~Sophia The moment I stepped out of the car, I could feel the shift in the air. The towering glass building stood tall and imposing, gleaming under the morning sun. Nathaniel’s empire. And for now, I was the one running it. The security at the entrance straightened the moment they saw me, greeting me politely. “Good morning, Mrs. James.” I gave them a nod and walked in, my heels clicking against the marble floor. Employees moved swiftly around the spacious lobby, some engaged in quiet conversations, others hurrying to their destinations. As I made my way to the elevators, heads turned, whispers followed, but I ignored them. My personal assistant, Laura, was already waiting for me by the elevators, holding my briefcase. “Good morning, Mrs. James,” she said with a bright smile. I nodded. “Morning, Laura. Let’s go.” She followed me into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor. “Everything is set for you,” Laura informed me as the elevator doors closed. “Your o
~EthanThe car was quiet as we drove back from the church, the weight of the upcoming wedding pressing on me. A week. Just one week, and I'd be married to Sarah. It wasn't a decision born out of love. Hell, if anything, it was born out of obligation, something to fix the mess we’d gotten ourselves into. She was pregnant. And marriage was supposed to be about love, not just some fix for a problem. Was I doing the right thing? Was I really going to marry her?I glanced at Sarah as she sat next to me, her hand resting on her stomach. The same stomach that carried a child—our child, at least, that’s what I had thought. But now, with my mother’s words ringing in my ears, I wasn’t so sure.She caught my eye and smiled, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. "The priest said everything is set for next week. We'll sign the documents, and it’s official. You’ll be my husband, and I’ll be your wife."I smiled weakly back at her, but the words didn’t hold the warmth I’d hoped they'd have. "Yea
~EthanThe whiskey burned my throat as I took another swig, my fingers tightening around the glass. The garden was quiet except for the chirping of crickets and the occasional rustling of leaves in the night breeze. The same garden where, years ago, I used to sit with Sophia, laughing, planning a future together—one I’d thrown away for Sarah. I scoffed bitterly at the memory, shaking my head. I deserved this. I deserved every ounce of pain Sarah had put me through. I had left Sophia, shattered her heart, and for what? A woman who was now carrying another man’s child. My best friend’s child. I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the memories, but they came rushing back, stronger than ever. Sophia. I had loved her—deeply, foolishly. She had been my safe place, the one person who truly saw me. And I had betrayed her. Sarah had been nothing more than a temptation, a sin I had indulged in. She had known exactly how to lure me in—her touches, her whispers, her games. At first, it
~SophiaI stormed into my room, slamming the door behind me, my chest rising and falling rapidly. My fingers trembled as I wiped my lips furiously, as if trying to erase the sensation of Ethan’s kiss. How dare he? How dare he put his lips on mine as if he still had the right? I let out a sharp breath, pacing back and forth, my mind spinning. My heart was hammering so fast I could hear it in my ears. It wasn’t just anger. It was something else—something far more dangerous. The kiss had reminded me of the past. I swallowed hard, my hands clenching at my sides. I closed my eyes, gripping the edge of the dresser for support. The way his lips felt against mine—it wasn’t foreign. It wasn’t something I had forgotten. No. It had felt… familiar. The heat, the roughness, the way he held me for that fleeting moment—it was the same as before. And a part of me—damn it—a part of me had enjoyed it. I let out a choked gasp, my hands flying to my face as my eyes burned. Tears spilled
~NathanielI took a slow sip of my wine, letting the rich, velvety taste coat my tongue as I leaned against the balcony railing, staring at the city lights. The night breeze was cool, but it did little to ease the frustration boiling inside me. Isabella’s voice rang through the house like an unbearable alarm clock, sharp and grating, pulling me from my moment of peace. “I told you, Linda, I’m back in my husband’s house! Can you believe those snakes thought they could get rid of me? Ha! As if! I own this house. This marriage is far from over.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling slowly. Two weeks. It had been two weeks since I returned, expecting my lawyer to have the divorce papers ready. Yet, here I was, still enduring Isabella’s endless rants, her dramatic speeches to her friends, and her shameless declarations of a marriage that was already six feet under. If only I could just kick her out myself. But no—laws, procedures, formalities. Bullshit. I gripped my gl
~NathanielI sighed and ran a hand through my hair before stepping down the stairs. Isabella was still on the floor, one hand on her ankle, the other gripping the railing like she had just survived a near-death experience. "Can you stand?" I asked, my voice neutral. She shook her head dramatically. "No… the pain… it's too much." I clenched my jaw. This woman was unbelievable. Biting back my frustration, I bent down and scooped her up in my arms. She gasped, clutching my shirt. "You could be a little more gentle!" she whined. I ignored her, carrying her to the sitting room and placing her carefully onto the plush chair. She let out a dramatic sigh, as if she had just been through war. I turned to the maids standing nearby. "Get the first-aid kit and some ice." They nodded and rushed off. I was about to step back when Isabella suddenly arched slightly in her seat, pressing a hand against her waist. "Ouch… my back. Nathaniel, help me," she breathed. I froze. Help
~SophiaI walked into the room, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as I turned to face Nathaniel. He stood near the door, his lips slightly parted, but no words came out. I tapped my foot impatiently. “Well?” I prompted. Nothing. Nathaniel ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. Then, as if coming to a decision, he walked up to me, gently taking my hands in his. “Sophia…” His voice was quiet, hesitant. “Please, sit.” I frowned, but I let him guide me to the bed. My heart was hammering now. There was something in his voice—something heavy. Something that made me nervous. He crouched in front of me, his hands still holding mine. He opened his mouth, then shut it again. A long silence stretched between us. I stared at him. Nathaniel didn’t just look hesitant. He looked—scared. I had never seen him like this before. “Nathaniel,” I said, my voice firmer now. “Just say it.” His jaw tightened. His grip on my hands grew warmer, almost desperate. “
~NathanielI drove home like a madman, my fingers gripping the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. My heart was still hammering in my chest, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on me like an avalanche. Sophia knew the truth now. And I had no idea what she was going to do with it. I kept replaying the moment over and over in my head—the way her eyes widened in disbelief, the way her body shook when I told her, the way she pushed me away like I was the most disgusting thing she had ever seen. The pain in her voice when she asked me to leave. I had begged. I had pleaded. But it wasn’t enough. I pulled into the driveway, my mind racing with a thousand different ways I could fix this. Maybe if I just talked to her again, made her understand, I could— My thoughts came to a screeching halt when I saw her. Sophia was outside, standing by her car, shoving a bag into the trunk. My stomach clenched. No. No, no, no. I barely registered the actio
~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