, your ex-wif
~IsabellaI sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall. My hands trembled in my lap, my body still numb from the events that had just taken place. I had done it. I had broken down in tears. I had begged Nathaniel. Begged Sophia. Begged Ethan. Me. Isabella. The woman who once held her head high with pride, who never admitted to being wrong, who never shed a tear in front of anyone. And yet, tonight, I had collapsed in front of them, stripped bare of all my arrogance, all my anger, all my greed. I couldn’t believe myself. I clenched my fists, shaking my head. What the hell got into me? Was it the fear? The fear of going back to that hellhole of a prison? I had suffered too much to get out of there. I had fought, manipulated, bargained my way out. And now, I couldn’t risk going back. Maybe… maybe I had changed. Overnight. It was ridiculous to even think about it, but something inside me felt different. The money, the properties—the very things