~SophiaAs I pulled into the driveway, my fingers drummed against the steering wheel, my mind still tangled with unease. I stepped out of the car, sighing as I walked inside. The house was quieter than usual, except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. Just as I shut the door behind me, I heard footsteps approaching. “Home early today,” Ethan’s deep voice rang out. I looked up, and there he was, walking toward me with a smug smile. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his usual confident stride making it seem like he owned the place. Well, technically, he did. “Hi,” I greeted casually, already making my way past him toward the stairs. But before I could escape, he chuckled. “Is that how you greet your stepson? You do remember I’m older than you, right?” I stopped in my tracks, turned to face him, and folded my arms. “What do you want, Ethan?” He smirked, tilting his head slightly. “Did you like the gift?” My mind flickered back to one of the packages in my offi
~IsabellaI stood there, watching as Sophia walked away, holding Lily’s hand tightly, as if she was shielding her from something dangerous. From me. Nathaniel’s furious eyes were locked on mine, his entire body tense, his hands clenched into fists. His gaze burned with something beyond anger—pure, unfiltered rage. I turned to him, tilting my head slightly with a smirk. “What?” I said, my voice laced with feigned innocence. “Can’t I take a walk with my stepdaughter anymore?” Nathaniel moved before I could react, closing the distance between us in two quick strides. His finger pointed sharply at me, his jaw clenched so tightly I swore I heard his teeth grind. “Whatever you’re doing, whatever this is,” he seethed, his voice low and threatening, “get Lily out of it. If anything happens to her—” I cut him off with a scoff, rolling my eyes dramatically. “Oh, please, Nathaniel,” I drawled, flipping my hair over my shoulder. “Spare me the lecture.” Without waiting for his response,
~NathanielI stared at the shredded divorce papers scattered across the floor, my breathing slow and measured, my fingers twitching at my sides. This woman… Isabella stood there, arms folded, watching me like a cat that had just knocked a glass off the table—deliberate, unapologetic, and waiting to see how I’d react. “So,” she said with a smug little smirk. “What now?” I exhaled sharply, the anger bubbling in my chest dangerously close to spilling over. She thinks she won? I reached into my pocket, yanking out my phone. “What now,” I bit out, “is that you’re leaving my house tonight. This moment. And nothing in this world will stop me. Not Ethan. Not your stupid, pathetic acts. You’re done, Isabella.” Her smirk faltered, but she didn’t move. I ignored her, dialing the number for my security team. The phone rang once, twice— Then suddenly, she was on me. Her lips crashed against mine, her arms looping around my neck as she pressed her body against me. For half a sec
~NathanielA pounding headache dragged me out of unconsciousness, the kind that made me regret every decision I had ever made. My mouth was dry, my stomach twisted, and my entire body felt like I had been hit by a truck. I groaned, forcing my eyes open. The room was dim, the curtains drawn, but even the little sliver of sunlight that seeped through the fabric made my head throb harder. Then, it hit me. I lurched out of bed, a violent wave of nausea crashing over me. I barely made it to the bathroom before I dropped to my knees and threw up into the toilet. The bitter taste of alcohol and regret burned my throat as my stomach twisted and clenched. I gripped the edges of the toilet bowl, gasping for breath. What the hell happened last night? When my stomach finally stopped revolting against me, I leaned back, pressing a shaking hand to my forehead. I needed to pull myself together. Dragging myself up, I turned on the faucet and rinsed my mouth, the cold water bringing a
~IsabellaI stood in front of my mirror, admiring my reflection as a wicked smile curled on my lips. My silk robe draped loosely over my shoulders, revealing the delicate lace of my lingerie. I looked stunning. Victorious. With a satisfied sigh, I grabbed my glass of wine and took a slow sip, savoring the rich taste. I swayed my hips to the soft music playing in the background, the excitement bubbling inside me too much to contain. Everything was going perfectly. Nathaniel must be devastated by now. I could only imagine the look on his face when he saw those pictures. And Sophia? Oh, she must be heartbroken, shattered beyond repair. Good. That woman thought she could just walk into my husband's life and take my place? My Nathaniel? I warned her. I twirled, giggling as I refilled my glass. Tonight called for a celebration. The expensive wine slid smoothly down my throat as I strolled to the balcony, basking in the evening air. The city lights twinkled below, and I fel
~Sophia“Flashback to Last night”I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was dimly lit by the bedside lamp, the shadows stretching across the walls. Nathaniel still wasn’t home. I glanced at the clock—12:23 AM. I scoffed, rolling onto my side. “Whatever,” I muttered under my breath. “Not like I care where he went.” I reached over and turned off the lamp, pulling the blanket over me. If he wanted to disappear for the night, then fine. I wasn’t going to sit around and worry about a man who couldn’t even be honest with me. Three Hours Later I woke up with a start. The room was silent, the kind of eerie quiet that made my skin prickle. I reached for my phone, squinting at the bright screen. 3:42 AM. Nathaniel still wasn’t home. I turned on the light, my heart beginning to race. This was unusual. No matter how bad things got between us, Nathaniel never spent the night outside. I swung my legs over the bed and picked up my phone from the nightstand. D
~Sophia“Present Day”The first thing I felt was cold. Not just a surface chill but something deeper, something that settled in my bones and refused to leave. My body ached as I stirred awake, my head pounding like a drum being beaten in slow, painful intervals. My limbs felt heavy, almost as if they weren’t mine, and for a few disoriented moments, I couldn’t remember where I was or how I had gotten there. Then, it all came crashing back. The masked man. The injection. The darkness swallowing me whole. My eyes fluttered open, the dim glow of a single flickering bulb above me casting eerie shadows along the walls. The air was thick with a musty scent, stale and heavy, as if the room hadn’t been aired out in years. I blinked several times, trying to adjust to the faint light, my vision still blurry from whatever drug had been forced into my system. Panic crept up my spine as I slowly pushed myself upright, feeling the soft mattress beneath me. A bed. We were on a bed. That was t
~NathanielI never thought a bottle of whiskey could feel this damn useless. The amber liquid sloshed inside my glass as I swirled it, staring blankly at the half-empty bottle on the nightstand. It had done nothing—nothing to dull the ache in my chest or silence the storm inside my head. The room around me was dimly lit, but I didn’t need much light to see the mess I had made. Crumpled papers, an ashtray filled with untouched cigarettes, and most importantly—the pictures. They lay scattered across the bed like broken pieces of my past, taunting me with what I had destroyed. Pictures of me and the lady from last night, scattered on the bed. Pictures of Sophia. Pictures of Lily. Pictures of what could have been a perfect damn life if I hadn’t been a complete idiot. I ran a hand through my hair, gripping the strands tightly as I let out a shaky exhale. If I could turn back time—God, if I could just go back to that night—I’d never have stepped foot into that fucking club.
~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